Day 341

Awake early enough to see the super blue lunar eclipse. A clear cold sky was perfect for viewing. Had a healthy day with choices that made me feel cared for.  I had conversations that were comfortable and pleasant. Can’t ask for more! Today I may go to the public cannabis meeting to report to the committee. It’s been the focus of negative attention by the BOS members who are obstructionist. Local politics are interesting. I avoided the state of the nation speech.

Day 340

Weather reports sounds like a day outside. It’s typical to have a break and I’m grateful for it. This morning the guys will come to turn the mattress and I’m using that as an opportunity to thoroughly clean my room. Then off to walk and find people to talk with. Yesterday my walk had three conversations. Makes my day! The senior center was sparsely populated. Only 39 people came for chicken gumbo. I get restless and pace around. Not good at sitting.

Day 339

I didn’t recover fully yesterday. I did walk and do a few chores in the yard but lacked energy. Much better this morning and looking forward to my routine day. I have gratitude for Hollie’s recovery. She is pink and full on energy after the serious illness that could have ended sadly. Megan is blooming too. Guessing she’s in love. I moved furniture as it reminds me of the changes I’m making in nutrition. No carbs, no cheese, no snacks. Feeling good.

Day 338

Long restless unsatisfying night. Lots of negative memories and getting stuck in unpleasant thoughts. Hope for daylight to dissipate the hangover from it. The coffee helped. Today I may go to church or not. It’s morning prayer and that’s not my connection to my religion. I need to be sure the cobwebs are gone so I don’t take my dark cloud with me. The weather is supposed to clear and warm up so I can get outside. That always helps my mood.

Day 337

Positive outcomes from yesterday: reprogrammed the security system without calling for help, fixed the cable box with help from Spectrum, went to the furniture store and asked for help to turn my mattress so I can sleep on the unused side. They will come on Tuesday. So, fresh vegs, conversations that worked, long deep talk with Hollie who is feeling better. Made for a connected day plus a long walk in the wind. Now for today! I’m ready for a good one.

Day 336

Jake gets a rabies vaccination this morning and that ends the agenda. What can I do today that is stimulating and interesting? The weather may allow a walk or two and a bunch of vegetables need to grace the refrigerator. Maybe I’ll run into someone at the store, start a conversation, make a plan. Who knows? Must be an opportunity to have fun in the daily activities. I am still restless and don’t know how to use it for a productive outcome.

Day 335

It’ll be long day ahead when it starts at 3 AM. Poor Minnie suffers when thunder roars. There is nothing I can do for her except hold her and keep hands on her shivering body. It is senior center duty day and I’m looking forward to going. After a day inside, I need activity, people and conversation. I used the rainy day to tidy up inside. I picked up the dust and dog hair on the floors. No sense in washing them.

Day 334

I’m prepared to stay in. The wind and rain are serious this morning. The BOS was long and tiresome as the presentations seemed long and hard to follow. Maybe it was me that lost interest. I will write up notes for the committee. I did get out and walk yesterday and am better for it. The wind is actually invigorating. I have programs saved and a new puzzle book so cuddling with dogs and keeping warm are all the agenda I need.

Day 333

BOS this morning and yard clearing this afternoon. It is a break between storms and that’s an opportunity to be outside. Yesterday the senior center was busy and I like that. Not good to get bored and restless. I did get a long walk in the afternoon and buy the foods that I am choosing. The next task is weaning from television. I sit and watch when I could be reading or daubing paint. I remember how pleasing it is to doodle.

Day 332

I didn’t go out at all. No church service. Just didn’t want to go out. The rain and wind were relentless and I avoided the whole thing. Today is senior center duty and a quick trip to the grocery store. I’m enjoying making meals without carbs. The simple dishes are satisfying and I feel good about myself when I eat well. The plan is to be mindful of how much energy I have on food and replace it with a creative process. 

