Book Five: Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen

I liked this book, but not as much as I liked Pride and Prejudice. It took me about 100 pages to get into it. I found Marianne annoying and Edward insipid. But overall, it's a good book. 

Sense and Sensibility is one of three novels in a volume I got at the Wilton Library book sale. (The other two are Pride and Prejudice and Emma.) I liked the idea of having a three book volume, but I didn't think about how heavy the volume would be. I do a lot of my reading in bed. Hopefully, I won't doze off and drop the book on my face. 

Weather Update

Today temperatures rose to 30 degrees. It hurts to have to write that. But we're in Connecticut in January.

Norwalk got off lucky with the blizzard Saturday; we got about eight inches of snow. There was also a lot of wind which conveniently blew all the snow off my car and from around it. 

On Sunday and today, I took Lola to Oyster Shell Park for walks. Yesterday, some people were sledding. One hill was a good one, but I saw a guy overshoot the bottom and land in some bushes. Another hill didn't have that problem, but the snow cover was patchy. 

No sledding today. In a clean patch of snow, I saw the initials S&D enclosed in a heart. A few yards away, I saw another heart with the initials S&A. S gets around, but at least is open about it. 

I'm looking forward to temperatures in the forties in a few days, but dreading the resulting mud and puddles. 

And so it goes. 

Waiting for the Snow

I expect it to start snowing any minute now and snow until tomorrow afternoon. Still not sure how much snow we'll get--latest forecast is seven to 10 inches. 

Lately Lola has only been interested in walking at Oyster Shell Park. When I've taken her to other places, she just runs out to poop, and then returns to the car. I don't get it, but for now we'll go to Oyster Shell.

Bonus: we saw a hawk today. It landed in a tree near us and I got three pictures. 

Midweek Miscellany

I made it back to the gym today after 18 days. I didn't expect that by this time of January, I'd only have been to the gym four times this year. But then I didn't plan on a sore neck, a sore back, and a stomach flu. 

I had a shorter workout than usual, with less weight than I had been using. I was happy enough to get back: I saw no need to try to make up for the past 18 days in one session. I think I can make it to the gym another two or three times this week.

Now I've got to prepare for some things at the end of the week. Our water is being turned off Friday at 9 AM, so a water line can be repaired. According to our super, it can take 15 minutes, a half hour, or half the day. We need to stockpile some water for various needs. 

Friday night and Saturday, a snowstorm is predicted. Apparently, it's too early to determine how the storm will track; the storm can miss us or we may get snow measured in feet. Here's hoping for the former. 

A Writing Process

I didn't want to call this post "The Writing Process" because there's not just one writing process. I can't say what the best writing process is. (If somebody knows, please tell me.) I wanted to write about the process for the assignment due for today's writing class. 

We usually have a week for each assignment. Since last Monday was MLK Day, we had two weeks to write a story up to 850 words about the writer down the street. 

I had an idea to write about someone in my condominium. Neighbors are physically closer in condos than in houses. I remember someone saying that people in our condo respect each other's privacy because we have to live close together. 

Of course, some people don't respect other's privacy; some people are nosy. I decided to write an exaggerated version of a combination of two people who have lived in my condo. To meet the writer requirement, I had her write down her complaints about unfriendly, unappreciative neighbors. I wrote about half of the story and then put it aside. 

I didn't know where to go with the story. That's not unusual. Normally, I just keep writing and find a way. But after a few more days, I realized that my story didn't work. I didn't like it. 

Thursday night, when I was trying to fall asleep, I came up with another idea. I wrote the beginning in my head, played with the idea for another day, and started to write it down on Saturday. I worked on it on Sunday, and I finished and edited it this morning. 

I was pretty happy with it. I liked my character--a teenager from the early 70s. I'd like to write about her again. 

For me, the most important thing was that I abandoned my first idea when I realized it wasn't going to work. 

 

Not all my stories are good, but I've only had two or three that I've really been unhappy about. This assignment could have been another. I'm glad I avoided that. 

Onto homework due next week: to write about a chili cookoff. 

Book Four: The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah

This was a good book, but it was also hard reading. I read the second half of it on Friday, cried through most of it, but could only put it down to make and eat dinner. 

Elsa is a wonderful character who is ignored, underestimated, and ultimately abandoned by her rigid, conventional family. She finds love and strength in her new life with her husband's family. In fact, she becomes more of a family member than her husband.

Hannah poignantly captures the daily horrors of life in the Dust Bowl during the Great Depression as well as the dangers faced by people who tried to escape it.

Sick

A stomach flu hit me on Tuesday. One minute I was getting ready to take a shower--the next I was lying on the bathroom floor. I stayed in bed until 4 PM, then sat on the couch until I went back to bed again.

