"The Hurrier I Go, The Behinder I Get!"

Dear Reader,

I read the above title on a place mat, at some roadside restaurant in Pennsylvania Dutch country, decades ago when my family used to make cross-country car trips from New Mexico (or Rhode Island, I'm not sure) to my grandparents house in West Virginia. I remember it, and another phrase, "It smells LOUD, don't it?!" and nothing else, not the year, place, my age, nothing. Aren't words amazing?

I feel like I've been going "hurrier" for the past several months, and made little headway. I've had a few obstacles, though: another tree down in the Park, a major falling-out with my chorus, a tax issue that I finally have to deal with, my sisters visiting me and then reporting back to my Dad that I treated them badly, and on-going flare-ups of depression which impede me.

On the other hand, some good things have happened: I've developed a better rapport with a couple of clients, I've kept off (most of) the weight I lost last year (I have 5 pounds to re-lose), I've begun sorting and organizing a lot of my papers and crap in the apartment, I got 500+ bulbs to plant this fall/winter, and they have kept me supplied with woodchips, the cats are healthy, I seem to have made some new friends and become reacquainted with some old ones. So, the last few months haven't been a total loss.

Each of the above pros and cons deserves its own column, but I doubt I'll get to writing about all of them. I'd rather write about the good things than the bad; I fret enough about the bad things and I don't need to repeat all of that here. I will say that the situations with my chorus and my sisters (and Daddy, consequently) are on-going and painful. I hope I can resolve them at some point, but as I didn't even hear from anyone in my family for Thanksgiving, I doubt that situation will be resolved soon. Neither will my problems with the chorus, unless I simply switch my mind off, and "drink the koolaid" with the rest of them. I'll probably have to leave the group ultimately.

At the moment I'm caught up in trying to get all of the bulbs in before things really freeze over, and I hope to finish this weekend. I have a new pile of woodchips to start working on, too. I don't much like working out in the cold, although I've learned to dress in enough layers to stay warm, except for my hands. I generally don't go out if the temperature is below 30 degrees, unless the wind is down and the work I'll be doing is energy-consuming, like moving woodchips.

I need to clean up my garden tool "storage area" in my hallway, and reorganize everything. That will be the winter project for the Park. I'm also trying to think of ways to get people to volunteer out there sometimes, aside from the 2 annual "It's MY Park Days." Parks and Riverside Park Fund don't always do such a great job getting the word out to the general public about activities out in the Park, especially work-related ones.

I beat myself up for not getting out early enough to do a good chunk of work. But then I find that I can only really stay out for an hour or so when it's very cold, so it all works out. It's part of my continuing battle with myself over thinking I'm not doing enough of whatever it is I'm doing at the moment. Confusing, isn't it?

More to come,
Catbird

So Much to Write; So Little Will To DO So!

Dear Reader,

I am sorry for my long delay in writing. I have been overwhelmed in real time, and overwhelmed psychologically also. At the moment, I'm feeling overwhelmed at what a pain this site is to format the text the way I want it to be. ARRGGGH!

So much has happened in the last couple of months; too much to relate here in detail. Or maybe not, but I hope to incorporate it into future entries. I can't write now; I will catch up soon, though.

More to Come, really,
Catbird