I’ve moved again…
Due to the difficulty of following and keeping track of the comments on this blog, I have moved back to my old blog at Blogger. You can find me here. I will hopefully see you there.
Ciao,
Nora
Sunshine after rain…
Finally, after it has rained all day long, the sun has come out and it is very nicely shining on the whole neighborhood and through the living room windows. I can tell you that it’s very welcome after that very long, non stop shower that lasted all day. Not that it wasn’t cozy inside, but it was very difficult to walk the dog in. That’s why I just took him out and although there was a stiff breeze, we dawdled in the sunshine and took our time getting back.
I’m glad that it is evening now and that I can relax and put my pajamas on in a little while. The most comfortable thing to do is to sit in my bathrobe in front of the TV in the evening. Especially today and the whole month after it, since there are going to be thrillers on every evening. My happiness knows no bounds. We are starting with an episode of the series ‘Case Sensitive’ tonight. I’ve never seen it so it will be a whole new experience for me. I suppose that’s a nice benefit of the summer TV season.
It’s officially summer now, but it doesn’t feel like it. It feels more like autumn outside. I wonder if this is the shape of things to come. Actually, temperature wise I don’t mind it too much. I like this better than when it’s too hot outside. I much prefer this cooler weather to a heatwave. I prefer wearing layers of clothes to hardly wearing any at all.
It’s already been the longest day of the year. I went to bed at night as if it was just an ordinary day like any other. I didn’t notice anything different about the day, the heavens didn’t move. I’m not a very good pagan. I probably should have worshiped the sun or something, except that there were too many clouds in the sky to do that properly. Besides, I’m more of a Buddhist anyway and I don’t think they’re much into sun worship.
I’ve got to eat some dinner and take care of the animals. I think their bowls need to be refilled and they need some cuddling.
Have a good evening.
Ciao,
Nora
Reinventing life…
I’m drinking some delicious coffee to celebrate the fact that it’s the end of the afternoon again. It means that I made it through another day successfully. When it gets to be this time of the day, I figure the hardest part is over and I can rest on my laurels. What comes after this is easy. It just involves eating dinner and walking the dog and putting on my pajamas and bathrobe. Those are things that hardly faze me. Although I do have to say that in this state of mind, waking the dog is harder. I mustn’t think about that too much ahead of time.
First I’ll enjoy my coffee and the time I’m sitting here writing this. I really have to try and stay in the moment and not project myself into what’s to come too much. There’s enough time for that. I’m usually pretty good about staying in the moment. I can focus on what’s going on right now and not worry about what is about to happen. I can be in total denial if I have to be, although I don’t think I’m supposed to take it to that extend.
The dog and the cat are lying side by side on the dining table in front of the window. They are both sound asleep and are absorbing the sunlight, but already the next rainclouds are moving in. We’ve had rain on and off all day and wind too. It’s been autumn like weather. I felt like closing all the windows and turning the heater on, but it’s really not been cold enough. There would not have been an excuse for it. It would be more sensible to put on a cardigan and another pair of socks.
I kept thinking, all day long, that today was Sunday and that I had to put the trash out tonight. I’m glad it’s only Saturday because I do appreciate the days off. I don’t want the weekend to go by quickly at all. I’m even thinking about staying up late tonight to watch some television programs that I usually don’t get around to. It doesn’t matter what time I get up tomorrow morning. If I’m not mistaken, Taggart is on late tonight, although the programming may have changed because we’re in the summer season now. I’ll have to look up a TV guide on line in a while.
I’ve got to walk the dog. He’s impatiently waiting beside me. I hope there’s no cloudburst when we’re out there.
Have a good evening.
Ciao,
Nora
Mollycoddling myself…
It’s not been a bad day when you consider that I’m in the company of the ‘Black Dog.’ I think I was well prepared this morning when I got up and didn’t have to alter my expectations about the day too much. I knew it wasn’t going to be a fun day, so I just accepted that from the start.
I got up late and took my time having a cup of coffee and a glass of juice. Just when I was awake to some extent, the Exfactor showed up. His timing was excellent because he could take care of some things that were on my list of things to do, but that I was most definitely not looking forward to. He did them for me cheerfully and quickly, especially when he realized that I was a bit under the weather.
As a result, I’ve been able to stay in my pajamas and bathrobe and haven’t had to change into my clothes yet. I haven’t even combed my hair, but just ran my fingers through it. I’m glad that I didn’t have to make the effort because I find moving from my armchair to my bed and to the computer enough of a challenge. It’s amazing how much energy you have to put into those things. They do wear you out.
