Fall back

I’ve not only fallen back, I’ve fallen behind. Due to Blogger problems, real world interference, personal energy deficits and a three-hour electrical power outage, writing a blog entry is one of many areas of my life that have been neglected lately. I'm looking forward to checking at least this one thing off my list.

The power outage happened today, when I’d promised myself I’d clean the house. My plan was to set the kitchen timer for 30 minutes, clean until the bell rang, then do something pleasurable for the next 30 minutes, alternating until everything was nice and tidy. Unfortunately, the power went out midway through one of the pleasure increments. In the absence of either a working timer or a working conscience, I read for the better part of three hours.

Backing up to this morning, I knew the moment I opened my eyes we'd have a beautiful day. The sun was higher in the sky than it usually is when I rise, and the light was so pretty I couldn't even wait to brush my teeth before taking photos. I loved the way the light shone through my windows and through the trees. I loved the random patterns of the dog-trails through the dew. Most of all, I loved getting up at a time that felt natural.

Last night, I put the extra, end-of-Daylight-Saving-Time hour to good use by reading in bed a lot longer than usual. It felt almost hedonistic to read as much as I wanted without worrying about shortchanging the day ahead. I could get used to that.

Continuing to fall back, my daughter called late yesterday afternoon and suggested a movie night. She went to find us a DVD, and I went to pick up Nachos Bellgrande. The movie was fun: American Dreamz. It’s a lightweight comedy, nothing with award-winning potential, but just right for the frame of mind we were in.

Earlier, while I sat in Taco Bell’s drive-thru lane, I noticed a crape-myrtle tree at the corner of the building. Sunlight was behind the tree, silhouetting what appeared to be lots of leaves blowing and twisting in the breeze. In fact, there was no breeze, and there weren’t many leaves left, either. The shapes I saw moving were dozens and dozens of tiny birds, each about a third the size of a sparrow. They were difficult to see in the sun’s glare, but I think they may have been finches. So much energy in bodies not much larger than my thumb.

Still earlier on Saturday, I worked at the office, catching up on things I’d let slide earlier--things that, left undone, would have made for a chaotic Monday. It was such a pleasure to work alone, quietly, uninterrupted by phone calls or client visits, and to be able to work on one thing at a time to completion. I accomplished more in five hours yesterday than I did in two days earlier in the week. And I did it all in plaid flannel pajama bottoms.

Friday night I had a home-style dinner with my daughter at the local Cracker Barrel, courtesy of a gift card passed along to me by my boss, who’d received it as a thank you from a client. Sometimes we like to eat elegant food in fashionable surroundings, but Friday was the kind of day I just wanted to schlump in and mainline country fried steak and white gravy. My cholesterol count might be slightly more elevated than previously, but that meal was exactly what I craved.

Thursday night was TV night, so many good shows on that I had to record two hours of primetime shows and watch three hours of others. Lucy and Winston slept over on Thursday while my daughter had a much-needed night out with friends. Heavy rains during the night kept Kadi awake. She, in turn, gave minute-by-minute weather updates to the other dogs and me. None of us got much sleep, but I was the only one who had to get up and go to work.

Which brings us all the way back to Wednesday night, when I last posted. There’s something about completing a cycle and "falling back" at the end of October that just feels right.

Blog posting? Check.