Well, that was a weekend, wasn’t it?

After catching our first outdoor movie of the summer, I really expected the weekend to be chock full of activity. And, yet, despite my having my usual game plan, it just wasn’t.

Some of it, I realize, was a reaction to having just spent a number of days in activity. Some of it was caused by having this major project launching tomorrow, which necessitated going into the office on a Saturday night. It certainly wasn’t helped by today’s steady rain and yesterday’s steady mizzle. But I think most of it was just bad attitude and lethargy.

The weekend wasn’t wholly a loss. As I said, I got quite a bit of work done that would otherwise have needed to be done tomorrow morning. I did stop by the garden, where I picked lettuce, strawberries, and peas (which are all flourishing thanks to all this rain), and the library, where I returned some of the overdue items.

I tried out a new dessert shop, where I had a delicious piece of key lime pie at the recommendation of the woman who waited on me and who also offered to refill my tea cup without prompting.

I wandered down to where there was supposed to be a pre-Stanley Cup concert by Sting and Shaggy, stood around for a while, before deciding they must have performed before my arrival. I then went and tried on clothes for a bit. Several things fit well enough, but didn’t wow me. I didn’t need anything (although really wouldn’t have minded some new additions to my wardrobe) and try never to buy things I feel only so-so about unless there is a pressing need. So, I left, gift card still intact, and returned to the office to productively power through my work.

I fixed some things that needed repairing, including some things I’d broken in my prior two days at work. And then I escaped the office via a bus that must have pulled away just before gleeful hockey fans descended, since it was nearly empty when I boarded.

This morning we had a damp stroll through the farmers market, where it was obvious that other people had chosen to remain home, given the full stands hours into the day. The poor farmers were devising rain specials, and Rudi and I came home with a flat of strawberries for a remarkably reasonable price (cheaper than I could have picked them for, and without the achy back that accompanies hours of bending over ground plants).

We came home, changed back into pjs from our wet clothes, and enjoyed hot beverages and tasty treats. We also watched a surprising amount of television. I finished one of my overdue books and spoke with my parents. Then we ate a very tasty pizza Rudi made, and I cut up and froze slightly more than half the berries while listening first to music (because getting going on tasks I don’t enjoy are always helped by sing-along ’80s music) and then to the audiobook I’m currently enjoying.

And that’s it. There’s really nothing to do with a disappointing weekend, but to acknowledge it’s gone sideways and then bid it adieu, knowing that you only have to get through a hand’s worth of days until the next one, which once again holds the golden promise of untold quantities of fun and accomplishment.

Onward!

Thunderstorms were threatening last night — again — as The Post concluded. The Army Navy Club looked particularly menacing hovering over Farragut Square.

It seems like we’ve had a very stormy spring this year. I certainly wouldn’t prefer a drought, but wouldn’t mind some moderation moving forward.

It’s going to be a rainy weekend here in D.C., so there won’t be a ton of outdoor activities on this week’s list. But I don’t think it’s going to thunderstorm anymore, so they won’t be precluded altogether.

I was supposed to start this weekend with an author event, Viet Thanh Nguyen’s talk about the D.C. Reads book, The Refugees. Unfortunately, I got stuck late at work and wasn’t able to attend. I managed to wrap up by 8, though, so Rudi and I met at a local park, where they were showing The Post, the movie about Katharine Graham and Ben Bradlee and the battle over whether The Washington Post should print the Pentagon Papers. When we missed seeing it in the theater, I’d intentionally held off watching it until our outdoor film season, figuring it was a logical choice for a number of them to pick. So we watched the film two blocks from the White House (currently occupied by another president who wants to actively erode the Freedom of the Press) and four from the former Post building and had the film introduced by former Post reporter and editor Len Downie, who had advised the film production. (He tearfully admitted the film set of Graham’s Georgetown home was so accurate that it was hard to be there and not believe she wouldn’t just walk around the corner.)

Speaking of walking, tomorrow is the Dupont-Kalorama art walk, which is when several neighborhood museums open their doors to the public for free. The event has shrunk over the years, but there are still two museums on the list I haven’t visited (one of which is in Georgetown, but who’s counting).

I have things that are overdue to the library, so I’ll be making a trip over there.

I also need to stop at the garden to pick peas and strawberries and lettuce. I was hoping to finish assessing which of my herbs need replacing and to plant beans, flower, and squash seeds, but that might need to wait until slightly drier days.

