TGITh

I am in a relatively good mood today. That is, I am in a galumphing (sp?) down the stairs and skipping down the hall kind of mood. Here are some reasons why:
1. I am taking tomorrow off, so today is my Friday.
2. This morning I had a lovely bagel slathered with delicious cream cheese.
3. My boyfriend is taking me out to dinner tonight.
4. I had a very weird dream last night involving most everyone I know living in or visiting Thailand (at least I think that's where we were supposed to be), and we were staying in some kind of hotel that had an enormous series of secret passageways inside the walls, and I got sprayed by white paint when I was trying to get back to my room. (I love weird dreams.)
5. I am taking tomorrow off, so today is my Friday.

And a Good Friday It Is
Ok, I am not a particularly religious person. I have attended church on a few Good Fridays in my life and have partaken in the Stations of the Cross and the Adoration of the Cross. But beyond any religious connection, I have always loved Good Friday. When I was a kid, we always had the day off as part of Easter Vacation, and it was tradition for the three of us kids to go into the city with our dad. Mom never came with us, and I don't think I put two and two together about the obligation of such a holy day. I just assumed she was happy to have us out of her hair for a day. First stop was always Dad's office (he had a couple throughout the years). We loved to snoop through his desk and play with his flip-up phone book (remember those?) or run down the halls chasing after the all-black office cat, Inc. (get it?)
Next stop was usually Bill's Place for lunch. I have been back there recently and it is not nearly as big a place as I remember. But you can still sit at the counter and enjoy an excellent milkshake. And they have a koi pond in the backyard!
After lunch we'd usually go to Sausalito and tramp through the "Italian Villa," take a peak into the toy store, and of course get ice cream cones. On a few occasions we went to the Exploratorium, or occasionally we'd hit up a cool art store like Flax.
Although we only lived about 40 miles away, going into "The City" always seemed like such a big deal, like we were visiting another planet. It still feels that way sometimes. :)