Sweet Day

I started my day with my calligraphy teacher, Ashok Giri of Mumbai. I just love saying that. Ash was able to partially diagnose my problem with hairlines. Ash is so good that he was able to tell that my issue was due to my ink (thank God it’s not me!!). So, tomorrow I’ll dilute it a bit and try again. Always something.

Just as I was finishing my class, Barb showed up. We chatted for a couple of hours and solved all the world problems…again. Barb is going through a very exciting transition in her life, moving back to the U.S. Barb has been here with her partner, Murray, for about 10 years. Barb has two adult daughters in the U.S., so, like many people who try to establish a lifestyle here, the pull of family (especially grandchildren), is strong. And, that is a good thing. Barb is a loving mom.

I walked to Super Dorado to pick up some supplies (TP and garbage bags not included in $450/month) as well as some ingredients for a dinner I’m making tomorrow night for Gloria and Trevor. I went back and forth from a lentil stew I’ve been conjuring in the slow cooker to a marinara with Italian sausage. I was hoping to find Italian sausage at Gago (across the highway from Super Dorado), but they didn’t have any. I did, however, find curry powder, so the lentil stew won. I’m also going to make hummus with pita and then bananas foster for dessert. I’ve been craving that since I got here. The bananas are exceptional. Now I just need walnuts.

I spent the rest of the afternoon working on cards and listening to an interview on Wisconsin Public Radio’s On Point with Meghna Chakrabarti. She interviewed both a retired colonel and a former prisoner. Here’s the link if you’re interested. It’s one of those that I want to listen to again. It’s ugly but necessary. Also, in my opinion, hopeful: I hear the U.S. military saying they’re sorry and victims possessing the ability to forgive and continue to see the heart in everyone.

So, I guess it was a heart kind of a day.

As I was making these cards today, I felt again that I have, what I call, the Henry Ford gene. I really enjoy having a system and doing all the steps. Interesting how this trait comes out in my artwork. Still feels funny to say “my artwork.”

I want to say thank you again to my friend, CathyAnne, who copied all seasons of The Seaside Hotel, as well as many other PBS programs, onto a thumb drive for me. I am so grateful. I can’t access my Passport account from here, and the Netflix and Amazon Prime offerings are very limited (legal stuff). So, I’m so happy now having this to look forward to at night, as well as the book I’m now reading Sooley by John Grisham. Next on the list is Never by Ken Follett.