Another day in. I'm excited. Just finished listening to Oliver Sacks' book Gratitude. It's absolutely wonderful and inspiring. Got me up and moving -- I was just going to waste the day because, well, I felt like crap emotionally. Ugh!

Discovered I had three more books available, so I immediately downloaded them and started reading one: The Secret, Book and Scone Society, the first book in a new series by Ellery Adams. Two chapters in, I'm hooked! Here are a few quotes that caught my eye and heart:  In response to how she selects a pastry, Nora says she only wonders, "Can I eat that without having to put my book down."  Truly a wise method! To a potential client/reader: "...books, once opened, reveal our communal story. And, if you're lucky, the words in those books will force you to grapple the hardest truths of your life." And, best of all: "Becoming a reader is a change for the better. Stories are like people. If you don't approach them with an open mind and a healthy dose of respect, they won't reveal their hidden selves to you. In that event, you'll miss out on what they have to offer." Wonderful words echoing my feelings and thoughts I less eloquently tried to share with readers over the years. Oh, how I wish I'd  had those words to share at some book group gatherings!!! Looking forward to settling in later and finishing the book.

Going to do a little cleaning up around here and then write some letters. It's April 11th and I haven't written much despite wanting to write a letter every day since April is National Letter Writing Month. Feel inspired by Mr. Sacks' words, so going to shake the doldrums and get writing. Wish me luck, bonne chance, buena suerte, powodzenia and more. Now to enjoy a cuppa and begin!

Sunday evening.  Cold outside.  Again, cannot believe it's been so long since I've written here.  I've written nearly every day in my journal, and some days did the "pages" Julie Cameron recommends in her Artist's Way books/workbooks.  All that notwithstanding, I am still struggling to make time for writing (well, for nearly anything).  I've let the busyness of living keep me from recording my thoughts and let the distractions of this modern life hold my attention long enough to dilute any interesting or enlightening thoughts. 

Something happened yesterday that annoyed me.  One of our local churches had a food drive scheduled.  I didn't put my food out because it was raining.  So, I called for a pickup as their flyer had offered.  The guy said he'd be right there.  Over a half hour later, I called again and asked if they were coming.  A different person answered and said he'd driven by but hadn't seen anything, then said "should we have knocked on the door?"  Well, I didn't really know what to say to that (without sounding rude or worse), so I waited.  He said they would come over, so I said I would leave the bags outside.  They never came!  This seems to be a trend in my life--people saying they'll do something and then not, but somehow making it appear that they indeed have done the thing or made some attempt.  It puzzles me.  I have a friend who regularly says he'll do something, but then doesn't.  I have another friend who repeatedly says she wants to do something and then after much discussion and figuring out her options or possible avenues to pursue presumably is off to do the whatever.  Only she rarely does the thing!  Is this a trait of people I know or run into or is it more pervasive in society at large?  Still gathering data, but not without getting annoyed at times (tee hee).

Just read the posts I'd written here the last two times, so I'll update my status one of those topics.  That friend who was driving me to distraction with all her sexual conquests no longer annoys me.  We had a heart-to-heart one day--it came out of a conversation about men and her obsession with a few.  I told her about my negative feelings toward such conversations and how they were affecting me and thus our friendship.  She acknowledged my feelings (Yay! and Thank you!) and then we proceeded to talk about her behavior and my need for something else.  The end result is we understood each other better, but we no longer spend much time together.  See, actions have consequences.  I was not surprised because I'd come to recognize my role in her life.  I just did not want to be that go to person. 

I'm working with another writer of memoirs.  This time the person is writing a memoir about her Down syndrome son's life.  Although a memoir, she hopes it will be helpful for other parents with DS children and for teachers, caregivers, medical personnel, etc. of such people.  It's slow going.  I can't get her to do the work--the rewriting, the reorganizing, the overall restructuring often required.  She says quite often that she's lazy and she doesn't have the desire to do the work.  So, I am still trying to get a rhythm going for our project.  Challenging.

It's officially December.  December 7th to be exact.  Warren's birthday and Pearl Harbor Day.  Warren is the man who "broke my heart" before I fortunately met Richard.  Took me years to not think ill of him and feel the pain of heartbreak.  Thank God for Richard and true love.  When I thought about Warren today, I realized it was without any feeling except that it was his birthday.  Nice.  Guess I finally my "first love" has found a comfortable place in my memoirs.  Yay!

Well, I had high hopes for writing today, but too many conversations and too much outside distractions have destroyed my need to write and depleted my energy to do so.  So, I'll say goodnight and God bless (I loved Edward R. Murrow).