The weekend was filled, but not in a hurry-up kind of way.

Friday night, we met up with three friends for some jazz under the stars (okay, it was really jazz under the setting sun, but close enough). John brought cherries, wine and Swiss chocolates (yum!), and Michael and Julia were able to join us even though they already didn’t have enough time to get things done. I stopped for some crackers and various cheeses and hummus and paired them with some wine and sparkling pomegranate juice we had at home. It really was a lovely, relaxing start to the weekend and I hope we’ll be able to do it again.

Saturday, I did manage to get my lazy butt out and on the bike for a 12-mile ride. I promised myself that if I resisted the impulse to buy a frozen Snickers bar at the boat house that I could stop at the LYS. I did, but perhaps spoiled the incentive by spotting a table selling freshly made crepes in honor of Bastille Day and benefiting breast cancer charities. I mean, passing by would have been misanthropic and xenophobic, right?

I did a little cleaning and then read more before eventually calling it a night.

Sunday rolled around bright and early. We hit the farmers’ market relatively early and came away with a bounty of berries — cherries, blueberries, blackberries, and black raspberries — as well as an armload of flowers, tomatoes, nectarines, peaches, lettuce, corn, and a Jamaican spinach called callaloo. We ate scones, read the paper, knit, talked to ejbro on the phone, and watched Tour de France coverage. (Let’s pretend the scones were in honor of the Tour’s start in London.)

In the afternoon, Rudi and I headed to the pool, where we spent a wonderful hour or so floating and basking in the cool water before heading by Trader Joe’s and the garden on our way home.

All in all, it was a lovely weekend. Would that it could have lasted a bit longer, since this week is looking more busy than relaxed. We have tickets to two ball games, a local vote, and a visit with an old friend scheduled already, and we’ve recently learned that we need to spend some time harassing the D.C. Council about a recent ill-considered vote. Good thing vacation starts next week!

It’s not that I haven’t been having fun. The contrary, in fact, is true; I think it’s that I’ve been having too much fun and I find myself too tired (and hot, frankly) to blog at the end of the day.

We’ve rewatched the Harry Potter movies in preparation for tomorrow night’s debut of Order of the Phoenix. We have tickets for Wednesday evening at the Uptown, a single-screen theater with a balcony (where we hope to sit), so it was imperative that we finish up this evening.

Tonight, we ate in front of the tv by candlelight — a cold dinner of mozzarella, purple basil, and tomato; baguette, goat cheese, and tomato; ambrosia; and iced tea and beer. It was lovely.

Saturday, while Rudi rode a crazy mountainous bike ride, I stayed inside, knitting, reading, and watching Venus Williams’ victory at Wimbledon. Late in the evening, after discovering that it had finally cooled down to a more reasonable 75 degrees, we ventured out to a local restaurant for a nightcap of s’mores (the local celebration of Grey Kitten’s 33rd birthday (on 07/07/07) out in San Diego).

And Sunday, after tramping through the farmers’ market (corn on the cob!) and watching a terrific men’s tennis match between Federer and Nadal, we met up with our friend John and headed down to the Mall for the final day of the Smithsonian Folklife Festival. This year’s highlighted regions/cultures were: the Mekong River (which runs through China, Laos, Thailand, Vietnam, and Cambodia) cultures, the roots of Virginia, and Northern Ireland. Should you ever get the chance to attend this event (which runs the last week of June and the first week of July), it is really a fantastic way to get glimpses of culture and food and craft from places you might never get to see. The highlight of our time Sunday afternoon had to be the “Cookin’ Cleric,” a down-home Presbyterian minister who walked us through making scones (p. 14-15) the way his mother made them. He was chatty and the experience was similar to what it would be if you sat down in someone’s kitchen to learn an old family recipe (if, of course, their kitchen were outside and 95 degrees and filled with bleachers and microphones and assistants). It was hot as blazes, but it was nice to spend some time with John, whom we hadn’t seen in a month or so, and to take advantage of one of the great free resources D.C. has to offer.

