I just finished Chris Rock’s interview in the NYT, and while it was all great, this is the part I loved:
“I’m excited every morning. It’s my favorite time to get up and take my walk and get my fruit, listen to the news a little bit. ’Cause every day can be great. Even when you know what’s going to happen, you don’t know what’s going to happen.”
I think that idea is what’s been best about this week. I finally got far enough out of depression to start organizing my life, making my space livable, understanding the Anna book at the level I was clear-headed enough to get to (and making Bob insane in the process). I am gaining control over my life again. And yet . . .
There are surprises every day. Some of them are small, some are funny, some are exciting, some are sad, but no matter how well I finally get my life organized, I will not know what’s going to happen.
I love that. Infinite possibilities, some good, some bad, but you can’t value the good until you’ve experienced the bad. It’s the not knowing that makes each day interesting. “Even when you know what’s going to happen, you don’t know what’s going to happen.”
What good thing happened to you this week?
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The fring3d gentians were in bloom at Possum Creek.
Fringed Gentians
https://www.instagram.com/p/Dd9Tz0Kt4QQ/?stkn=MXZ0dzR0M2ozM3Z2aQ==
Sooo pretty!
Yesterday, my husband, eldest daughter and I saw Play On!, a musical retelling of Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night using Duke Ellington’s music. Fantastic! Great music, great voices, great acting, lots of laughter.
The last show is on Oct. 18th. If you can get to Chicago Shakespeare Theater to see it, I highly recommend you do so.
I’m sorry you’re struggling with depression but glad you’re finding your way through it. It’s a process.
I bought pie pumpkins, roasted and puréed them so I now have frozen pumpkin for bread and soup. A bit more work than buying a can of pumpkin but much cheaper. I made (and ate) a loaf of pumpkin bread with the purée. The recipe suggested adding pumpkin seeds to the top and it was delicious – sweet, spicy and a little crunchy.
It was DH’s BD and we went to a local spa and relaxed. It was a nice way to spend a few hours. DH, DS snd I went to our favourite Italian restaurant for supper, which was also enjoyable.
I picked fresh beans from my garden and ate them all. They were like candy.
I painted my bathroom! We just have to find a tub surround that works with the window, and then it’s a myriad of different finishing touches. My bathroom stuff is still shrapnel all over my house.
We won’t be done by Thanksgiving (next weekend), and we usually host, but we had a lovely dinner at my niece’s on Friday and she offered her house (I would still do the cooking), so problem solved!
I went to a pottey-painting event last night and painted my husband’s Christmas gift. I am NOT an artist, so we’ll see how it looks once it’s fired, LOL.
This week was distinguished mostly by getting a running start on the new novel. As usual, I’m asking my characters what’s going on because as usual, if I want them to be good lovers they can’t do X, Y, or Z to each other before they start dating. The enemies to lovers trope simply does not work for me as a writer. I can’t do it. Unfortunately, that’s kind of the idea spark I had for this story so, seven chapters in, I’m looking at who these guys are to see where, realistically, their lives and histories have dug a chasm that must be bridged.
The week starting yesterday has a lot going on, beginning with a student production of ‘Around the World in 80 Days’ at the college last night (fun!) and today we’re going to see ‘Sister Act’ the musical at Flat Rock Playhouse.
Also, the Chris Rock interview was great and so was a recent one with Sylvester Stallone.
Was the Stallone one in the NYT?
This one?
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/09/26/magazine/sylvester-stallone-interview.html?searchResultPosition=1
yep!
Awesome thank you. Because I just saw I Play Rocky, this was a great pairing for that.
Finishing up a romantic getaway in Stratford. Saw Guys and Dolls – the only musical my husband appears to enjoy – and The Hobbit which of course he did because nerd. I did some shopping which he tapped out on about 15 minutes in and went back to the hotel.
We saw Something Rotten at Stratford this summer. I’m so-so on musicals but it was very entertaining. Lots of fun references to other musicals. Most of the cast is also in Guys and Dolls.
The best thing I saw at Stratford this year was A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Laughed all the way through. I’ve seen many productions of this play and this was right up there.
I’ve always wanted to go and thinking now I finally will next season. Any suggestions on where to stay, dine, and most of all what to see (and how many!). Also have you ever been to the Shaw Festival?
