This weekend (well, Thursday thru Sunday), my wife and kids and I went Up North.

My folks have a great place on the river, in the middle of the woods, and we spent a few days just hanging out there and relaxing. The first two days were filled with lots of rain – thankfully we didn’t get the brunt of those massive storms that passed over a lot of Michigan – but even though it was raining, we had a great time. Lots of reading (I’m currently reading World War Z, a really neat, end of the world Zombie book!) We also played a bunch of games: Uno Attack (which is RIDICULOUSLY fun), LCR, and a bunch of card games.

My folks were there with us, which was really nice, and after the kids were sleeping the 4 of us would play cards and chat.

Did a little bit of fishing the last two days, when it wasn’t raining! In fact, Saturday night was fun, because we sat out on the pontoon boat, putting worms on hooks for the kids and listening to the Tigers play on the radio. Very relaxing. Only caught a couple of little blue-gills, but completely worth it. Then this morning, before packing up to head home, Max and I fished for a little while off the dock. My wife, Jeanne, is really the fisherman (fisherperson?) in our family, she’s much better at it!

Speaking of, Jeanne and I also went on a nice date for a few hours, and saw Superbad, which was very fun. I love Michael Cera, and have since first seeing him in Arrested Development.

The kids did lots of “arts and crafts” with my mother, who loves doing that kind of stuff with them! They did some painting of wooden boxes, some painting of rocks, and some hip and trendy iron-on stuff on a few shirts and pairs of pants! (You crazy kids with your iron-on patches and your Volkswagen busses!)

And of course we made a bunch of meals, including some awesome homemade Mama Caselli’s Spaghetti! Yum!

So – tomorrow – back to work. Well, tonight, actually – I’m doing some work online after/while I type this!

A little bit of time with the family stolen, though. Carved out of the non-stop go-go-go that our schedules can create. In a week or so, the kids go back to school. In two weeks, I’ll be in rehearsals for the next show, and working to keep a small theatre company alive and kicking, and Jeanne will be teaching and as busy as ever, and our lives will slip back into that “school year” routine – less snuggles, more quick “see you tonight/later/in the morning/tomorrow” kisses. This weekend was a nice little priority straightener. A reminder, for me anyway, that there shouldn’t be any trying to find time for stuff like that, there should just be doing it. (What was it Yoda said? “Do, or do not. There is no try.” – yep, it should be like that!) I’ve been feeling a little less than my usual driven, positive self lately – not sure why – a little less inspired, and feeling like my work, imagination and efforts have been a little flat. But that’s starting to change.

So – as Sunday turns to Monday, and another school year begins, another theatre season rolls around, and one more Summer fades away, that’s my goal: More productivity in every area: Family, work, recreation, meaningful actions.

I’m reminded of a couple of wonderful quotes from two women I know:

“Either way, the time will be spent. How are you going to spend it?”
-Mindy Woodhead

And a shorter, more spirited quote with a similar message:
“Less bullshit, more awesomeness.”
-Annie Martin

Let Autumn come. After this weekend, I’m ready for it.