24 Hours and counting

Day One: I wake up and look at the clock and think "Oh, good. Just in time to watch "Charmed." Then I remember - no TV. No problem. I turn on the radio to the classical music station I found last night and carry on. Sounds good, huh? No problem, huh?

Well, if I'd sat down to write this an hour ago it would have been a much different post. Just in the last hour, starting at about 8:30 p.m. I started to hit withdrawal. Not so much for the TV, although it is my favorite TV night, but even to curl up with a book. I don't know what to do with myself.

Here's one thing I learned. I don't have to wear my glasses at night if I stay home because I only need them in the house to watch TV.

Here's what I did today. I actually got a lot done without the TV to distract me. I paid bills this morning. Then I went to do some errands. I finally mailed the baby gifts to two friends who are due any day now. I literally have had these sitting in my apartment for almost the entire gestation period.

I took myself to lunch at the Farmer's Market. Red beans and rice, yummy. On the way in, I checked in my bag to make sure I had my notebook since I usually read when I eat alone and I knew I couldn't do that (even though last week's "New York Magazine" was in the car). I did and I felt relieved. Then I thought, "Maybe I won't write in my notebook. Maybe I"ll just observe." So I did. On the way out, I passed a newsstand and saw the cover of Life magazine. It was about this being the 25th anniversary of John Lennon's death. I stopped to thumb through but just as my hand reached for the magazine I remembered - "No, you can't" I said and by the expression on the faces of those nearby I think I said it aloud.

Then I ordered a birthday cake for Lucy from the doggie bakery. She will be 5 tomorrow. Happy Birthday Lucy Belle!

Next I went to Bed, Bath and Beyond to buy something I've been putting off for years - a magnifying mirror. I was in denial that I needed one until I stayed at my friend Mary's, who has the mac daddy of magnifying mirrors, and I saw hairs on my chinny chin chin that were longer than some on my head. YIKES!!!! So I bought one.

Then I went to the art supply store. Something I've been threatening to do for like 3 months. And I didn't go to no Michael's, a crafty store. I went to a real art supply store, for real artists. And here's the synchronicity of the day - they had stretched, primed canvases on sale for practically nothing. I bought some. And I bought some paint and some brushes. I've never painted in my life but recently have had a hankering too. So I will.

I took a stab and got a little bit down on canvas. I'm not sure if I like it. It's not what I was thinking of doing, it kinda morphed into something else but hey, it's a start! And tomorrow when I look at it, it might morph into something else. Who knows.

So that brought me to about 8:30 p.m. What to do now.

I plucked the hairs from my chinny chin chin. I started to boil water for pasta, then decided I didn't want pasta so I made a bagel. That is after looking in the refrigerator a million times. Then I sat down to write this post. I'm almost finished. It's only 9:30.

What will I do now?