Publication: Freedom – OCR – Placentia News-Times; Date: February 16, 2012; Section: News; Page Number: 4
WHAT A DAY
Waiting for the lazy days of summer
February is such a short month, why is it so jam-packed with activity? We have Valentine’s Day, Lincoln’s Birthday, President’s Day, and George Washington’s Birthday. Most years, Mardi Gras and Ash Wednesday are also in the month.
I know more people born in February than any other month, including two of my three brothers-in-law. Even my own birthday is in February. I’m a day older than George Washington, in case anyone is curious. Unlike George, I still have my own teeth.
Perhaps because February is so busy, I automatically pack my own schedule to overflowing. This year, I began the month with a trip to Cal State Long Beach to see their basketball team play Dale’s alma mater, Cal State Northridge. I got Dale tickets for Christmas, not realizing the game was the day before Superbowl Sunday.
Basketball kind of merged into football the next day, when we went to some friends’ house to watch the game. Well, some people watched the game. The rest of us were there for the commercials.
After such a busy weekend of sports, plus giving riding lessons and trying to get Duffy to pay attention during doggie agility class, I was ready to relax. Unfortunately, I had a few more things to do.
The following weekend was a horse show in Burbank. This meant I had to gather all my horse show gear, bathe my horse, clean my saddle, and dust off my boots. A “weekend” horse show usually starts on Wednesday, so I only had two days to get this done.
Two days to get ready doesn’t seem bad, unless you include having to write a column and a blog post, take the car in for service, and deposit more savings bonds in the bank for Marcus’s school expenses.
On Sunday after the show I could relax, except Dale and I have tickets to a play in La Mirada. Going to the theater is actually very relaxing. It’s the preparation that’s hard work. I don’t need to wear makeup at the horse show, or high heels.
The following weekend is a writer’s conference in San Diego I attend every year. For four days, I am surrounded by other writers, and discuss the art of putting words together. It’s energizing and I’m looking forward to it.
But first, I need to clean my house, since we will have company while I’m gone. Two young friends from Sacramento feel the need to visit Disneyland, so they’re staying with us. I love having them over, and sad I won’t be able to join them in the Magic Kingdom.
These events would all be easy to organize, if I wasn’t also in charge of the Author’s Luncheon, presented by the Placentia Library Friends Foundation. It is the biggest fundraiser of the year for the library, so the pressure is on. I have lots of members on the team, and everyone is happy to do their job. Tickets must be sold, advertising must be done, and donations must be solicited for our silent auction baskets.
Overall, the arrangements are coming along smoothly, but it seems like every day, there is one little fire to be put out. I’m hoping that the fires don’t get any larger, since I don’t have time to get a bigger fire extinguisher.
In between all these will be the monthly Sisters in Crime meeting. Fortunately, I only have to send out a meeting notice, and then show up for two hours.
It’s a good thing February has an extra day this year. Otherwise, I’d never get all this done.
