Happy Sunday - and let the "staycation" begin!
I am spent. We had a great (really great) holiday season at the stores, but it was a very heavy lift and a lot of work. With few days off, I very much need a break. This is when we would normally take a 3 night trip to WDW, but we need to be responsible right now. The household took a big financial hit over the summer, and we should not be spending money (even with all the points) on a Disney trip, plus we're trying to save up for DCL before getting our next AP. But I still needed a rest.
And the window for that is short - our biggest event of the year (Record Store Day) is in the 3rd week of April. For perspective, we do more business on that one day and about a week or so after it than we do the entire holiday season from Thanksgiving to the New Year. We start prepping for that at the end of this month.
So a few days ago I told my staff I will be away from Sunday through Saturday (overshooting, knowing I won't have a clean break every day, but planning for 7 days should get me at least 4 good ones and a few OK ones lol.) I told them not to call, email, or text me unless the problem involves an emergency, a landlord, or the government. I did most of my orders ahead of time, and they should be able to handle everything on "auto-pilot." (Of course, I'll be monitoring sales, making sure I see the alarms set and turned off at the right times, and keeping an eye on social media.)
I'm also going to work on an order from a company in the UK that will take a lot of time, but truth be told - I enjoy ordering when I'm not under the gun. It's just shopping for music - and deals on music - who doesn't love that? (Me, when I have to have it finished by 2PM to ship in time to receive by such and such a date, blah blah blah.) But "day-off ordering" is fun. No pressure.
And "no shoulds." That's my motto for the week. No, "I should be working on X." I'm going to restart my gym and exercise routine, watch some Disney+, maybe a little cleanup around the house and yard. I'd really like to catch up on my abandoned trip report - I left off teasing our January 2019 trip (which was this week last year) and then had several great trips with lots of WDWmagic meet & greets. It will be fun to remember those as I go through pictures and receipts to jog my memory.
And we are going for a quickie in April. I always need a Disney trip after Record Store Day. (No really, it affects my brain. Knowing that trip is planned makes the crazy less crazy. The one year we didn't plan it, they put me on Xanax LOL. True story.) Again, no AP's, but someone with DVC invited us to Moonlight Magic at the MK in the last week of April, so we're going. Booked All-Star Music on points for two nights. (I think two nights?) And very much looking forward to that. May or may not get limited park tix.
In the meantime, a couple of friends (with a business in my plaza) are taking their son for his 4th birthday on Tuesday - mainly because I told them this was a good time to go (between the marathon and MLK day, it's our "regular" time.) I helped with the planning and setting expectations; and I guess some may frown on this, but I bought their tix on my points, and then took a lower cash amount from them because they were stressing over the expense and I want them to enjoy it and want to go back. (Yes, I half considered going up at the same time, but Brian is working, and again - responsibility.)
Time for my first morning walk (without Kylie - I think she should rest that paw, even though she clearly wants to go) and heading to the gym.
C-h-i-l-l-a-x.
I don't put any stock in their annual predictions.
Glad Kylie is ok!
