The countdown to my vacation has officially begun! I’ll work these next seven days up to Friday morning and then I’m off for the next ten days. It’s nice to now have two weeks off now, not to mention those weeks are paid. I went without that for almost 15 years even though I enjoyed what I was doing as well as travel and the friends that I made at my old job. While I’m working straight up to my week off, this isn’t the first time that it’s happened.
I went through stretches multiple times at WIS where I worked more than seven days in a row. Twice in 2016 (almost three times) did I work more than 11 days straight. Let’s go back to 2018 when I set a record for consecutive days worked without a day off at 13. This was in June and it was right before my vacation and my birthday. Not only was it a nearly two week stretch, I was also traveling to stores every day. Nothing new to me when I was used to it, but being at Giant Eagle for two and a half years now I realize how much time I had spent on the road.
Being on vacation since I started at Giant Eagle just feels a lot better than it used to. Maybe because it’s paid time off and having good benefits. My most memorable vacation back when I worked at WIS was Disney, hands down. That’s a vacation that you put on your bucket list. I’ve taken many Cape May trips, some better than others. Now that I’m done chasing my past and focusing on the present, things are a lot better for me.
In other news, I’ll be hitting some big milestones very soon. On this platform, I’ll be publishing my 600th blog post very soon. Look for it early next week and no, I didn’t hype this as much as my 500th in November. However, it’s still a big deal as I didn’t think I’d get there until well into Summer.
Saturday marks my 800th day on Duolingo (unless I miss a day between now and next Saturday which is highly doubtful). I discovered the app in 2018 and stuck with it for a short time before walking away, and getting a sad face from the mascot itself, Duo. Seriously does this bird identify as he/she/they? I came back in the Spring of 2022 and have literally missed a handful of days since, but have been able to maintain my long streak. I’m sticking to just French this month in Duolingo (with a little Math thrown in). Don’t know yet what the rest of summer will hold for me on the platform.
The end of this month will mark my 43rd trip around the sun. I unofficially will be calling it my Polamalu birthday.
Finally, Thursday night begins the Ligonier Night Market which runs monthly on the third Thursday through the Summer. I won’t be there this Thursday but I plan to make one or two at some point since that day is usually free for me. There’s a few restaurants I’d love to eat at which I can review for this platform.
With that, the countdown to vacation is officially at six days.
Stylish 🍒 