on the 24th.  It will still be a work in progress at that time, and I will consider all ideas anyone comes up with.

Right now, I've had other things to worry about.  

For whatever amusement value this provides, my voice teacher knows Julia Cameron - had her as a student for 8 or nine months a fair number of years back at this point.  I told her about The Writing Diet - at some point I may ask her what she thinks of it.  

All things considered, I don't think it would work for me - but that is my own psychological twists coming into play.

I'll look forward to reading yours. Often mine has been: Get up. Stay alive. Go to bed. Rinse, lather, repeat--I hope.

I think of this space as a place to encourage each other on whatever paths we've chosen. Ain't no way one size fits all. Everything Julia has written works for me--but I've spent a lot of time  in Catholic schools, 12-Step groups, and the Unity Church--just like her.

And what a small world. Julia's still taking music lessons, though she talks more about her piano lessons these days. When she was first teaching Artist's Way, she'd deprecate her voice: "I'm a bad alto, the musical dunce of the Camerons." After a musical exercise (being a bad alto didn't stop her from singing), one of her students, an opera singer, took her aside and said, "Your problem is that you're a soprano trying to be an alto." Julia was properly gobsmacked. She has since composed three musicals and many songs.

Thanks for coming by, loggersbrat. It was feeling kind of lonely.

I've been reminded again this weekend just how much I prefer movement that accomplishes something to exercise for its own sake. I worked up a sweat in the yard both yesterday and today, and crawling into my fridge to scrub out its bottom shelf was exercise too.

On the other hand, movement that feels like dance also had its points. I've been to two NIA classes so far, and enjoyed them. Both times, there have been a few moments during the hour when I started to wonder if I was really going to be able to keep going, but both times I just moderated what I was doing a bit and was able to keep on with no trouble.

I really enjoyed the choreographed element of the actual dance class I took, though, so I really may try to take that this summer.

In the meantime, I'm going to try to make the most of the next few months, when it's neither too cold nor too hot to work outside. Heaven knows my yard can use the help. Last year, I put off any yard work until after classes were over: Big Mistake - by the time classes were over, a) things were overgrowing already, and b) it got too hot just a few weeks later.

On the food front: well, I didn't finish my chocolate brownie today because I was full and it wasn't that good. That's unusual. I'm also contemplating Lent and considering what kinds of food-related fasting I will be doing. I'm trying to think about it in terms of intentional ascetism, rather than deprivation, and definitely trying to stay away from extremes.

but I'm not going to worry about it, just track it.

I'm finding that everything's connected; I eat better when everything's tidy and organized, and since walking a lot is kind of hard to do at this season, I'm just focusing on making things happen w/r/t organizing and picking up, and of course cleaning out cabinets and closets is large body movement. And up and down stairs to put things in the basement is movement. So activity is happening on a consistent basis, it's just not something organized.

Spring is coming, and with it better weather for being outside in. Til then, I'll keep up on my stretches and work on my portion control.

I'm a gourmange (pig), but not really. I've had a very close relationship with my body (I know this sounds absurd, but, after-all, I am living in America where a lot of people don't) and physical fitness though it's largely been a subconscious awareness, or sub-awareness I guess you'd say. A few years back I was quite the hunk, sailing and fishing for lobster in the Spring, fall, and Summer, and building houses in the winter. Lots of exercise in all that which kept me fit. I've also always had a refined taste for good foods, though not necessarily non-fattening (one of the reasons I moved to Maine to fish lobster).

But a couple of years back I was in a bad accident; in the hospital for six weeks and in rehab for three months learning to walk again.

I'm doing pretty good, really. This summer I went off into the Three Sisters Wilderness for 10 days and hiked 15 miles on day one. Still I have problems with dizziness and can't really work out anymore. Heck, bending over to tie my shoes can set the room to spinning.

Anyway, I thought I'd check you folks out on this diary to see if I could pick up on a few pointers. Honestly I don't know what you've been talking abut ("2 WW points per 15 chips" ?) but it looks real cool. I'm glad to see this kind of support and encouragement even if I don't follow what exactly you're talking about.

Do you think I could get fitter, happier, more productive?

I will not eat oysters. I want my food dead. Not sick. Not wounded. Dead.
Woody Allen