Friday

9:03am                             Writing Practice                                69°  Boise


Not as cool out this morning as it was yesterday but still nice. I've been planning my new back yard after the deck is removed and I have the idea that the space will look much bigger. I'll repurpose all my flagstones and create a patio and then refresh the pebbles. I have access to drip water in two odd places after the deck is gone but I can use those to water pots of flowers in summer and maybe do rock groupings for winter. It will change the whole atmosphere out here, that's for sure. Maybe I can also hang white Christmas lights on the fence and in the trees. I have a feeling that this area will be much more user friendly and easier to keep up. At least it won't have to be painted and it won't rot. That's something.

The day at the zoo was really cool yesterday. Ray loved being there and I got some great photos --- except the one photo I really wish I had was the little penguin that seemed to like Ray so much. He kept coming by, dashing by his hand and shoulder by the glass. I'm going to make a picture book for Ray with the photos I took and tell the stories. Maybe I'll write it more universally for kids with special needs in mind, to let them know that they can enjoy the zoo even with "broken eyes". Wow, I wonder what that kind of picture book that would be? What would I say to someone who asked why their eyes are broken? Or their ears? Or their bodies? No one is perfect, everyone on Earth has challenges that seem not fair and yet, it's those very challenges that make each one of us unique. The challenges bring out aspects of our personalities that we might never know about without the challenge. I could have Ray ask each of the animals why his eyes are broken and have each animal answer. But then I would have to research what to say. This is a good idea but not one that I'm ready for right now.

Well, I've downloaded my photos and shared a few on FB. I still have photos from the zip line to share. Dang. I haven't been into photography at all this summer. I had a session with a couple last month and they didn't want any prints and even though they thanked me, I still feel like they didn't like their pictures. I'm going to stop doing them for free, those sessions. I'll do a friends rate session for $50 and then prints or a CD. I think people don't really appreciate something they get for free. I certainly don't enjoy it! Anne did use a couple of the shots on her FB page but not one mention was made of payment of any kind. I've got to stop doing that!

Also, my big printer is worn out and I need a new one. $300! Do I want another big printer like that? Have I used it enough to warrant buying a new one? The old one lasted for 3 years and I used it plenty. But my little HP is 16 years old and still working. Should I just get a new smaller Epson, one that I can travel with and still make cards with but no bigger prints. I've made so few bigger prints, I question whether it would be worth the money to buy and replace that big one.

Plus, on impulse I bought a new car stereo yesterday to the tune of $208. It's all installed and all I have to do is learn to use it. It's got a CD player and Bluetooth and all the bells and whistles. Then I came home last night and washed the car and shined it us all pretty. It seems that I'm going to keep it a few more years and even if I don't, I can switch out the new system with the old one and I'm good to go again. That made me feel better when I thought of spending that much money on such an old car. Of course, it will cost $50 to swap them out but what the hell. If I buy a used car I'll have a new stereo to put in it for only $50. Hey, that's another $100 when it's all said and done. Unless I have both cars there at the same time, which would be a hassle. Oh well, I shant worry about it right now.

It's shaping up to be another purely gorgeous day and I have no plans until this afternoon. Oh, but I do have to wash my hair and I was going to vacuum my car and begin the detail process to get it all beautiful again. Now that I'm going to keep it, I may as well get her pretty. I may even buy new floor mats and look at seat covers.

Also, I need a new horn! While driving down Overland toward the studio last week, a black guy on a bicycle wandered out to cross against the light and the car in the lane next to me didn't slow down. I was just sure that guy was a goner and I yelled and wished for a horn REALLY BAD! It's really not safe to drive without one, I can see that now. I watched a squirrel get hit a few months ago and I didn't have a horn to honk at him. He ran halfway into the street, sat there looking agitated and upset, slashing his tail around and if I had had a horn, I could have honked at him and maybe he would have run back the way he came. But as it was, I was helpless as I watched him dash on and under the wheels of a car and BAM, he was dead. It happened very fast but it upset me so bad, I can still see it all in my mind's eye. Yes, I need a horn.

I hope I can afford all the things that are cropping up for me lately. Hard to save money when I'm spending it so fast. Sure is fun, though.