Late-July-morning study-window view: it's been a while since I posted one of these.
Today's high: 96F. What fun.
Today's agenda:
*walk the dog
*work out indoors
*work on another Substack essay for this week
*answer some emails that require my attention before I forget about them
*focus on my itinerary for a road trip to Derry, New Hampshire, in the middle of August --- mostly I need to decide where I'm going to break my drive (in New Jersey or New York somewhere) and secure an Airbnb for that one night, en route to the Frost Farm for the poetry conference I'm attending. There, I'm sharing a house with three other women, but I need to figure out going and coming back. I could fly, but I'm pretty sick of flying, and as I'd probably opt to rent a car there, because lots of people will be needing rides to and from the conference site, it's really going to be cheaper to drive, even with extra accommodation on the days preceding and following the conference. Anyway, figuring all that out and getting it nailed down, so it doesn't sneak up on me.
*line up the dog sitter for this weekend, when we'll be at the Kingfisher Folk Festival, as well as the days in August when I'll be away. It's hard to believe that the husband will be back in the classroom, but by then I think he will be. This week is his last week of freedom (he is celebrating that freedom right now by doing yard work before the day heats up).
*make something for dinner --- last night, having eaten a big pub lunch after Mass, we just made protein smoothies to tide us over.
Wearing (I'm calling it Minimal-Effort Monday, which could become a Thing):
*Wool& Sierra dress (XS) in Iris Blue, bought January 2025, last worn July 18. Wears in 2025: 35
*Secondhand Xero Z-Trek sandals, year 1 of wear
Back again with my far-and-away most-worn dress of this year. Yes, the thicker wool knit is probably going to feel hot today. But you know what? Yesterday linen felt hot. When it's hot, it's hot.
I picked this dress because 1) it's completely zero-effort and 2) it's easy to move in. I want to do an app workout here in the air conditioning, and although I did one yesterday in a linen maxi skirt (if I have to change my clothes to exercise, I won't exercise), this will be easier. It's freshly washed and ready to go after starring in my Nova Scotia travel capsule, and after a week of not wearing it, here we are again.
Talked to the Artgirl for a long time last night on the phone. She has just secured a job in a dog boarding kennel, which starts today --- for the last two months she's been volunteering at the ASPCA, which she loves (too bad that gig doesn't pay), working her way through training levels and fostering a dog named Betty. She had said, on graduation, that for a paying job, she'd like to do something working with animals. I think she'd like ultimately to be a veterinary technician, but she is learning a good bit about dog psychology and training, so could eventually do a course and become a trainer. She's always been very good with dogs and loves them --- her roommate has gotten a cat, which has clarified for her which species she prefers, up close and personal. We spent a long time on the phone extolling dogs, with occasional input from Dora, who was alternately napping on the daybed beside me, all nested in pillows:
--- and offering commentary regarding the attention I was giving the telephone, when I could have been paying attention to, for example, the dog.
Well, speaking of said dog, I had better do this workout if I'm going to do it, and then take the dog out before it gets too hot.
LATE MORNING UPDATE
I have worked out and walked the dog, and now remember that I must drive into Belmont to pick up the Viking's new glasses, to mail to him. There goes a significant chunk of the day, but maybe while I'm there I'll make an appointment for myself. The last time I got my eyes examined, it was 2020 and I had to wear a mask. Not really winning at this self-care game, am I? Anyway, MIGHT AS WELL take advantage of the fact that I will be physically present at the eye doctor, to do this thing for another person, and commit to doing the same for myself.