L & B have a new kitchen with lots of big drawers that close automatically at the touch of a finger. There is an induction stovetop that works like magic and a new conventional oven. Sort of conventional. The lower element is hidden by the floor of the oven. L ignored the warning to avoid putting anything on the oven floor and now has strips of foil welded to the blue-black enamel. There is a Function button that allows the chef to choose from a preset menu of settings for temperature and type of cooking - grilling fish or chicken for example.
I decided that the fall apples on offer at the market would be perfect for my new apple cider pie recipe, which would give me a chance to contribute to the meals. A search for fresh apple cider yielded apple crush. The hunt for lard for the pastry was a little more difficult but finally turned up in the cooler section at a supermarket. B pointed out that it was right in front of the stock boy who had insisted that the store had no such thing and that the alternative of vegetable shortening was not available either. I found everything else that I needed in B's pantry and mixed up a batch of plain pastry. Later that day, I pared and cut the apples and then prepped the filling. That involved a bit of cooking to carmelize the cider sauce without cooking the apple chunks through. I left it to cool.
It was our first Saturday in Canberra. K's grandson Ben and his indie band, Ben Wells and the Middle Names, were playing at a small club called The Phoenix at 10:30 that night. We arrived on time but too late to get in. B begged the bouncer but he said that if he let us in there would be a riot in the line at the door. We would have had to arrive at 8:30 or 9:00 and the night was too cold and rainy for that. Not that you would know from the mini-dressed, high-heeled, giggling young women that we passed on the street. I have no issue with the fashion as it reminds me of the late '60s and early '70s. The wonder is why they don't know enough to put on a coat overtop to keep off the cold or what they are using for fuel to keep themselves warm. Ach! Old age. Anyway, we gave up, went back to the car, and went home.
So it was already 11:00 pm when I began to roll out the pastry. I lined a deep ceramic pie plate, poured in the filling, and topped it with a well-vented crust. I pinched the edge together carefully, making sure that it was sealed. Then I pressed the oven function button until it read Pastry (muffins, pie) 230 C (that's about 450 F). After 15 minutes I turned it down to 180 (~350 F) as I usually do. Fifteen minutes later it did not look as if anything was happening in the oven so I turned it back up to 230 C as per the recipe, which says to cook at that temperature for 45 minutes. I figured it needed another 30 minutes but after 15 minutes I heard a veritable roaring from the oven. I rushed into the kitchen and found the pie boiling like mad, the top crust sitting a good two inches above the pie plate, molten caramel apple filling bubbling below it.
It was midnight by this time. I ran into the lounge - "B! B!," I called softly. She was asleep in front of the TV. I ran to our bedroom - "J! J!," I called. He slept on. I ran to their bedroom. "L!," I cried, "I need help in the kitchen!" I ran back to the kitchen. He jumped out of bed and hopped through the kitchen door in his boxers. I opened the oven door. "Oven door is open!" read the oven and turned up the heat. The pie boiled higher! L reached for the pot holders. "No, no," I warned, "Don't touch it! Where is a cookie sheet?" While L found a cookie sheet, I turned off the oven and left the door open to reduce the heat. We put the tray on the lower rack, left the door ajar, and went to our respective beds.
The next morning the pie looked fine. However, all attempts to remove the final layer of baked on apple pie filling met with failure. The warning obviously means that any splashes or overflows onto this oven floor must be prevented. The next evening, surprisingly, the pie was fine. It was firm and the crust was in tact. It lifted out of the pie plate beautifully and tasted especially great with vanilla ice cream.
Thursday, May 31, 2012
Monday, May 28, 2012
Week One in Canberra
Our first week was easy going, a kind of a low-key-to-lazy vacation at our brother and sister-in-law's home in Canberra. After lunch at her sister's that first day, B went off to walk K's dog with her and then K joined us for dinner. B made a most delicious potato and celery soup that night and a day or so later made pumpkin soup - what we would consider squash soup. We puttered about for a couple of days, looking after household bits and pieces and catching up with one another. The weather is coming on to fall, mostly warm clear days with cold nights. The temperature drops rapidly as the sun sets and it sets early, of course. But it is not freezing the bird bath overnight like it did four years ago. On that last visit we would wake up to see the cockatoos trying to break the ice on their bath. However, the colder nights make running to the bathroom in the middle of the night an attempt to set a land speed record - there is no heat in the loo and the window remains open! Nonetheless, without central heating I tend to sleep more soundly once the space heater has been turned off for the night. How odd to hear that there is a heat wave back home.