I felt much better the next day, but tried to do too much and it wiped me out. So, the rest of the week I took everything slowly. I eventually went grocery shopping and did the laundry. 

Now I just have to write a story due for my class on Monday. (I abandoned the story I partially wrote last week. It didn't work.)

Book Three: Dragonwyck by Anya Seton

I picked up this Gothic romance because I enjoyed the film starring Gene Tierney and Vincent Price. I like the film better than the novel; it condensed the story and cut out some unnecessary scenes. I liked Gene Tierney's Miranda more than book Miranda because Gene showed more personality.

Both book and film open with the Wells family receiving a letter from a distant cousin Nicholas asking if one of the Wells daughters can live with him and his wife Johanna and help with their daughter. Miranda has no interest in the family farm and is raring to go. After Johanna dies, Miranda and Nicholas fall in love and marry. Miranda becomes the mistress of the gloomy Dragonwyck.

I learned about the Dutch patroon system by watching the film. I had never heard of it before. The book includes a scene at the Astor Place riot. I enjoy learning history in my reading. 

I may read Green Darkness by Seton as well. It involves time travel to Tudor times. 

Well-Played, Lola

Lola's had some trouble recently jumping up on the bed. She moves slightly forward then backs up to get a better starting position. Many times we just pick her up and put her on the bed. 

Yesterday Jeff and I were sitting on the couch. Lola sat on the floor facing us. Jeff moved the remote and patted the middle cushion, indicating she should join us. She made that forward, then backward move and hesitated.

"She can't jump up," I said. I stood up to lift her. Lola promptly jumped onto the couch and took my seat. I had to laugh. Well-played. 

TCM Noir Alley: Repeat Performance (1947)

The film opens (after a brief narration) with a murder offscreen. Sheila Page (Joan Leslie) has shot her husband. She escapes into crowds celebrating the New Year of 1947. She wishes she could relive 1946 over again to avoid shooting her husband, and suddenly she finds herself in the early hours of New Year's day 1946.

Sheila identifies Paula Costello as a danger; Sheila's husband Barney fell in love with Paula in the original timeline. Sheila believes if she doesn't go to London, Barney and Paula won't meet. But Paula shows up at Sheila's New Year's party. That wasn't supposed to happen. 

The new 1946 continues. Although it doesn't unfold exactly as the original timeline, Barney still falls in love with Paula, and Sheila still faces a crisis on New Year's Eve. 

There are some issues with the film. I can quibble with some of Sheila's actions and some of the dialogue. The biggest problem is that Barney is nice for about one hour of the whole year. I understand why Sheila may not want to kill him, but her determination to save her marriage doesn't make sense. Some people complain that the movie gives no explanation for Sheila's repeat performance. I didn't need an explanation. I love stories about alternate realities and timelines. 

I first saw this movie about 30 years ago. I think it was on the old A&E Network. Then I didn't see or hear of it for years. Apparently the film was almost lost. I'm happy it's been restored. 

Off-Kilter

That's the way I felt all week. It started when I woke up on Sunday with a sore back. I was especially bummed because I woke up the previous Sunday with a sore neck. I hope this isn't a harbinger for the rest of 2022. 

The highlight of my week was my Monday writing class. Then the days blurred together. I was down on Thursday: discouraged, disgusted with myself for wasting away the day, feeling sorry for myself. 

I'm participating in Laura Vanderkam's Time Tracking challenge this week. I've done this several times before, but for some reason this week has been very difficult. I forgot to track from Monday at lunch through late Tuesday morning, then forgot again a few hours later. I'm still not sure what I did Monday afternoon between 3:30 and 5:15. Luckily, time tracking doesn't have to be perfect. I'll probably continue to track my time next week as well.

I felt much better about myself today. I rewrote some Merwinsville research notes last night to have them more accessible. This morning I got up and made soup (butternut squash, pumpkin, carrot, and apple.) After I took Lola to the vet, we went for a walk at Oyster Shell Park. It was a surprisingly nice walk; we avoided strong winds by going during the late morning. I was reminded how it's good to get outside for sun every day. Thanks Lola. I wouldn't have done it without you. Here she is in her sweater dress.

Bonus: I saw swans. As I watched them, the Bill Withers song  "Just the Two of Us" was going through my head.

After lunch, I ran an errand and then went to the library. I had wanted to get Kindred by Octavia Butler, but the library didn't have it. I browsed through the books for sale and the stacks. That was fun; I hadn't been able to do that in a few years. I ended up borrowing two books: Dragonwyck by Anya Seton and The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah. I selected Dragonwyck because I enjoyed the film. The Four Winds is another book on my to be read list. 

I took my books into The Blue Teapot Cafe and Bakery in the library. I had a European hot chocolate as I read the first chapter of Dragonwyck. It was a nice treat for myself. 

