This and That

It's been a while since I've written anything so I'm just hitching together some random thoughts in order to get myself back into the discipline. I went grocery shopping today and was delighted to find an obscure brand of soap scented with almond. I was hooked at first sniff but the stuff costs five dollars per bar. Ahhh...it's a bit pricey, but we have to pamper ourselves from time to time. I think the added price might be due to the fact that it is a vegan product. Why do companies charge more for items aimed at a specific market? Oh, wait...I know. Because they can.

Another topic that is troubling right now is my sisters cat. Diana is a lovely Maine Coon Cat. She doesn't have the best disposition in the world, but she loves my sister and, God knows, my sister loves her. They are very affectionate with each other. The cat actually puts her paws around my sister's neck in a sort of hug when they are cuddling. The downside of the seemingly lovely and loving animal is her habit of relieving herself on the carpet, furniture and walls. Unusual for a female cat, but she does spray the wall just like a tomcat might do. Needless to say, this does not make for a very pleasant odor. My recently widowed sister would like to put her house on the market and move to a smaller condo where she wouldn't have to worry about repairs or maintenance, but the aroma of cat urine is not necessarily a strong selling point, especially in today's market. There are products out there aimed at this very problem, but this particular kitty has been busy. My sister went through the house with a special "black light" meant to pinpoint the "problem" areas. She found indications of urine on the carpet, walls and also on the chairs and love seat in the living room. I don't think there is any way the smell will come out of upholstered furniture. It's easy for me to say "Get rid of the cat", but she loves the cat. I know that my cat could do almost anything and I would never consider putting her down. So there it is. I don't know the answer, and I'm so sorry for my sister who has this to worry about.

The Bittersweet Season

I'm beginning to wonder if we will ever see the sun again. I can't even recall the last time I was able to go for a walk (and I'm feeling guilty about that). It might have been Saturday. I know we had moments of good weather, though cool, that day. That was the day Laura and Brian had their cookout and hayride party. It was also the day I worked at the Historical Society museum. We also had a few decent moments on Sunday. That was the day my sister and I went to the play at The Granite Theater. There was a glorious sunset that evening which I arrived home just seconds too late to photograph. The color was so bright, even the pavement and the houses looked pink. Even on the days that haven't involved actual rain, it has been dreary and threatening. I'm a person who suffers all winter from sunlight deprivation, so these last days of clement weather are precious to me. I feel like I want to be outside as much as possible in order to memorize what daylight is like. A friend published a picture of a pretty, yellow toadstool on line today which so intrigued me, I went outside to search for some in my own yard. What I found instead, was a tiny growth of bittersweet, a weed vine which seems to be everywhere at this time of year. It occured to me, as I was taking the photograph, how appropriate was the name of this shrub. It is so cheerful to behold with its bright red and yellow berries and yet it comes at a time of year when we are putting the joys of summer behind us and preparing for a long, cold winter. The very season is bitter, sweet. We do have positive things to look forward to. Surely the colors of autumn are gorgeous to behold. The children are agog at the propect of Halloween and the celebrations and parties and costumes that go with that holiday. Thanksgiving, that family time devoted to cooking and then over-eating will soon be upon us, followed rapidly by Christmas then New Years. The cheery scenes conjured up by the mention of holidays are overshadowed, however, by the thought of slippery roadways and icy sidewalks, chill winds and freezing rain lashing at our faces and penetrating our coats and scarves. Winter can be a miserable time of year here in New England. Yet, as unpleasant as those foul weather memories are, I also recall crisp, cold nights with snow falling silently or bright sunny days with ice making the trees look like glass sculptures. Truly, bittersweet is an apt title for this colorful little harbinger of winter.

It is now day thirteen of the diet/exercise regimen. I failed badly over the weekend by not walking and eating picnic food on Saturday and restaurant food on Sunday. I've also been eating a lot of wrong things on my own time. Some anonymous someone left me a half dozen ears of native corn on the cob while I was out Saturday. I've always had an aversion to waste, so I've been incorporating that corn into my meals that I have cooked for myself. The last of it will be gone today along with the Amerrican chop suey I made out of the hamburger I had to cook Monday. The only part of the diet I have been able to stick to is the oatmeal and fruit breakfast. Oh...and I haven't been snacking at all.
Oh please, let the sun come out soon!

The Rain Came

So finally, the day arrived that I couldn't get out and walk. Hopefully, the walking I did while accomplishing my errands this morning was enough to keep my momentum. I was wide awake at 4:00AM. This has got to stop. I'm exhausted by dinnertime...in fact, I cooked my dinner at 2:00 because I was feeling sleepy, but also hungry. So I baked a chicken breast with lemon/dill seasoning and steamed some red potatoes and broccolli. It was nice. Then after I ate, I stretched out on the sofa for a snooze. I had just dozed off when the phone rang. It was my friend, Marge. I had told our other friend, Becky that I would try to join them for drinks this afternoon...of course, that was out of the question...I was spent. I feel a little bad. I really need to force myself to get out more. I am lucky enough to be healthy at my age, I shouldn't waste it.

I did my usual Friday morning thing and picked up coffee for me and Kim at Dunkin Donuts, then continued on to the airport for our weekly visit. It was earlier than usual because I had gotten up so early. Good thing. I hadn't been there much more than a half hour when the new "owner" walks in, scowls at Kim and barks, "Socialize on your own time." We sort of looked at each other wondering if this was a joke. "What", says Kim. "You heard me. Socialize on your own time." What a dick! I really wish I had the authority to tell him that I've been in meetings to get his ass fired. A much more savvy businessman has approached me to pick my brains about the business because Avis decided to get rid of this guy, Ron. He's a dick to employees, a dick to business associates and most importantly, a dick to customers. He spoke to Kim as though she was an imbecile or a five year old and he completely ignored the fact that he even knew me. I don't care if he IS on the rag, he still needs to be civil to people. I wish I could be there the day the brass arrives from Hartford to rip off his epaulets.
Day eight...woohoo!!