I once worked with a man who believed sick days shouldn't be wasted on being sick. In other words, if you're feeling lousy, go into work anyway. Save the sick days for when you're feeling good and need a day off for some fun.

There's a little bit of sense to that theory, much as I dislike working around people who are coughing and sneezing, the bottom line being that an unplanned day off is something to treasure.

Writer Lori Rypka was given the assignment of rounding up some busy people and asking how they might spend the gift of a day without appointments, deadlines and other obligations. Lori didn't stipulate that money was no object, so none in the group proposed jetting to Paris for lunch or shopping at Tiffany's. What they did come up with, however, is testament to the importance of taking time out of our busy lives to simply relax, or using a bonus day to be more in touch with family and friends. So, what would you do with a day off?

This latest issue of Elegant Living may give you some ideas, from writer Jo Ellen Glusevich's essay about a special place she remembers where she would go to read as a youngster, to Jeff Kinney's story about backyard swimming pools - now there's a place to spend a day.

The magazine celebrates summer with recipes for cold, refreshing blender drinks to an article from Krista Brick about no-fuss salads that can easily be a meal when it's just too hot to turn on the stove.

Summer brings to mind hitting the road for vacation getaways. Susan Guynn and photographer Skip Lawrence prove that you don't have to go far to have an adventure - they hopped aboard MARC and spent a day exploring Washington.

Here's hoping we all get a day real soon for doing just as we darn well please.

Nancy Luse, Editor