A domestic help also showed up (not my regular Friday one, I haven’t seen her in weeks). She cleaned the place up well enough, although it didn’t get the thorough scrubbing that it usually gets. I thought I couldn’t look a gift horse in the mouth and that’s what she was. I’d gone without help for 11 days.
That’s all the enthusiasm I have for right now. I’ve run out of steam.
Have a good evening all of you.
Ciao,
Nora
Clouds and sleep…
I had to get up early this morning because my personal helper was going to be here at 9 am. As a result, I am two hours ahead of my schedule in everything. I’m trying to slow myself down as much as possible in order for time to catch up with me again, but I’ve not been successful yet. I’m going to write this post as slowly as I can and maybe that will do the job.
I’ve already taken my afternoon nap and very pleasant it was too. It was necessary that I took it for having gotten up so early. I’m not used to that, being wakened by the alarm clock. It’s definitely not my preferred way of waking up. I had to sit in my armchair and have several cups of coffee before I could even think about facing anybody. I do need my quiet moments when I first get up.
I do allow the dog to sit on my lap. I don’t have to have any complicated conversations with him. All I have to do is pet him. He and the cat are the easiest company first thing in the morning. They don’t make many demands on me. They are just happy that I’m up and that I make sure there’s food in their bowls. That’s not a very difficult task. And the cat wants her dish of milk and the dog wants fresh water. That’s easily done when I’m in the kitchen getting coffee.
We’re alternately having sun and then clouds in the way. When the sun comes out, the world is brilliant and much more cheerful. We didn’t get any rain out of all of those clouds today, but we may get some tonight. I haven’t needed to wear a jacket or a cardigan when I’ve walked the dog. The temperature is very pleasant, even though there’s a bit of a breeze. You can tell that the rain that we’ve had has done nature a lot of good. The grass in the fields is a lot greener and there are even mushrooms growing. I don’t know if they are edible. I’m not going to try and find out.
I’m having a tall glass of orange juice and the Exfactor was smart enough to get me the mild kind. That’s going to be much easier on my stomach because it’s less acid and tastes like it too. I really do prefer this kind. I don’t know how they make it less acid, but I appreciate it very much. I do have have to get my vitamin C in, after all, and I don’t know a better way. It’s very refreshing to drink.
Last night I had a craving for something hearty and luckily remembered that I still had some cheese in the refrigerator on the top shelf. It had been there for a long time, but it was still good. It had nothing fuzzy growing on it anyway. I ate as much as I could stand and was over my craving and I have enough left for future attacks. It’s wrapped up very well. It’s very nice when you discover the very food that you have a craving for in your refrigerator.
The dog wants to go for a walk so I have to end this epistle. He does seem to be in a hurry. He may just be bored, of course.
I hope you’re all having a nice day with good weather.
Ciao,
Nora
Adhering to the rules…
I’ve taken my afternoon nap late today and I’m still in the process of waking up from it properly. I’m sleepy headed even though I’m having a cup of coffee. I suppose it’s going to take more than one cup to get able minded. I don’t mind it too much as this is a pleasant state of mind to be in. There are no sharp edges and I feel as though my mind is stuck in a soft cloud. It’s nice to be not too alert and to be somewhat fuzzy minded. It takes the harshness off reality.
Not that my reality is all that harsh. On the contrary, it really isn’t. I just like things very softly outlined. I would always like to exist in a somewhat softened and mildly less aware state of mind. I would always like to be not so alert and acutely aware of everything. I’d like my level of built in stress to be a little bit lower.
I do deal with it well by allowing it to come to the surface only rarely and only for little periods of time. But I’m aware of the fact that I have the potential for it in me always. I’m not by nature a relaxed person. I’ve taught myself to be one. I have the attitude of one and seem to project it, but it’s all carefully tuned and kept in balance.
I’d like to take a ‘less aware pill,’ but one doesn’t exist. That’s probably why I have dreams sometimes about smoking hash and being very relaxed. My afternoon nap will have to suffice. It’s a very pleasant interlude in the day and it really helps me through it. It gets me over that difficult hump when I wouldn’t know how to get through the hard part of the afternoon.
I think sleeping is the kindest thing you can do for yourself. It’s such a healing act. It restores you and your mind and everything in you. It gives you new energy and a new outlook.
