I don’t know why I had to wake up so early this morning. 5:15. I didn’t go to bed until 11:30. I am exhausted. My friends want me to go to some venue and see another of our friends perform tonight. It’s out on St. Pete Beach, about 10 miles from here, and I’ll have to drive, because one friend doesn’t have a car, and the other has a beat up 20 year old car, so I always end up driving. Not sure I’m up for it tonight.

I have a hair appointment for noon today, to get my hair cut and highlighted, which I can’t wait for. I haven’t done it since early August. Maybe if I can take a nap after, I can be up for tonight. It would probably be fun. I would probably meet some people, and expand my circle just a little, which would be a good thing for me. I just wish I’d slept a couple more hours. I’ll just have to see how I feel.

Maybe it’s my plumbing issues that are keeping me up. They had a problem putting the camera down the line yesterday, because at some point the plumbing between my house and the cleanout takes about a 45° turn up, instead of going straight or even a 90° turn that would be easy to get by. He said the camera can’t be forced past that turn, so they can’t get into the sewer line between the cleanout and the city sewer line to see if there’s anything blocking it. It will cost $800-$900 to change that plumbing and put in a new cleanout, which is really old on this house. Once they do that, they can put the camera down the whole line and see if my banyan tree roots have gotten in it. However, the plumber didn’t think that was the case, because when he finally cleared the line, it didn’t bring up any roots. But if they find another problem between my cleanout and the sewer, then you’re talking digging up my back yard, and maybe a couple $1000 more. Of course, maybe they’ll find nothing. It could just be that the turn in my plumbing from the house is what was clogged. He told me in the meantime to use cheap thin toilet paper, and flush the toilet twice when I use it, to make sure the paper gets flushed through.

The prospect of throwing more money at the house is probably not helping me to sleep.

I ordered my washer and dryer for delivery on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving. I will be so glad to be able to throw in a load of laundry when I need to. I really miss that.

Next I need a shed for my lawnmower, and a whole lot of misc. stuff that is currently in my kitchen, and my spare bedroom. After that, I need a gutter fixed, and some of the banyan tree limbs cut back that are too close to the house, and hang too low over the deck. I think that will be the end of my big expenditures. I guess I need to accept the idea that I may need to start looking for a job soon. Part-time. I sure don’t want to, it’s so lovely not working.

I’m looking forward to Thanksgiving, and spending some days at my sisters. I’ll get to walk the beach, go to sunrise at the town dock, sunset over the Gulf. Just hang out with my sis and her hubby. I’m going Tuesday night, and stay til sometime Friday or Saturday. I’d say it’s like a vacation, but really, my life is like a vacation right now, so it’s a beautiful change of scene, and the closeness of family that will be nice. Plus I love her friends, she will have 5 couple there. Of course, I’ll be the only single woman as usual. But I’m used to that. For 10 years, I have been the lone woman in a sea of couples with friends and family.

It looks to be another gorgeous day today. The bright sunlight is coming through my windows, even though I have the blinds drawn, it lights up the room enough not to need a light. It is cool now, at 7:30, but will warm up to the high 70’s, maybe 80. Can’t ask for much more than that, I guess.

This blog is me trying to work out whatever angst it was that woke me up so early. I think it’s just money. Maybe I’ll get back to making some jewelry after the holiday. Season is starting up here, and there are a number of shops close by that sell local artisans work. I think mine is as good as any of it in the price range I sell it in. I always thought I could practice Reiki here, which is one reason I became a certified master. Turns out that in Florida, you have to have a Massage Therapist License to do reiki for money. It makes no sense at all. Reiki does not manipulate anything in the touching of someone, it’s very similar to laying on of hands. But that’s the law, so I can’t make money doing that. Very disappointed. I’ll just continue to do it for my friends, but I never charge them, so it won’t make me any money to pay for all this stuff.

Onward, through the maze. Love and light, all.

I just got home from the open mic night. It was so much fun tonight. Probably my favorite night so far. I got there early, because I picked up my friend who sings, (she doesn’t have a car) and she needed to practice a song with a guy who was going to play bass for her. While they practiced, I signed her up to sing, and then saved us some seats. They have one seat that is like an outdoor couch, wicker with cushions, very comfy. It is beside an outdoor gas fire with lava rocks. The fire was lit tonight because it’s a bit chilly. They had the big propane heaters going too. (This whole venue is outside.)

So I sat in the comfy couch, by myself, and waited for her and the rest of our friends to arrive. One of the guys got there, and stopped to talk to me. He’s a guitar player, also sings. Sometimes his wife sings with him. He said to me, “This place is my sanctuary.” I said, “Yes, I’ve been sitting here waiting for Beth and Tony, and I feel like I’m in my living room.” It is such a comfortable atmosphere. Maybe because I know so many of the people now, and call them my friends. They mostly sing, but they love the clappers like myself too.