We are seeing more than cockatoos of course...galahs, mynas, eastern rosellas, king parrots, rainbow lorikeets, for example. We have also spotted kangaroos, sheep, and cattle. But no luck so far in finding koalas, although we passed through a section on the highway between Canberra and Melbourne where signs were posted indicating koala territory. Our outings in Canberra have primarily been for family shopping. But that has included a number of trips to various groceries and markets. The range of fresh local produce is fantastic, even as the fall approaches winter. B and I did go out to find her a new jacket before they set off to Sydney on Monday for B's cousin's funeral. We did not go with them. S came over and took us to lunch at a cafe. We sat outside and ate Fried Flake & Chips and a Lamb Burger. Delish!
We spent a day with L at the War Memorial, a truly outstanding museum documenting Australia's history of combat from South Africa through to Afganistan. The museum sits atop a long incline rising up from Lake Burley-Griffin across from the Parliament Houses. It is the sort of noble prospect that should be due the great architecture in any major city. It was a privilege to visit the museum with L, a knowledgeable and experienced veteran. I wore my knee braces and took my walking stick but still needed to take a break before the guys were ready to quit. Fortunately, there was a handy cafe offering good coffee and something called a mud cake.
Going to The Glassworks was great fun. I bought a "Scrabbled Egg" cup, blown glass with a glass E scrabble tile on the side of the cup - E for Egg, for my egg collection. The exhibit was delightful and the works were in a fascinting old power plant. We watched a glass blower teach a young student how to gather glass and shape a paperweight. B has signed up for the same session but we will be gone by then. Behind the works is a huge market for produce and crafts which we hope to visit later.
One morning we headed out toward Yass and the Yass Valley to visit L & B's friends on Manton's Creek. T & J were wine merchants for many years but closed their shop when the mall was redeveloped. They have moved out of the city onto 100 acres of land. They are in the process of building their new home on the top of a low hill with an almost 360 degree view of the breathtaking surrounding landscape. We were invited to see the building blocks that comprise the frame of the spacious new house. A team of men had raised half the walls in only a couple of days using these oblong bricks of compressed polystyrene held in place and reinforced with rebar. Once the walls are constucted, a cement truck will come and fill the bricks resulting in a strong concrete wall pre-insulated by the polystyrene shells. Tres cool! It will be a beautiful place once the building is complete.
Between day trips we watched and encouraged while L & B planted their winter garden in several raised beds along the end of their back yard. They have broccoli, peas, onions, garlic, squash, etc. All ready to grow in their winter. Go figure! If we planted broccoli outdoors in November we would end up with green mush after the first deep freeze. Laundry done, linens changed, cat care set up, and we were off to Melbourne. That's our second week here and that is another story.
We are seeing more than cockatoos of course...galahs, mynas, eastern rosellas, king parrots, rainbow lorikeets, for example. We have also spotted kangaroos, sheep, and cattle. But no luck so far in finding koalas, although we passed through a section on the highway between Canberra and Melbourne where signs were posted indicating koala territory. Our outings in Canberra have primarily been for family shopping. But that has included a number of trips to various groceries and markets. The range of fresh local produce is fantastic, even as the fall approaches winter. B and I did go out to find her a new jacket before they set off to Sydney on Monday for B's cousin's funeral. We did not go with them. S came over and took us to lunch at a cafe. We sat outside and ate Fried Flake & Chips and a Lamb Burger. Delish!
We spent a day with L at the War Memorial, a truly outstanding museum documenting Australia's history of combat from South Africa through to Afganistan. The museum sits atop a long incline rising up from Lake Burley-Griffin across from the Parliament Houses. It is the sort of noble prospect that should be due the great architecture in any major city. It was a privilege to visit the museum with L, a knowledgeable and experienced veteran. I wore my knee braces and took my walking stick but still needed to take a break before the guys were ready to quit. Fortunately, there was a handy cafe offering good coffee and something called a mud cake.
Going to The Glassworks was great fun. I bought a "Scrabbled Egg" cup, blown glass with a glass E scrabble tile on the side of the cup - E for Egg, for my egg collection. The exhibit was delightful and the works were in a fascinting old power plant. We watched a glass blower teach a young student how to gather glass and shape a paperweight. B has signed up for the same session but we will be gone by then. Behind the works is a huge market for produce and crafts which we hope to visit later.
