Although it's been quiet here on the blog-front, I've actually been rather pre-occupied this week doing more "social networking." My friend M. and I are spending our annual "girls week" in Florida, a tradition we started eight years ago, and one that has become sacrosanct for both of us. What do we do? Mostly what you'd expect two ladies of a certain age to do when left alone in a resort town. We eat, we drink, we sit in the sun, we read, we shop, we go to the movies.
We talk.
Yesterday, we saw The King's Speech - first time for M., second time for me. I don't see a lot of movies, and I rarely watch a movie twice in the same season, but I was happy to attend a repeat viewing on this one. It was a stellar film in all respects, and won well-deserved awards.
Today, after a lovely lunch and some shopping, we saw The Black Swan. Hmm. That was a horse of a different color. Natalie Portman was astounding in her role of the psychopathic ballerina. Her self destructive behavior and its psychological basis was eerily reminiscent of a young woman I'm acquainted with in real life (although not yet to that extreme, thank goodness). It was definitely not the "feel good" kind of film that M. and I usually gravitate toward - but we both agreed we were glad to have seen it.
We had dinner tonight at Patric's, a local restaurant that has instituted a tapas style menu in a cozy dining room, complete with entertainment- tonight, it was 1940's showtunes played on a vintage upright piano. The small plates were perfect for the two of us, neither of whom are big eaters. After dinner, M. did quite a bit of shopping in a little boutique called Just 4 Dolls, which featured a huge selection of outfits and accessories for American Girl dolls. Believe me, her granddaughter's new American Girl will be dressed to the "nines".
On the docket for the days ahead - an art fair, a choral concert, people watching in downtown Naples. The weather has been more than cooperative, with the sunshine and balmy breezes that make Florida such a popular destination for winter weary mid-westerners.
It's a good tradition we started those years ago. I'm glad we've had another year to continue it.
How about you? Do you have any special traditions with your social network?