There are a ton of Bed and Breakfasts in Stratford, many of them in heritage homes and close to the centre of the town. Not as many hotels, expensive in the centre and less expensive the further out you go. Many fantastic places to eat. If you go for the weekend, I’d recommend seeing two plays, add a play for any additional days. The new season has been announced although the schedule hasn’t yet but it will be soon.
And yes I’ve been to the Shaw – I’m not as big a fan of Shaw as I am of Shakespeare so I don’t go very often. I also find the town a little too zoned so that it all looks the same, and a bit twee for my tastes. Having said that, it’s closer to the border than Stratford is so easier for our American friends to visit, although both festivals get about 30% American visitors every year. People tend to see fewer plays at the Shaw and do more shopping and eating; there’s winery visits that are very popular and it’s a great place for cycling or long walks.
Thank you, Tammy!
I went to see the Consultant and had my pre-ops then got the date for my hip replacement. 26th October – which is waaaay quicker than I was led to believe would happen (Consultant said “before Christmas”). Still am very happy that it is happening shortly (three weeks + 😮). Freezer is mostly full of home made food, and I could pack my hospital bag today I am so ready for this. Got the hotel booked for the night before and night after (in case I am discharged the same day – I want to be near the hospital if that happens not back in Edinburgh). Friends are organised to either come with me or collect me and bring me home. Large pile of books TBR. Offers of help from neighbours. I am blessed.
Only down side is that I will probably not be able to see Wicker in the cinema. It comes out five days after the op so unless it stays in the cinema for at least five weeks I probably will not get to see it. However, I will get to see a IRL show I want to see at the end of December which I thought I would miss because the Consultant said “before Christmas” so… still blessed.
Hips heal faster than knees, so if you have any cinemas with the recliners…
I only know this from other people’s experiences, though. Good luck with the surgery!
Thank you Phyllis
Good luck with your surgery and recovery, Christine.
Thank you Jan
Best of luck, Christine.
Thank you Jenny
Speaking of Wicker, and assuming a large part of the appeal of the film is Alexander Skarsgaard, check out this new music video (trust me): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3e5LxvRZjVw Also, best wishes on the surgery!
Whoa. Incredible that the Stones can still make great music in their EIGHTIES. And that they don’t feel compelled to make more than a glancing appearance in their own video and instead centre it around Skarsgaard who is, I maintain, the God of Sex.
Skarsgards are definitely sexy.
AS is one of those men who get better with age. I thought the Stones were past their prime – this song/video says otherwise.
Oh Thank you Gin – would have hated to have missed that. Yum
I am so happy for you!
Thank you Debbie
I finished the rough draft of my two novellas about the same couple (who were minor characters in my paranormal series). Editing is hard, but usually fulfilling, so now I need to make two coherent plots. The first is how they get together and the second is how they escape to a new life.
Anyway, also good is that my daughter’s sweetheart does not appear to have epilepsy, just a weird sort of panic attack. Which isn’t great, but it’s not epilepsy or a reaction to medication.
And my son has a girlfriend, but hasn’t let us meet her yet. Some day…
Oh and! The Manteca book fest is this coming Saturday. I’ll be there with some of my romance author friends.
https://gvbookfest.org/
So if you’re in the bay area/Sacramento/Stockton, etc, it’s a good place for books
Jenny, I’m so sorry you’ve been dealing with depression. It’s awful, I know. And there’s nothing useful anyone else can say. I wish you well.
My younger son came over and raked up all the leaves and twigs from my courtyard, and he stacked all the pavers that were near the rubber tree, and I stacked all the bricks. Then he raked it level, and I can walk in that area without fear of falling, now. Kali seems to like it better, too. New little plants I ordered arrived last week, and I look forward to planting them next month.
I scheduled the rubber tree removal and Mulberry trimming for early next month. It will be much nicer after that. My neighbor was complaining about those rubber tree leaves making a mess on her adjoining patio. There’s just a wall between it and my courtyard. The rubber tree is next to that wall. She will appreciate the change.
Then My son invited me to dinner with him and DIL and my granddaughter. She is a good driver, and it was October fest at Yard Haus- new spelling for the beer fest holiday. She was the designated driver. I like that restaurant. Grandson has a new computer and is oblivious to the rest of the world. It was quieter on the trip to the restaurant. It takes boys so long to find their indoor voices! He’s now 12.
So glad to hear this Jan, sounds like you are being taken care of in your new home.
I thought I was having a relapse into depression and was pretty unhappy about it, but it turns out I was just fighting a cold and feeling very tired. So yay!?