One morning we headed out toward Yass and the Yass Valley to visit L & B's friends on Manton's Creek. T & J were wine merchants for many years but closed their shop when the mall was redeveloped. They have moved out of the city onto 100 acres of land. They are in the process of building their new home on the top of a low hill with an almost 360 degree view of the breathtaking surrounding landscape. We were invited to see the building blocks that comprise the frame of the spacious new house. A team of men had raised half the walls in only a couple of days using these oblong bricks of compressed polystyrene held in place and reinforced with rebar. Once the walls are constucted, a cement truck will come and fill the bricks resulting in a strong concrete wall pre-insulated by the polystyrene shells. Tres cool! It will be a beautiful place once the building is complete.
Between day trips we watched and encouraged while L & B planted their winter garden in several raised beds along the end of their back yard. They have broccoli, peas, onions, garlic, squash, etc. All ready to grow in their winter. Go figure! If we planted broccoli outdoors in November we would end up with green mush after the first deep freeze. Laundry done, linens changed, cat care set up, and we were off to Melbourne. That's our second week here and that is another story.
Saturday, May 26, 2012
Forty Hour Journey to Australia
Getting to Australia from the GTA is an extraordinary challenge. This third time around (following Christmas 1994/New Years 1995 & May 2004) the journey took a remarkable 40 hours. Or thereabouts. The 14 hour time difference makes calculating precisely a bit difficult. Let's see. We left the house at 5:30 am on May 15 and arrived at our destination in Canberra at 10:30 pm on May 16 (12:30 noon May 17 Australia time) which is, um, 24 + 12 + 5, actually 41 hours in total. I think. Anyway, here we go..
Erin spent the night with us so that we could drive to Pearson airport and she could use the car while we are away. That means that she or her sister will pick us up on our return. Bonus! After months of rising after 8, it was no fun getting up at 4:45 am. But showered and fed, coffee to go, we were in the car and off by 5:30 am to arrive at Terminal 1 around 6:15. We had tried to check-in on-line the previous day, but had to wait until we were within 24 hours of the leg out of Vancouver. So we tried again before leaving the house, but no go. Some crazy glitch sent a message saying we owed over $1400 for baggage. An attendant tried to assist us at a check-in kiosk to no avail. She sent us around to a desk agent and bingo - our bags were checked through to Sydney and we had our boarding passes. We were through security in no time and found ourselves at the gate more than two hours before our 9:00 am departure.
The flight to Vancouver went smoothly. I love the Classic Film choice and watched The King and I for part of the time. I also made inroads on the first of three e-books that Meghan gave me for Christmas, namely Young Miles, part of the Vorkosigan saga. When we landed at Vancouver we took the Skytrain to the Olympic Village station where we met our friend, David. We went to Grenville Island for a delicious lunch at a waterside pub. It was wonderful to see David who had his sixth and final chemotherapy treatment a couple of days later. He may have lost his hair but not his glorious smile nor his indomitable spirit. What a lovely time we had. After lunch, we went for a walk through the market, shops and galleries.
We wandered down to a pond where we sat on a bench and chatted while we watched a pair of mallards with three ducklings and some geese and goslings. There were also a number of turtles sunning themselves on the rocks.
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Later on we drove over to False Creek and sat on a bench by English Bay, talking for hours. We stopped at a Timmy's for tea before David drove us back to the airport. As a wonderful post-script, we learned a few days later that the cancer treatment has been successful.
By the time the plane for Australia left the gate it was almost midnight in Vancouver. By the time they had us settled in, safety trained and fed, we had been awake for about 24 hours. Lesson learned - taking a night flight to Australia is a very good idea. We slept oblivious to the discomforts of economy seating. Another lesson - instead of sitting side by side, we sat across the aisle from one another so that both of us could easily get up and walk around or go to the washroom without disturbing anyone. Final lesson - take a sleeping pill. He slept for hours. I didn't need one and was glad to take walks to relieve my legs but am likely to need a sleeping pill on the trip back east. In between bouts of sleep, I watched Hugo (amazing even on that small screen) and A Dangerous Method. I also did a bit of transcribing of some of my Mom's words. By the time we landed in Sydney at 8:15 am, we had had enough sleep and were reasonably well-fed.
At Sydney airport, we had to claim our bags and go through customs and immigration. I suddenly realized that the walking stick I brought along may not make it into the country - it is carved wood. Low and behold, they said, "It looks like you have had that for awhile." "For year's," I said, "like fifteen or so." Whew! We were waved on through. Since we had more than an hour to wait, we went for coffee and, of all things, Krispy Kreme donuts.