The first guy who sang was someone new, at least, new to me. I guess he’s played before there. He sang some songs he’d written and one of them was about gratitude and it had some Sanskrit in it, that he had us sing a long with him.  Unusual

The second performers were a girl who had a Tibetan singing bowl, and he had some kind of drum which he said he and his friend make. It was rather odd, kind of space ship shaped but had some really pretty tones. They did “sound healing” for about 10 minutes. If you follow my blog you know I have been immersed in sound healing for years. The girl in this case did not really know how to play the bowl. It was nice anyway, but very very different for this venue.

Three of my friends got up after and did a kind of skit, like a radio program that was a total spoof, and so funny. It ended with the one who actually sings, singing a song. That was totally different. We were hysterical.

My friend Beth got up and did “Be my Baby” and had everyone in the place singing the chorus. She had three of the other musicians playing with her, like a band, except they were all just friends, who were just kind of jamming.

I met a new musician, who sang folk music mostly, and he sang one he wrote that was hilarious, about wanting to see his girl’s “O Face.” OMG, it was hysterical. He made a point of asking me my name, and singled me out for a comment he made while he was performing. I told him that I thought his set was fabulous.  Seems like a very cool guy. He lives about an hour from here.

Anyway, tonight my friends and I laughed, we had a glass of wine, we talked. It was just fun.

It’s so nice to feel part of the community. I’ve been learning so much about music of all kinds, and learning to appreciate the performances, and the theatrics of it. It’s so nice to still be able to sit outside without a coat. It was cool tonight, definitely jeans weather, and long sleeved shirts, but still, 60’s is heavenly for evenings, in November.

I talked to two of my best friends from CT last night and this morning. I have been really missing them.  These are people who’ve shared my life for 20 years. I can’t wait til they can find the time, and put the money together to come visit. I think they would love to go with me to open mic night. At least I have the guest room fixed so it’s usable, so that if they decide to come on a moment’s notice, I’ll have a bed for them to sleep in, lol. My son has been talking about coming to see me in January, but I think he may be getting promoted to manager of his own store in January, which will keep him from coming here. I miss him so much, so much. Even though we talk every day, I miss him so much.

Well, I always knew I’d miss my huge circle of friends from up there. But I guess I’ve been cultivating one here too. A year from now, hopefully I’ll have a large circle of friends here too. Tonight went a long ways towards making that happen.

Time for bed. Love and light, all.

Last night I had a friend over to share some of the vegetable soup I’d made over the weekend. She lives a few blocks from me, so we get together often. She’s fun to be around. She’s from Alabama, but has lived here for 30 years. She has introduced me to most of the people I’ve met here.

I enjoy having her over because she used to sing in a band for a living, with her first husband. She is always introducing me to new and different music, and she knows the history behind it. She doesn’t have internet access at her house, so loves going on Youtube at my house, looking up old artists, and new ones.

Last night we looked up a lot of Leonard Cohen and Tom Waits. She asked me to print out the words to Cohen’s song, Dance Me To The End of Love. She wants to sing it at open mic night if she can get someone to play some accompaniment on the guitar. It’s such a cool song, with a gypsy-like quality.

One of the things that I have had fun finding out is that I’ve been able to introduce her to some music she hadn’t heard. I’m sure there’s no artist she’s not familiar with but they all have music she isn’t familiar with. I introduced her to Did I Ever Love You, by Cohen. I introduced her to one of my favorite Joni Mitchell songs, The Same Situation. I learn a lot listening with her, especially if there’s video, because she gets very into the theatrics of singing, the showmanship as well as the music itself.

After we ate, we got to talking about Cheryl Strayed, and her podcast “Dear Sugar” and her books. My friend had never seen her, so we watched her for a few minutes too. And Anne LaMott, whose book Imperfect Birds I’m currently reading. My friend has read a few of her books, but had never seen her either.

I told her about the book club I used to have, and how I’d like to start one here again. She liked the idea. I miss those once a month nights with good friends who are of the same kind of spiritual bent as me. So maybe we’ll be able to get something going. It would ease my homesickness for my people up north.

The Universe gives us what we need, doesn’t it? Crossing my path with hers has really helped me to get acclimated here, to meet people, to get involved in music, which I’ve always loved, but for reasons which would be another whole blog to explain, just moved away from it for a long time. I guess it was my relationship with S that got me back into it originally, because he and I would listen to music for hours and talk about it, he had hundreds of CD’s. I would say he was the main influence on my getting a lot of music I loved on my phone, reminding me of the beauty it adds to one’s life. One of the good things that came from that relationship.

Onward today. The plumber didn’t come to do his video of my sewer line yesterday. They called and rescheduled for this afternoon. I got my washer/dryer ordered yesterday, and scheduled the delivery on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving. I’m so excited about that. Since the plumber didn’t come I spent a lot of time yesterday just moving things around, putting my things away, on shelves, etc. I got my newly covered seat cushions on my kitchen table chairs and I’m very pleased with the outcome! Making this house a little more my home every day. Things are moving along, slowly but surely.