Book Two: Jubilee by Margaret Walker

I enjoyed this true story of Vyry a child of a plantation owner and his slave. Jubilee describes Vyry's life during the Antebellum, Civil War, and Reconstruction years. Walker combined her family's stories with thirty years of research. 

Vyry remains a strong and caring person despite all the pain and injustice she endures and witnesses. It was hard to read about some of the horrors she experiences, but it helped that the book ended on a more optimistic note.

I'm not sure where I read about Jubilee, but I added it to a list of books to be read. I was happy to see it at the Wilton Library book sale. Walker has written an essay about the writing of Jubilee. I'll keep my eyes open for that. 

School's Back in Session

My fiction writing class started up again today. It's been seven weeks since our fall session ended; it feels longer. It was nice to see and hear everybody again. 

When we begin a new session, we do in-class writing. Our assignment was to write about our coffee mug. I couldn't believe how good the stories were. I shouldn't have been surprised--we have a talented group.

Our homework assignment (due in two weeks) is to write about the writer down the street.

The 2022 Word is Creating

I made my decision yesterday. When I think about creating, I usually think about writing. Lately, I've been thinking a lot about art journals. I want to do more with my art. (I still feel odd talking about my "art.") I chose "creating" over "create" because it connotes a continuing process.

Creating also extends to all areas of life. I can create a better home, better friendships, a better life. 

That's a lot. I need to get started. 

A Word for the Year

I was intrigued by this recent newsletter in The New York Times about selecting a word to capture your values and intentions for the new year. The idea is to focus on the things most meaningful to you and the positive changes you'd like to make in your life. 

My first thought was the word "create." Then I looked at synonyms for create and came up with "acutalize." Now I wonder if that's just a fancy and/or pompous way of saying "create."

I'll sleep on it. 

Snow

We knew it was coming, but as one weatherperson said, our first major storm of the season overperformed. (Don't think I've heard that expression concerning a snowstorm before.) 

We got about nine inches of snow. Luckily the snow was dry and light--relatively easy to brush off the cars--no scraping required. I made it to Lola's vet tech appointment at 2 (but damn, forgot to ask about her weight--she's been losing weight lately.)

Afterwards, I took Lola to Sherwood Island, but it was closed. Next we tried Winslow. Lola ran and seemed to enjoy herself in the fifteen minutes we stayed. 

Unfortunately, the snow will be around awhile; it's going to be a cold week. 

A Year Ago Today...

...insurrectionists invaded the Capitol. I remember that day well. I didn't have the heart/stomach/whatever to watch the coverage on CNN this morning. Instead I watched Deep Space Nine. Ironically, it was about an attempted coup against the Bajoran government and its alliance with the Federation. At least these fictional insurrectionists recognized the truth when they saw it. Even Vedek Winn retreated when she saw the evidence. 

Truth is really stranger than fiction.

2022 Book One: The Six Wives of Henry VIII by Alison Weir

I read most of this book in 2021, but I count it when I finish it. It's always interesting to find new information about subjects I've read about before and seen in films and television series. Of course, historians and novelists often have different interpretations of events. I don't remember reading before that Anne Boleyn was involved in or at least condoned the attempt to poison John Fisher the Bishop of Rochester, except in some work by Philippa Gregory who was very anti-Anne.

Weir writes biographies as well as novels. In my book sale books, I have Weir's novel about Katherine of Aragon. It will be interested to compare it to the Katherine Aragon section in The Six Wives book. 

Seven Swans a Swimming

 ...on the Norwalk River. 

I took Lola on a walk to Oyster Shell Park this morning. I saw seven swans and assumed they were the parents and the five babies I've been watching since spring. The swans were far away when I first saw them and continued swimming down the river. I never got a good look at them or a chance to take a photo.

Seeing them was still the highlight of my day. 

Transition to 2022

A few final numbers for 2021: 

Gym Visits: 87 from June 17 to December 31. I went to the gym four times a week 11 times; three visits a week ten times; two weekly visits three times; and I made one visit a week four times. I didn't make specific goals for the year since the gym was closed in early 2021. I'm returning to the goal of 150 gym visits for 2022

New Books Read: 33 versus a goal of 30. I'd like to read 35 books this year. 

Blogposts: 192 versus a goal of 200. I want to keep the goal of 200. 

Today I'm going to focus on short term goals for today. 

I already missed a goal of getting up with the alarm at 6:30 (I got up at 7 instead.) I had some trouble sleeping due to a sore neck and right before the alarm went off, I dreamed that a woman burned me with a curling iron. 

I'm not going to beat myself up too much about it. Many people give up on their goals and resolutions at the first setback. I once read an article that most people abandon resolutions by January 21. That's why I prefer the term goal to resolution. 

I will take Lola out of course for a good walk. I'll exercise here (my neck is still sore.) I'll make a grocery list. I'll finish packing up the Christmas decorations (I boxed the ornaments yesterday.) 

