Susan Senator

Yesterday was fantastic. I could tell that it warmish outside because the grass actually looks greener (literally on on the other side of the fence: my neighbors all have better lawns than we do). I packed my gym bag but I thought, maybe, maybe… and sure enough my car thermometer read 42 degrees. If I put up my hoodie hood and pulled the sleeves over my hands…? The Reservoir looked beautiful in that winter ghostly way, with a white surface, empty of birds. I parked in my usual spot and took a three mile run. The air did not hurt going in, and by the third mile I could undo my hood. There was almost no one there, an added bonus (no distractions). I felt powerful and healthy.

I spent a lot of the day right here, diningroom table, finishing my Dirt manuscript. Well, I guess it is done, at least this round of editing. Every time I open it to a random place and read it, I like what I see and I don’t feel the need to change anything, so that tells me I am done. 80,000 words, 279 pages. And no, (dear Matt), it is nothing like Danielle Steele, it is more Sue Miller meets Mark Haddon meets Curtis Sittenfeld meets Nick Hornby. Meet Susan Senator. This book, I promise you, is worth reading. I have read and reread it countless times and I’m still not bored of it, and I’m a tough crowd to please, believe me.

Nat had a swim with his buddy, which went fairly well (the Brookline pool is always too cold) and then they walked to Starbucks. Max was at his friend’s house learning D & D. Ben spent hours writing a script and designing characters to a game he is making. All three boys = happy.

So I was free to do more stuff. I bought coffee downtown and a new bok, the new Sue Miller as a matter of fact. I got home and all was well, so I worked on my lesson plan for the Care for the Caregiver workshop. I did this into the evening, making three pages of bellydance instruction and accompanying songs.

We went out to dinner, all five of us, at Zaftig’s, which works best en famille, because of the huge menu, breakfast all day long, and excellent wait staff. Only one meltdown, this time it was Ben, over where he would get to sit.

Max helped me burn the music for my class CD and I printed out a lovely jewel case cover listing the songs. I have over an hour’s worth of appropriate music for the class. I also organized all my hipscarves and veils (I have about 14 each) and realized my new silver zills are truly lost. 🙁 Ned said he’d get me a new set.

By the time everyone was in bed and Ned and I had time to ourselves, all I could do was lie down against his chest while he watched Dave Letterman on the Tivo. I tried to stay awake but I was so comfortable that I fell asleep, and slept until it was time to go to bed!

Nat’s basketball tournament is today!