An Ode to the Mental Vacation
Or, perhaps some would posit that I am ALWAYS on a mental vacation. Ha. The month of July was a banner month for emptying my grey matter onto a computer screen. It was a month of celebration for MTM, with the approval of a years’-long work project happening mid-month.
That’s how we found ourselves drifting toward Hell.
I mean, Arizona.
In July.
To boil our brains relax. To forget every pressing stress. To read three books in three days (me) and catch up on bazillions of NY Times crossword puzzles (MTM). To get weird sunburn lines, even though we wore 50 sunblock and always sat under an umbrella.
A mental vacation. I can’t really remember the last time I took one. I highly recommend it.
But.
I will be glad to be back with a vengeance tomorrow.
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Hell, yes! My best friend lives in Phoenix…and I don’t know how she lives with scorched lungs! I once nearly passed out walking from the car into a restaurant, with the asphalt liquefying under my feet. There are some great spas in AZ, though, so I hope you’ve been somewhere fabulous…Congratulations to MTM on the approval of the big project! You keep pace quite well, too! And you were only one state away from me…next time!
Debra
The place we stay has a great spa, and we went twice.
It has been funny to have you reading at the same time as I am trying to get posts up, because we’ve been in the same time zone. 
I drove from Houston Texas to Scottsdale Arizona and I believe it took us 24 hours to get there. That was the longest and most miserable drive I have ever participated in. My boss and I were going to a week long software training seminar. I loved how beautiful Scottsdale is. I am so happy for you and MTM to be able to take some time off and relax. I am looking forward to the time when Katy and I might be able to do that. Congrats to MTM on his new project. You read three books in 3 days? Wow…. What did you read?
It is a very pretty, stark landscape. It rained a lot while we were here, which was strange for us. We didn’t come prepared for it.
I have them on my Good Reads page. I didn’t love, love, love any of them, but Wild by Cheryl Strayed was the best of the three.
And here is some secret video of Queen A and the Shadow Ninja.
Oh Lord. To be Chevy Chase……….
Happy mental vacation, Andra. And congrats to MTM on the approval of his project.
Hugs,
Kathy
This has been such a great break for him, Kathy. Well deserved. Thanks.
Since I live for giving my brain a break, I posted this one to my “redefine success” board on Pinterest.
I hope it makes me successful, because my brain sure was sitting on empty before.
Your photos filled me up… vicariously. Is that an okay use of an adverb?
Sure. I say so, anyway.
Mental vacations are highly recommended. I’ve been to the desert in July and know what Arizona is like then. Of course, I’ve been there during their coldest April on record. We thought it would be a good idea to observe an Easter sunrise service. The desert gets mighty cold just before daybreak.
Wow, Penny. I bet that was just gorgeous, though. The cold is so unexpected, isn’t it? We once got up at 3:30am to hike before it got too hot, and it was weird to go from freezing to baking in the span of about 5 hours.
My niece lives in Scottsdale and I don’t think I’ve ever been to visit during the summer. Not sure I want to! Missed you this morning at Rotary! Enjoy!
We’re packing up to head back now. Second summer in a row we’ve done this. Yesterday was actually very pleasant, and so was Saturday.
I just have to agree with the first part – always on mental vacation. Dear, you checked out years ago.
I am happier in my own little world.
Lots to be said for mental vacations; all good! Of course, I know whereof I speak ’cause I’m pretty much on one of those full-time now — read blog posts; read a book or three, stay up until the wee hours if I choose . . . Yep, it’s all good.
Hope you were in and out of the Phoenix area BETWEEN the July 21 and July 29 dust storms; they look like some kind of serious ugly!!
I was here on the 29. We are at the airport now heading home.
I could really use a mental vacation. Or simply a real vacation.
It isn’t often that I turn off the Internet and unplug. It is so hard to do, but worth it once in a while.
Ah, that sounds so nice. *sigh* I’m sure you’re enjoying it – loved the picture of you and MTM that you posted on facebook – you two did look so relaxed.
Also known as “buzzed” in that picture, Lori.
No mental vacations, but I’m often mentally out to lunch.
Maybe that is why you and I get along so well, Bill.
I love Arizona! Just give me the heat, pool, and a good book! Enjoy your mental vacation
On my way home now. It was a good break for me. Thank you.
Safe Travels!!!
Wow, AZ in July. You are brave. It’s so hot there in the summer. Glad you were able to relax, in spite of the heat.
The heat wasn’t too bad. I live in Hell, remember?
You have some quintessentially quick quips!
Sometimes. I try.
Aha. I have been considering one of these.Glad yours worked out. At least it wasn’t 40 days in the desert.
I could do 40 days in that desert. The Valley Ho pool is a place I could move in and live. You could do the desert thing in Spain, couldn’t you?
Love a vacation. And the vengeance that follows!
Wait, that came out wrong…
Vengeance is what it is going to be, starting tomorrow.
Hope it was glorious glorious glorious. Not mental.
What??? AZ is hell? I was just saying today how I wish I were in AZ (I almost moved several years ago AFTER visiting in August & September). Love the desert. Bravo on the mental…take one for me as well.
)
(PS…followed ya over to GR, hope you don’t mind
Glad you enjoyed your respite. You’re not the only one with weird tan lines . . . Suzicate (Water Wtich) gathered a few less-than-fine lines while on vacation last week:
http://suzicate.wordpress.com/2012/07/30/defining-lines/
Ooh, the spa. After my late-June New Mexico experience, though, I think I will save Arizona for the spring or the fall.