scintilla: day 6

Today’s Scintilla prompt goes like this: Many of our fondest memories are associated with food. Describe a memorable experience that took place while preparing or eating food.

Today is the first day of spring. On this, the first day of spring, it is 34 degrees where I am right now. There is snow on the ground from yesterday’s storm. My back aches from slipping and falling on the ice last night. I am wearing a sweater dress and boots for the umpteenth time over the past five months, which have been long, arduous, and freezing fucking cold. You can see the desperation for a little warm weather on everyone’s faces. We all look a little grey, a little sad, and a little dead.

There is a place in Westbrook, CT called Bill’s Seafood. In the summer, when we’re at the boat or visiting my in-laws, we will often go there. When I think of Bill’s, which I was doing just this morning, these are the things that pop into my mind:

*hot summer sun
*lobster rolls dripping with butter, with a heaping side of fries
*Styrofoam containers filled with steamers
*loud live music
*a packed deck with people drinking and looking at the boats going by
*weekends
*my family
*shorts, sunburns, and laughter
*hitting the ice cream stand next door as we leave

I can’t think of a better recipe for happiness.

(Note: writing this post put a lump in my throat. That is how badly I need summer to get here.)

summer.

There are things I need to report to you. I haven't been here in weeks, really, and in the meantime I did that show (the one I Tweeted and Facebooked about mercilessly), Jane had her first dance recital, we received the invite to her preschool graduation (!!!!) that happens this Thursday, and we went on vacation.

We returned today from a week that was a little sunny, moderately rainy and a lot cloudy. But we made it fun. We went to a children's museum we'd never been to, a Navy submarine base and museum, an art museum, one of our favorite zoos, and even managed to go to the beach a couple of times. Oh, and I squeezed in a couple of trips to my all-time favorite bookstore. I'd live there if I could, I swear.

I promise to get back here. I'm itching to get back here. I hate that when I'm the busiest, and I have so much to write about, I just don't have time to do it. But summer's here. I'm calling it the Summer of Amanda and Jane - her last before she heads off to the wacky world of public school

And I know I've already shared this elsewhere, but it must be said that this is one of my all-time favorite pictures of my girl.

Are you having as much fun as she is? Are you loving life as much? Am I? We should try, no?

Amanda Day.

So I declared today "Amanda Day" and took the day off from work. Here is my recipe for a great day off:

1) Fan-freakin-tastic weather. Sunny and high 80s today. Gorgeous.
2) Solo boat time. I went down to our boat and just hung out and read for a few hours. Got some vitamin D the all-natural way. Ate some lunch.
3) Visited my favorite bookstore. I love, love triple-love this place.
4) Got an iced mocha and sat on a bench in the shade outside the bookstore and read the beginning of my new book. The past two books I've read have been for the book clubs I am in, so it was nice to choose something for myself on my own. (Note: I did pick The Weird Sisters for one of my book clubs - and I completely loved it. We have the meeting at my house on Friday.)
5) Sang loud and proud to my new favorite Broadway soundtrack on the way there and back. With the air conditioner on in the car AND the windows open!
6) What is a day off without a trip to Target? Hollow and empty, that's what it is. Somehow I spent $84. I was literally second-guessing the cashier. But no, really, I did spend that much.

Fin.

PS I am noticing all the book talk here. I am such a nerd.