Cruis'n for a snooz'n

All Work and No Play makes not only Jack a dull boy, but also makes Elizabeth exhausted, stressed, and very little time to relax. Like most business owners, I work very, very long hours. The best laid plans rarely go as planned, schedules and projects change mid-course, thus changing timetables and completion dates.

With vendors who send the wrong order, or give the wrong delievery date, payroll to pay, landlords to work with, an average 30-40 phone messages to return in less than a week, mail to sort through, email to read, and furniture to paint, cabinets to sand, there is just no time to do daily stuff such as: get groceries, dry cleaning, go to the bank, change the oil in the car, get the annual eye check-up, and dental cleaning. No time lately to even get my hair cut - so yes, I resorted to "trimming" it myself - luckily with my crazy hair style you can't tell when it is screwed up. :-)

I just refuse to accept that I get only 24 hours a day like the rest of the world.

But as much as so many of you believe that I am an inspiration and so full of energy, and how I appreciate those comments very much - there really comes a time that even this "energizer bunny" just wants to stop hopping and get away. And so getting away I am.

My very good friend, Christie, talked me into going on a cruise with her to the Honduras, Belize and Cozumel. I have never been on a cruise, and to be perfectly honest, I have never wanted to. I am not sure I like the idea of being told when to eat (I hear it is all day long), where and what to visit and do...and all that with a boat full of strangers that I have no desire to chat with because that is how my entire life is spent - chatting. Chatting with customers, clients, vendors, employees, neighbors, seamstress, upholster, carpenter, friends, family,....and while I enjoy it, I really don't want to do it in the very little down time I have.

However, going with my good friend, who loves me and takes good care of me, will make the trip a trip to cherish. She is treating her parents to a cruise for their 40Th wedding anniversary, and I love her parents as well. And while I am too tired to really be excited at this moment, I am grateful that she didn't give up on me and talked me into going.

So, here it is midnight, I have some more work to do yet, and still pack. I think I will just toss a bunch of clothes into my suitcases (wherever they are) and pretend it is Christmas when I get on the ship and unpack and actually look at what I brought with me because it will all be a surprise since I am just tossing a handful of stuff into the suitcase.

So, my dear, dear friends, I will be gone and out of touch for about 9 days. I will sun myself, listen to my ipod, read, snorkel, eat, visit, sleep, sleep, sleep, and do my best not to worry about the emails I didn't get to, or the phone calls I didn't have time to return, and how all of my projects will be on hold for a bit.

I told a friend of mine that I may be tempted to jump ship and stay on a remote island for a year or so. She just laughed and said that it wouldn't be long that I would be designing custom bedding out of palm leaves and sea grass, chairs out of palm trees and accessorize it all with sea shells - then advertise it all by spelling out "Elizabeth House" on the beach instead of the usual "S.O.S." Okay, she may have a point.

I would be lying if I told you that I won't be thinking about work or you all. But I will do my best to remember that the work and all of you will be just fine without me. Hmmmmm....that isn't as great sounding as I thought it would be when I just typed it out. But that is okay - I have 9 days to ponder and to sound it out in my head. But most likely, I will just head for a sound nap.

I will miss you!

Love,

Elizabeth