LIVING WITH INSOMNIA

Last night I awoke around 3:00, about a couple of hours after I'd finally gone to sleep. Wide awake, I got up, had a cup of hot chocolate, and got the short story ready to re-send to the editor of WOMAN'S WORLD. It is ready for Amy to take to the Post Office, if she ever gets here today. (She's facing some health problems with her father at this time. It's possible she won't get here today.)  I got back to bed around 5:00 and slept till after 9:00. 

When I lose sleep this way, it does not seem to make me feel less capable the day after, but if I toss and turn for hours, it takes its toll. So, if this pattern keeps up, perhaps I can write the great American short story. If there is such a thing.

Today begin the sessions of a new activity here, NEWS CURRENT. I expect to attend it in 30 minutes from now. Some will come, doubtlessly, thinking of local news. But that's not the idea. The Universe is to be our territory, and most likely Russia and Ukraine today. Thursday afternoon is not a time I would choose for this, for Thursday is usually my day out for shopping, etc. But the truth is, there is no ideal time to work something new into the schedule. Time to get ready for the session now.

WHAT'S BETWEEN THE EYES

For several days I've been noticing something on the telly that needed to be written about. Some of you may disagree with me, but many of you will recognize what I'm talking about has been around a long time and is firmly believed. It is about that space between your eyes. The width of that space means something. The age-old saying is that an extra narrow space between the eyes is a bad thing, even amounting to depravity. But before you look into a mirror, please hear me out. There are the narrow spaces and there are the pinched spaces, which are also narrow. These can mean different things. As I watch TV, I notice such characteristics on famous faces. And recently there has been a goodie. Before I tell you that one, let me say numerous of these famous faces have a small space between the eyes, but I hadn't noticed any pinched ones till lately.

What you must take into account is the whole face, whether it is square, long, oval, broad, or whatever. That space in question should rest comfortable so that one does not notice it. A long face might have a narrow space more likely than a broad face, etc. But if that space is pinched, not suiting the human face comfortably at all, beware! He or she may be a killer. Do not consider the age lines that cut deep in between the eyes as time goes by. The real pinched look has always been there. Take a look at Vladimir Putin's face if you want to see what I'm talking about. And he is a famous killer.

Years after I learned about the narrow space between the eyes meaning anything, I read about the extra wide space between the eyes! What a shock to find that means the same thing as the narrow spaces! So I've convinced myself this trait must not be so extreme. Many beautiful women have this attribute but the only one I can put a name to is Jackie Onassis. Her beauty was acclaimed, partly because of that feature. Now forget this about her and go back to the other name I gave you.

The next time you see Vladimir Putin's close-up on the telly, notice his pinched space and try to take in the idea that this killer has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize for 2014.

HARRY REID IN HOT WATER

If you have not kept up with the news lately, you might have missed this one item. Majority Leader of the U. S.Senate, Harry Reid, has called the people complaining about losing their insurance which deprives them of costly drug treatments--liars! He repeats the idea with other words in addition, such as making up the story "out of whole cloth." He proves he watches the wrong television channel to get the news. Perhaps NBC and other channels might fabricate such a story, and I can't see Harry Reid watching Fox News. His head has long been down in the sand. 

If you don't know the man I'm talking about, search for him in action in the Senate. How did he ever get elected leader? He is not a good public speaker and does not have the appearance as a speaker or leader of anything. His voice is weak and he holds his head generally in a way that says he is opposed to any other's opinion whatever it may be. He will likely be facing lawsuits over this humongous error. 

A BIG DISAPPOINTMENT AND A PLUS

The short story you've heard was in the process of creation was finished about a week or two ago. I had bought a small voice recorder and the plan was to record the story for a small group of readers here, without their knowing whose voice it was or who wrote the story. I might have given a prize to anyone who guessed correctly. Last night I tried recording it. Brand new recorder and brand new batteries. I couldn't believe what I heard: what sounded like a man's voice and in slow motion! I found nothing on the machine about speed control. I learned also it must have been picking up a sound every time I moved the screen higher, although I could not hear the sound myself. The next try will be from across the room. 

