Turning Turning The Year in Everyday Ramblings

Wow. I have been so busy and OD had been so wonky so every time I have a free moment to check in the site isn’t working. Even though I am mirroring here on Prosebox I miss the connection with you all.

My Weight Watchers leader Miss A. is encouraging me, as they are trained to do, to become a meeting leader and when she pulled me aside on Thursday to talk to me about it I just basically laughed. It is nice to know I have that opportunity when I retire but now with a full time job and a kidney cat and teaching yoga and trying to have some connection to my poetic and photographic avocations…

Miss A. did tell a moving story this week. She has a member that has been coming to one of her meetings for six years and hit her goal weight this last week. 6 years! She lost 202 pounds. Wowza. How amazing and inspirational is that?

Speaking of photography…We are having this spectacular October. The light has been exquisite. Low and lighting everything from underneath. This is the street out my office/bedroom and kitchen windows. I was able to go out and stand unmolested in the intersection yesterday and shoot up the hill.

The colored leaves make the light even more intoxicating.

And it has been unusually dry so I was able to clean my patio well today of dry leaves and birdseed shells without a problem. It was enjoyable. The Dark Eyed Juncos are down from the mountains and having a party at my feeder. The territorial male Chickadees were having a fit while I was out there because I was, well, messing with their food source.

Good thing I keep a spray bottle full of water near the patio door. It doesn’t do a thing for the scrappy squirrels but the local outdoor cats… They are very interested in “my” birds lately.

I got the last of the tomatoes and the last of the raspberries at the farmers market this morning. Everything is all fancy varieties of winter squash. My new private yoga client brought me a big bag of organic produce from Sauvie Island this week and I have been working my way through pears and apples and corn and two different types of squash. The Delicata squash is so yummy, oh.

While I was gone at the beach last weekend (having a wonderful completely relaxing and comfortable escape) my cat sitter decorated the area Sammy hangs out in mostly now on his polar tech blanket and heated cat bed (he’s there now) with toys.

Poor long-suffering Sam. She even put a mouse on his head. You can see the picture she sent me here. Sammy has her completely charmed.

I miss Stella. Obviously it is not the same around here without her. I am glad she is not suffering anymore and I know I did the right thing but still I miss her.

Tomorrow morning there is the “Run Like Hell” race through my neighborhood. I thought it was a zombie run but apparently it is more about running in costume. Based on my experience over on the track during the last six months I don’t really think folks need to, umm, dress up. Very unique personalities are exhibited over there daily. It is wildlife in action.

One thing that makes me blue though is the drug and alcohol addicts that have moved into the outside areas of my now former gym. Every evening they are up on the windbreak provided by the lighted porch that overlooks the track. And now I noticed there is always someone sleeping on the bench outside the front entrance.

With all this new construction around, and there is just a half block away it seems so sad to have the building just sitting there empty and lit up with all its beautiful wood and airy spaces. One can only hope the owners can find a way to ether sell it to someone who will actually use it for something or…I am sure….it will be beautiful as if sinks into disrepair a few years down the line…. But for now it is just sad.

But I am not. The weather is gorgeous. Sammy is hanging in there and I am well.