*
I just took the dog for a walk and when we came back to the apartment, he stood on his hind legs and looked through the living room window at the cat who was sitting on the dining table looking out. That was an interesting discovery. That was his cat sitting there. How unusual. The cat came to the front door to greet us when we came in. She was smart enough to figure out that it was us standing outside by the window. Sometimes I think the cat is smarter than the dog. She just doesn’t let on.
I’ve got to watch the 8 o’clock news now.
Have a good evening.
Ciao,
Nora
Sunday morning…
The early birds are singing joyfully as if they know it’s going to be a very good day. It will be as far as the weather is concerned anyway. We are getting a respite from the rain and are going to have a sunny day today. I’m sure it will be a good day overall because it is Sunday and what can go wrong on a Sunday? It’s the one day of the week that’s guaranteed to be uneventful. I haven’t had a Sunday yet that was not.
It’s Pentecost today, so officially a holiday besides it being a Sunday. Tomorrow will be Pentecost Monday and another day off. I’m looking forward to that.
I would have been asleep still if the dog hadn’t started barking. That is a bad habit he has sometimes. I don’t enjoy being wakened out of a sound sleep and having to get up to settle him down. The problem is that I’m wide awake when I do and there’s no chance of me going back to sleep right away.
I’ve had my cup and a half of coffee and have switched to cold milk. It tastes so good. I am inhaling it. It is making me feel kind of cold and I’ve had to put on my bathrobe. I got this bathrobe from my daughter three and a half years ago and it has served me well ever since. It’s especially good now because it’s gotten so big on me. I can really wrap it around myself well and tie it tight with the belt. I’m always nice and warm in it.
The milk is giving me the settled stomach and the energy I need. It really makes me feel good. I can always count on milk to do that for me. A few glasses of milk set me right. I would miss it more than coffee if I had to choose.
It’s become morning now and I have to think about going back to bed. I definitely need some more sleep. The great thing about Sundays is that I can sleep late without feeling guilty. It’s assumed that everybody does and that nobody will disturb you. This neighborhood is very quiet on a Sunday. Even kids don’t show themselves until some time in the afternoon.
I hope you all have a great day.
Ciao,
Nora
The silent nighttime…
If I believed in spooks and witches, it would be the perfect time for them now as it is a little past midnight and perfectly silent outside. I don’t know what sort of a moon we’re having. Being a city person, I’m totally unaware of that, but it’s completely cloudy so I wouldn’t be able to see it anyway. I’m sure it’s not a full moon because I don’t feel like a lunatic. I merely got woken up by my barking dog and had to quiet him down right away.
He’s sound asleep now in the armchair and I’m having a cup of coffee. I was immediately wide awake, jarred out of my sleep the way I was. That dog sometimes does have bad habits. He thinks he hears alarming sounds outside that he has to bark at. No doubt they are the spooks and witches that I don’t believe in. But most likely it was somebody parking their car and walking across the street close to the apartment. It would even be worse if I had the living room windows open at the top. He would hear every little sound.
I’m sitting here yawning, meaning I’m not as wide awake as I think I am. That coffee hasn’t really helped much. I will have to drink another cup. No doubt I will be sound asleep again in no time once I go back to bed. I wasn’t meant to be up yet. I’m awake prematurely.
Officially it’s Saturday now and the weekend. That calls for a big celebration. I’ll have to throw a big party and invite all my friends, but then I’d have to do that every weekend. Really, the weekend started yesterday when I had a completely lazy day and didn’t get much accomplished and wasted most of my time doing nothing important. It seems that my main objective is to keep my mood stable and if I’m able to do that, I call it a successful day.
I’ll have to do some chores today, so it won’t be a wasted weekend day. There are things that need to get done because I need clean dishes and I want to sleep in a clean bed tonight. I can easily let things go until a dire need develops and I’m confronted with the inevitable. That means I have to get my act together today.
We had a lot of rain yesterday evening. Puddles formed in the flowerbeds and the dog plowed around in them, getting his paws very wet. I let him because I figured that he needed some entertainment. He also walked through the bushes and got the rest of him wet. I doesn’t seem to daunt him one bit. He is oblivious of it. I really think he would go out for a walk in the rain and not be bothered by it. He’s a lot different than my old dog who disliked getting wet very much and avoided puddles.
The cat’s much daintier than that and stays inside when everything is wet. She’s got better bladder control, I think. Last night she very cozily found a place for herself on the duvet and curled up by my feet and went sound asleep. She had made a little hollow for herself. I very carefully didn’t move my feet after that so as not to disturb her.