This story is fiction, of course, but as I wrote about a situation that is out of this world, I realized certain facets of this existence that might really be possible. That made the point of the story more profound as well as explaining questions in the dialogue. It is a situation that needs its own word, for our vocabulary is lacking one for this situation--I imagine. In time, perhaps this scientific or psychological discovery (not necessarily beneficial) will have real possibility and the word will already be there for it! So I probably shall let one of the characters, perhaps the main character, create the new word. It could go into dictionaries in time. This new word will relate to a subject that has to do with one or more of my most popular blogs with numerous readers. I think it will be of interest to many of you, as those blogs keep having pageviews.  

It just occurs to me that the classification for this story may be, in the long run, Scientific Fiction, without my intention. Perhaps it needs more thorough editing for that. The horizon is always climbing higher! 

WHAT GEORGE WASHINGTON SAID

March 1st, in this location, is overcast, a dreary look outside, and I believe a bit of wind blowing. If I looked down further, I might see the sidewalks are wet. So little rain here, but now California farm land is getting the rain. Good! I wonder what everyone thinks about the weather phenomena we've had in recent months and that we expect to continue into a very hot summer this year. Scientists have answers, of course (not Al Gore), but they are not giving God any credit or blame about weather, when He may be trying to get our attention. 

Some of our attention should focus on Putin and his aim for Ukraine. The Russian Parliament has approved his use of armed forces in Ukraine. Our president said something in reply, but will he be believed? His weakness has spread far and wide over the world. His plan to cut our military power down to pre-WWII size lets the world know he does not mean business with his threats. Why is this president doing everything in the opposite way it should be done? Are all those czars he put into good jobs as advisers coming up with these ideas and is his I.Q. not high enough to understand what they come up with? It must be that, that he has a low I.Q., right?

George Washington wrote that in order to plan for peace, we must be prepared for war. That's common sense. Who would attack us if we were armed to the hilt? As someone in the news said recently, in essence, it's far better to be fully prepared for battle and never need it, than to meet the enemy and not be prepared. ***

PIANO, NEWSLETTER, READING, AND A WITCH

March 1st, today, a new beginning in short time. Fortified with my yellow cup of hot chocolate with a hint of nutmeg, I'll bring my readers up to date on a few things. The baby grand piano is selected and the last I heard of it, our Executive Director was awaiting a call back on the price. I don't pester her about that, but I'm eager for it to materialize in our dining room. Because some miracles happen here after hours (quite a staff working here then), last night after 10:00, I took a walk and checked out the dining room. No piano yet.

Our first newsletter has come out. The E. D. had asked me to read her article in advance and "make corrections" if needed. As that is my delight sort of thing, I agreed. I kept waiting for it. Then yesterday, while I was sitting under the hair dryer in the salon, she came in, spoke to the hairdresser, and then saw me. She said she had been to my suite, looking for me. She held a paper in her hand, her article for me to read and she needed it in the next few minutes! And there I was, no good pen in my purse and without my magnifying glass! The manicurist loaned me a pen, the regular type that I shun, but I took it. The typing seemed to me about a font size 8 but I did the best I could. (It was probably actually 12.) The newsletter turned out fine. I found my copy in my mail-holder at my door (not mailbox). If my services are required next month, I hope to be ready with the better pen and with my magnifying glass.

Now for my reading, which has been spasmodic and quite brief because of other requirements. I lack only about 35 pages in THE GIRL WITH NO SHADOW. You'd finish it easily, but you would not be holding the heavy book in your left hand and a magnifying glass in your right, would you? The pages are not short, but are well-packed with words. And at the beginning of each chapter, I have to read a while before knowing who is talking. I believe this book, among several other descriptions, is a murder story. A particular murder hasn't happened yet, but there is the love of money. You recall, I assume, that the love of money is the root of all evil. I anticipate the "no shadow" girl will steal a life for the money she gains in the process. She admits to stealing other lives, even her own mother's. I don't recommend this book.

My hot chocolate is all gone. Do try it with nutmeg. It won't turn you into a witch. I'm having my lunch today in my suite so that I can get some work done. But before that I must finish breakfast. ***