Rainy Indulgence

I consider this a perfect beach day.

If I were there today, I'd spend the afternoon sitting on the porch spring watching/listening/smelling the rain and, depending on the company, drinking something ridiculously quaffable.

A nap might follow depending on my mood.

But I'm not at the beach today, so my Plan B made the best of the weather anyway.

I met a friend at Lunch for lunch, arriving just as the rain began. He was waiting for me at the bar.

He said he was getting the Parker Field, essentially a BLT using pecanwood-smoked bacon and avocado on multi-grain bread.

Growing up, my father, a native Richmonder, had told many stories about Parker Field, which had been demolished before I moved to RVA.

In a nod to my Dad, I got the sandwich too, just so I can tell him I did when I see him Sunday for Father's Day.

It was a fine BLAT with plenty of bacon, the ripest of avocados and sweet, ripe tomato slices.

We also savored one of today's specials, bacon and cheddar deviled eggs, a ridiculously decadent take on the picnic standard.

He told me about the First Annual Bartender Brawl (too costly for my pocketbook) and I told him of my support for spirit tastings as the newest bar trend.

We both want to see a tequila tasting.

After we parted company, I headed home to change into shorts and take my daily constitutional in the rain.

First I had to run the gauntlet of graduation traffic which is wreaking havoc with my neighborhood this week.

But once safely on Grace Street, I was rewarded with not one but two compliments on the loveliness of my umbrella,

For the record, I got it for a buck at Diversity Thrift three years ago.

But it's the perfect size to keep me dry on all sides when walking in a softly-falling rain. And it always gets me comments from strangers.

Which I wouldn't get if I were sitting on the porch swing at the beach during the rain.

Point being, I can find pleasure in a day like this no matter where I am. Try me.

SWF ISO Rain Fan

While blogging last night, a friend messaged me to say that this weather had made him think of me. He remembered that I like rainy weather and with it pelting down outside, he said I was the first thing that came to mind. I don't even remember telling him that, but he was right. I tried to convince him that it's comforting to go to sleep hearing rain on the roof or street outside.

Unlike practically everyone, I don't hate the rain; in fact, I like rainy days, even when we have several in a row. It does make walking the dog and doing my daily four miles more challenging, but I'd have that dilemma if I lived in London or Scotland, now wouldn't I? I've got my hot pink rain jacket, my warm lined boots and three sizes of umbrella to suit the downpour. My biggest problem on days like this is flooded streets; I'm not very tall and sometimes my legs just aren't long enough to span the bigger puddles.

I've only known one other person who enjoys rainy days as much as I do, but he lives in Williamsburg, so it's not always convenient to meet up on rainy days. Which is not to say that we haven't in the past; we've walked in it, taken drives in it and chosen restaurants with front window seats to admire it as we ate. But it's been at least a couple of years since we've enjoyed those pleasures together.

I'd enjoy having another rain-loving friend, but I've got no idea how to find one. Standing on a corner under my umbrella trying to solicit one just seems wrong. I'll just keep an eye peeled during my rainy outings for someone else smiling and wet besides me.

Monday Musings

It's true, I have yet to find a job, but not for lack of looking and applying. I refuse to get discouraged, especially since my life is good. My Monday (the dreaded first day of the work week for most) wasn't significant for any particular reason, but a collection of small pleasures and accomplishments made it a lovely day for me.

I enjoyed an afternoon of back and forth e-mails with my friend Jameson who just arrived in Buenos Aries to work on a community farm. We covered silent film, music, religion, marriage, farming and him coming back to the VA at the end of the year. I can't wait.

Finally made it back to Dollar Burger Night at Capital Ale House (and, no, I don't drink beer) where it was madness because they were having a Dogfish Ale Beer Dinner in addition to the unwashed masses, like me, showing up for dollar burgers. I'll bet it wasn't pretty back in the kitchen, although that staff definitely earned their shift beers tonight.

I enjoyed a long walk in a light rain with my new-to-me used umbrella from Diversity Thrift. And while I appreciate the convenience of the small collapsible umbrellas (I have several), there is nothing like a large, wooden-handled umbrella with a great pattern on a rainy day. It's like being in your own little world.

So, another day unemployed, but another day thoroughly enjoyed.