“Fear not November’s challenge bold — We’ve books and friends, and hearths that never can grow cold: These make amends!” — Alexander Louis Fraser, “November”
READING:
The Book of Joy — Yes, again, but this time with a group of colleagues. The discussion has been wonderfully vulnerable and uplifting.
Capote's Women: A True Story of Love, Betrayal, and a Swan Song for an Era — “For years, Capote attempted to write what he believed would have been his magnum opus, Answered Prayers. [This book] recreates the lives of these fascinating swans, their friendships with Capote and one another, and the doomed quest to write what could have been one of the greatest novels of the twentieth century” (Goodreads).
Out Came the Sun by Muriel Hemingway — “A moving, compelling memoir about growing up and escaping the tragic legacy of mental illness in one of America's most famous families: the Hemingways” (Goodreads).
WATCHING:
Ghosts on Hulu — “A young couple's dreams come true when they inherit a beautiful country house, only to find it's both falling apart and inhabited by many of the deceased previous residents” (iMDB). Very funny!
A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving — It wouldn’t be a holiday without my Peanuts friends.
LISTENING TO:
The new ABBA album, Voyage — What can I say? It’s a guilty, Scandi pleasure.
Vince Guaraldi and George Winston — At this time of year, I crave cool jazz and piano solos, especially soundtracks from Peanuts holiday specials, Autumn as it’s transition to December, and perhaps best of all, the combo that is George Winston’s Linus and Lucy: The Music of Vince Guaraldi.
FEELING:
Proud/Accomplished — My goal was to row 1,000,000 meters by Thanksgiving. As I write this, I have a week to go and 25,000 meters; that’s a little over 3500 meters per day — totally do-able. I am quite proud of myself for committing to a regular fitness routine.
Grateful — Thanksgiving is the traditional time of year to count our blessings and I am truly thankful for good health, family and friends, a sweet beagle, a steady job, and a lovely home. As we discussed The Book of Joy, someone recommended Two Minute Mornings: A Journal to Win Your Day Every Day: “This written exercise helps facilitate mindfulness and assists in the creation of a constructive daily focus – the right track to forming a permanent positive mindset. Features simple, quick prompts that focus on gratitude, letting go of stress, and setting daily intentions. A clean, yet effective page set up provides space to reflect on three daily questions: I will let go of, I am grateful for, and I will focus on.” I love the idea of not only being mindfully grateful, but of recognizing that, in order to be truly thankful and focused, we have to let go of something negative or out of our control to make room for the joy. I think this might be my “New Year’s resolution”.
LOOKING FORWARD TO:
Decorating for the holidays — I’m very excited to decorate this year, now that we have clean, white walls and new carpeting. I think everything is going to be sparkling and bright. I am decorating three Christmas trees this holiday season: the big one in the living room featuring all the beautiful white, silver, and glass ornaments; the Scandi tree on the deck with wooden ornaments, pinecones, and bottle brush birds; and a new, small Parisian ornament featuring the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, a macaron, an airplane, a wine glass, and a camera, along with glass ornaments in shades ranging from clear to dark gray. Those are the concepts. I’ll post pictures soon.
Thanksgiving and Christmas Breaks — I really need them.