It’s cool here this morning, 55° and will get up to 80° this afternoon. I am loving this weather. Don’t need the air conditioning, don’t need heat. Good sleeping weather. All is well at the moment.

Love and light, all.

Quiet morn, sun-bathed

Shining, making my heart glad

The moment is all.

By Deborah E. Dayen

Picture from Google Images

It must be the full moon. I have been a little melancholy lately. For a couple of days. For the most part, I’ve kind of given up the search for the love of my life. Just last weekend, I told someone that it wasn’t urgent any longer, because I have a wonderful life, and if it’s supposed to happen it will. But the last couple of days, I’ve wished I’d found him. Would have loved to have someone to cuddle up to, to talk to, to share some moments with. I am not sure what the pull is, and I hope it disappears with the waning moon. I think it’s on it’s way out.

I spent the day at my sisters, doing my laundry, reading, sitting by the pool when the sun came out. She was out most of the day, at a dental appointment, and then a meeting. But we spent some time catching up, going over Thanksgiving plans.

It was cloudy and cool this morning, again. In the high 60’s til about 1 when the sky cleared and the sun came out and the temp shot up to 80. It’s supposed to be 82 on Thanksgiving, which makes my sis happy, so we can be outside. Gonna be a little weird to have it 82 on Thanksgiving. I’m more used to expecting cold and even snow, than 82.

Tomorrow I have the plumbers coming back to put a camera down my sewer line. Then they’ll give me an estimate on fixing whatever caused the back-up I had this past weekend. Not looking forward to having them tell me I have to spend another $2500 or so. Grrrr.

Well, gonna head for bed soon. I keep waking up at 5 or 5:30 in the morning. So I’m done by 9:30 or 10. It’s going to be 80 again tomorrow, and sunny. Hasn’t rained in over a month. Crazy. But I love it.

Love and light.

I was awake before daybreak today, as is common for me. Especially when the sun doesn’t come up until 6 or 7. I did my meditation. I listened to some music, more Leonard Cohen. What an amazing poet. I really only knew Hallelujah, and “There is a crack in everything, that’s how the light gets in” about him. The quote is also found in Rumi. I love Rumi too. Happy to have a new artist to listen to. That’s the silver lining to not having listened to him before is that now it’s all new and beautiful to me.

Today is kind of a lay day. I have to go to my sisters and do laundry. Today is the only day I have until the weekend, and I don’t want to wait that long. Hopefully I’ll have my washer/dryer by the next time I need to do it. I was going to order it last night but the order form showed Monday as a delivery date and I won’t be around Monday, and not much of next week to be honest. I need to call them and ask about scheduling.

I’ll be staying at my sisters a lot next week as we prepare TG dinner. I’m pretty excited to be spending the holiday with her. I’ve only spent it with my ex’s family, or just my ex and my son, and then just my son forever. It was always too short a time and to expensive to travel for it. I so love having her close by.

Of course, today the sun is out, and the sky is clear, now that the supermoon is over. My crystals sat in the moonlight all night, and so, should be recharged. I think I am too, recharged. I was subdued last night. Emotions were kind of melancholy, but not really sad. I slept well, I guess that’s about all I can ask for when I feel like that. Today is a new day, a new opportunity to move forward, to be happy, to love. I’ll surrender, again, and see what the universe will bring my way.

Love and light, all.

I’m a full moon junkie, really. I love the full moon. I won’t say it doesn’t affect me. I have been missing my peeps up north very much the last couple of days, which is why it was so good to talk to a few of them this past weekend. I don’t get depressed, or overwhelmed, or even crazy, except for wanting my friends and family around.

So…I’ve been looking forward to the Supermoon Full Moon tonight. I had plans to go the fishing pier, and watch the sunset to the west, and the moonrise to the east over the bay. We did it last month, and it was so lovely. We were going to take wine and some snacks, and just sit and enjoy.

The weather threw a fly in the ointment. It’s been bright and sunny and 80° every day except maybe 1 or 2 for the last month. Those days were still 80° but cloudy. So, add another cloudy day. It’s really thick clouds. And the temps barely hit 70° today. It actually sprinkled for about 5 minutes. So, of course, we won’t be able to view the supermoon.

Oddly enough, my friend that was going with me, got a migraine headache. Maybe Supermoon induced? Who knows. I will still put out all my crystals for recharging.

And of course, the rest of the week is predicted to be flawless.

I did get some good news today, for a change. My handyman came by to help me figure out if my washer/dryer outlet was on it’s own breaker. And it is. YAY! So I don’t have to pay to have a breaker installed. Gonna order my washer this week. And maybe have a washer/dryer in a week or so! Very excited about it. I’m going over to my sisters tomorrow to do the huge basket full I have right now. Hopefully, for the last time! Not that I mind going over there, lol. It’s paradise. Just hate to have to drag all my dirty laundry with me.

Guess I’ll go make myself a decent meal, and settle in for the night. Love and light, all.