Have You Noticed The Longer Day?

Today is the last day of January. As I was driving home from my friends house at 5:20pm, I was pleased to notice that there was more daylight than there had been even a few weeks ago. Twilight had begun. I arrived at my destination in a half hour and was pleasantly surprised that it wasn't quite dark out yet. When you first notice the days getting longer, it is exhilarating. There is the promise of spring to come. The promise that the trees and flowers will bloom again. That we can shed these winter coats and open the door enabling the cat to smell the fresh air as he watches the birds flitting about. Winter does serve many purposes though, and I sometimes wonder if I'd love spring as much if it were not for winter. I love the beginning of the warmer season, spring, and the season which ends the warmth of summer, fall. You could say that I'm a middle of the road person when it comes to weather. I don't like either of the extremes very much, that being summer and winter. I'm usually complaining during those seasons that I'm either too hot or too cold. I feel like Goldilocks tasting the porridge. Spring and Fall are "just right" for me.

Icy Roads?

The weather report told us that there will be freezing rain tomorrow morning and that the roads will be icy, north and west of the city. The report also said that the temperature will reach about 45 degrees tomorrow. If that is so, the ice should melt in the above freezing temps. I've stayed inside all week and tomorrow I have an entire morning of errands planned. The forecast is not to my liking and I'm hoping that it will be wrong, so that I can get in my car and proceed with my morning agenda. I think that the key to whether I venture out or not, will be knowing if the local schools have morning classes. I'd better listen to the radio to find out. Sorry kids, I know that you haven't had many snow days this year, but I'm hoping that there won't be an "ice" day tomorrow either.

Lunch With The Girls

Two college friends and I met for lunch at about 1:00pm. It was a great lunch because we stayed in the restaurant and were allowed to talk until 4:20pm. When the dinner crowd started to arrive, we decided it may be time for use to leave. We spent more than three hours together and were able to catch up on each other's news and discuss other topics as well. I really enjoyed this lunch with my friends. I wish we could get together (just the girls) more often. I wish we didn't all live so far apart. Thank you for your good company, ladies. You've warmed my heart today.

Reach Out....

Today I reached out and called someone I had been annoyed with. I'm glad I did. I feel better and I'm sure she does also. We had a newsy, chatty conversation and she thanked me for calling. Now that all is forgotten, we can move on.
I will be planning an outing for our Red Hat group to have a day at the movies followed by pizza at a local restaurant. We all enjoy our activities even if we have to wear a costume of sorts, a red hat and a purple outfit. Planning this event will free me from having to plan any others for the rest of the year. It will be someone else's turn to organize the next one.

Getting In Touch With Myself

The past month has been a bit strange. There has been a "quieting down" of my social life and more of an enjoyment of being at home. Cold winter weather has been partly responsible for my desire to stay home. However, I've enjoyed doing the solitary things at home which had been second choice to me for so long. Reading, quilting, playing the piano, playing with the cat, listening to music and an occasional phone call from a good friend are some of the things I've enjoyed. I've also had time to think about all kinds of things. I feel that I was able to get in touch with who I really am this past month. I like what I see and what I feel.

Write

Write everyday, even if it's just for a few minutes. At the end of a year you may have written a book. That's the advice that I've been given. I guess "write" is another thing to add to my daily schedule. Blog writing helps, but it's not the "story" so it doesn't count. When to write is the question. Hmm! I suppose that writing early in the day may be what's recommended by writers. I could substitute writing in my reading schedule and then follow the writing with reading. At any rate, I need to start writing the story. I will start with a synopsis of the story I want to write, make an outline for the story and then see where it leads. I will do that tomorrow. No, not on my blog site. I'm not ready for other eyes to read the story yet until it's been told in it's entirety.

Getting a Call From An Old Friend

Tonight I received a call from a friend from High School. She lives in Georgia. We were talking about the old days in the "hood" and we wondered if there would be another reunion this year. I've invited her to come up and stay with me if she'd like to go to this reunion. It would be so nice to see her again. I had visited her a few years ago at her home.
I decided to google a couple who arranged our last reunion. I found them and sent an email asking about a possible reunion. I'm anxiously waiting for a return email. I even offered to help them if they'd like some help planning this one. Hopefully, this will come to pass.

A Day With No Snail Mail

Every day when I go to my mailbox I find it full of "stuff". There are catalogues, junk mail of all sorts and bills. It's very rare that I get a card or a real letter from someone. Most of the time it's a chore to go through all of it. I welcome the day when there is no snail mail. It would be a relief and save precious time going through all that stuff. It doesn't happen very often. As a matter of fact I can't remember the last time that I went to the mailbox to find it completely empty. However, a day without email is not as welcomed. I look forward to newsy notes from friends and I can always delete the junk. If I found a letter or card in my snail mailbox, it would make my day. That's the only exception to finding an empty mailbox.

Where's The January Thaw?

