I played hooky today.

It's something I've done so rarely, I'm not even sure how you spell it.

No, I didn't falsely call in sick. This was planned. I talked to my GM yesterday and Ok'd the whole thing.

I did not, however, tell Little AM that I was not going to work today.

I made sure all my work was done yesterday so that I could have today off. Even when I'm playing hooky, I have an overdeveloped sense of responsibility.

I needed this day off for more reasons that one. Not only am I trying to get out of my rut, but I never, ever have a day all to myself. I know some of you SAHMs are thinking the same thing, but at least when you stay at home you can justify taking your kids to Mothers Day Out once in a while. When you work, or at least when I work, I feel the need to make up for lost time by spending all my non-working time with my daughter.

Anyway, Jason was at the auction, and Anna Marie went to the babysitter's as usual, so I had the whole day (or at least nine hours) to do what I wanted.

And what was the first thing I did on my day of freedom?

Why, cleaned the kitchen, of course.

I spent about 45 minutes cleaning the kitchen, dining room, and living room, and about another hour watching daytime TV (uplifting, edifying stuff, to be sure). Then I went to Memphis to eat lunch with Jason at the auction, and ran to a few stores while I was up there.

Among other things (like snacks for my jewelry party this weekend) I got Anna Marie a new rug, a fabric-covered bulletin board, and some silk flowers for her room.

When I brought her home, she said, "Mom, when did you buy all this stuff?"

I replied, quite truthfully, "Today."

"When today? On your lunch break?"

"Well, I guess you could say that." I had gone after I'd eaten lunch. I just didn't tell her that I'd eaten lunch in Memphis.

I feel so productive - I got a lot of stuff done. I've decided that I'm going to do this on a more regular basis, maybe once every other month. I get two weeks of vacation and a week of sick leave every year, but I can only take a day here or there because there isn't anyone to cover my job.

Last year, I had three vacation days and two and a half sick days that I lost because I didn't take them. As God is my witness, that's not going to happen this year!

So tomorrow it's back to the old grindstone. I'm hoping my little sabbatical makes me a better worker, not a worse one!