A Puzzling Process

For my birthday present to myself I got a membership for myself and Kathleen to the Phillips Collection which is the first modern art museum. The Phillips Collection is located in DC and is both housed in a lovely and intimate setting for a museum.

The Collection has many wonderful paintings. Their prize painting is Renoir's Luncheon for a Boat Party which I have seen several times. It's the kind of painting that makes a visual imprint in one's memory. While I may not remember this painting in all of its glorious detail, I definitely remember its feel. So one night when I was casting about to buy a jigsaw puzzle, I came upon this painting as one. I purchased it immediately and it has arrived via UPS. It's produced by Pigment and Hue and sold by WonderCat Inc. Perfect for me.

I've wanted to do something quiet and meditative like a puzzle for a long time. Now that my studio is more or less in order, I can devote my drafting table to the puzzle. Yet I have paused. I have not opened the shipping box the puzzle was shipped in and I've lost momentum. Can I not do a puzzle and piano lessons at the same time?

That's what happens when you have too much time, sometimes you get less done than if you were busy. You know the saying "If you want to get something done, give it to a busy person!"

So considering that maybe I'll open the box today...

Recycling Computers for a Better Planet

Tomorrow a company is coming to our house to pick up our old computers and their parts. We put off doing this even though the computers are beyond use as computers (they're pre internet and broken down laptops) It's amazing how much space they have taken up. But I've made the call and Turtlewings is coming tomorrow (for a fee of course.)

I also have my sights on our bookshelves. We have three in the living room which contain fiction, reference, art, and cookbooks. Only keeping the reference, art and cookbooks. The fiction goes because nowadays we do e-books. I'm keeping some of the books so that music doesn't bounce around off the walls but mostly the books are going to a used bookstore, Friends of the Library.

Next we are going through our drawers and closets. I figure it won't be too hard to part with winter clothes.

All of this is about lightening our load and de-cluttering our home. Our house presently is stuffed after living in it for 13 years. It's time to unload a little. Cause have you ever noticed that more comes in than goes out?

A Couple's Table Talk

Well, Kathleen and I had some fun freaking out a young straight couple who were sitting next to us at brunch this afternoon. We ordered and then talked about what we were going to do with our house. Things like gable repairs, buying a new TV, upholstery the living room furniture. You know stuff "couples" talk about before launching into their next purchases. Well the couple next to us looked aghast and went silent.

Guess they had never been that close to two out, open lesbian old biddies before. You know, you all better get use to it. We're no longer going to keep a low-profile for your comfort zone or illusions that we live in an exclusive straight society. As we chanted at rallies at UCLA in my day, "We're gay and we're here to stay!"

It's a Birthday Month

I always liked the month of June. It's a little warmer than May but not yet the blazing heat of July or August. Then there's summer solstice or Midsummer's Night for the Shakespeare buffs. And yes, there's my birthday too.

Usually we party for the entire week that my birthday falls in. This year we started in May while vacationing in LA. And now this week I've been gifted with a piano bench and keyboard stand which I love!!!

I'm a lucky girl indeed!!! I even got my house cleaned. But the best gifts I got are the ones I gave myself. I am now a member with Kathleen to the Phillips Collection, the first modern art museum. And I also got some Tibetan Prayer Wind Chimes for our cherry tree. (Something melodious to listen to when I'm resting my mind...)

Seems like there are a lot of June babies out there. As far as it goes, just more good people to party with. And I can't say how the rest of the month is going to go but I guess the month of June is just going to be one big long party!!!

I guess I've graduated to the birthday month club. Only took me 52 years.

Limbo Land

We are slowly re-entering our lives here in Silver Spring after our vacation to LA. We slept like rocks last night and I woke up to make coffee at 10 am EST. I'm somewhere between West Coast and East Coast time. Maybe I'm somewhere in Chicago. Anyway the clock is really meaningless. We're in limbo land. I feel for Kathleen; she's planning on going to work tomorrow. This coming east is just so much more difficult and in so many ways too.

I've only stuck my head out the door to accept the chinese food that was delivered for lunch. We ate a little. Dinner will be easy.

Sorry this all isn't as exciting as the vacation. Limbo Land rarely is thrilling. And I feel a little spacey too. Maybe we'll both be a bit more focused and active tomorrow. See ya then.