Friday

Well, this morning I've meditated, eaten breakfast, and applied for jobs online. I'm ready for bed now...

Not really. I didn't get much movie watching done last night. Not sure why. Just wasn't in the mood, I guess. So today, after I scrub some walls and walk a dog or two, I'm going to declare this a movie day and watch all three of the movies I took out of the library the other day. I'll even have some popcorn (sounds wonderful, but those who know me know popcorn's kind of an addiction these days).

My friend Denise suggested I check out a book called The Lost Garden, by Helen Humphreys, and it looks so good I can hardly wait for it to arrive at my library. I have a feeling this'll be one of those ones I don't put down until the end.

Speaking of AWESOME books, a friend's brother, Wes Funk, wrote a first novel titled Dead Rock Stars. I was so connected to the main character that within 20 pages my deep sorrow that the book was going to end began. The novel is a short and fast read, and Funk was chosen as one of the top five new Saskatchewan authors of the year. I can't wait to read more from this insightful author.

What are you reading?

Libraries Rock

Well, today, I hope my day will fall out like this: Send a resume or two, run an errand or two, and then start mudding nail holes around here. Maybe later I'll get some fleece cleaning done while I watch a movie or some TV.

I went to the library last night to pick up a movie I had requested (The Ice Harvest starring John Cusack, Billy Bob Thornton, and Oliver Platt). It was an adaptation of a Scott Phillips novel with Richard Russo writing the screenplay. Another in my Russo research. I wound up going home with two more DVDs (Cool Hand Luke, The Devil Wears Prada), and a couple of books. Couldn't resist another Paul Newman flick. And its the one where the image I posted yesterday originated.

Libraries really do rock. I've decided I'm not buying anymore books or magazines. They just pile up and pile up, and I really don't have the space to store them. I usually only read 'em once, and my impending move will be so much easier if I don't have so much clutter to haul. So my local library is really there for me. They'll bring in anything as long as it's available at a library somewhere in Alberta. Who could ask for more?

What's on your agenda today?

2010

Well, Happy New Year to all. What does 2010 have in store for you? For me? 2010 is a HUGE transition year. Once I get through it all, life will contain some peace again. It's exciting and scary all at the same time. Kinda like falling into a lava-spewing volcano...more scary than exciting most days.

I'm between contracts so a lot of my energy is going to securing a permanent job, or even a juicy contract job, although those are few and far between these days. I've been doing some small jobs and some knitting editing, which is a wonderful challenge.

Yesterday I bagged up all the knitting that was decorating my living room, cause when you can't knit, it just makes you sad to see it all. I've been nursing tennis elbow and even knitting one row causes severe pain. I'm going to try to rest it for at least two months. Also, I'm gearing up to sell my house and move to the city this spring or summer, so I'm sure I'll be busy. Lots of painting and fixing to do. Doesn't hurt to get the yarn out of harm's way.

It's winter here in Alberta. We've had quite a bit of snow this year, but not so much since Christmas. The picture above was taken on one of my walks nearby. The setting sun was doing its darndest to shine as long as possible before it disappeared below view.

Since knitting is out, I've been doing more reading. I've come across the writing of Richard Russo, and I'm reading everything of his I can get my hands on. He won a Pulitzer prize for his Empire Falls, which he also wrote the teleplay for. I saw the movie and fell in love with the story and the telling.

It was Paul Newman's last film, and also starred Joanne Woodward, Helen Hunt, Ed Harris, Philip Seymour-Hoffman, Aidan Quinn, and Dennis Farina. The cast alone is worth a watch. Anything with Newman in it is worth the watch.