The only delay we ran into on the entire trip was aboard the hour-long flight from Sydney to Canberra. That plane sat on the tarmac for a good half hour before taking off. Up and down again and at long last we had arrived. Brother and Sister met us as we stepped off the escalator to the baggage claim. Hugs and kisses all around, lunch at K's on the way - delicious soup, breads, cheeses and apple slices - and there we were. Our home away from home.
Erin spent the night with us so that we could drive to Pearson airport and she could use the car while we are away. That means that she or her sister will pick us up on our return. Bonus! After months of rising after 8, it was no fun getting up at 4:45 am. But showered and fed, coffee to go, we were in the car and off by 5:30 am to arrive at Terminal 1 around 6:15. We had tried to check-in on-line the previous day, but had to wait until we were within 24 hours of the leg out of Vancouver. So we tried again before leaving the house, but no go. Some crazy glitch sent a message saying we owed over $1400 for baggage. An attendant tried to assist us at a check-in kiosk to no avail. She sent us around to a desk agent and bingo - our bags were checked through to Sydney and we had our boarding passes. We were through security in no time and found ourselves at the gate more than two hours before our 9:00 am departure.
We wandered down to a pond where we sat on a bench and chatted while we watched a pair of mallards with three ducklings and some geese and goslings. There were also a number of turtles sunning themselves on the rocks.
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By the time the plane for Australia left the gate it was almost midnight in Vancouver. By the time they had us settled in, safety trained and fed, we had been awake for about 24 hours. Lesson learned - taking a night flight to Australia is a very good idea. We slept oblivious to the discomforts of economy seating. Another lesson - instead of sitting side by side, we sat across the aisle from one another so that both of us could easily get up and walk around or go to the washroom without disturbing anyone. Final lesson - take a sleeping pill. He slept for hours. I didn't need one and was glad to take walks to relieve my legs but am likely to need a sleeping pill on the trip back east. In between bouts of sleep, I watched Hugo (amazing even on that small screen) and A Dangerous Method. I also did a bit of transcribing of some of my Mom's words. By the time we landed in Sydney at 8:15 am, we had had enough sleep and were reasonably well-fed.
At Sydney airport, we had to claim our bags and go through customs and immigration. I suddenly realized that the walking stick I brought along may not make it into the country - it is carved wood. Low and behold, they said, "It looks like you have had that for awhile." "For year's," I said, "like fifteen or so." Whew! We were waved on through. Since we had more than an hour to wait, we went for coffee and, of all things, Krispy Kreme donuts.
The only delay we ran into on the entire trip was aboard the hour-long flight from Sydney to Canberra. That plane sat on the tarmac for a good half hour before taking off. Up and down again and at long last we had arrived. Brother and Sister met us as we stepped off the escalator to the baggage claim. Hugs and kisses all around, lunch at K's on the way - delicious soup, breads, cheeses and apple slices - and there we were. Our home away from home.
Monday, May 21, 2012
Report for the First Quarter
The year 2012 is well into its second quarter. However, I did begin this post at the end of the first quarter and have decided to complete it before going on to reflect on our current travel. So here is a little report on my progress on what some suggested were completely unrealistic New Years resolutions:
1) continue to rediscover self - check! This is moving along slowly but surely. After year's of living as a tortoise in a rabbit-paced world, I am loving that I rarely have to rush anymore. As a tortoise in disguise, I have run and won many a race. My former chiropractor used to tell me that I was an adrenalin junkie, I so loved the race to the finish line. Now, at last, I can take my time to discover all the other aspects of myself. That bit has just begun.
2) continue to tick the bucket list - well, I am still considering what exactly belongs on the bucket list.
3) maintain family, friends, and professional contacts for us & Mom - ack! I discovered that all of my family and friends contact files have disappeared. They are nowhere to be found on any of our computers. So I have begun the arduous task of redoing them, beginning with my Mother's contacts. I am about one third through hers.
4) travel together, alone, and in groups to new places, for interests, for fun - check! I went to Orlando in January for a weekend to touch base with Arts Schools Network at Disney World. We are going to be in Australia from May 15 to June 6 and saw our friend David during a 12 hour layover in Vancouver. I will be joining the Jacksonville Women's European Escape to France from June 20-July 3 (including my trip to and from Jacksonville on the first and last day).
5) dance and play - tango & ukulele, classes & practice, plus French, purchase Rosetta Stone - check! I took ukulele and tango both in the fall and have not been able to do more this year as yet due to the injuries. But I will! I did start the Rosetta Stone French and I love it! So I hope to be able to converse at least a bit while in France. I also took (well, made a disgrace of myself) the first vocal workshop that I have done in years and years one Sunday afternoon not long ago, with Micah Barnes. It was fun, I loved it, and I will go back for more regardless.
