I've been given 6 hours. What do I do?

It was a long week. Hot, sweaty, oppressive, Michael wasn't home much, and everything wore on my patience. I know that this upcoming week isn't going to get any easier. It was clear to me that I needed a break. So I asked Michael to be in charge of Kindred for the day, go have some special guy time together. Michael agreed, while also demanding that I leave the house while Kindred sleeps. "3 hours out," he said. "Then when you come home Kindred and I will go run some errands for a couple of hours." Yes! So Michael got Kindred up, we went to church, came home and put Kindred to bed. I went to see a movie.

Now, I can't stand it when someone talks up a movie so much that it loses all flavor by the time you see it. So I won't say much, except that I haven't had as much fun in a movie since I saw Sideways. If it becomes an option, don't pass up the chance to see Little Miss Sunshine.

(How weird. I don't normally plug movies in my blog.)

Anyway, on the way home from the movie, I realized that I've been given this chance a few times in the past several months. This "go do whatever you want" chance. And every time I think, "Yes! Whatever I want! (pause) Um, what might that be?" My first instinct is to think "Shop!" because it's nearly impossible to shop for clothes with Kindred. He doesn't really get into it (such a man) and he doesn't behave well in the fitting rooms-- when he fits in the stroller or the cart. But the fact is, I'm done shopping. I'm about to be as big as a house, and then 5 sizes smaller quite quickly within a month or so. (OK, I hope.) There is little point in shopping for clothes. Besides, we've spent far more money than we should have this summer. So I would prefer to curb the spending.

So what's next? A movie, I guess. Anything else? A pedicure? Maybe. Still a lot of $. A coffee shop? Well, OK. I don't really drink coffee and have to research the language of a coffee shop before I go in and order or else I just stand there and ask to have everything explained to me and eventually have to server just pick what they think I would like. I feel a little deficient in a coffee shop. (But proud when I learn the contents of just one hot beverage.) (Aside: when we were in the Borders last week, I ordered (after some coaching) a Vanilla Bean Frappachino. Why on earth I couldn't have just ordered a "Vanilla milkshake" baffles me. It was one and the same. At least it tasted that way. Why does everything have to be so pretentious?)

And then what to I do when I'm given a chance to be alone at home? Clean? Laundry? Dishes? Even if I wanted to scrapbook, I would have to clean first. It's sad. I just don't know what I enjoy anymore. I don't know what to do with myself when I have free time. I'm so boring!

So that's my question to you. What do you like to do when you have some of that elusive treat called "freetime"? I seriously need some suggestions.