JANUARY JOY

The New Year Report

My new year is looking about the same as last year, with no new activities planned.  I do want to delve more into existing activities, among them Tai Chi.  This photo is the group I practice with at one of the local churches.  I'm the one barely visible in the back left.

 

 

  I've a two-pronged plan.  The first is to take more responsibility in the weekly practice.  Taoist Tai Chi is practiced with members lined up in rows, making (usually) a rectangle.  The people on the 4 corners of the rectangle are typically somewhat more experienced, and in a position for the rest of the group to watch them for guidance.  As we move through the 108 moves, our direction changes, and no matter which way you turn, there's someone to watch.  Traditionally, the person on the left front corner is the main leader.  That person must know the whole 108 moves by heart, and be focused enough not to lose their place.   Last year I chose to be the person on the right front or rear corner, and got pretty comfortable being watched in those positions.  This year, I'll take the left rear corner, and when I'm confident enough, I'll take the left front corner.  In order to gain confidence, I've decided to start my left front corner work with the beginner class that is held immediately after the class I now take.  It starts from the beginning this coming Monday, and will grow into the 108 moves over a three month period.  I think I'll be able to grow with it.  I also want to squeeze in a bit of practice at home during the week, both to improve and solidify the moves for my anticipated leadership position.  

The other activity I want to try to shoe-horn in is piano playing. 

 

 While still working, I said I was going to play every day once I retired.  Two years later, that still hasn't happened.  It is true that violin and fiddle playing have taken over the time I have available for music, but I'm hoping I can tweak something somewhere and have time for piano.

On-going activities for 2015 include enjoying the dogs & cat, Tai Chi, swimming, running, Pilates, hiking, biking, violin & fiddle playing, visiting far-away family & friends, lunching & activities with local friends, travel, reading, movies
..staying busy, in other words! 

The Kitty Pop Report

Since I'm not playing piano anyway, what better use than as a playground and sleeping place for a certain Kitty Pop?  She's taken it over as her own.
You'd be right if you said this cat has plenty of the dickens in her.

I open the blinds to large window and she gets to look out as much as she pleases.  I put her blanket on it, and she especially likes to snooze when the sun it shining in.

 It's a perfect height.  Well above the dogs, with whom she is not completely comfortable.  Just right to get the attention of any humans passing by who might give her a pat or maybe play toys with her.  She's got a very favorite scratch toy on the piano playground, and with that and the bit of shedding she's doing, the piano cover stays a MESS. 

Contrary to reports, Kitty Pop has not been amenable to being brushed.  I'm hoping that as she becomes more accustomed to us and her new home that will change.  Otherwise, this is her future:

Yep, the Lion Cut.  If I could show her this picture, it would surely shame her into letting me brush her.  What self-respecting cat wants to look like this?  

She is adjusting nicely.  She is familiar with our routines, and is especially cognizant of feeding times.  The weather has been warm, and she got pretty itchy to be outside.  Despite my intention to keep her inside for the winter, she's well experienced outside and I have no desire to participate in  the fight involved in keeping a cat in who wants to be out, so we've been letting her out.  She visited her old home once, and since then has readily stayed in the vicinity of her new home.  She's generous with lap time, sharing with both Ron and I.  Yep, she's a keeper.

The Movie Report

We enjoyed the movies we saw in January:

 

The Reading Report

I finished the Dangerous Book with bragging rights for self-control.

I enjoyed being with these familiar characters so much I've decided to re-read the whole series, doling them out in the same manner.  I'm thinking it will take me half the year to work through them again...ahhhh, bliss!  It's a lot of reading.

In fact, being a dork, I added up the total number of reading pages in these eight volumes:
  6,707! 

For Your Amusement

One day, a cat dies of natural causes and goes to heaven, where he meets the Lord Himself.
The Lord says to the cat, "You lived a good life, and if there is any way I can make your stay in heaven more comfortable, please let me know."
The cat thinks for a moment and says, "Lord, all my life I have lived with a poor family and had to sleep on a hard wooden floor."
The Lord stops the cat and says, "Say no more," and a wonderful, fluffy pillow appears.
A few days later, six mice are killed in a tragic farming accident, and all of them go to heaven.
Again, the Lord is there to greet them with the same offer.
The mice answer, "All our lives we have been chased.
We have had to run from cats, dogs, and even women with brooms.
Running, running, running; we're tired of running.
Do you think we could have roller skates so that we don't have to run anymore?"
The Lord says, "Say no more" and fits each mouse with beautiful new roller skates.
A week later, the Lord stops by to see the cat and finds him snoozing on the pillow.
The Lord gently wakes the cat and asks him, "How are things since you got here?"
The cat stretches and yawns, then replies, "It is wonderful here.
Better than I could have ever expected. And those 'Meals On Wheels' you've been sending by are the best!"