movies

A Full Moon and A Finished Project

If it weren’t for deadlines (self-imposed and otherwise), I wouldn’t accomplish as much as I tend to. Today I ignored as much of the chaos as I possibly could and pressed to get the DVD movie list completed. I printed out two copies before setting the dishes in the sink to soak and started this post. I still need to punch holes in the paper and place them in a 3-ring binder. The label maker will make an appearance and then – then I can cross off the 570 times in my to-do books where I’ve written “Update movie list” for the last 9 years.

The disgusting details coming out about what men did to little children floor me with quease. I mean, seriously, what horrid kind of human do you have to be to even consider a hammer in dealing with a child after you’ve assaulted them? Why would you assault them? No one is better than anyone else. Did mothers stop teaching their children that? What’s money got to do with decency?

I know…but still.

The cold has been constant and Thursday I was reminded of how easily everything can slip away. Husband was not concussed, nor did he break anything, but he did fall hard on his back on pavement (wearing several layers of winter gear) when the strap he was using to tie down his ladder to the rack broke. I’d been angry about having to clean the house instead of having those hours to finish the movie list back on Thursday, but that fell away to gratitude when he came home early alive and in one, non-bleeding piece.

For Christmas, my niece gave me a cute little thing to measure how many books I’ve read. I plan to hang it as soon as I finish a book, and I was hoping today would be that day, but alas, it didn’t happen though I’m tantalizingly close to finishing Mary Roach’s “Fuzz.” I suppose staying off social media would help, but I do want a little bit of warning as to which war we’re entering with what entity and whether or not gas masks are recommended in the morning. Anyway, that’s next on my list. Until then, I have a picture of the bouquet to share and my sincere wish that if you’re reading this, you know you matter. I wish you well and I wish you warmth.

Thank you so much for stopping by and for the read! Cheers!

Patience and pivots

As I mentioned in a cover letter recently, my experiment in being kinder to myself since November (if I miss deadlines or don’t bake well enough, etc.) has resulted in a lot of things being accomplished and in less time than I would have expected. I made a ton of baked goods this year and the Christmas cards went out in time-ish. My kitchen drawers are sorted. I’ve been editing and reading. I’m revamping my submitting system. I don’t know if this level of productivity will be maintained, but so far, I’m pleased.

I hope the holidays were great for you. There were several pivots here. While the blizzard ravaged Cheektowaga and Buffalo, here by the creek, we were fine. Six to ten inches of snow. We had no plans to travel, had previously stocked up for the grazing holiday, and so were grateful to find we didn’t need to leave the house for 5 days. Yes, parts were tense. That many days together nonstop is a lot when you’re both used to different routines. A few times, we all wanted to disappear into the gift paper but only one of us managed to camouflage.

Another pivot was to the past, but very much the present, with a visit by Moe-sippy – excuse me if I did not spell that right – a tall guitar man from Husband’s childhood that stuck. He’d written two new songs – one reggae, one rap. Not only did I get to hear his work in progress, but he’d brought a notebook he wrote when he was 17. Coming-of-age questions remain the same throughout the decades; I was reminded of having similar ones when I, too, left home at 17 and found out the world can be an awful place. But there are friends there, too, and possibly multiverses where you know them. (If you haven’t seen Everything, Everywhere, All At Once yet, you must.)   

I’d expected to have written and posted something earlier this week, but here we are on New Year’s Eve. Soon I’ll be lighting a bayberry candle and choosing something to watch before the midnight countdown coverage. Box sets of Star Trek: The Next Generation and The Waltons arrived from the North Pole this year. I’ve lined up some movies mentioned in the chat of the latest Kathy Fish flash workshop by other amazing writers. Moe-sippy reiterated The Curious Case of Benjamin Button as a choice, I nattered on about The Prestige to him. The Manchurian Candidate and the remake came up; same with Total Recall. The Big Chill, and Easy Rider, too. So many movies to study, so many calls for work closing, so many deep breathes to take while remembering we’re all in this together.

I am happy to find you’ve read this far so I can wish you the best in the new year. Thank you for stopping by and for the read!