If the thunderstorms do hold off, I should probably hit the pool. Going last week made it plain that while my legs were up to the task of swimming, my arms had become jelly-filled over the winter and need exercising.

I’ve got several books on the go and a sock that’s hovering at the heel turn (I took a different project to New York because I somehow thought I might finish and have no knitting to replace it) I’d like to wrap up.

I’m mulling a trip to a local farm to pick strawberries, but think I might hold off until next weekend when Sarah is back from her vacation. But I do have berries in the fridge that I need to deal with (ice cream, I think), as well as some rhubarb (which could get paired with the strawberries, but instead I’m thinking about a rhubarb-lavendar crumble I just saw a recipe for).

I’m also contemplating a trip to the office. I’m launching a website on Monday afternoon and made some necessary changes last Friday that had a ripple effect on the way the site appears to some of my coworkers, and I might feel better about things if I do an hour or two of last-minute checks that today’s work repaired the problems.

Household chores were carried over from last weekend. I have a bag to unpack, clothes to put away, more laundry to do, a kitchen floor to wash, and, if rain keeps Rudi home on Sunday, a closet that requires two to reorganize properly. (He tried to tackle it on his own a couple weeks ago and conceded that it would be easier with a partner.) I should also take some of the books we’ve culled out of the house, either to the library (come to think of it, they might be collecting books for an upcoming Friends’ sale tomorrow) or one of the Little Free Libraries around the area. Oh! And the tea canisters need refilling. I love tea day!

I hope your weekend includes lots of fun or necessary tasks. What do you have planned on your agenda?

I had a nice Memorial Day weekend, but somehow three days always seems so short.

Rudi and I saw Solo on Friday night. It was not my favorite of the recent Star Wars movies.

Saturday, Julia and I went to the National Gallery of Art to see the Black Out: Silhouettes Then and Now exhibition. It was more interesting than I thought and the museum less crowded than I feared. (The above sculpture is by Kumi Yamashita and uses a spotlight at a particular angle to create the image.) We ate lunch at a bistro nearby and although the skies rumbled ferociously, they did not open up on us. I did a little shopping after we parted ways and read some of my book.

Sunday was my lazy day. I went to the farmers market, but then came home and didn’t leave again. We did some cleaning and watched Ferdinand, which was sweet.

Today, I did some more cleaning and some shopping, went to the garden, and swam at the pool. One of the things I had to buy was taller stakes for my peas and because the closer hardware store was closed for the holiday, I ended up biking back home with my groceries and with a package of six-foot-tall stakes. I felt like a knight on horseback with a lance and realized I’d never given much thought to how awkward that really is. I did feel very accomplished though, and my peas are so much happier now.

Rudi and I kicked off the long weekend tonight with a date night to see Solo and for dinner at a nearby Asian restaurant.

He’ll be working the rest of the weekend, but here’s what else I’m hoping to get up to this long weekend:

• My friend Julia and I are meeting up today to catch an exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery (her idea; I’d never suggest going to a Smithsonian on the weekend during tourist season) and to have lunch.
• The pool opens tomorrow for the season. As per usual, the weather isn’t expected to be ideal, but that won’t stop me.
• I got out of work early today and was able to get to the library to pick up a couple things on hold, but didn’t return the things that needed to go back, so I’ll be heading back over tomorrow or Sunday.
• I need to give the peas more string, and I could use some additional supports, so a trip to the hardware store or garden center and to the garden are on the agenda.
• Laundry. I only have one more pair of tier-one underwear left and the towels may march themselves to the washing machine.
• Make something with strawberries. Maybe more than one thing. (Ice cream or quick bread or a crumble with rhubarb or … or … )
• We have someone stopping by the house next week, so I’d like it to not look like juvenile hyenas reside here when she does, so some cleaning is in order.
• I don’t need much at the farmers market this week, but I missed buying shelling peas at the market on Tuesday, so am hoping to track some down.
• I didn’t make it out last weekend to look for ducklings further down the towpath, but since my bike is clear, I think I’ll give it a shot this weekend.
• Sleep.

How about you? What are you hoping this weekend holds for you?

Rudi and I got up early, watched the royal wedding, and feasted on homemade scones and a pot of English breakfast tea. Then he went to work and Paddington moved right in. I’d worry that Rudi had something to fear, but I’ll never be a good source of orange marmalade, so I think we’re all okay.

I also finished my Victorian-era mystery featuring a minor member of the royal family and it did not disappoint (although the series is written by a Virginian, so calling it British could be questioned).

It was a good way to pass a rainy day.