This morning was spent cleaning and straightening and I still don’t feel as if I am completely finished. Now I am going to my parents’ house. I’m going to lock Bo in the kitchen. He knows this and he’s not happy. Usually I take him with me but my mom and I will most likely go grocery shopping so he would be alone no matter where he stays. The kitchen is nice He has his little coop as well as a basket and tons of toys. He will be fine.

I WANT DESSERT!

It’s cold outside. I just took Bo for a mini-walk. We didn’t get very far. The wind was too sharp. I’ve been super-productive today. I’ve cleaned and organized almost all the nooks and crannies in the Donnavilla.

Today my body hurts. My arm feels better (still swollen and black and blue but at least I have been able to use it) but my muscles ache. I will never again attempt to scale a steep hill/cliff again.

I could really go for some Indian food but the last week has been one indulgence after another indulgence and I must stop piling food in my mouth. Besides, Lisa called and asked me to make tortellini for dinner. Hopefully she will stop by a wines & spirits store and get some wine. I could really go for some wine…

Little Bo is so looking forward to Lisa’s return home from work. He had been sitting on my sofa, looking ever so intently at the front door. Since the walk, he must have realized time is closing in because now he is pacing the hallway. Each time a car drives by I can hear him do a little dance. She’ll be home soon, Bo! Be patient!

Watched Suspicion last night. I didn’t really care for it. Yeah I liked the fact that Joan was an old maid but the end seemed contrived. Cary should have been plotting to murder her ass.

I spent the last two hours on a conference call. What a vacation this is! Typical. My own fault. The thing is, I don’t really mind.

I wish it wasn’t raining. Maybe then I would have greater motivation to leave the house. The kitchen is looking better and my office area is almost sparkling. Just give me another hour or two.

I missed the first hour of Rebecca. Damn Damn Damn. Last night I watched a Harold Lloyd silent comedy, Girl Shy. It was terrific! There are a lot of silent films that are rather stilted but Girl Shy felt very natural and it was truly funny. I couldn’t help but laugh and I marveled at how Lloyd was able to completely change his way from bumbling country boy to Cassanova. This evening I watched a bit of Ship Ahoy with Red Skelton and Bert Lahr. Frank Sinatra appeared singing with the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra. He was such a baby! Suspicion is on later tonight and I am going to watch it. I forgot how nice it is to curl up with an old movie.

Yesterday, before my fall, Lisa and I stopped by TJMaxx. Hanging on the clearance rack was the most beautiful evening gown with a tag declaring it $216.00. It was silver and came with a bolero jacket. The sleeves and the lower half of the dress were trimmed with feathers and beads. It was my size. I pulled it up to me and imagined myself dancing with Fred Astaire. Lisa said I should try it on and I couldn’t see why I shouldn’t. The dress fit perfectly and gave me an hourglass figure. The feathers floated as I moved around. It was gorgeous! I felt like Ginger Rogers! I wanted to buy it but where in the world would I wear it? I put it back on the hanger and handed it to the woman guarding the dressing area. One day, perhaps. Just not now.

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Lisa and I went hiking yesterday. We were perched atop of what might be alternately described as a steep hill or cliff. I lost my footing and tumbled to the bottom. During the fall, I hyper-extended my elbow. My legs are full of little scratches and my heiny is black and blue. My arm wasn’t working yesterday but today, after massive amounts of icing and Tylenol, it’s beginning to feel better. Lisa was going to take me to the hospital but I refused. Last year I hurt my arm and the feeling was very similar and so I knew it wasn’t broken and that the doctor would just tell me to immobilize it, ice it and take Tylenol. My day off and I am spending it caring for my stupid arm. What timing! What the heck was I doing up there anyway? I should have known better.

I’ve been cleaning my office and I came across handwritten directions on lighting the stove at my parents’ house. Mainly, this is just for my own records:

Lighting the Stove

1. Make sure stove is clean
2. Loosely crumple 3-4 sheets of newspaper in the area behind glass.
3. Place 4 handfuls of cut up cardboard in top of stove.
4. Place 2 handfuls of wood atop cardboard, crosswise of cardboard. Wood is broken into 2X5 inch pieces.
5. Put a slightly heavier wood in.
6. Put BBQ coals atop wood
7. Place 3-4 handfuls of coal atop BBQ coals.
8. Slide off back hatch.
9. Light the newspaper through the glass door.
10. Close glass door to stove, keeping bottom door ajar.
11. Open the door to the backyard to create a draft.
12. Check Chimney to see if smoke is coming out.
13. Close bottom door when ash is good.
14. Close back hatch.
15. Pour a bit more coal in, just to cover a layer
16. Close top of stove, you may need to hold it closed for a little while.