Day 331

The Women’s March was amazingly successful. There were so many people there, children, men and lots and lots of women. I was proud to be among them walking with my sign. The weather was perfect and spirits were high. Later, the somber funeral for Alicia. Another sizable crowd for the formal mass. I was weary early but elated at participating all day. Today is winter again, rain and wind. I will attend church and then probably kick back. Hollie is slowly improving.

Day 330

Yesterday was great! Did everything I set out to do plus took care of myself with good choices. Hollie is still sick with this nasty flu. She can keep water down now or I would have scooped her up and delivered her to the hospital. I’m going out with the Women’s March this morning armed with hand sanitizer. Might be some protection. Later, I’ll attend Alicia’s funeral at St. Paul’s. Could go to singing bowls later but probably will have had enough. 

Day 329

Good duty at the senior center yesterday. I felt included and necessary to the program. Lots of acknowledgement given and received plus hugs. Afternoon was low energy and that has been a pattern lately. Today is dog spa plus shopping. I have a list for Wally’s, Safeway, and Grocery Outlet. Need restocking everywhere. Took four items to Daily Bread that reduced the contents. I’m running out of places to inventory. Today I will add letters to the paper including omega and alfa.

Day 328

No, I didn’t find any way to change. I talked with the Zizzos about finding a PD partner so I can rejoin the patrol. I did visit with two old friends but neither had any new connections. Two good walks aired out my mind with the wind blowing out the cobwebs. I’m back to the senior center. Poor old car has sat unused for a week! I hope the battery is working. Hollie is ill with flu symptoms. Megan is doing great. 

Day 327

New day. New view of how to spend it. I’m through with the yo-yo behavior: I won’t do that and I do, or I will do that and I don’t. What is that anyway? I can stay with what works like exercise and walking, or I can branch out and get new ideas, activities, and people in my day. Wait, I’ve said that before and didn’t initiate the changes that I say I want. Time to move. The heavy feet are tiresome

Day 326

Yesterday’s event brought back memories of earlier protests with songs and speeches. It went well and the attendance was impressive. I did not stay for the meal as I needed to get fresh air and walking. I’m part of this community and showing up is important. Later today I’ll get a Karen massage and that is important too. Next public event is woman’s march on Saturday followed by Alicia’s funeral. I have three letters on paper with plans on how to proceed. 

Day 325

MLK Day and I will attend the community organizing celebration. I like being part of positive group activities. It’s a facet of my political stand and I’m enjoying it. My liberal church members will be there as most of them are True North members. I sorted old taxes yesterday and found two years worth that Hollie can take to her burn barrel. I like keeping current with paper work. The saved years are tucked into the spare room closet. Simplify and recycle.

Day 324

Yesterday was wonderful for walking, sun, no wind. I enjoyed being outside. Visited at the museum and with Art and Ellen. I felt restless and needed more.  I don’t know what I’m craving. The big paper now has a Z in the middle. My plan is to add the letters all around, zentangle them, paint the spaces, and enjoy the process. Maybe the letters will stimulate my mind into finding words. I miss writing. Today is Morning Prayer and I will attend.

Day 323

Yesterday was the best one is a long time. I had good energy, positive attitude, felt productive and enjoyed the day. I walked Karen back to her house carrying a bag of kale, lemons, and chard. She carried a bag of my unused clothes.  Finally cleaned out the corner cabinet in the kitchen and it is neat and clean. I gave Karen the juicer, took the air popper, rolling pin, and sifter to daily bread. Everything else in the cabinet is useful. 

Day 322

Karen is coming over early and we are going for a walk. She is doing well with her knee replacement and has joined the fitbit community. I enjoy her company. Later, write. The letters are doing the job I anticipated with random memories and commentaries. I explained to Carol that I have sorted and purged physical stuff and now working on the inside conglomeration of fact and myth. I feel it is important work for my soul and is activated by spirit.

Day 321

I’m back to normal routine activities and then senior center duty. I like my mornings. I think that’s why I don’t want to go to Yoga. It interrupts the flow of my day. I’m old and set in my ways. If Yoga was at 10, that would be just fine. I enjoy coffee, do minor house tidying, write in my journal, do this writing, exercise, pay attention to my dogs, read the paper, plan for the day, and I like the pace. 

