Early start today... :)

I do need to look back and see if there is a pattern - day of week, day leading up to activities - to my early mornings.  But when I wake up, I wake up.  No "let me try to get back to sleep".  Oh well.  On with the day and I have a lot of it to work with.  :)

Also woke up to a full inbox so I addressed some with my "schedule send" approach so people do not know when I am really writing it.  Others I will revisit later when I decide what I want to do with the information shared.  

So yesterday - ran dishwasher, walked, stopped by library at tail end of walk to pick up - A Long Winter/Toibin, Careless People/Wynn-Williams, and Crying in H Mart/Zauner.  Stopped by the house of one of the swimming ladies.  Had not seen her since pool closed and her "kids" (in their 50's) and their spouses are coming up this weekend so I wanted to check in to see if she needed anything done before they got there.  No work, but she did ask if I would put on my September list of things to do - set her up with the Shoprite online account so she could do the coupons.  She got listening to me and the other swimming lady talking about it and wants in.  :)  The two of them do not need them, but it is something.  And she wants to redo her medical directives and she wanted me to be a sounding board as she did that.  I sent her mine and some other resources yesterday post our visit and we will circle back later in the month.  She is 86...husband died in 2011 and kids live in different states. But she seems to have a good relationship with her doctor. Did come home with a bag of tomatoes picked on Monday at one of her friend's homes!  6 p.m. found me "at" the MEA discussion about the Golden Girls housing option they now have outside Santa Fe NM presented by the MEA leader and 3 women who tried it out for a month.  Mr. Conley is promoting his programs and his housing options.  He is a good salesperson to say the least.  Aging - with privilege - can be a very attractive proposition.  :)

Today - will see if family friend wants to walk this a.m.  She just got back from Chicago yesterday.  We will see.  So clean apt, walk, EOLD - It's Wise to Know Your Whys with Kathi Waters.  Nothing else on my paper calendar.  Good back and forth with Michigan Death Care Collaborative.  MI and CA seem to be my go-tos for lots of my thoughts.  

Cosmic activity in the most sensitive area of your chart inclines you to worry about issues that are not worth the effort. You may need to remind yourself today that some things can look darker and more menacing than they actually are.

Take an honest look at who your real friends are, dear Libra. The Taurus Moon aspects Jupiter, Mars, and Mercury this morning, highlighting how the people around you impact your psyche. Be mindful of who is overly demanding, negative, or difficult to level with. While it may not be necessary to cut ties, a desire for genuine intimacy will inspire you to keep a tighter circle. You're in a transitional period as Virgo season brings forth endings. Use this energy to determine who you wish to become and who you want by your side once the dust has settled.

A trip by air may be in your future, Libra. You may be planning to tour distant states or foreign lands when that’s possible. You could be going with friends or a group you're associated with. Unusual new interests could capture your attention, enticing you to further study. You might enroll in an online workshop. You're looking toward expanding your horizons. Take care not to spread yourself too thin.

Will try and keep my mind out of the menacing arena.  Don't think I could get a tighter circle than I currently have.  No travel plans, no worry about spreading myself too thin.  "Tight" and "thin" are where I live as we speak.  :)  Have a good Wednesday.  

Lots of shiny objects in my inbox this a.m. :)

Thought I better get my journaling done first.  :)  Sept 1 - completely full dream night with lots of people coming to mind overnight and full inbox this a.m.  Sept is off with a kick.  

In my inbox, an application to talk to the woman behind "The In-Between Years" podcast.  Will see if she finds my story interesting.  NC friends in a CCRC sent out their blog.  I will be commenting after I finish this.  Former school #1 co worker wrote back after I sent him a "happy back to school" - he put his planned retirement off until this time next year.  Note back from ED of FEN.  I shared with her yesterday after her TGDS blog post - Was smiling when I got to the end and had to say to myself (my favorite person to converse with 😎) - "Who the leader is not everything, but it certainly can be a HUGE thing." Thank you for your year at the helm!  🎉  Onward and upward.  

