Mockingbird Hill Cottage — Page 823 — Mockingbird Hill Cottage

A Start

February 4, 2018 at 9:37 am by Claudia

I’m writing this rather quickly, as I slept in and I have to make my way to Rick and Doug’s home for brunch. Doug’s daughter is in town and I look forward to seeing her again. Should be lovely.

Thank you for all your wonderful comments yesterday, along with some great advice. We’re all dealing with this, aren’t we? Don says it’s all about balance and he’s right. I managed to do pretty well yesterday, though there were a few slip ups here and there. I had several errands to run, as well as laundry and vacuuming, but I did start my book! Huzzah!

I can already tell I’m going to like it. It came out a few years ago and was on a lot of the Best Books of the Year lists. If I had to compare it to another book – and it’s early in the game – I’d compare it to All the Light We Cannot See. It’s called A Constellation of Vital Phenomena and is written by Anthony Marra. I’ll share more of my thoughts when I’ve finished.

The sun in the photos is courtesy of yesterday. Today is gray, with rain and snow in the forecast.

Sigh of spring-yearning.

I just might paint that kitchen wall this coming week, since I’m stuck here because of the cold temperatures.

Happy Sunday.

Finding Another Way

February 3, 2018 at 9:13 am by Claudia

I’m back home again. When the taxi driver pulled into my driveway and I emerged, I noticed that there had been a small amount of snow mixed with ice – a true ‘wintry mix’ – which was going to have to be dealt with. So, I dropped my stuff inside the house and went outside to salt everything. My back was sore already from a combination of hauling things up the endless stairs in the apartment building and adjusting to another bed, and carrying the salt bucket around was the final straw.

So, when I could land in my chair, I took it easy the rest of the day. Much better this morning.

It’s very cold here and will be for the next week.

Sigh. I miss my husband. Speaking of which,

This was taken yesterday at rehearsal. It was World Play Your Ukulele Day. I snagged this from his Instagram account. Isn’t he adorable? Heart is melting.

I now have books stacked up and holding everywhere in the den – all of them classified as “To Be Read.” But the truth is that it’s been hard for me to read anything other than a newspaper or magazine lately. It’s been a while since I read a novel. I go through these periods every once in a while. I want to read, but I can’t do it.

Don and I had a long talk about the world and the stress of watching and reading the news every day, especially with this hideous and corrupt administration. He has been urging me to cut back on my news consumption.

I know we’ve talked about this before on the blog, but it’s really hitting me that I am constantly living at a high stress level and that cannot continue. It shows in my moods, emotional ups and downs, the fear that is always there, and it also shows physically – in too much comfort food, i.e., sweets, and weight gain.

I have to find a better way of coping with this. I think it’s harder when I’m not with Don because, as most couples do, we balance each other. When I’m alone, I tend to be too glued to Twitter and the latest headlines and suddenly, I’m enraged again.

So, this weekend, I am going to force myself to start a book. You know me, if I’m not reading a novel, something is off. I’m going to take it easy today, with only a trip to the grocery store, if that. I’m going to set a time limit as to ‘news reading.’ I want to stay informed, but obsessing is another story. And I’m going to start cutting way back on sweets, which is a challenge in the depths of winter.

Wish me luck!

Happy Saturday.

A Big City, But Not Really

February 2, 2018 at 8:44 am by Claudia

In the New York is a big city, but not really category:

Yesterday, I went down to the Village (more on that later) and when I took the subway back to Times Square, I happened to be walking by the rehearsal studios on 42nd Street where I often work and where Don is working now, when I looked up and saw Ramin Karimloo, who, until recently, played Gleb in Anastasia. We hugged each other and did some catching up and it was a lovely chance meeting – the kind that happens more often than you might imagine.

Then I got a text from Don (it was lunch time) and we arranged to meet in front of the rehearsal studios. As I saw him coming my way, I also spotted another actor I have worked with, Michael Potts. Michael was in the production of Our Town that I coached a few years back in Chautauqua. He’s such a gifted actor and one of the funniest people I’ve ever worked with. Anyway, I introduced him to Don and we chatted a bit. Michael is currently rehearsing The Iceman Cometh with Denzel Washington. (Don shared an elevator with Denzel the other day.)

Then I went upstairs with Don to the break room and we shared his lunch and chatted with some of the cast of Margaritaville. After he headed back to rehearsal, I went downstairs in the elevator and as I got out in the lobby, I heard: “Claudia, I was just thinking about you and there you are!” It was one of my former students from Boston University, Annie Meeks. Unbelievable! We haven’t seen each other in over 25 years! She told me that she was reading my Instagram feed in a restaurant two doors down and she thought to herself, “Wouldn’t it be neat if I ran into Claudia while she was in NYC?” And then she ran into me about 5 minutes later! And I was only there by chance.

Amazing day. We’re going to have lunch next time I’m in town.

I also worked with Christy and a couple of other actors in Anastasia, which is always delightful.

My reason for going down to the Village was to finally see this bookstore, Three Lives and Co.

I wasn’t disappointed. It’s absolutely charming, a little gem. It’s the kind of place where books are everywhere, with beautiful wood bookcases and counters and worn wood floors, and where there are conversations about books going on all the time.

I was smitten.

I fell in love and I’ll be back. Of course, I bought three books, which I need like a hole in the head, but I couldn’t resist.

Today, I’m headed back home, though I’d love to stay a bit longer. However, the temps and wind chills are going to be low today and tonight and for most of the next week, so I have to be home to do the drips from the faucet and make sure everything is okay.

Happy Friday.

A Start

Finding Another Way

A Big City, But Not Really

Lambs Like to Party

A Note

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