Thursday - 202nd

I had an idea for a short story and I actually sat down and put it down in real words. Now, normally I'd think this to be a good thing. I did something! Finally, after sitting quite still on my own little island (did you know that the word "isolation" is derived from "island?"), I did something that I haven't done in years: I had an idea and I typed it out, from beginning to end. With an edit throw in for good measure.





That's the good thing. But it comes at a price. First of all, I'm tired. We got a call last night at midnight from someone who thought he had spotted the missing cat. In the end we did not drive out to Stoughton to search around the dumpsters of a Subway store. Calls at night are almost guaranteed to be misfires. You can't see details in the dark. But I had pangs of guilt, which meant that I had to badger Ed for a good hour with questions such us "are you sure we shouldn't go?" And then I was so wide awake that I had to read down my mystery book for another hour before I could even pretend to be sleepy.

Too, I decided to resume monitoring my activity with a FitBit device, starting October 1st. You know the gizmo: it tracks your steps. I had tried using it years ago and decided it was stupid (meaning I wasn't getting the results I wanted), but now I am worried (aren't we all) about my inattention to exercise and I'm thinking that the little wrist device may motivate me. As it's the first day, I took a lot of extra steps. That's what you do when you start in on these things: you're all enthusiasm the first day and then it fizzles and you go back to slumping comfortably on your beloved couch.

And I'm also worn out with cat calls. We got another call this morning from the Stoughton Garden Center and again they swore the missing Cutie was a repeat visitor there. And this time we decided to go. It's daylight. What if it's her. The usual push to do well by the little girl. Of course, nothing came of it.

First, though, the animal feed... (many steps! yay!)






Then breakfast...






Then the trip to Stoughton, where we actually set a trap somewhere at the edge of the Garden Center's property where it touches the cornfields.  Pointless? Probably.

Drive home, lovely sky.






Write until my head pops with exhaustion.

I'm tired, too, because things aren't going that well for people who are dear to me. It's draining for them and I pick up the vicarious lethargy that comes with problems.

On the upside, I talk to my two old friends on Zoom and of course friends have a way of sucking tiredness right out of you!






Evening. Hey, do you miss my weather reports? It's getting cold! We have the first frost advisory for tonight. I take it seriously enough that I pack up my geraniums (plus a beloved begonia) and take them inside for the winter. I put them in the play room. Ah yes, there was a time when a little girl played many many minutes with these birds...






Another phone call. Another search for the cat, this time halfway between here and Stoughton. Another disappointment.

At the end of the day, I have to say -- tonight, only a frittata will do. Onion, garlic, spinach, mushroom, corn. And purple potatoes! Which turn blue when you cook them.

A quick but joyful FaceTime with Primrose...




Bake frittata, eat, and add a few steps. Because I really do need to get to my coveted goal of 10 000.