Saturday, January 5, 2008

Feeling virtuous

Here it is, not even noon on a Saturday morning, and I feel like I've gotten a considerable amount of stuff done. Well, by my standards, considering that by noon on Saturdays I've usually done exactly nothing. So far, I've:
  • Taken care of the cat and left a note for her mom and dad, who are coming home today. She sat in my lap while I wrote it. This is the cat who, a little over 18 months ago, hissed at me when I came into the house and told me, more or less, to leave the food and get out. It's been a very pleasant chore taking care of her this time.
  • Let the Ts out to play for half an hour. It's very warm and melty out, but the puppy pen was, at that time, still more snow/slush than mud, so they were only wet when they came in, not completely muddy and disgusting.
  • Picked up poop out front. It wasn't quite the 3 bags full I predicted earlier, but only because some of it is still entombed in the ice. Tomorrow I'll probably be able to collect that third bag.
  • Folded towels (which went into the drier, um, last weekend).
  • Worked on the tube sock.

Since it is warm and melty out, I also have a couple of storm windows raised a couple of inches, to let some fresh air in and also, I hope, some of the moisture, so I can give the humidifier a rest. It was dry enough inside this morning that when I petted Taenzer before I got up we had some sparks. That's how I judge the humidity level--by whether the dogs (and previously, Annie) spark when I touch them, and also by whether Taenzer's sideburns are floaty (you know, like your hair when you rub a balloon on it). It's supposed to be in the 60s tomorrow!

I got a gift certificate to Amazon from one of my brothers, and used part of it to get a pair of Miracle Balls (http://tinyurl.com/29t9f3 ). They're these half-inflated grapefruit-size balls that you lie on--just lie on, without doing anything but breathing--and they're supposed to help realign, ease pain, etc. Since I've had such good luck using trigger points for my shoulder, I thought I'd try these for my back and hips. Last night I crated the dogs and tried them out, and I think they'll help, but I've got a big kink over by the sciatic nerve on the left side and when that goes, it's gonna hurt. It'll feel better later, but the moment it goes is going to be a big ouch moment, which makes it kind of hard to breathe and relax. Anyway, it was cold down there on the floor, so this morning I thought I would try one on the futon, since the mattress has compacted into rock-like hardness since I got it. Well. I'd crated the Ts last night because I knew that if I was lying on the floor I'd never be able to relax because they'd be licking my face and walking on me and stuff. What I'd forgotten is that Timber is a Grade-A Certified BALL DOG, and when he came wandering into the living room to see what was going on and saw Mom lying on a brand new BALL--!!

First he tried to get his head under me (with the ball under me, it leaves maybe an inch or two between me and the floor or futon) to get the ball. Then he gave me two quick, frantic little kisses. Then he tried to get the ball again. Then he put his front feet on my chest and barked in my face. And when I got off the ball and went to put it away (safely out of his reach, I hope!), he jumped for it and barked and tried to trip me the whole way. He is such a hilarious boy sometimes, and I love him dearly.

A couple of nights ago I watched a movie a close friend introduced me to--Brotherhood of the Wolf, or, the original title, Le Pacte des Loups. It's been described as a French horror-martial arts-romance-adventure-fantasy, based (loosely) on a true story from 18th-century France. You can get the cheap American single disc version or the 3-disc Canadian version for $21 used. I've got the single-disc version but want the 3-disc one which is, of course, chock-a-block with extras. It's a really amazing movie, completely different from anything you've ever seen, beautifully beautifully filmed, bizarre and dream-like, and Mark Decascos is excellent eye candy. Even if you can only find the dubbed American version, it's worth checking out--a completely unique experience.

This morning I read a review of a book I think I want to get, Every War Has Two Losers: William Stafford on Peace and War. (http://tinyurl.com/2faf4l) Some quotes from the book:

  • "If your enemy is an unjust person, why do you think proof of that injustice will bring about a change?"
  • "The wider your knowledge the milder your opinions?"
  • "Recently a new serenity has touched me, a feeling of wisdom. No, this is not a proud feeling, a feeling of being in control, but an acceptance of not being in control."
  • "Those who champion democracy, but also make a fetish of never accepting anything they don't agree with – what advantage do they see in democracy?"

I'm not familiar with Stafford, but it sounds like good reading to me.

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