We haven't had much snow this month, but it's been extremely cold. I'm hoping for a relief from all the arctic blasts we've been experiencing. January and February are the two hardest months to get through because of the bitter cold that comes. I'm glad I don't live further north where it's much colder. I wish we could have an early spring this year. I don't seem to adapt to the cold as well as I use to. There hasn't been any snow to shovel so I'm thankful for that. I'm ready for flowering trees, and the warmth of the spring.

Nearing The End Of A Novel

It is well written. It holds my interest. There are stories within the story. There are many characters and interesting description of places, people and things. The pocketbook version is about 636 pages. I have about 100 more pages to go to the end of the book. I have an idea how it will end but don't know for sure. I can't help but wonder how the author has the ability to write so many books. Many are similar but there is something distinctly different about each one. I guess that's where the imagination comes in. I wonder if it would help to make up an oral story and to then start writing it all down? Could be worth a shot! Where's the tape recorder?

A Perfect Day

Last Saturday was a fun filled day for me. I went with a friend to see the movie "Attonement" which I found to be another good movie. Afterwards we drove to a tearoom in Flemington and had a light supper. We had a delicious salad with soup and a welcomed pot of hot tea. The atmosphere at this tearoom is so pleasing. The people who work there were delightful and accomodating even though we caught them at the end of their day. They welcomed us and stayed open for us to get our refreshment. I always enjoy my friends company and the conversations we have. After dropping my friend off at home, I traveled to another friend's home where we played Pinochle for a few hours. Instead of the usual 5 people playing, we had 6 people and played with partners. That was fun for a change although my partner and I weren't the winners for the evening. As usual, after being out all day, I found it hard to fall asleep when I got into bed that night. I made up for my lack of sleep by taking a nap the next day. Here's to more fun filled days with friends!

Cold Enough?

The temps are way down. Too cold for my liking. I'm lucky to have a warm coat to wear in such weather. Glad I live in NJ and not Green Bay. Speaking of Green Bay, did you see the Giants beat the Packers yesterday? I'm glad that my favorite team is going to the Superbowl. The next step is to beat the Patriots. I'm not sure if I will be able to watch that game. I prefer tuning in to get the score after the game is over. Just like I did yesterday. It's less stressful that way!

A Well Done Movie

Saw "Sweeney Todd" this afternoon. It was very well done. Johnny Depp was outstanding, as he usually is in his movies. This weekend I will go with a friend to see "Atonement". That should also be good. Haven't been to the movies in quite awhile. There are several out now which I'd like to see. There are a couple I'd like to rent as well. I never saw "Edward Scissor Hands" with Johnny Depp. I'd also like to see "Splendor in The Grass" with Natalie Wood. I never saw that movie all the way through. A question arose regarding that movie which is why I'd like to see it. Oh, well, until the next cinema feature, I'll get back to my book.

Day One, Right On Schedule

This morning I awoke exactly at 5:00am without being awakened by my cat, Sandy. I stuck to the schedule I made yesterday. I even practiced the piano for one hour. I was really into it also. I noticed an improvement in my playing by the time the hour was up. I read 100 pages of my book, watched the news and perused the paper. I went to the bank and to the grocery store as well. Tomorrow, day two, will be another test of my discipline. I'm hoping that I can stay with the piano practicing for an hour each day. That's the biggest challenge facing me. Sometimes I get so frustrated with myself and the mistakes I make that I want to give up before the hour has come to an end. I remained calm today, and was patient with myself. I really enjoyed the hour and it went quickly. As a reward tomorrow, I'm joining a friend who invited me to go to see a movie with her. It's a treat because I haven't seen any movies in ages. I'll still have plenty of time for my morning schedule.

The Snow That Didn't Come

Last night, the weather forecasters were predicting a few inches of snow for our area. Well it did rain, but the snow never came. There is often so much hype about the snow and the predicament we're going to find ourselves in in the morning. I like some snow, but don't like trudging through many inches of it to get to my car. You see, I don't have a garage and it is necessary for me to go outside and dig my car out of the snow. A few inches of snow is welcomed but if the snowplow plows my car in, because we've had a foot or more of snow, I need help getting out of my parking space. I'm hoping for light snowfall amounts this winter, and milder weather. After seeing the snow for a day or two, I'm happy if it melts and goes away. It will, like "Frosty", come again some other day.

Keeping To A Schedule

Today I decided that I'd start each morning on a schedule. I'll arise at 5:00am and watch the news while I have breakfast. At 7:00am I'll shower and get dressed. At 8:00am, each weekday, I'll practice the piano. If I happen to be at home for the rest of the morning, I'll read. They'll be time for the newspaper and books. I don't want to plan for more than that. A structured morning will work better than trying to schedule all day. There will be some mornings when I'll be out with friends, or food shopping. In that case, I'll save the reading part of my day for when I return home. I intend to keep the afternoons flexible. I'll be starting my new schedule tomorrow. Hopefully, it will become a routine. I hope that it's attainable. Just think of how my piano playing will improve. I may even plow through the pile of books waiting for me on my bookcase.

