Today feels like it's an easy day. Though it's early yet (6:20 a.m.), I'm going through the morning routine (ablutions, cat feeding, etc.) with ease, contrasting greatly with the last few weeks, when every task was a mountain to contemplate, a struggle to complete, and required a nap to recover.

I suspect it has a great deal to do with the fact that for the first time in several weeks I got a good night's sleep, unbroken by coughing fits or the blaring of a neighbor's car alarm.

I'm hoping this easy time will extend into the day. I'm going to tackle all the important stuff early: grocery shopping, setting up meds, reviewing refinance documents before I sign them (looking for hidden traps) and digging out information for Batty.

The cats yelled and screamed for their regular morning treat (hairball medicine disguised as cat treats) and now they're sleeping it off. There is no dog to keep me company and the house (and my heart) have a dog-sized hole.

The rest of the world is silent, waiting for the day. No traffic noise, no human movement. Except for me, while I ease on down the road.