What have I been doing with myself the last two weeks? Well, mostly learning how to fill and pass the time while avoiding pangs of guilt every....15 minutes or so. I'm getting much better at it, I guess practice does make perfect. I can say that my house has never been cleaner. I go around wiping every thing down so that the dust doesn't accumulate. My bathroom gets cleaned every couple of days. I've gone through every closet, every drawer and cleaned out all that stuff that I haven't worn in two years or just doesn't fit anymore, size wise and age wise. The jewelry boxes, scarves, makeup and just plain junk drawers are neatly arranged and missing the garbage. Hemmed a skirt. Went through the library shelves and filled three shopping bags with books that will either wind up at the train station for commuters to take or the veterans or the library. Went to the unemployment office in beautiful downtown Newark and showed them piles of identification which took all of 5 minutes. Filed my first unemployment claim. I am now earning something. I'm almost caught up with the weeding, it had been terribly hot so after a couple of pulls I was done, the last two days have been perfection.
Watched as my garden filled up,
then cut some flowers to fill the house---(cue
Jane)
Bought tickets to two plays and the ballet. Read three books (this is the best part since my reading had suffered badly, now I can't stop, thank goodness!) For those who are interested: Good as Gone by Amy Gentry (not out yet but I have a source :)), The Light Between Oceans by M.L. Steadman and The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins. My stack awaits for the choosing. Bought some watercolors and brushes to see if I can remember how (I'm nervous and haven't dove in yet, there's just so much failure I can face at once). Met my husband for dinner in NYC at this adorable Basque place in Chelsea:
Planning for the next date this Friday. What to wear!
Spent loads of time cooking,
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| Crab Louis |
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| Roasted Shishito Peppers |
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| Fried Chicken with Potato Salad |
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| Summer vegetable gratin |
...and eating on the porch.
Always in the company of this little guy,
who's just about to chase after a motorcycle.
Well gotta go. Need to make some panzanella before the bread gets too hard.
Vaya Amelia, ¿Estás en paro? Te comprendo, mi vida laboral ha sido siempre inestable y cuando estoy en casa, tambien me siento culpable si no estoy haciendo algo, Buena suerte
ReplyDeleteMarina
Gracias. La cosa se complica un poco por la edad...y me cogieron de sorpresa. Ya veremos como acaba este capitulo. Un abrazo.
DeleteMucha Suerte
DeleteI'm pretty certain when you think back over summer 2016 you'll remember the pleasures of reading, making great food and enjoying bouquets of flowers throughout a clean and orderly home - and have very little recollection of struggling with guilt pangs.
ReplyDeleteYou're making thoughtful decisions and basically doing everything right - enjoy your life!
Thanks Rose. Getting there. I read most of the day yesterday and didn't feel bad about it. A definite step in the right direction!
DeleteI have pangs of envy!
ReplyDelete:)
DeleteThat all sounds wonderful, idyllic. Enjoy it!! Love the painting of Max in your header.
ReplyDeleteSomewhat idyllic, as I'm trying to enjoy as best I can without thinking too much. (Not easy). The painting was the one that guy from Madrid did about a year ago from a photo of Max and I. I was trying to redesign the blog layout but it got too trying so I just changed the header, I think it's appropriate. Hope you are enjoying your Summer.
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