So yesterday - did load of wash, headed out at 10-ish for walk (my new launch time now that swimming is over), dropped The Correspondent off at library, Shoprite for a $21.38 spent/$23.00 "saved"/17 items day (two more items I will not have to buy for awhile because of sales),  ALDI $19.85/5 items day.  Got the "compare to TIDE PODS"...hope I do not regret it, 47 tabs so I hope I like it.  I am stuck with them for almost a year with my one load a week routine.  And I told myself I would not buy nectarines again...but I could not resist with the sale.  :)  I ran into my landlady at Shoprite and she said I am quite a site with my little notebook (the one sister #6 brought home for me from the Berkshire-Hathaway stockholders annual meeting) prompting me for the sales I was there to find. She did try to talk me into the "natural" laundry sheets for washing clothes...not this year.  But they have a very nice looking web site if I ever change my mind.  Much better pricing than at Shoprite.  

Today - run dishwasher, walk, stop by library to stock up bedside table (getting hooked on Eggers' book).  6 p.m. - Live Event - Golden Girls Interview with Chip - Chip Conley talks to the 3 "Golden Girls" - Whether it's a Golden Girls–style shared rental home (a new category that is often called "Boommate Homes" and what MEA calls "SageHouses" and "ChrysalisHouses")  - A SageHouse has been created for long-term stability of a collection of women (and, sometimes, men) who want to live together for an extended period of time. Many women have been talking with their college friends about this for decades and MEA’s active alumni community, regional chapters, and Golden Girls workshops create a magnet for women to find their future housemates.  Nothing else on my paper calendar.  

Mercury in the most sensitive area of your chart will make you a bit touchy today, and with Mars in the picture as well you could say things you later wish you had not. Think before you speak and, if possible, say only nice things.

Prioritize healing as the Taurus Moon aspects Chiron and Pluto, darling Libra, even if doing so means severing ties. Relationships that have grown increasingly toxic are unlikely to improve without some distance. Romantic connections may also land on the chopping block while Mars and Saturn square off. Remember that love is supposed to be elevating, and shouldn't get in the way of your hopes and dreams. If you're hoping to salvage a dynamic that's become complicated, try setting new boundaries to see if the situation changes. Reflect on where you need to evolve once the Sun and Luna align this evening.

Money is probably on your mind now, Libra. A desire for increased financial security could force you to look for work or investments that would pay off big. Opportunities for one or both of these are likely to come through friends, perhaps someone with whom you've worked before. You're likely to accomplish what you want for now, but it's uncertain whether you'll continue on this path in the future.

Healing has been a big part of this segment of my life.  Rabbit, rabbit, rabbit.  Evolution. Keep a good thought for all that this first day of September has on the horizon.  :)  Have a good Tuesday.  

No distractions this a.m.

In the no distractions mode, I picked one of my "calm" pictures.  I shut down early yesterday, but no emails to welcome me this a.m. except the ALDI Wednesday sale items preview.  :)  I am focused on this week's Shoprite (started yesterday) and last week's ALDI (started last Wednesday) in setting my list.  I did see I have 6 Tide pods left...will look at the pricing for that today at Shoprite and the "Compare to Tide" at ALDI.  :)  But no urgency.  6 = 6 weeks at my one load of clothes a week pace.  

Talked to son on Saturday and nice back and forth with email yesterday.  He has a lots of things going on - working on doing some work at a buddy's warehouse building getting it cleaned up, not sure for what; helping out at friends pizza place on weekends.  They sell out on the weekends so it is pretty controllable as to time commitment.  He is doing some "school work" with Per Scholas that will ramp up after Thanksgiving. Told him I need a bumper sticker to add to my Flagler bumper sticker.  One of his bosses from back in the day in NYC reached out to him.  He is doing a new release on a drink and wanted son's input on their launch.  In a time when many worry about "what if", son is good at "let's try" or "why not". Always good for a mother to hear no matter at what age offspring are.  

My yesterday - finished The Correspondent.  Couldn't stop until I was done yesterday morning so after writing, word work, eating meal #1 - curled up with it and finished it.  10 a.m. take off for my walk to Unionville.  NOW I know how I filled time pre swim season - reading more.  Sister #1 sibling call when I was on the trail.  She and her gentleman caller moving from NYS to PA after a week with sister #3.  Her wife returned from Cape to take back over the recuperation from sister #3's fall and subsequent surgery.  Sister #1 and gentleman caller will do some repacking and head to Cape Cod on Sept 8 for their month in North Truro.  My HUGE plan for travel is Sept 10 to sister #4's house, then with her to niece #4's white coat ceremony at YNH hospital on Friday, then back to sister #4's to hang at her house until she heads to Cape to meet up with sister #1.  My second - and last for the season - swim in her pool.  She will have her pool boy close it down on Oct 1.  