I got my first email from The New York Times Eat Well Challenge about mindful eating. I'm supposed to choose one eating habit I'd like to change. I'm choosing later at night deserts and snacks. I think it's fine to have a cookie or two, candy, or a mini ice cream bar after dinner, but if I make it to say 9 PM without a snack, I don't want to eat then. 

More importantly, I need to write today. I'm wavering if I want to make goals based on time (e.g. write for an hour) or production (write 500 words or three pages.) Today I'll write for one hour on my time travel book and research for one hour on my Merwinsville book. 

2021 and 2022 Goals

I didn't write about my 2021 goals until the end of March last year: not a good start. I'll be better this year even though I won't have all my goals in order tonight.

This is my last night of drinking until Valentine's Day. I would usually finish out the weekend, but, in the past week, I've already finished the last glass of a bottle of white wine and two glasses of a box of red, as well as the last of a small bottle of scotch. It's time.

I signed up for an Eat Well Challenge in The New York Times. I have to think about that and set goals besides eat mindfully (though that is a good goal.)

I like my earlier annual goals of 150 gym visits, 30 books read, and 200 blog posts written. 

Writing? Well, I need to focus on that.

Working Out in 2021

To follow up on a previous post, I went to the gym 87 times this year. If the numbers panned out for the full year, I would  have gone about 160 times. My goal is to go to the gym 150 times a year, so this is promising. 

Being retired makes it easier to go to the gym, but it can still be a challenge. I need to keep a routine of going three or four times a week and supplement those visits with work here. Walking with Lola is also a help.

More on Books Read in 2021

I was pleased with the variety of books I read this year: history, mystery/suspense, science fiction, fantasy, and memoir.

My favorites were: Hour of the Witch, Anne Boleyn, Paradise Alley, and Bloodless. The toughest read was One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez.

I had wanted to read more black women authors and read There is Confusion by Jesse Redmon Fauset and Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston. I also have Jubilee by Margaret Walker in my TBR (to be read) pile.

In addition to Jubilee, I have these books from library sales this year: Katherine of Aragon The True Queen by Alison Weir, War and Peace by Leon Tolstoy, and Sense and Sensibility and Emma by Jane Austen. First, I need finish The Six Wives of Henry VIII by Alison Weir. 

Those books should keep me busy for a few months. I've been keeping a list of books to read and will keep my eyes open for more. 

Books Read in 2021

I read 33 books this year; I still have about 240 pages to read in The Six Wives of Henry VIII by Alison Weir. Here is my list: 

1. Time and Again by Jack Finney

2. From Time to Time by Jack Finney

3. The Scorpion's Tale by Preston & Child

4. The Haunting of Hill House by Shirly Jackson

5. The Wars of the Roses by Alison Weir

6. There is Confusion by Jesse Redmon Fauset

7. Women on the Case edited by Sara Paretsky

8. The Wars of the Roses by Dan Jones

9. Lady Jane Grey A Tudor Mystery by Eric Ives

10. Deadland by Sara Paretsky

11. The Man in the High Castle by Philip K. Dick

12. Bitter is the New Black by Jen Lancaster

13. The Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch by Philip K. Dick

14. Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip K. Dick

15. Ubik by Philip K. Dick

16. Paradise Alley by Kevin Baker

17. Rachel Calof's Story: Jewish Homesteader of the Northern Plains

18. Hour of the Witch by Chris Bohjalian

19. Anne Boleyn by Eric Ives

20. One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez 

21. Bloodless by Preston & Child

22. Orange is the New Black My Year in a Women's Prison A Memoir by Piper Kerman

23. The More the Terrier A Pet Rescue Mystery by Linda O. Johnston

24. Fear Itself  by Bette Bono 

25. Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House by Eric Hodgins

26. Queens of England by Norah Lofts

27. Chasing Lincoln's Killer by James L. Swanson

28.  Coronado by Dennis Lehane

29. The Family Romanov Murder, Rebellion & the Fall of Imperial Russia by Candace Fleming

30. The Romanovs the Final Chapter by Robert K. Massie

31. Wherever I Wind Up: My Quest for Truth, Authenticity, and the Perfect Knuckleball by R.A. Dickey with Wayne Coffey

32. Dragonfly in Amber by Diana Gabaldon

33. Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston

Re-reads:

1. Katherine by Anya Seaton

2. Driving Lessons: The Adventures of Matt & Marty McCoy by J.M. Gleckler

3. Straight Up and Dirty by Stephanie Klein

4. The Better Angels by Bette Bono

5. The Mystery at Lilac Inn by Carolyn Keene

I didn't count a book of Mad Magazine stories, a short poetry book about Venice, and an Uppity Women book--short portraits of women.