Call me an odd bird if you must, but I like rainy days. Especially on a Friday, when my deadlines for the week have been met (mostly) and I can afford to goof off a little and enjoy the soft, quiet drizzle by playing hooky for a few hours. Rather than curl up with a book or movie on drizzly days, I’ve found that days like today are perfect for running errands of the pamper-me variety. I had a lunch meeting at noon at the always-delish Rioja restaurant, where my artichoke tortelloni in a creamy broth was perfect for dipping with crusty lavender sourdough bread. For once, parking was a breeze. (I think Coloradans have a serious aversion to a few raindrops, but that just works in my favor.) After, I decided to pop by to see my pal Amy at the Aspire Day Spa to see if I could squeeze in for a quick manicure before the weekend. Being a slow, rainy day, she had an immediate opening and I sailed right on in. Amy’s spa is located inside an old Victorian house in the Baker district, and she has plenty of girlie things for sale in the parlor, which is ideal for gals like me who don’t mind a little shopping while the nails dry. I walked out with a pair of lovely topaz, citrine, and quartz drop earrings from a local designer, E. Leigh, in addition to my manicured hands. Of course, now that I’m back at my desk, I can’t help but notice that it’s nearly 4 p.m. So now I’m thinking of rounding up a friend or two for a happy hour cocktail. Sounds like the perfect way to end a perfectly lazy rainy afternoon.