Being a pet owner makes you be a responsible person. Especially when you live on your own. They always hold you accountable and you always have to take care of them. It’s a very good thing for me. I would not do nearly as well without them.
I hope you’re all having a good night and will have a good morning when you get up.
Ciao,
Nora
Uninspired…
I couldn’t think of a title for this post, that’s why I wrote down ‘uninspired.’ It’s not that I don’t know what to write about, so you mustn’t worry about that. If I was truly uninspired, I wouldn’t write anything at all. I would just skip the whole business like I have for the past couple of days.
I just took the dog for a walk around the fields and because the grass hasn’t been mowed in a while, there were lots of wildflowers growing. There is lots of white clover now because of the rain. There are also red poppies that are very pretty. Everywhere there is chamomile and tall yellow flowers that I don’t know the name of. The daisies are all gone and so are the dandelions. The poppies also grow in the flowerbeds and I hope nobody gets it in their head to weed those. I like the poppies better than the bushes that are planted there.
Having no garden, I live vicariously through the wildflowers that grow in the fields. Especially after it has rained there are moments of discovery. I found one single plant that is a ground cover and has purple flowers. It’s very pretty and inconspicuous. It is my secret plant.
I’ve finally been able to make an appointment to get the dog’s fur trimmed. He won’t go in for another two weeks, that’s how busy the woman who does it is. At least she remembered who he was and that he is always a lot of work. Not that he behaves badly, just that he has a lot of thick fur. I’m sure he’ll feel a lot better once it’s cut. He has a tendency to get too warm now and finds a cool place to lie down after we’ve been for a walk in the sunshine. Luckily, it hasn’t been too hot lately.
We’re supposed to get some showers tomorrow and they will be more than welcome. But as usual, I’ll believe it when I see it. The days have been cloudy off and on. Except for that wonderful thunderstorm, there hasn’t been any more rain.
I took a nap this afternoon, but I’m sitting here yawning. I suppose I need something to eat. I better not have any coffee now. I do want to be able to go to sleep at a decent time tonight. There will be nothing interesting on television. No thrillers or anything like that. I wish I was in charge of programming.
I’m off. I have to eat dinner. I hope you all have a pleasant evening.
Ciao,
Nora
It’s impossible not to…
I need to write a post to stay in this very nice and mellow mood I find myself in. I don’t want to break the spell by doing anything else. I want to stay behind the computer and ignore the world around me, even though there’s nothing threatening about it. I just want to sit here and stay in this tiny place behind the keyboard and share my thoughts even if they don’t amount to much at all.
I’m having my inevitable cup of coffee to help sharpen my mind. I just need it to be slightly sharpened, it is okay if it stays just the slightest bit dull. I don’t have to be real quick witted and fast on my feet. I’m not going to engage in a battle of minds and come out the winner.
You could call what I’ve had another splendid day, but it went by so fast and easily that I barely had time to look at it. I haven’t done anything special. On the contrary, I completely wasted the day on doing hardly anything at all. I’m left with almost nothing to show for it.
I can tell you that it was Saturday and that it was my day off and that my main concern was getting a new supply of tobacco from the tobacco shop. I also bought a chocolate bar, like I almost always do, and it spoiled my appetite and I haven’t had dinner yet.
That was my bit of excitement for today. At least I had my few minutes of socializing. You do have to interact kindly in the shop. It helps if you are a steady customer and they know your name. It puts a smile on your face.You can’t help yourself.
Another thing that puts a smile on my face are the antics of my dog. He keeps insisting on taking the potholders off their hook in the kitchen. He doesn’t do anything with them but put them down in the living room with his other toys. I can hang them back up, but in the shortest amount of time he will have collected them again. He’s discovered that he can do this so now keeps doing it. He’s a funny one.
The cat isn’t nearly as funny. She’s just endearing. She never does anything silly, but she’s so sweet and cuddly that she doesn’t have to. All she has to do is lie down on my lap and purr. That’s good enough. She’s so kind to the dog too and always comes and greets him even when she has just seen him. I really think she adores him. He’s crazy about her and thinks she’s there just for him to do with as he pleases. He does always let her know that he’s boss in case she forgets. But she’s an angel and tolerates anything.
My life wouldn’t be nearly as interesting if I didn’t have the animals. They do bring a bit of color to my daily life.
I’ve got to eat dinner now. I am starting to get hungry. You can’t live on a chocolate bar alone.
I hope you all have a good night.
Ciao,
Nora
Another Splendid Day 