Happy Birthday Joni Mitchell

I was driving home from the gym today and heard four Joni Mitchell songs (at least parts of four) on the radio: Carey, The Jungle Line, Ladies of the Canyon, and one of my favorites to sing The Dry Cleaner of Des Moines. As I arrived home, the announcer mentioned it was Joni's 75th birthday, then played Prince's cover of A Case of You. 

I don't remember when I first discovered Joni; I know the first album of hers that I bought was Court and Spark. Just Like This Train remains a favorite of mine. I later bought several more albums. I saw her in concert once during the Both Sides Now tour on my birthday.

Here's to a wonderful day for Joni.

Mid-Terms

No matter what happens tonight (and tomorrow) at least the mid-terms will be over. These mid-terms were the most expensive in history--imagine if the money could have gone to some non-partisan project such as infrastructure.

Sigh.

This is the most interesting mid-term election. Or is it just the most hyped? Last year I was glued to reports of Roy Moore's defeat in a special election, but this election is much bigger and more important.

I always vote--oh maybe I missed a local election or two. I feel obligated to Alice and Lucy, Elizabeth and Susan, and others. Voting is a right and a duty.

I fear the political climate in this country. I feel the atmosphere of violence.

I hope voting is enough.

Last Class

Today was the last class of my art inspired writing course. Our assignment was to write a story inspired by Two Women by Lois Jones. This was the first painting that I wasn't familiar with beforehand.

As usual I had an initial idea but didn't really know where it would lead me. I wrote the bulk of my story while I was proctoring on Saturday. I typed most of it last night and finished it this morning.

I've enjoyed the class. It's nice to interact with other writers, hear how differently people interpret/are inspired by the paintings, and hear their stories.

Our instructor will propose two or three other options for a spring class at Norwalk Public Library. I hope it works out for another class.

Another Day

This week started with my mother in the hospital because of a fall.

Bonus: she had pneumonia. She was back in Meadow Ridge Wednesday afternoon.

Someone said early release was good because hospitals have too many germs.

Not a pleasant thought.

Where  do we go from here?

Road Trip

Today I proctored an ACT practice test in Guilford. I usually don't go that far to proctor (around 50 miles) but I haven't been working many hours, I was free, and I was hoping for a nice autumn afternoon. I thought of going to the beach or walking the labyrinth at Mercy Center.

Unfortunately the weather didn't cooperate. Rain had stopped by late morning, but winds picked up. I had to consciously grip the steering wheel on the drive home.

The 50ish miles to Guilford is the farthest I've driven the car in the 22 days I 've owned it. That could be the farthest anyone drove it. This 2010 Jetta had only 12,150 miles in eight years.

I am loving the car, though still learning about it. On Thursday, when temperatures were in the 70's, I accidentally turned on the seat warmer I didn't know I had. Just haven't gotten around to reading the owner's manual.

***

Jeff and I saw our super this afternoon. He is driving a 2002 car that a former tenant owned. When he got the car, it had only about 20,000 miles.

Thanks to all the little old ladies who don't drive much.

Recent Re-read: Nicholas and Alexandra by Robert K. Massie

As I wrote before, I rewatched the film of the same name back in February. I didn't mention that I rewatched it about 10 times. I didn't watch the full three-plus hour film each time; I'd put the film on in the background as I did chores.

I originally saw the film when it first came out in the 70's. I liked it enough to read the book. When I saw this book again this September at a Kent library sale, I had to get it.

Massie's son had hemophilia; that led him to research the story of Tsarevich Alexis. My father had a version of hemophilia; perhaps that adds to the interest of the fall of Tsar Nicholas II.

Nicholas seemed born out of time and place. That's it: he was an anachronism. More over his head, than evil or cruel.

I'd like to learn more.

November Miscellany

I went to the gym today, which makes me one for one for November, yay me. My goal was 150 visits for the year--the same goal I didn't meet for 2017. At least I beat several previous years' totals.

Today is the first day of National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) and National Blog Posting  Month (NaBloPoMo.) In the former participants write a 50,000 word novel in November. In the latter, participants write a blog post every day in November. I've enjoyed writing for my art inspired writing course, but it's unrealistic for me do Nano this year. I wonder if I'm just making excuses, but I have to be realistic. I'll commit to NaBloPoMo.

Last week I finished a minor kitchen project. "Lola" gave us four beagle wine glasses and two beagle themed mugs for our 30th anniversary. Jeff gave me another mug. Jeff wants to keep everything, but we just don't have room. Maybe I'm in the de-cluttering mode because I've doing so much work at my mother's place.

My mother spent a few days in Norwalk Hospital this week. She fell and had hip pain so was sent to the ER. She developed pneumonia, but is back home now.

I recently had another frustration dream. I couldn't get my phone to work again. Funny how I had the dream after a relatively good day. But there's always something.