My Kind of Happy Monday

No makeup, no shampoo, jeans and a T-shirt, fruit and chocolate cake for breakfast (I read somewhere that is healthy), leftover tuna for lunch. What more could one expect from a Monday?

It was also a productive day. I wrapped up the final draft of my next Oak Grove Mystery and sent it off to the printer to get hard copy for my beta reader and to the editor. Still a couple of details to finish, but it’s done, always a good feeling. One plot element I feel I left dangling but didn’t know what to do about—waiting for other eyes and minds. Roughed out a guest blog post on exercising from a wheelchair (just reminded myself to do my exercises for the day) and walked a bit in the driveway, holding on to Jordan. Every day it gets a little better.

Ready to start work on a new novel and already have the idea in mind. But I think I will give myself a couple of days to be lazy—to read, prowl through recipes, and the like. It’s hard to transition from the world and people of one novel to another.

This afternoon a dear friend of many years (notice how adroitly I avoided calling her an ‘old friend’ with the implication that we are both old) came by. She lives in a small town about an hour away, so our visits are special treats. We caught up over cups of tea and then went to Local Foods Kitchen to get our supper and bring it home—she had marinated shrimp, which she said was delicious (I’m allergic and can only look on with envy), and I had beef shepherd’s pie We shared vegetables—a Caesar Brussel sprouts salad, which I liked better than Linda did. She wanted the sprouts softened a bit by cooking; orange and beet salad, always delicious; and marinated cucumbers. I brought home egg salad for my lunch this week. It will do at least two days.

My rant for the day: I am enough of a snowflake, tree-hugger, yellow-dog Democrat, whatever term you want, that these days I cannot ever imagine marking my ballot for a Republican. But I get so frustrated with the Democrats and their “woe is me” attitude. I think particularly of Jon Osoff’s campaign in Georgia, one where his victory would send a strong message. But every plea for money that his team sends out is defeatist—his number are plummeting, his opponent is raising more money, the sky is falling. In truth, last I knew, he had a slim lead. I’d like to see a positive campaign that said, “We’re winning. Please get on our bandwagon and support Jon.” I’ve given to him, but I might be inclined to give more to a positive campaign. I don’t know a thing about Osoff, what his platform is, what his priorities are. All I know is he’s desperate for my money. Most discouraging. Rant over.

Hope yours was a happy Monday too.

An Ode to Saturday and to my oldest child

Colin and his family

probably four years ago at least

Why are Saturdays so delightfully lazy? There’s something about the nature of the day. My schedule isn’t much different on a Saturday than any other day of the week, except for Sunday and church. I get up when I want, spend the day at my computer, reading, cooking, and napping—all on my own schedule.

But somehow, emotionally, I feel a difference. This morning I slept late, stayed in those magic pajamas, scrambled some eggs instead of wolfing down a bowl of cereal, decided my hair doesn’t really need washing nor do I need make-up. Some Saturdays I have social somethings planned but not today.

I don’t even feel compelled to work, though I’m sure before the day is over I’ll edit that third chapter, maybe explore those blogs I want to mine for a possible memoir about my journey of the last year. The great thing about my work is that it’s all things I want to do, goals I set for myself. The world will not stop in its orbit if I never do any of it.

I spent way too long on Facebook this morning, following this lead, clicking on that bit of information. Facebook rarely returns you to where you clicked away, but starts you all over again at the beginning and the posts are always different—tells you how many posts we never see. I feel compelled to keep reading because I never know what gem I’ll miss.

For instance, a colleague mentioned her short story, “The Night They Burned Ms. Dixie’s Place,” (featured in the current edition of Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine—Debra Goldstein is the author). That reminded me of the Joan Baez song I loved, “That Night They Drove Old Dixie Down,” and sent me in search of the history of the song. I could fiddle my day away following trails like that.

Today my oldest child, Colin, turns forty-eight. I can’t believe it. Poor boy suffered from all I didn’t know about babies, and raising children, and being a single parent. He survived it all, explored life on his own terms (sojourns to California and the Caribbean) and turned into one of the loveliest adults I know. A good citizen, a hard worker, a loving husband and firm but loving father, a caring son, a man still close to his siblings (not all are so lucky and loyal). The Lord blessed me the day the adoption agency called and said those magic words, “You have a son.” They said he might have red hair and did we mind? What? We were going to say, “No, thank you,” because of red hair? His hair is brown but his beard, when he lets it grow, has a touch of red—and now gray. I love you so much, Colin David Alter.

Tonight, Jacob is spending the night. His sleepover makes a shambles of my comfortable living area, but he’s worth it. On the other hand, I have to consider that he shushes me if I turn on the TV or talk on the phone, though he talks freely on the phone.