ones head & heart need time off from the thinking on and doing of one particular activity. a break to see friends, answer correspondence, check in with the doctor, water plants and rejoice in an orchid's new spike, vacuum, think about new desserts, relax hands, have long phone conversations about everything, sleep in, do homework, see a movie, eat something besides staff meal, let one's hair down, talk politics, miss family, answer the land line.
I have debuted 3 new desserts. It's very exciting. As exciting as getting squash from Annabelle on Saturday. And seeing the first of the season's orange globes of joy. And hearing crunchy leaves fall and make their music of upset when kicked around by my feet and the breeze.
What do you do to down-shift from work into your other, less confined life?
Dig in the herb garden, cook, lunch with friends, read trashy mysteries, write about things other than food!
Posted by: Lydia | 29 October 2007 at 08:00 AM
I try to run away up to Sonoma Co. -- where my parents live -- from time to time to read, sit in the backyard, pet the cats, go for a run on the backroads, and go to the beach. It totally helps me decompress, just to get out of the city for a few days.
Posted by: nicole | 29 October 2007 at 01:09 PM
keep up with garden, lay around and read and watch movies- sometimes feel compelled to cook all day, often things I don't do at work like bake bread or practice corning beef, cure sauerkraut, make pickles, etc.
Posted by: redman | 29 October 2007 at 02:50 PM
I make muffins, take them to the market, and barter for stuff. Well, that and dress up like jebus. My fav though is going for a walk. The pace of walking is conducive for some great thinking.
Hugs
(I'm still thinking about that cumin pot de creme!)
Posted by: Monkey Wrangler | 29 October 2007 at 02:56 PM
I like to torture my cat, watch bad television, stare at the clouds, dance to Tina Turner's "Bold Soul Sister," eat yummy food with pals like you and visit blogs like this one here.
Posted by: Kelley G. | 29 October 2007 at 03:23 PM
Garden! That and watch great melodramatic Bollywood flicks...
Posted by: Diane | 29 October 2007 at 06:17 PM
i clean , post sillyness on the internet . play online games like world of warcraft ( yes im a dork )
i watch a ton of tv as well .. im lazy as cats too .. im watching guy guzzle deep fried something on food network as i type this ..
i play music . listen to music . post about music ...
lately ive actually been spending some of my off time planning new menus .. somethign i wouldnt normally do .. my time is my time ..
oh and sometimes i talk to the neighbors cat ..
and reality tv... did i mention reality tv?
Posted by: m. butler at myspace | 30 October 2007 at 04:26 AM
doing prep work at the chez panisse kitchen= some of my favorite days off.
i'm a workaholic so i rarely take days off from my research job at berkeley--even though i constantly complain about it. However, i do like to unwind by going to rivoli early in their dinner service, sit at the bar, and share a glass or two of wine and dinner with my fiance.
Posted by: drosp53 | 30 October 2007 at 11:41 AM
Me, I read a lot and cuddle with the cats.
Also, I cook.
When I had a garden, I puttered in the garden. Now I only have pots, so I goon a walk to other gardens instead.
Posted by: Lori S. | 30 October 2007 at 04:51 PM
Be well Shuna ~ our thoughts and hearts are with you.
Posted by: mare | 30 October 2007 at 07:53 PM
Actually, one of the most wonderful days for me is sitting with my dog and my boyfriend on the couch, reading through cookbooks as if they were novels, planning a long leisurely lunch AND dinner, talking on the phone, and letting my mind wander. Oh, and imagining that someday i will have a garden.. Lovely!
Posted by: Juree | 31 October 2007 at 10:23 AM