How I spent the afternoon

I had fully intended to go to a local coffee shop, imbibe the caffeinated beverage, and mark the three sets of tests that I gave over the last couple of days. Instead, I put everything in the interior of my car into the trunk, put the top down, and went for a drive.

At first, I thought I'd head to the ocean. But really I didn't want to be gone that long, nor did I want to burn the gas. (The Mustang, while sweet and wild and beautiful, is also a gas hog of a girl.) So instead I headed north, through Centreville and Chestertown, up to Betterton in Kent County. I wanted to get a look at the beach up there and see what had become of what was, when I was a teeny somebody, a resort town.

Well, there's not much THERE there in Betterton. The beach is clean and lovely, to be sure, and there were a number of people taking a swim or sun break out there. But there's not much else to speak of in that tiny town. The post office is in a trailer, if that tells you anything. But I'm glad I went to see the place, because the ride there and back was lovely and helped me to adjust my attitude a bit.

On the way back I stopped to get some gas, bought a scratchie and won $20, stopped at a friend's coffee shop in Centreville, and then headed back to my place via the backroads. What a glorious day to ride through the Eastern Shore farm country, convertible top down, feeling the wind in my hair.

I saw not one, but two eagles while I was out there. Wonder what that means, or if it means anything at all.

Came home and did a spot of necessary cleaning, and then sat down to check e-mail and do this blogging. Guess I'll grade the papers tonight. I really needed the mini-vacation...and like all vacations, there's a part of me that wishes I could have stayed out there longer.