6) repair body as well as possible through diet, exercise, & with medical help - check! Weight Watchers Points Plus has me down about 15 pounds so far. I rarely go to meetings but I do track on-line. Cortisone shots in my knees, patella stabilizer braces, and physio have made it easier for me to walk longer distances. This is to be tested during my trips and if all goes well I will get back to the tango come August. The other health issue this quarter was the insane allergy season. My winter allergies were unbelievable as the mild weather kept the leaf molds blowing around and then the spring tree pollens came early. My nose is still raw from all the sneezing, blowing, and rubbing. But at least my allergy season finished a month sooner than usual.
7) write one hour daily minimum: blog, tweets, fb, mail, email, stories, & songs - check, sort of. I have not been able to do the actual daily writing. But I did return to a couple of poetry and literary groups that hold open readings from time to time. The reception was so enthusiastic that it kind of threw me at first. But I have accepted an invitation to join a small writers group that meets every two weeks to critique each other's pieces. This is proving very encouraging. I have also discovered that I actually have a few dollars in royalties in my SOCAN account, further motivation to get on with registering my songs. I hope that new songs will come with the course I have signed up to take in July.
8) sort house one hour daily minimum: Sun playroom, Mon Office, Tues Gable Room, Wed Bedrooms, Thurs Bathrooms, Fri Kitchen, Sat Basement - check! This schedule really works. I am slowly plowing through it all but never feel as if it is too much. And only on those days when I have the hour to work, of course.
9) resume tracking WW Points Plus and weekly meetings - check! See above.
10) budget and plan for me, us, family, and future - check, sort of. I am just starting on this. I have a new Visa attached to my bank account to keep track of my personal expenses. Sitting on my desk is a box of Visa nd bank statements dating back to last June which I intend to use to dig out my expenses and to generate a family budget so we can figure out what each of us has to contribute and what each of us has as discretionary funds. I have a numbers of things I would like to spend on and once that is sorted I can open one of those tax-free savings accounts if I have anything left over.
All in all, I am happy with the way these resolutions have helped to guide my days. It is satisfying to be able to look back and see a little progress. I will revisit these in July.
1) continue to rediscover self - check! This is moving along slowly but surely. After year's of living as a tortoise in a rabbit-paced world, I am loving that I rarely have to rush anymore. As a tortoise in disguise, I have run and won many a race. My former chiropractor used to tell me that I was an adrenalin junkie, I so loved the race to the finish line. Now, at last, I can take my time to discover all the other aspects of myself. That bit has just begun.
2) continue to tick the bucket list - well, I am still considering what exactly belongs on the bucket list.
3) maintain family, friends, and professional contacts for us & Mom - ack! I discovered that all of my family and friends contact files have disappeared. They are nowhere to be found on any of our computers. So I have begun the arduous task of redoing them, beginning with my Mother's contacts. I am about one third through hers.
4) travel together, alone, and in groups to new places, for interests, for fun - check! I went to Orlando in January for a weekend to touch base with Arts Schools Network at Disney World. We are going to be in Australia from May 15 to June 6 and saw our friend David during a 12 hour layover in Vancouver. I will be joining the Jacksonville Women's European Escape to France from June 20-July 3 (including my trip to and from Jacksonville on the first and last day).
5) dance and play - tango & ukulele, classes & practice, plus French, purchase Rosetta Stone - check! I took ukulele and tango both in the fall and have not been able to do more this year as yet due to the injuries. But I will! I did start the Rosetta Stone French and I love it! So I hope to be able to converse at least a bit while in France. I also took (well, made a disgrace of myself) the first vocal workshop that I have done in years and years one Sunday afternoon not long ago, with Micah Barnes. It was fun, I loved it, and I will go back for more regardless.
6) repair body as well as possible through diet, exercise, & with medical help - check! Weight Watchers Points Plus has me down about 15 pounds so far. I rarely go to meetings but I do track on-line. Cortisone shots in my knees, patella stabilizer braces, and physio have made it easier for me to walk longer distances. This is to be tested during my trips and if all goes well I will get back to the tango come August. The other health issue this quarter was the insane allergy season. My winter allergies were unbelievable as the mild weather kept the leaf molds blowing around and then the spring tree pollens came early. My nose is still raw from all the sneezing, blowing, and rubbing. But at least my allergy season finished a month sooner than usual.