Post walk yesterday - great Death Sangha.  The 3 person breakout room I found myself in was incredible.  Wonderful people with conversation that made me laugh...and cry.  So happy that this Sangha lasts through December on selected Sundays and Tuesdays.  

Today - load of clothes washing, walk, Shoprite/ALDI.  $2 for 10 ears of corn has me stopping by Shoprite and to do my red grapes and Tide pods price comparisons.  Nothing on my paper calendar.  Will drop off book at the library on front end of my walk.  Might stop before I head to grocery shopping and do some restocking of books for my bedside table.  Moved on to Heroes of the Frontier/Dave Eggers.  Along with Nínive Calegari, Eggers is the co-founder of 826 National, a network of youth writing and tutoring centers around the United States. The whole thing started with 826 Valencia, their original center in the Mission District of San Francisco. Since then, over seventy other organizations, from Louisville to Toowoomba, Australia, operate with inspiration from the 826 Valencia model. I was trying to figure out why his name was familiar and I realized I had seen a podcast or TV spot about his 826 National project and the original SF location.  AND if I am remembering correctly, he has stuck to a flip phone approach to life...wonder if that is still true or my memory is correct.  :)

Also, I know I should not care, but I did like watching the last few minutes of the PGA event with Scottie winning.  AND he just turned 30 in June...

Also, just checked TGDS blog.  Like the ED's piece that runs today.  

I continue to be a poster girl for hay fever - runny eyes, itchy nose...oh well.  Why I always looked "so cute" the first week of school back in the day.  New England brings out the best of me in the fall.  :)

You have been held back in a number of areas in recent weeks, but the next few days will see you making progress at such a rate that you will make up for the ground you have lost, even more so if you join forces with like-minded colleagues.

You’re susceptible to charmers and smooth talkers, dear Libra, as the Moon moves through Aries and your solar seventh house. A desire for romance, passion, and connection puts you in flirtatious spirits, but don’t invest too heavily in people you’ve just met. A harsh opposition between Luna and Venus could lead you toward inharmonious matches that seem promising on the surface. If you’re hoping to find a genuine love match, you’ll need to focus on elevating yourself first. If anyone takes up too much of the spotlight and doesn’t give you a chance to shine, run in the opposite direction. Work on cultivating friendships and building your reputation when Jupiter and Saturn align later today.

People may see you as the personification of drama, especially this morning, Libra. This is a good time to express your emotions and get things out of your system. Be sure to release whatever pent-up emotion you have inside. By afternoon, it might be a good idea to settle down and lay low. Turn your energy inward, come to your center, and plan what needs to get done.

No worry for me to be swept away.  I don't think I will meet any charmers at Shoprite or ALDI.  :)  Have a good Monday - last day of August 2026...time flies.  

Football distracted me this a.m. :)

Checked UNC and Post...odd combo but for good reasons.  Good news/bad news on results.  :)  

Yesterday - I am moving through The Correspondent.  Very interested to see how it ends.  Unique format, but I got hooked.  Spoke to son - he has lots of plates spinning as we speak.  Walked to Shoppes - ran into a family friend from back in the day.  His father was our town's doctor from 50's-90's.  Fun talking to him as we caused quite a traffic jam in the Shoppes' parking lot.  :)  Dropped off The Four Winds at library book drop.  I will have to restock on Monday.  Paid my car/apt insurance.  Lazy again - did not change coverage...  Did not feel poor enough and am just so lazy about that stuff.  Vendors become very sticky for me.  Did do my end of August financial report.  I am fortunate that my complacency had not caused me real harm.  Has caused real unrealized gains if I had been more proactive, but it is what it is as we speak.  When lost years become lost decades...my "stuck-ness" saddens me at times, but obviously not enough times.  Oh well.  

Landlady delivered on corn chowder so I had half of that with the second stuffed pepper from yesterday.  Nice change of pace for my "menus".  Another "stuck-ness" category.  

Worked through grocery list this a.m. as I checked Shoprite deals and "clipping" all the online coupons for Shoprite and Stop & Shop - might be a combo platter, Shoprite and ALDI this week based on sales.  Staying ahead of things for Stop & Shop as sister #1 will be using my number for their Cape month starting next week.  

