All Play, All Day

I don't think today was meant for work. Not for me, at least.

Now for some DETAILS, a la Raul...

I woke up at 8, drank some strong coffee sitting on the swing in the backyard garden. Contemplated the sound of the birds...
began "work," babysitting at 9...

At which point, I took a 6 and a 7-year-old to the Children's Museum.
First, we went to the pretend grocery store, and checked out items beginning with the letter "b." We got to use a cash register! They let me press the buttons!
Then I was the producer and they were reporters in an imaginary TV studio.
Then I, along with several other adults, was waited on in a fake cafe, and served an impressive plate of plastic food. I ordered a taco, orange juice, crawfish, and rice. My chefs, although not yet in third grade, prepared a gourmet meal speedily, although they forgot to bring silverware. It's ok, I ate with my hands.

Then, I was inside of a REAL bubble!
And we climbed a rock wall,
and looked at ourselves in one of those mirrors that makes you look fat!
Then we went home,
and played catch,
and then "Chutes and Ladders."

I also taught the kids the bumblebee song.
Do you know it?
I'M bringing home a baby bumblebee,
won't my mommy be so proud of meeee
I'm bringing home a baby bumblebee,
OUCH, HE STUNG ME!

I'm smashing up my baby bumblebee...
:)

Tutoring was cancelled, so after "work,"
I came home to a large, awesome margarita that Dad made me.
With him, I watched selected scenes from Napoleon Dynamite.
Then I googled for a while:
I did a search for "New Orleans, Costa Rica," because someone had said something to me about a cruise, which seems outrageous... but there are cruises that go all the way down to Panama, and then out to California!!
And I learned:
there's actually a restaurant in Costa Rica that serves Cajun food:
(ripped straight from http://www.costa-rica-travel-magazine.com)

Papagayo Seafood Restaurant is in downtown Coco, across from the Hotel Coco Verde. Their specialty is Cajun seafood, and their Cajun Platter includes gumbo, breaded catfish fingers, blackened Cajun fish, breaded shrimp Louisiana style and jambalaya. The downstairs open air restaurant seats fifty and the upstairs bar seats twenty. The bar has cable tv and is air-conditioned. Open from 12pm until 10pm every day. $$ 670-0298, 670-0326.

You can also go to Costa Rica and learn how to cook "Carribean/Creole" food from some Louisiana peeps. http://www.cerrocoyote.com/id11.html

The School emphasizes the Creole approach to food and cooking, which grew out of the Spanish and French colonial experience in the New World. Our New Orleans trained chef/instructors also operate the Nova Scotia Seafood Cooking School and have years of experience in Costa Rica fresh, healthful ingredients.

Then I read some awesome poetry by Wislawa Szymborksa. One of the only books of poems I consistently turn to for enjoyment (thanks Nick!).

Then I "worked" on a playlist of songs that I think are the most fun. I listened to Madonna's "Express Yourself" and Big and Rich's "Save a Horse, Ride a Cowboy" probably a collective 25 times. And yes, I danced around my room like the fool that I am, fake singing into my favorite microphone (hairbrush).

Much gratitude to God and the Universe for this day of smiles, stimulation, and worry-free play.
I wish the same for everyone!

Not everything always has to be serious. Today, nothing was.