Day 320

I’m not well this morning. Serious headache during the night, chills and fever too. Today I can snug in and hope for a quick recovery. My immune system has been doing a good job for me and I know I’m strong and fit. The board meeting yesterday had the usual political dynamics. And off we go into an election year and the dirt is already flying. We are a microcosm of the larger political system. I’ll stick with the high road people.

Day 319

I have a place in the Democratic Central committee. I have a place at the senior center, the museum, and St. Paul’s. I have Places where I am known and belong. Those were concepts that I have wanted and recognize that I have had all along. Today I’ll attend the BOS as a resident and committee member at the same time. Later Rocky chicken is waiting to go in the oven with a couple of potatoes. My favorite meal. Life is good.

Day 318

The meeting after church with Mother Betsy from the diocese was eye-opening. We were called to tell how the Holy Spirit moves here. The list made me feel loyal and connected. I started letters to my husbands. It feels like another sort and purge activity. After all the externals are in order, then the internals needs a good clean-up too. I have paper on the table waiting for inspiration. I want to make it about words as I am looking for mine.

Day 317

The letter to my father was interesting. It rambled and surprised me with what came up. Today I’ll start another letter. Yesterday I saw Sharon Minty at the farm stand. Doug has cancer. Another person who has led an exemplary life is sick. I mutter Fukashima. Church today followed by Epiphany dinner and that is always a great feast. I dropped a board on the top of my foot yesterday and probably won’t get much walking. Glad I did yard work yesterday. 

Day 316

The three o’clock wake-up gave me the way to do the above mentioned writing: letters to the people I have injured, letters to be secreted until I am gone.  Maybe the letters will never be read. Today I’ll concentrate on health as usual beginning with routine exercises. Off to the farm stand later to take on vegetables and to the grocery store to plan meals. Half-hour daily writing will begin today with the first letter to my father. Writing lifts the load.

Day 315

After I get my day started with the well-practiced and enjoyed routine, I will attend a memorial service for Jack Burke.  It’s the survivors who need to have support. I know Dee from the museum and the senior center where she is the bookkeeper. The older I get, the more services I attend. At story group I realized that I need to write about experiences of poor judgement, commissions and omissions, and outright dirty tricks. But I don’t need to share them.

Day 314

Awakened early by law enforcements’ flashing lights across the street. Probably a traffic stop with two officers and a long interview. Coffee is doing its best to get the day started. Routine this morning. I’m enjoying the morning pages, the PT exercises, and the early walks. Today after senior center duty, I will anticipate story group. I will share the guided visualization that came from way back in 1977 when I went to Sonoma State. It leads to assessing our current life.

Day 313

No agenda and I can make it up. I will slick up the house and maybe touch up the dog tracks. Maybe not as it is going to rain. It’s my excuse for not washing the floors. I have more yard to clean up. The green bin is nearly full and I can add weeds from Megan’s yard. Had a soulful conversation with Patrick about the death of his mother. Doesn’t matter how old we are when we become orphans. It still matters. 

Day 312

Good sleep and positive attitude this morning. Personal care agenda: Sarah for massage and Michelle for dental exam. Yesterday I did yard cleaning and two long walks. I made breakfast cornbread and it was delicious. I added bacon and accidently added sliced olives because I didn’t read the label before I opened the can. I thought it was green chilies that were also added. Substantial meal. Today I want to get out in the yard again as rain is coming. Simple living.

Day 311

Fr. Tom says, “It’s not about being religious. It’s about being a good person, kind and inclusive.” Didn’t get to walk as I developed a hitch in my hip. Oh well, plans change without warning. Broken night with all idiots making noise for the new year. They don’t have to start so early and shoot off stuff for so long. Poor Minnie is inconsolable. Jake barks and Della doesn’t care.  New page waiting in the paper journal. Word for the year, Integrity.