Today - walk to Unionville, 1 p.m. Death Sangha.  

Venus in your sign makes you eager to get along with people, but don’t do things for others that they should be doing for themselves. There is no reason why you should carry their load as well as your own, and you must let them know that.

 A dreamlike energy infuses your interactions with sweetness, dear Libra. Evolve relationships that matter most and indulge your explorative side while the Aries Moon aspects Pluto, Neptune, and Uranus. Keep an open mind when it comes to developing platonic or romantic connections. Shedding your own ego will allow you to find common ground in unexpected places. You'll feel enthusiastic where love is concerned once Mars activates this evening, but don't rush through the honeymoon period. The universe gently reminds you that boundaries and longevity work as a team within matters of the heart as Luna aligns with Jupiter and Saturn.

 It isn't exactly all lightness and harmony at home today, Libra. There's tension in the air and it manifests in silly family arguments. Try to arrange separate activities for siblings, and encourage your partner to eat out with friends, if possible. This is a day to give everyone his or her space. Tomorrow everyone will be happy to eat together again.

I am all about giving people space.  :)  Another "stuck-ness" category.  Solitude to the point of distraction.  Oh well.  Will see if I see an opp to be unstuck about something today.  Have a good Sunday.  

Last Saturday in Aug 2026...time flies.

Finished The Four Winds this a.m.  Will drop off at library on front end of my walk today.  :)  Will move to The Correspondent today.  Listening to All-In as we speak.

Yesterday - writing, reading, walking.  Did talk to TX/NM friend.  They are deep in to real estate buy and sells.  They are so outside of where I operate.  Soon to be owner of 3 homes, married for 40+ years, money at a level where no worries.  What a world.  Landlady gifted me with stuffed peppers, corn chowder due today.  :)  Reached out to sister #1 who is using my number to get discounts at Shoprite as she is at sister #3's near a Shoprite.  I asked her to stay away from the 10 for $2 ears of corn and the red grapes sale/coupon.  "Limit 1" offers and I will be taking advantage of those.  Rest of my shopping will be at ALDI on Monday.  Sister #6 called.  Checking in.  She is back to school.  One more year is her thought as of now.

Listened to another great talk by Thaddeus Pope.  What a gift.  

Today - nothing on my paper calendar.  I will do my monthly report.  Won't be exact "month end" but directionally correct.  Walk - drop book at library, wander the Shoppes.  

You may think you have to watch what you say and do because important people have their eye on you, and to an extent that is true, but don’t let it stop you completely. If fear holds you back, the biggest loser will be you.

If you're feeling fried, it might be time for a digital cleanse, dearest Libra. The Pisces Moon and Venus form an unbalanced aspect early this morning, highlighting how the modern world can be desensitizing. Pulling back from screens can help you rediscover vibrancy in your surroundings and reignite the senses. Focus on wellness practices, catching up on your to-do lists, and releasing stress to make the most of these vibes. Health goals will feel like more of a priority, but don't pressure yourself to embark upon dramatic lifestyle changes on a whim. You'll perk up and desire connection once Luna enters Aries tonight.

You may be focused on a certain trajectory, Libra, but today you could run into complications based on overlooked issues. Be aware of the people around you and how your actions affect them. You don't necessarily need to change your direction, but you might need to make a couple modifications along the way in order to keep everyone happy.

Will see where my sharing/cleansing/modifications land.  Keep a good thought.  :)  Have a good Saturday.  
 

SOOO distracted by shiny objects this a.m. :)

I shut it down early yesterday.  Post massage sometimes I just like to let it all rest and enjoy where the massage lady can leave my body and mind after an hour or her "work".  Talk about having a gift.  So I woke up to an email in box with action items and a voicemail from TX/NM friend.  I moved first on the email from the FEN ED who wanted review by our blog team for her blog post for this upcoming week.  Good article but you know I had a comment or two but only 2 proof-reading items.  :)  Will get back to rest after this.  

Yesterday - Writing, reading, walking, picked up The Correspondent on my walk past library, dropped off Box on way to massage, massage.  Today nothing on my paper calendar.  OOPS!  Just distracted myself again writing to my niece about first day of school for her 6 yr old son.  Back to yesterday.  Post massage - kept myself in quiet and called it a day even earlier than I normally do.  :)

Today - Writing, reading, walking.  TX/NM friend said she would try again to call.  I will hope that she does.  Her life is beyond busy so I hate adding to her juggle but I am who I am and my "open for business" hours do not jive with most.  :) 

With the Sun and Mercury moving through the most secretive area of your chart you would prefer to keep a low profile, but that won’t be possible today. If you have a part to play in what’s going on it’s your duty to play it well.

