"...every minute of it is no more meaningless, as it was before, but it has the positive meaning of goodness, which I have the power to put into it."

I have been struck with how sweet the town of Hobart really is to look at and wander about at certain (empty) hours.

I still hold the opinion that my neighborhood is nicer in its own way- than town.

 

"...there must be someone...someone up above..."

I think it would not surprise anyone if I called myself a 'talker'.

Sitting on a jury is very hard because of this.  

Also just the pure human drama- played out in real life is draining.

I have been taking the time to appreciate some city parks that I rarely walk through.

I have also noticed some buildings hereunto I never noticed from my car.

Mostly active listening has made my head ache.

Not much longer though.

The deck work continues...slowly...

The space underneath is set up for a water tank.  We would only use the water for the garden.  I wanted to work out a grey water system but apparently that does not have council approval here in Hobart.  A fact I find surprising.

I have been sanding and re-coating the cabinet doors and drawers in the kitchen and feeling very full of myself because of this.

I had already re-coated our teak set that we use on the front porch and am feeling so inspired that I am finally going to tackle the front rails.

I have been surprised with myself because I used to do these sort of projects all the time.  I would pull up carpet and sand floors just in my rental apartments in Hollywood.  Something about Australia has thrown me though.  I think it is the lack of customer service.  When I painted my house in Seattle, I frequented a small paint shop, the sales person loved to talk out my ideas and give me tips.  The shop kept a color sample and notes on file so that if years later you need to re-touch or remember your custom recipe it was there on file.

Not only do shop people not want to talk to you about your projects, for the most part direct questions are met with a quick "I don't know".

Even if the attention I got in America was false, it always made me feel chipper. 

I also jarred up some applesauce.

Applesauce is a seemingly American food.  They do sell it here- but it can be hard to find.  I made Zok try it- and his first question was "What do you put it on?".  My first response was "Nothing!" and then of course my head starting singing "Pork chops and applesauce".  When I stopped to think about it, I realized of course that sauce is part of the word.  I just grew up eating it on its own.

Today- Zok came to an exercise class with me!

The class isn't exercise exactly- but it is in the barrecode series, and it is called 'Stretchy Friday' a lunch time 50 minutes of deep stretches, mostly comprised of yoga postures but also normal warm up stretches.  I love it, because although I stretch every day, I rarely remember to do anything longer than a round of Sun Salutation from my Hatha Yoga book.

I also went for my first jury duty.  I was in a pool of about fifty at the Supreme Court on Tuesday.  I am committed for three weeks, until dismissed or chosen or the three weeks runs out.  I have to call in on certain days to be told to show up or when to ring back.

Once the pool is there- they randomly call your number, and give you a looking over and you are chosen or not.

So far I haven't even been called in.

They have to compensate your time, so I assume that you have to prove you can not go into work on the days they don't call you in.  So by not having you there each day they pay less overall.

I did catch up on some reading.