5 Things I'm looking forward to this weekend

Usually I get to see my wonderful boyfriend on the weekends since we live +140 miles apart and can't see each other during the week.  However today is one of those weird weekends where it didn't work for me to get a train and he can't drive to see me, so even though I'm bummed I won't get to see him, here are five things I am really excited for:

1. Sleep:  This work has been crazy busy with me coming in early and staying late for events and other work tasks.  The events weren't easy cake walks, most of them had some issues with them and I've still had my regular work stuff on top of that, I've been feeling like I'm burning the candle at both ends so I'm definitely looking forward to sleeping in both Saturday and Sunday
2. Goodwill trip:  My friend and I occasionally do these Goodwill trip/days where we scope out 4-5 Goodwills in Virginia looking at books, furniture, clothes, and old POM glasses.  We have not had a trip in awhile and I have a few bags of things to get rid of from my own house!
3. Reading on my balcony:  It's finally cooling down here in DC and Sunday is supposed to be beautiful.  All I want to do is go out on my balcony with a cup o' joe and my book and read for hours on end.  I'm currently in the middle of Outlander and even though I've read it before, I'm still hopelessly enthralled!
4. Television watching: Speaking of Outlander, it's now a television show and I can't wait for the new episode on Saturday - I really hope it's the wedding!  Since I'm the only one who gets Starz my friends come over to my place and we all hang out and swoon over the Scottish kilts and accents.
5. Ska Band: this is a recent addition, as in the last hour, when my friends decided that it would be fun to go out and see a ska band tonight.  I've never been to the bar, but the group of friends is always fun so I'm looking forward to going out for a bit after the gym and dinner - let's hope I last that long and don't fall asleep on the stationary bike!

 Those are my fun plans for the weekend - a bonus #6 would be a possible skype date with boyfriend and with family, I used to be hesitant about skype but now I love seeing the faces and expressions of the people I talk to and I'm a full convert!

What about you?  Any fun things happening in your neck of the woods for this weekend?

Book Talk: Eleanor & Park

 
“Eleanor & Park reminded me not just what it’s like to be young and in love with a girl, but also what it’s like to be young and in love with a book.”—John Green, The New York Times Book Review

Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell was a great read that I devoured in a day.  I was originally handed this book by one of my book-loving colleagues who was looking to talk about this story with someone.  I grabbed it before heading to the gym and I actually wanted to stay on the bike longer - just to keep on reading!

The story is about first love between two high school misfits, however the book explores much deeper themes then that.  While my high school experience was not as traumatic as Eleanor's I did experience my first love in High School and I think this book captures those feelings in an honest way.  There are so many good quotes that brought me right back to being 16, and all those wonderful hopeful feelings of first love, how you're so hopeful even though you realistically know the odds are stacked against you.

“Holding Eleanor's hand was like holding a butterfly. Or a heartbeat. Like holding something complete, and completely alive.” 

If you're looking for an honest book, that is well written that will absorb you, check out this book - definitely a wonderful read!