Your imagination will be highly active as the Virgo Sun and Mercury square Uranus. Embrace creativity as it arises, but don't lose track of your to-do list. Though you'll be tempted to slip into weekend mode early, unfinished business will catch up with you at inconvenient times. A sweet connection between the Pisces Moon and Mars can increase your visibility around the office, and it's important to maintain an image of professionalism and efficiency. If you need help staying on task, buddy with your favorite colleagues to showcase leadership skills while making the day go by faster.

You're feeling pretty strong now, Libra. You're probably in fairly good health and your mind is sharp. You've outgrown some areas of your life that no longer seem what they once were. One of these could be your work. You could be considering leaving a job you took primarily for the money and going into a profession you really love. Do it if it works for you.

VERY interesting cosmic guidance for today.  I will address my "calls to action" with vim and vigor!  As to any "money play", I have never been a good player...oh well, it's me and my SS dollars.  I make it work.  Have a great Friday!  

Post swim season is settling in - and I have no complaints. Shocking! :)

I keep pausing at this picture as I scroll to see what I want to use in the a.m.  - "Be patient with yourself. Shouting at a flower won't make it bloom."  And this is the quote that spoke to me this a.m.  I need to be quiet and patient with myself this a.m.

Yesterday - cleaned apt, walked with family friend,  EOLD - Ketamine and End-of-Life Anxiety with Catherine Durkin Robinson.  GA DC where a member shared she is off to Switzerland mid Sept.  Gave us all pause in an "in awe and in celebration" type of way.  As to the Ketamine discussion - for me, it is a "medicine" not a "plant medicine", so doesn't feel right to one who has never had a prescription drug in her adult life but Catherine did a great job with her presentation. Did share Death Sangha with the ZEN DC facilitator.  She said she might try and drop in.  

Got my driver's license renewal.  I will take another 2 year renewal.  

My annual "hay fever" is upon me.  Always made the first days of school challenging as I sneezed and sniffled through opening days.  :)  I always blamed that for my never making the socially attractive A Team in school...easier to blame hay fever than my persnickety-ness, just general isolationism.  :)  Guess two more quotes might fit into this part of my thinking this a.m. - "Always remember you matter, you're important and you are loved, and you bring to this world things no one else can." "One day you’ll look back and realize how hard it was, and just how well you did."  :)  Good day for massage day!

Today - woke up to an email from TX/NM friend.  She has just arrived back in TX.  Her nuclear family will be gathering in TX for the kids to say good bye to the TX house.  Son announced that he and wife are pregnant again.  Daughter...not yet.  Friend is closing on new NM house on Sept 8.  LOTS going on in her family's lives.  Ahead for me in my non-eventful life, walk, stop by library and drop off CJ Box and pick up The Correspondent which is being held for me.  Perfect timing even though I did start reading The Four Winds last night.  Massage at 1 p.m.  Nothing else on my paper calendar until Death Sangha on Sunday.  

It is of the utmost importance that you read the small print carefully today, even if you think you know what you are signing up to. A temporary blind spot in your ability to notice errors could lead to a major loss further down the line.

The Virgo Moon and Mercury join forces to illuminate new pathways of your psyche, dearest Libra. Touch base with your deepest thoughts, feelings, and wishes to uncover what the soul genuinely desires. Reroute your internal dialogue to support your hopes and yourself better. You'll feel somewhat restless and in need of a project under tonight's Pisces Lunar Eclipse, which squares revolutionary Uranus. These vibes are perfect for experimenting with hobbies or artistic outlets. Wherever the evening takes you, allow your imagination plenty of freedom to explore and discover. If you choose to set intentions or wish upon a star, offer to break a bad habit in return for the universe's aid.

Any work today could require a higher level of concentration than you can muster, Libra. You might lapse into daydreams, think about personal matters, and feel guilty because you aren't doing what you're supposed to be doing. On days like this it's best to focus on routine tasks you can do automatically. That way, your mind can wander. That's the only way you'll make it through today.

No problem with me and letting my mind wander...  :)  Have a good Thursday.