Live with Dan Abrams, Has It Right

Dan Abrams' show has opened doing a good job of criticizing the establishment media and their behavior in NH last night. You go, Dan! The Establishment media doesn't like Hillary, or the Clintons. They should be objective in their reporting and not try to influence the voters.
Barack Obama is a very inspirational speaker. He makes a good candidate. I'm for change, but what change are we talking about? Some change is good some isn't. Please tell me what you will change if you are elected? The democratic party has three good people running for president. Right now, it's still not a definite who will be the candidate for the party. Let's let the "people" decide who it will be, not the media. We have 50 states to hear from, not 1 caucus and 1 primary to determine the outcome.

Two Wins At MJ

Yesterday I played Mah Jongg with friends. I lucked out by winning two of the games we played using the same hand. Tried for a third but wasn't lucky again. There were only 5 of us in attendance yesterday. The "master" player couldn't be there. She usually wins most of the games. There is skill involved when playing, but there is also a certain amount of luck involved. The tiles you get and what you are able to do with them determine if you'll win or not. Our "master" player plays with another group every Monday. I think that we should play every Monday without her, then when we get together as a larger group we'll have experience and be better players. I even suggested that. Everyone liked the idea, but I think they're "afraid" to play without the master.

Pundits Put In Their Place

Yesterday I watched the NH primary election coverage on MSNBC. It made me angry to see how the pundits predicted Obama the winner before the votes were all in. I guess they think they're fortune tellers now. They were so confident of the outcome of the election. Thank goodness the NH voters were able to think for themselves. What a sorry state we would be in if viewers were choosing a candidate to vote for based on what the media is predicting. Why would we need elections? Just let the media choose the next president. Chris Matthews and Keith Olbermann really "ticked" me off the most. Usually I am a fan of both gentlemen. They don't like the idea of Hillary as president, but I'm thinking now that they just don't like the idea of a woman as president. Macho, macho men. "Keep the women in their place. " I say that it's time to break the glass ceiling. What are you men really afraid of if a woman becomes a U.S. President?

Quiet Weekend

It was a quiet weekend. Spent time reading, listening to music, went to church and visited with family. Quiet weekends are welcomed more now then they use to be. In my younger years I wanted to be out there where I thought that life was happening. Now that I find myself to be more contented, I enjoy being at home. If life is happening "out there" I don't feel that I'm missing anything at this point. " Been there, done that." If something comes along which appeals to me, I can always "get out there" if I want to do so. Winter is a time for staying in and catching up on reading and unfinished craft projects. I've long left the winter sports to the younger generation. I'd rather sit by the fire, watch the snow fall when it does, and have a cup of tea or some hot chocolate. Good company is always welcomed. Someone to sit by the fire with, to watch the snow fall with and to share some hot tea or chocolate.

Ice Cold Today

Today was a very cold day. It was a good day to wear a fur coat if you had one. After being outside briefly I was happy to have a chance to get inside for a hot chocolate drink. I visited with a friend and caught up on her news. It's still nice to see Christmas trees lighted and candles glowing. I'm leaving lighted wreaths up in my living room for a few more weeks. It's hard to let Christmas go. I almost feel let down when all the lights are taken down or not lighted any more.
The next festive holiday we have to look forward to is St. Valentine's Day. I may leave my lighted wreaths up until after that holiday. I think that we need a Winter Carnival scheduled for January. We could leave out Christmas lights up and lit through that event. Lets make another winter holiday.

Same Old, Same Old

Interesting! I googled my own blog yesterday. There were three listed and then the description said "more of the same". I guess I'm boring someone. Okay, so I'm not a Jane Austen. One has to start somewhere. I feel like I may have one story in me at least. They say that everyone does. Where to start telling the story, when to start telling it and how to start telling it are my questions. I know who my audience will be, but what genre will it be? I suppose I'm not ready to tell the story or I'd know the answers to the questions. I also found out that there is an author who has the same first and last name that I have. I guess I'll use my middle name also when I have my first book published. I hope it's a Best Seller. I can dream, can't I??

A New Year

Happy New Year! My first year of writing blogs has come to an end. I only wrote 230 of them. It made me realize how difficult it must be to write a daily column for a newspaper. Some days you get an idea. On other days the idea doesn't come as easily. I have a new respect for writers, although I always had an admiration for them and their craft. This past week of the Christmas holiday, I read four mystery books. As you can tell, I had a quiet holiday. I enjoyed all four of the books I read. They were light, and held my interest. I plan to plow through other mysteries I've been collecting this month. I don't enjoy the "heavy" fiction which book clubs seem to choose for a monthy book. They are often sad and about dysfunctional families and other "poor souls" who exist among us. They do serve their purpose, but I'd rather have a fiction which ends well. Non-fiction is still a favorite of mine, but I'm going to devote the first month of this new year to reading fiction. I actually have quite a collection and need to reduce the pile which sits on my bookshelf. I'll report on my progress of eliminating the pile of books I've collected. May every book we pick up to read be a 'good' one.