The best place to escape

There is no one best place in the world to escape. Especially considering the variety of life events and aspects that people chose to escape from. For some, they'd like to escape their job and their time would be much better spent with family and sharing bliss with children. On the other hand, there are parents who have had too much of their kids and these people want to unplug from everything.

For me, my best place to escape would be a vacation where I don't have any responsibilities other than entertaining myself. I have a list of things I can do and explore that will fill my mind and my heart with joy, but it is no big deal if I don't get to those items. Tomorrow is another day and in my escape I don't have to go back to reality until I am good and ready.

So, let me paint the picture. My escape would be a northern lake house cabin in early summer before the temperature has baked the earth beyond comfort. At the lake house, I am able to take a book onto the wrap around back porch and do some pleasure reading amid the breeze of the day. I can take a nap to the sound of birds chirping in a hammock that is strung up between two large and shady trees. I can take a drink and go sit on the dock in the sun while reflecting on the beauty of nature. I can go for a dip in the lake when I get a little too heated, leisurely back stroking the minutes away. At night I can have friends over for a bon fire where we'll cook our dinner and then roast marshmallows as the lightning bugs start to dance around the trees along the perimeter of the property. Then, when it is time to go to sleep I can curl up near an open window and listen to the quiet sounds of night as I drift off into rem land.

I don't have to do anything or worry about anything in my escape. I simply make a magical list, attach it to the refrigerator, and all my needs and desires are taken care of. The bills will be paid, the groceries bought, and mosquitoes eradicated without harmful  effects to the environment. Oh, and my allergies don't bother me because this is my fictional escape.

Super villain to-do list

I am the social secretary for an evil super villain (Is the term super needed? Aren't they all especially evil?) and I have been asked to start a to-do list for Dr. Y. Being a scary, mad scientist, Dr. Y doesn't have much time for the upkeep of his calendar. He's always missing appointments with arch nemeses and dinner with his coalition of malevolent characters. This sort of scattered brained approach to life is ruining his image, and I will hopefully restore it by adding some order to the chaos. 

Monday

9am - Breakfast with mother (random scary appearance of the day, or RSAD)

Write speech for random scary subway appearance

Research smoke machine rentals

Feed the cat

Lab time

Tuesday

8am - Breakfast with Sophie the cat

9am - Return phone calls and emails from concerned city leaders

Purchase highly concentrated nerve gas for undetermined use

12pm - Appointment with "Lady U" at University student center

12:30 - Lunch at university quad (RSAD)

Journal time

Wednesday

Grocery shop, see attached list

Prepare acceptance speech for Evil Doers awards banquet

1pm - Pick up tux from the cleaners

Visit haberdasher for top hat

Research where to purchase fake vomit, whoopie cushions, and fly in ice cube tricks

Test flame throwing turbo booster boots

Grocery list

Eggs

Batteries

V8

Draino

Stouffers single meals

7 frozen turkeys

Propane tank

Gin

Juice

Hair gel

Bug spray deoderant

Canning jars

Silly putty

People magazine

Hopefully, this will get him started. In the future I will take more detailed notes of his actions, needs, and desires in order to complete a more thorough to-do list. Since being this evil isn't easy, I want to make sure I have the bases covered so that Dr. Y doesn't miss any opportunities. I hope one day to be a supervillain myself, and a recommendation letter from Dr. Y to the University of Villains and Madmen would go a long way.

Sweet curmudgeon granola

When I eat my morning yogurt I like a little crunch in it. Sometimes I would sprinkle granola on the top, but I was mostly adding Grape Nuts. This is probably because the granola I had wasn't good; it wasn't made to be snacked on. However, I now have a tasty solution. I found a recipe that makes a very yummy additive. I altered it slightly to fit my tastes and it turned out perfect. I call it my sweet curmudgeon granola because it is just that, sweet and crunchy.

The recipe is simple, plus it is easy to modify.

Ingredients

• 3 cups rolled oats (not instant)
• 3 tablespoons packed light brown sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/3 cup honey
• 1/4 cup vegetable oil
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup coarsely chopped raw or toasted nuts or seeds
• 1/2 cup small-dice dried fruit

 

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 300°
2. Mix all but the last ingredient
3. Spread thinly over a baking sheet
4. Bake for 15 minutes, remove from oven and stir oats
5. Bake for another 10 minutes or until oats are a light golden brown
6. Remove from oven and let cool
7. Add dried fruit
8. Enjoy! 

I even gave some granola as a gift. However, the gift thing is something I've decided I don't want to do a whole lot, at least not with this item. I don't want to be known as the granola lady. That does not sound pleasing. 

A guide to snow day entertainment

Write this guide: 20 things to do when you're bored on a snow day

Winter time makes it the perfect opportunity to write this guide. After all, being prepared to fight off boredom on a snow day makes the difference between a day spent mindlessly watching nothing on t.v. and a productive day of accomplishing tasks and fun projects.

1. Enjoy a homemade breakfast with all of the traditional trimmings.
2. Play a board game.
3. Organize your kitchen drawers.
4. Clean out your closet and get rid of old and seldom worn clothes.
5. Give yourself a facial.
6. Catch up on blogging or other writing projects.
7. Build a snow fort.
8. Construct and line up mini snow men and photograph them from different angles.
9. Abstain from posting what you're doing or comments about the treachery of winter weather on social media.
10. Clean the house.
11. Find some new recipes for crock pot meals.
12. Clean up and update social media profiles.
13. Take a nature walk in your neighborhood and appreciate the fresh untouched snow.
14. Snuggle up with a blanket and popcorn for a movie.
15. Cut paper snow flakes and decorate the house with them.
16. Build a fire in your fireplace and toast marshmellows (or make s'mores in the microwave if you have a gas burning fireplace).
17. Knit some warm weather clothing.
18. Fill out a cross word puzzle.
19. Draw the winter wonderland view you have from your window.
20. Write a "just because" card to snail mail to a friend.

This list hopefully provides some ideas, at least you can piggy back off of them to come up with your own activity list. Many of the items on this list are providing your fridge is stocked and that you have supplies. As with any storm, pay attention to the forecast and make sure you have the items on hand to have a fun snow day.