It was sometime in the past few days when I realized that I am embarking on the first vacation longer than a four day weekend since perhaps getting out of the Army. In the many years since then I have kept myself busy, typically balancing several side projects while maintaining at least one job and occasionally school.

But today marked the first day off, of nine. No work, at least not in the paid kind. It’s hard to come to mental grips with, shrugging off the rhythm of life that I’ve grown accustomed to, and as sure as one would expect, I was awake early this morning – weekend be damned. I fought the urge, and managed to roll back over. Sleep came as sleep is wont to, that is, sleep came in fits.

I woke up before my girlfriend, sliding out of bed and grabbing pants without waking her. I made it into my office, checked my email and the news online before popping out for a smoke and settling onto the couch for some quality time with the television.

I had grabbed a couple of movies the night prior, and wanted to get back to watching those, but settled instead for a bottle of Coke and a rerun of Law and Order on TNT.

The girlfriend woke up an hour or two after I did, the footsteps of our neighbor, or as we refer to him – the Elephant Upstairs – too loud for her to continue. The two of us hung out in the living room until she had to go to work. I managed to make my way through both of the movies from Friday night before she had to go to work.

We swung downtown together, and I came back home. Mother called, she’s excited about us coming into town and wanted to discuss sleeping arrangements. I brushed her off after a few minutes, I hadn’t eaten yet today and had a box of fried chicken and a six of Long Hammer waiting for me.

I tried to sit on the couch, but quickly grew bored with that. I shifted instead to my office and watched a movie. But, it wasn’t long before I settled down to what I realized I have to do on my vacation.

I popped open a couple of document windows and started working. So far, day one hasn’t been too bad. I just wish I could shake this black cloud from over me.