There is a bar on my stove that is supposed to hold kitchen towels. They don’t stay on the bar but drop to the floor no matter how carefully I drape them over. I am being persecuted by kitchen towels.

The dishwasher drawers sit on rollers, some of which have dropped off. The lower dish drawer cannot be pushed in without lifting and readjusting to be on track. I know that it is a minor inconvenience compared to doing dishes by hand.

Brunswick could not be found today and I searched high and low. It always worries me when I cannot find him or any of my cats. I checked the garage and he was not sitting in his usual place. Finally I checked again and adjusted my eyes and found him sandwiched between other junk instead of on the mat on the treadmill, his usual hangout. He was practically invisible and why the Hell was he there? So I picked my way over things and got him. He hugged me, both paws around my neck, and bumped my face with his wet little nose. How could I scold him?

I have been very tired lately and think I might have Type II diabetes. Ed has a kit and tested me after eating this morning and my read was 150. That is high, he said. I’ll have to get a diagnosis. My mom had late onset diabetes and, finally, it was her undoing because if she felt okay, she didn’t take her insulin and so she had a heart attack, etc., etc. While in the hospital, she pulled out her life support tubes and that was the end. She was 92.

I have cobalt blue earrings, a round stone in a silver setting. They’re just glass but they capture everyone’s attention. So far there are three on my inheritance list. Nadine gets them first and when she goes, the instructions are to give them to Sue, and then Tonya, at the library, asked to be number three, first checking to make sure the other two were older than she was.

I was walking into Publix the other day with shoelaces on my sneakers dangling and stopped to tie them. Ed and I had gone to my massage therapist, so, knowing I’d just have to take them off again, I hadn’t tied my shoes. (Remember, I said I hate process.) But there was a misunderstanding. My therapist was not home, I had the date wrong I guess. So I got back in the car and we went to pick up groceries.

A fellow waiting outside under the overhang had two great looking dogs with him. I said, “Is this the doggie club?” And he said, as I walked by and into the store, “Oh, yeah. (Pause) HEY, you want to join?” I gave him an appreciative laugh and went in.

I played for Cathy on Tuesday when she came over for a swim and a light lunch. Her boyfriend is also a pianist and she wants us to get together and play for each other. I have no qualms but I think it’s tricky when pianists who do not know each other get together. There is always a rivalry. As for me, I studied for 40 years with a major pedagogue and do not feel I will come off badly. I have Sophie’s photo on my music stand. I’ll sail through several Chopin etudes, look at the photo, and say, “Thank you, Sophie.”

I have an old gauzy type long skirt with a flowered pattern and decided that the next time Ed and I have a social engagement, that I might wear it. I took it to Sue, the seamstress, and she redid the wasteband because the elastic had gone. I left and went to Cathy’s boutique and bought a top to complement it. Now I have an outfit. I have put tape on the running board of the Isuzu, covering the tar that dripped down from the interior of the door. I hope now that I can stop the slow attrition of my entire pants wardrobe that have tar smears on the legs from me getting in and out. The seat is kind of high and it is tricky not to touch the running board when I get in. Ed said he can get rid of the tar by using denatured alcohol. He gave me the bottle. I read the instructions. I said if I use this, I will die. I am trying to get him to do it for me. The instructions are chilling.

Xx, Teal