7) write one hour daily minimum: blog, tweets, fb, mail, email, stories, & songs - check, sort of. I have not been able to do the actual daily writing. But I did return to a couple of poetry and literary groups that hold open readings from time to time. The reception was so enthusiastic that it kind of threw me at first. But I have accepted an invitation to join a small writers group that meets every two weeks to critique each other's pieces. This is proving very encouraging. I have also discovered that I actually have a few dollars in royalties in my SOCAN account, further motivation to get on with registering my songs. I hope that new songs will come with the course I have signed up to take in July.
8) sort house one hour daily minimum: Sun playroom, Mon Office, Tues Gable Room, Wed Bedrooms, Thurs Bathrooms, Fri Kitchen, Sat Basement - check! This schedule really works. I am slowly plowing through it all but never feel as if it is too much. And only on those days when I have the hour to work, of course.
9) resume tracking WW Points Plus and weekly meetings - check! See above.
10) budget and plan for me, us, family, and future - check, sort of. I am just starting on this. I have a new Visa attached to my bank account to keep track of my personal expenses. Sitting on my desk is a box of Visa nd bank statements dating back to last June which I intend to use to dig out my expenses and to generate a family budget so we can figure out what each of us has to contribute and what each of us has as discretionary funds. I have a numbers of things I would like to spend on and once that is sorted I can open one of those tax-free savings accounts if I have anything left over.
All in all, I am happy with the way these resolutions have helped to guide my days. It is satisfying to be able to look back and see a little progress. I will revisit these in July.
Self-direction and grace
I would be enjoying retirement far more if I could stop inflicting so much damage. I tore the cartilage in my right knee in November doing a Pilates class when the trainer insisted on adding a yoga cat stretch. I told her that I did not do anything on my knees anymore. But then I was foolish enough to allow her to talk me into it. That knee injury led to a wrecked shoulder in December as I required assistance in disembarking from a boat in St. Lucia in order to participate in a delicous local luncheon awaiting us on a beach. The crew members' enthusiasm in lifting me down did not allow me time to let go my left hand hold, thus tearing the shoulder. That injury shouldn't count as the trip was worth the subsequent agony but it definitely interfered with writing and other work on the computer for some time. I spent much of the first quarter of 2012 in physiotherapy, in addition to getting cortisone shots in my knees and huge new patella stabelizer braces. Things have improved immensely both for getting around and for writing again.
Otherwise, I am slowly moving toward a life of self-direction and grace through a process of re-discovering myself. I spend much of my time alone puttering about, following a leisurely sorting schedule that I have set for myself. This generates piles of paper for recycling and shredding and the occasional exciting bit of archival material. More about this process to come. I did go to the Arts Schools Network conference in Orlando at the end of January just to keep in touch and for the fun of it. However, almost every time I plan a visit to either of my old schools, CALC or Wexford Collegiate School for the Arts, something intervenes. I have seen very little of those I used to work with and time is rapidly running out for this school year.
I am editing the long neglected draft of this post as a start back to blogging from our brother and sister-in-law's home in Canberra, Australia. This three-week vacation is our third in this beautiful country and my reason for returning to my blog. I will be going overseas again late in June for a trip to France with a bunch of women out of Jacksonville, Florida. Another friend my age is currently, and successfully, undergoing treatment for non-Hodgkins lymphoma. That has reminded me that there is no time to waste. If I want to do something, it is better that I do it now while I am still able. Remaining happy, well, and active is what I wish for everyone.
Otherwise, I am slowly moving toward a life of self-direction and grace through a process of re-discovering myself. I spend much of my time alone puttering about, following a leisurely sorting schedule that I have set for myself. This generates piles of paper for recycling and shredding and the occasional exciting bit of archival material. More about this process to come. I did go to the Arts Schools Network conference in Orlando at the end of January just to keep in touch and for the fun of it. However, almost every time I plan a visit to either of my old schools, CALC or Wexford Collegiate School for the Arts, something intervenes. I have seen very little of those I used to work with and time is rapidly running out for this school year.
I am editing the long neglected draft of this post as a start back to blogging from our brother and sister-in-law's home in Canberra, Australia. This three-week vacation is our third in this beautiful country and my reason for returning to my blog. I will be going overseas again late in June for a trip to France with a bunch of women out of Jacksonville, Florida. Another friend my age is currently, and successfully, undergoing treatment for non-Hodgkins lymphoma. That has reminded me that there is no time to waste. If I want to do something, it is better that I do it now while I am still able. Remaining happy, well, and active is what I wish for everyone.
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