One Sweet Day ...

Q: If you could plan your idea of a perfect day, what would it entail?

Ok, I'll be giving four answers to coordinate with the four seasons (that do not exist in Florida - but this is my perfect world, right?).

1. Winter.
Wake up to a complete white-out. (Location: Breckenridge, CO) Eat a hearty breakfast (prepared by moi or some really hot ski patrol I picked up the day before). Suit up and walk right out my back door to hit the slopes for a few hours of riding. Come in for lunch which would consist of some of my infamous Potato & Corn Chowder or Vegetarian Chili and some hot tea - maybe a quick glass of scotch to warm me up. Back out to the slopes for some horseplay and frolicking in the snow. Make my way down to the lodge for a little conversation with the locals and other guests then back to my cabin for a hot bath and glass of wine. Dinner comes next. One of two options. A) If I am there with a special someone then it would be a candlelit dinner with a fancy menu - again, prepared by me - some wine and a lot of flirty conversation. After dinner we would fall asleep on a big fur rug wrapped in a big fur blanket in front of the wood-burning fire. B) If I am there with friends then it would be a dinner at the big wooden table covered with home-cooked food and lots of empty bottles of wine and beer. After dinner, we'd head out to the local pub for a little karaoke then back to the cabin to retire until the next day, only to do it all over again.

2. Spring.
Wake up to the sounds of nature, mostly the crashing of waves. (Location: Santa Teresa, Costa Rica) Go down to the Yoga hut where the Yogi conducts an intense session of streching and sweating. After yoga, it is down the path surrounded by tropical plants, various creatures and taunting monkeys to have breakfast down by the beach. The buffet table is donned with fresh fruit, eggs, black beans and fresh squeezed juice along with all the other odds and ins. After breakfast we head out to the beach with our boards for a little riding, coming in often to just gaze out at the endless ocean and bronze our skin. For lunch we head into town for some local cuisine. Air conditioners, TVs and radios are nowhere in sight and all the tables are outside. After lunch we mosy around the village for handcrafted souvenirs and barter our way from hut to hut. At this point the afternoon is disappearing and we head back to our 'house' to dress for a sunset dinner down on the beach. Over a glass of wine or a National cocktail (minus ice) we watch the sun set and await the placement of our dinner plates. After dinner we take a walk down the beach and see wild horses gallavanting past us. We make our way back to the 'house' and fall asleep under the dreamcatchers hanging above until the next morning, only to do it all over again.

3. Summer.
Wake up and walk outside to watch the fog clear from the lake with a cup of hot tea. (Location: Big Bear Lake; Big Bear, CA) Whip up some pancakes with fresh berries and vanilla mousseline and a glass of OJ for breakfast. After breakfast, a group of 8 - 21 friends would take the boats out on the lake for some tubing, boarding and floating around in the sun. For lunch we'd cruise back into shore for some salads or something lite to feed the hunger but not weigh us down. After lunch, it's back to the lake we go for more sun n fun, this time we break out the video camera to capture the jumps and busts. As the sun starts to arch, we head in. After everyone has showered we order pizza and park it out back for a bonfire to watch the sun set down behind the mountains. We stay up spilling stories and making new ones over cold beers and cheap wine, bundled up on our lawn chairs and blankets in our flannels and footsies. We head in and crowd in the den for a scary or action-packed movie then retire to our rooms until the next day, only to do it all over again.

4. Fall.
Wake up to the brisk air of the city. (Location: Washington D.C. or New York City, NY) Walk over to the window and look out over the city. Sit down at the table next to the window in my robe and drink my tea while perusing the local paper and await my breakfast provided by the 5 star room service. My breakfast would consist of croissants, fresh fruit and mimosas. After breakfast my friends and I would hit the pavement of the city for some shopping and sites. I would buy a new outfit from some local designer boutique and get some new items from a few of the local vintage boutiques. For lunch we would stop off at some cafe, sitting at a table on the sidewalk and chit chat and gush over all the fabulous things we have done and will be doing. We each have a cocktail and indulge in a sweet treat. After lunch we hit the galleries and museums or iconic sites that are a must anytime you are visiting the city. As the sun begins to set we head back to get ready for a night of carefree fun. We hit a 5-star restaurant for dinner and let random guys buy all of our drinks. We cab it to some local hot spot and dance until the wee hours of the morning. When we all give each other that look of "I can't shake one more hip or I'll fall over" we head back in to fall asleep with new memories that (hopefully) we will remember the next day.

Perfection is not realistic, but dreaming is.