Spring Break! Woohoo!

This past week TBF and I took a much needed mini-break to Las Vegas to visit friends. I made those four days a computer-free vacation, which was also needed. It was great! The muscles in my neck, shoulders, and back become like slabs of granite from the stress of school and nearly constant computer use, and I do not care for that. My lovely friend Shannon booked us massages at one of the locals' spas (my one request for the break), and that turned out to be incredibly relaxing. The spa included a steam room, sauna, and pools, and it was so nice to just lounge around and detox a bit. I needed to take winter right out of my system! The weather in Vegas did not cooperate for winter removal, however. It was chilly and windy the entire time, which was the only blemish in an otherwise fantastic getaway. I still wore my flip-flops around though. Nothing short of a blizzard was going to get in my way of THAT.

We drank coffee and chatted, watched movies, visited the new casinos on the strip (loved the Cosmopolitan!), ate good food (of course!), and TBF and I took a motorcycle ride out to Red Rock to try out a different kind of bike. The scenery was so pretty, but the chilliness prevented us from stopping to enjoy it much. We got off the bike at one lookout point, and I took about five steps around before hopping back on to motor away.

School and practicum start back up on Monday. I'm feeling just about ready for that. Mostly, I'm anxious to complete this first year of the MSW, so I'm all, let's get on with it already! On the other hand, it's hard to believe that I'm almost done with my first year already. Right now, I'm busily working on the plan for next year for practicum. I have some promising leads in the works, so fingers crossed that it all comes together.

Honestly, I can't wait for summer to arrive. This is the first winter in Seattle where I've had a really hard time with the weather. I'm feeling such a need for warmth and sunshine. I'm longing for Hawaii. I'm looking forward to an extended break from school that includes long walks in the sun, farmers markets, gardening, and vacation. TBF and I are considering a road trip in July to visit the parents and see Napa. We always have the best time wine tasting, even though we know very little about it. We do not try to identify ingredients via swilling and sniff testing. We take sips and either say, Yum! or Eh or Ugh. That's it. If we like something, we buy it and enjoy, but then we usually forget what it was a few months down the line. I know I like Bordeaux. Does that count for anything?

I have to say that I haven't been in love with much music lately, and that is a serious bummer. Yet, I think I'm falling a little bit in love with Elbow's Build a Rocket Boys! We're in the early stages, so it's hard to tell for sure. I'll keep you posted. I'm also really into listening to M.I.A.'s Maya album, which isn't similar to Elbow at all, but it's very satisfying. It Iz What It Iz.