After sleeping almost all of yesterday, I’m finally feeling alive again. Rudi and I ran full sprint almost all of June between work and Utah, and yesterday was our first true day of decompression in nearly a month. It felt awesome.

I’m behind on a number of things (blogging, work, correspondence, a cd swap (ack!), cleaning, knitting), but I really think that I will get caught up soon. The worst is definitely behind me, and it’s all blue skies ahead!

I’m feeling a little sleepy tonight (at least that’s what I’m guessing I should pick up from dozing off in front of Trader Joe’s after dinner and then again in front of the tv), so I thought I’d be lazy and just post a meme that Paula tagged me for over the weekend:

The rules: You go to Wikipedia and type in your birthday (only month & day). Then you write down 3 events, 2 births, 1 holiday, and then you tag 5 friends.

Events

• 1843 – The event that inspired the song “Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite!” is held.
• 1859 – Oregon [where I was born in the following century] admitted as the 33rd U.S. state.
• 1984 – British ice dance team Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean win gold at the Olympic Games in Sarajevo for their free dance “Bolero.”

Births

• 1894 – Jack Benny, American actor and comedian (d. 1974)
• 1934 – Florence Henderson, American actress

Holiday (I opted against the obvious Valentine’s Day)

• Bulgaria – Trifon Zarezan (Wine-grower’s Day)

No one asked, but the following deaths also occured on my birthday:

• 1975 – P. G. Wodehouse, English writer (b. 1881)
• 2003 – Dolly, first cloned mammal (b. 1996)

I don’t tag people, but I’d enjoy seeing what your results are, either on your own blog or in the comments, if you’re interested in playing along.

I seem unable to get myself dinner when I am by myself. Usually I rely on Rudi to rustle up some evening grub, but when he’s not here, it falls to me to make sure I eat — healthily and at a reasonable hour. So far, I’m 0-3:

• Thursday night, I ordered a pizza at 11:15.
• Last night, I ate a half pint of blueberries and a bowl of ice cream.
• Tonight, I fried two eggs at 11:30 after deciding the ice cream I ate earlier ought not to be it for the night.

I wonder how poorly I’ll eat tomorrow night…

At least Monday night I now have plans with one or both of the Unshelved guys, so that’s one evening I know I’ll make a responsible choice. Maybe I’ll have to invite other people out to eat every night until Rudi returns…

Pardon the whining. I’m tired. I’m behind with things I’m supposed to be doing for work. It was 100 degrees today. I’m allergic to the house I’m staying in. I’ve spent most of the last three days either at a hospital or doing housework. It’s a crummy way to spend vacation time.

The up notes: Rudi’s mom came through her hip replacement with flying colors. Today’s physical therapy went much better than yesterday and tomorrow we hope she will graduate from a walker to crutches. She has many friends who have called to check in on her — even from as far away as Germany, and her neighbors have offered their assistance to her (and us) in any way we need. I’m glad to see people appreciate Jenny’s big heart and that the love flows both directions.

We have been taking periodic breaks away — mostly to give my immune system a break. Yesterday we stopped by Salt Lake’s beautiful main library, which opened a few years ago. It is everything a library ought to be — with spaces for books and research, and for socializing and studying. They’ve really taken their environment into consideration with a roof garden and large windows facing the mountains. It also has a gorgeous mobile featuring books and butterflies. If we get a chance before I leave, I’ll try to get back to take photos. It may not happen though.

Today we snuck over to the local open air market where I got a chance to buy English peas, as well as baked goods and a lemonade.

And I’ve been clothes shopping at the local grocery store. I know; it sounds weird. But so far I’ve come away with jeans, a top, bras, and shorts. I’ve taken to sending Rudi upstairs to grab the things we need in order to avoid being tempted by more new things. Who knew grocery stores could be so useful?

Anyway, I’m going to drink my tea and eat my cake (it was really all I wanted for dinner) and head home. More updates when I next encounter wireless access…