Monday was my prep day for my next trip starting on Tuesday. Off to Nashville, arriving late in the evening. With no direct flights, there were no easy options, and I decided that an easy set of flights would work best. The time change, two hours, and a one-hour layover stole at least three hours from the day. I was not going to fly all night this time. I wanted to be awake for the American Civil War tour on Wednesday.
I woke up in the dark, proved hydrated, and dreamed bright dreams of traveling on various buses, planes, and trains that matched my upcoming week. I slept through the sunrise, with black turning into dark and then lighter gray. Our overcast fall days are here, but will soon be replaced by hot, sunny days. Our usual September of gray and blue skies, a mix and match of summer and winter.
I saw the squirrels busy burying their caches in the ground while I wrote the blog, and the hummingbirds enjoyed the low-wind days and feasting on the rushing ants and heavy pollen. Soon it will also slow as the rains and dark come. They all stay for the winter like me. We will watch each other all year.
Words, narrative, and musing were my morning. Not all I thought about will be recorded, as some things remain private and others are not my tale to tell, but much was cast into molds of words and sentences. Then, for me, hammered out like a blacksmith. Rereading, like reheating in metalwork, has me check the work; Grammarly complains, and I decide which red underlines (mistakes) for it to correct. I look at blue underlines, glowing like heated metal, suggestions, and often ignore Grammarly, and I fix the sentence by adding a word here and there, like a blacksmith hammering something back in place. Often, adding the missing word or phrase works. Grammarly often becomes satisfied. I watch the word count at the bottom; if it was a quiet day and I reach 500, I have enough for a post. I try not to fill it with musings or boilerplate commentary, but try to write without concern. Stream of consciousness, heated and hammered into a reasonable work that is produced nearly every day.
Monday, from the habits of the pandemic, was laundry day. I stripped the bed and tossed it in the washing machine. Later, I tossed in the towels in use for another load. I later divided the clothing into two loads. Shirts and pants, and a mixed load. The new Costco-purchased laundry, the usual, executed with precision. The combo machine for the same amount (and never refunded) is not missed and is not recommended.
I completed a short blog and heard from Deborah by text. She has lots of balls in the air on Monday (back-to-school for adult education), and I try not to add to her concerns. No need for a needy boyfriend who needs constant reassurance. Though, of course, I miss her and the often-morning call, I tell myself I will be brave and wait. We talk later, and both feel better hearing our collective voices.
Cough meds, in lower amounts, are still in use, and the world seems slightly misty, and time moves in sprints. Morning was slow, the afternoon disappears, and dinner was long. The evening is late before I am ready, and I find myself remaking the bed late.
I put on the funny and crazy Terminator movie, Genesis, which I can always recommend, but you should watch it after rewatching The Terminator original movie first. Arnold gets a new catchphrase: “Old, but not obsolete!” Corwin stops by, and I take him to La Provence for lunch; he has had a bad week and could use a nice sandwich.
I try to bring some order to the house and pack. I don’t fit everything for my one-week trip into my smaller bag, which is also a suit bag. I have to carry a coat in my carry-on. Likely the right thing to do anyway. I then manage to get it all together. Packed. I set out a few items for my final packing (meds) and my hat.
I meet Dondrea and Z for dinner at Pepitas and end up with too much food. I have a margarita and start my vacation early. We talked about travel, church, and nothing. It was nice to relax.
I package shows today: a Calamity Ware teapot to match the cup Deborah gave me. She watched for it, finally found one, bought it, and sent it to me. Excellent!
I am time-boxed, have a flight today (I am writing this on Tuesday morning), and that covers the day. Thanks for reading!
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