Saturday

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"I've never quite believed that one chance is all I get. Writing is my way of making other chances." - Anne Tyler
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It is another day in paradise. Although I did not want to get up I roused myself up at 10:45 a.m. I got dressed down to my walking shoes. Today is a walking day. I told Michael where I was going and headed out the door with Sir Thomas, my walking stick. He goes with me every time I walk. I like his company. He keeps me upright and if, by chance, he will protect me if I meet some unruly dogs or people.

The sun is out and it is quite warm. I work up a sweat. I handle the inclines on Sixth Street. The one that gets me is the one on Ninth Street just after Los Olivos. By the time I make it to the top I am huffing and puffing. This is pretty good and shows my stamina has increased. My hips ached this morning. I wonder if this has anything to do with my left hand.

Mile Stones:
1. Today makes two weeks since I began walking every other day.
2. I do not have to use the alprazolam to get out of the house.
3. I have had only one panic attack in this time.
4. I actually look forward to being outside.

One of the funny thing about Los Osos, as I head down a hill I see a sign that states "pavement ends." Yup, at the cross street the pavement does end. About a block - a Los Osos block - the pavement begins again. As I looked up the cross street, I see that it is also hard-packed sand. Ah, it's nice to see there is still country in Los Osos. I bet that street is a bitch when it rains.

I arrive back at my door 40 minutes later. That is a fair amount of time to be physically active.

Bailey is meowing about my being gone. I talk to him and tell him to take a chill pill. He will get fed today, like he is starving. He does have a bowl of dried food to nosh on. Anyway, I take care of the bathroom duties. Bailey oversees my work. Talking to me the whole time and just getting in the way. Why does he do this?

Next stop for him is to clean up his eating area. I bring all of his dishes and place mat to the kitchen sink. Today, I sweep his area because there is a lot of food crunchies and dust. Then I wash all of his stuff and give him a clean dry food bowl (metal pie pan). I will put his usual dry food dish in the washer.

I read somewhere when animals don't eat over their bowls that the material of the bowl may be giving off an offensive odor. I believe this is true. I also know that when Max was alive, Bailey would get into the dry food when Max was eating, Bailey would take a bite of food and then move away from the bowl to leave Max alone. So this action may be from an earlier time. I am hoping with the pie plate Bailey will eat over it but if he doesn't it's no big deal. I also give him a clean plate every day for his wet food.

Now Bailey is a happy kitty because I have put down his plate of wet food.

I felt good yesterday in backing away from the computer. I spent my time in drawing the still life project in "The Daily Book of Art." The perfectionist was having a fit but I tied her to the chair and put a gag in her mouth. I attempted to us the space of my paper. I think the tablet is 8.5 x 12 but I'm not sure. Any ways, I drew the wine bottle, the partially filled glass, and the cork from the bottle. No, it wasn't perfect or better than my prompt. The thing is I did it. I also signed and dated the drawing. It is a start in getting me to do art. I must remember to e-mail the Amazing Mz. M about this.

The second thing I did was to read in my book. I read for about an hour before the news came on. After that I read a bit more. In fact, I never got back to the computer. I had meant to shut everything down but I didn't.

All I remember is watching TV and then falling asleep in my chair. At some point, Michael woke me up and said let's go to bed. I was tired enough that I did not brush my teeth or put in my bite guard. Bad girl.

The questions to ponder from "The Daily Book of Art" are:

1. How would you define "art?"
2. Do you believe it is possible to define art in a way that satisfies everyone?

Art is . . . art is whatever moves us. This is a hard question to answer.

As to the second question, I don't believe you can define art to satisfy everyone. We are all different and because of that we each see different things as art. It is as they say ". . . in the eye of the beholder."

I did not follow through last night with shining my sinks. In the kitchen, one sink is full of dirty dishes.

I didn't even touch the bathroom sink. I feel I need to clean each of the sinks. Why, because in doing so, when I use either of them and they are clean, it will make me smile.

The bathroom, like the kitchen, is one of those areas I want clean, especially if anyone is coming over.

Anyway, I did put in my minutes at Fly Lady on "Bless My Heart." I wonder if they send me an "atta girl" e-mail?

mz. em
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Currently reading:
-- "Charade" - Sandra Brown
-- "The Daily Book of Art/356 readings that teach, inspire & entertain" - day 12
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