The only downside to feeling consistently better is that I am having a resurgence of wanting to Do All The Things. This past year I did almost nothing, and the house got very bad, this on top of over-sourcing and then not listing things the year prior as stress response to my job and the state of the world… And now I have a little art show coming up in November that I want some more finished pieces for, I am prepping a new consignment space that will be opening, you guessed it, in November, and I agreed to move to a bigger space at my other consignment booth that will be starting… In November. And my local tea shop is hosting a Witch’s Tea party and asked to help with decor. That will be happening October 25. Not sure what the universe is trying to tell me, but so much for not overloading myself for the holiday season this year.
I got another little painting almost finished this morning. It’s getting metallic gold leaves on the trees, which I can do with an oil based pen on my couch tonight. So basically finished. I was going to add stars, but I think that will make it too busy.
https://www.instagram.com/p/DeE8aijx6fK/?stkn=ODVoNGcxaDVnNnk=
Metallic gold leaves sounds perfect!
Lovely!
So you are moving to a bigger space? We are all going to have to come visit.
Not until I get my house back from the Brink of Despair. Hopefully in the next five years… Sigh.
Best thing that happened to me this week is stumbling across this music video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3e5LxvRZjVw
I mean, who’da thunk a new Rolling Stones music video (or, really, ANY music video) would be this great? OTOH, how can it not be, when it features Alexander Skarsgaard?
That’s intense and disturbing, but an interesting short movie. Wow.
Small happiness: finding the last bit of a box of cold medicine in my medicine cabinet last night, so I was able to sleep. (Though I curse the woman who spewed germs at me in the dealership waiting room last week. I assumed fall allergies. So wrong.)
I also had a travel-related success: the hotel I was supposed to stay at in Rome at the end of the month canceled my room, but after a nice but insistent email, they rebooked me into an equivalent hotel at their expense.
I still seem to be on the upswing from my stomach flu, which is good, but I’m not remotely back to healthy, which is bad. This convalescence is taking a long time! I did eat a bowl of cereal today with more genuine enjoyment than I’ve felt in eating for over a week, so that’s something. I hope that by tomorrow I can at least start making progress on housekeeping tasks. What I’m best at currently is reading. Illness is also making me sound even more self-centered than I normally am, alas!
I had a lovely time in Worthing & Shoreham with my family (brother, sisters-in-law, nephew, niece & nephew-in-law, great-niece) – they all made me very welcome, and it’s been sunny & warm. I’m now staying with an old friend in Surrey, and having a good time here too.
On vacation and n a nice house on Lake Michigan. No more needs to be said😃
The best hing this week was Pixie’s wellness exam. She’s 13 1/2.
I was afraid her cancer had returned and that her heart would be bad enough to go on medication. But, the lumps are fatty tissue and her heart is fair. She does need some medication for her liver. And her thyroid is slightly low so, since she is a Sheltie, there will be more testing and medication for that. And an anti inflammatory for her arthritis.
I’m going to need a weekly pill sorter container for her. Could be so much worse.
Yea Pixie!
I just got back from a week in San Diego visiting my aging parents (celebrated my mom’s 89th birthday, and my dad is 92) and taking a brief mini vacation by the beach in Del Mar with one of my besties. The flights across country went as well as possible, I ate a lot of good food, went to the ocean a few times, and my sisters and I worked on getting my dad to stop letting my mom drive. Mostly a very good trip, as these things go, although watching my parents struggle with getting more infirm after staying pretty spry and sharp for a long time is painful. Went to see Practical Magic 2 with my friend, who is also a witch and a writer, and was pleasantly surprised. Glad to be home, although now my to-do list is far longer than I have the spoons for. The fall leaves are changing and looking beautiful this year, and I got the last of the late fresh corn, so yay!
2 good tv type things: 4th season of The Diplomat is coming soon & there is a new season of Great British Baking & Nigela Lawson is with Paul Hollywood
I’ve been struggling at work because my headset has gone bad. I finally got a new one & work is so much less stressful.
I’ve used the library services but I haven’t really been inside since covid. One day last week I went inside & spent a pleasant hour wandering around.
It’s been a rough week—no new problems, just the mom ongoing health crisis.
But the big gold statue of naked Trump covered in gold with a gold club sitting on a man titled “Orange Plague” placed in the European Parliament is cheering me up.
https://www.yahoo.com/news/world/articles/orange-plague-naked-trump-statue-161840536.html
Golf club