February’s small stones

I’m still writing small stones every day. This month we’re calling them Mad March. In February they were February Favorites. Since I was working a day job over at Northrop Grumman during February, I wasn’t sure I’d have the energy to keep them up. But I did and here they are:

1. A new month, with hope for a world less chaotic. If only we didn’t have a leader who incites all the turmoil rather than calm.
2. The groundhog saw his shadow today, which means six more weeks of winter. I think that’s a good thing. How about you?
3. So busy, so distracted from my writing work, and so tired. Having a day job takes its toll.
4. I saw the sun coming through thick fog this morning, leaving the tree leaves sparkling with green iridescence.
   

   We celebrated my husband’s 80th birthday on February 4

5. Lady Gaga can do it all sing, dance, play the keyboards, fly through the air, and move incessantly during the 15-minute Super Bowl half time show, that is, until she dropped the mike.
6. After a long day I’m enjoying being home with my husband. We have a long catching-up talk and dinner, then each of us quietly do our own thing.
7. Rain, huge rain is coming down. I just open my umbrella and revel in it.
8. The noise of this political scene can’t be turned off. There is no place to hide.
9. I look forward to sleeping in a little tomorrow. Maybe I’ll get up at 5:30 instead of 4:35.
10. A bad day at work. I˜m resting tonight, watching brain rot on the TV and sipping a lovely glass of wine.
11. This day can’t decide: sunny cloudy sunny cloudy with grounds still wet after rainy rainy for the last two days.
12. I love spending the better part of a Sunday reading the papers. I read everything but the political news so I can stay sane.
13. Even though today was grueling at work, I’m finding a few minutes to write. It always relaxes and focuses me to what is most important.
14. I’m watching episodes of American Crime Story The People vs. OJ Simpson. A terrific film and cast, and an interesting reminder after all these years.
15. Stuffed, cold, and weary. An end to an almost non-stop day. Goodnight Moon.
16. My consulting day job is winding down and I’m getting ready to get back to work on my novel. Can’t wait.
17. It’s pouring out there like a deluge. The streets are like rivers, my front garden is flooding and moving water into our garage. The drought must surely be over now.
18. We saw the movie Genius again tonight about the author Thomas Wolfe (Look Homeward Angel) and his editor Maxwell Perkins. If you are an author I highly recommend it. Oh to have an editor like Max!
19. I love Sunday afternoon opera. Today it was Mozart’s The Abduction from the Seraglio. So musical, so funny, so romantic, and so beautifully staged. I came away with a huge smile on my face.
20. Memorials services are always sad. We drove hours and hours to go to one today, and it was well worth it. Family matters.
21. Back to work. A warm welcome and then a day without a minute to spare. I’m looking toward the door, to getting politically active, and beginning my writing life again.
22. The rain has stopped. And even though we could use more, I’m glad for a dry and sunny day again.
23. The cold wind reminds me of my old home town, Chicago. It makes for a perfect night to have a hot bowl of chicken noodle soup to warm my bones. Really, what’s going on in southern California?
24. Today was a rare day off spent in a Pilates class, getting a manicure and pedicure, taking a nap, and writing a wee bit. Perfect!
25. I went to a seminar about revision today, I’m really getting ready to get back to my novel and do what it takes to make it ready to pitch.
26. I always love watching the Academy Award show. I try, but don’t usually  succeed, in watching all nominated films. Tonight there were some wonderful choices and some wonderful surprises. What we have left is another year of film-making to try to get it right once again.
27. One more day this month to ponder, observe, and write about what we see and what we feel. I’ve loved my small stone experience this month. And I’m looking forward to March.
28. This last day of February was tough and way more than I could handle. Hopefully the first day of the new month will make it all better again.