The sun is squint your eyes bright. I’m thinking of sitting on the deck and reading the day away so as not to miss any of that warmth, any of that light. This whole week will be sunny and warm, a few showers maybe but still warm in the 70’s. I’m about to shed my sweatshirt.

Yesterday, the dump was as busy as I’ve even seen it. I went about a half hour before closing but still had to wait for a parking spot beside the recycle bins. My back seat was filled with boxes, the biggest ones from Chewy. My front seat had papers and magazines in shopping bags. The trunk was filled. Two of the bags were so heavy with litter I had to drag them from the trunk to the bin. The new litter was delivered late yesterday so I changed the cat box this morning and put the bag into the trunk, the first bag.

I will replace the deck lights today. That is the only thing. The dirty clothes will sit upstairs another day. I may relent and vacuum the litter, but that depends on how annoyed I am by the crunching.

I avoid math. It was my toughest subject starting in high school when I couldn’t use my fingers to count any more. I was learning algebra in the ninth grade. Even then I knew I’d never use algebra, and no one could give me a reason for spending a whole school year on one useless subject. I looked it up the other day. The reasons for learning algebra include: algebra is faster and better than basic math, it could be a job skill later on, algebra can be useful in life and it’s beautiful. I know a mathematician wrote the article I read. Beautiful? Really?

When I was a kid, the longer afternoons this time of year made for staying outside and playing games like tag or even bike riding but in the neighborhood. Supper was usually a little while after we went inside. During the wait for supper, I did my homework or watched TV if I had no homework. Kids’ shows were on in the early afternoon. I remember the Mickey Mouse Club and Superman. Back then, I didn’t question that nobody recognized Clark when he was Superman or thought all his absences a bit too coincidental. I did wish I could fly, still do.

Maybe I should just start every musing with ditto on the weather. Today, though, I get to say we’re in the 70’s. What a delight!! The day is perfect. More flowers have bloomed in the front garden. The slight morning breeze barely ruffles the small leaves hanging off the oak branches. I was out on the deck for a while and reluctantly came back inside to make my coffee. Just imagine how beautiful the morning is if I am reluctant to go inside even to make coffee.

I watch old TV mostly in the wee hours. Some of my favorite shows are just awful in retrospect. I have trouble imaging the me who enjoyed them. Now I often scoff. A few of them, though, have aged well. I enjoy Kolchak, the Night Stalker. I like looking at the clothes in Lost in Space. They are a monument to the colors of the 60’s as is Buck Rogers which I don’t watch. Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea is dizzying. The Seaview goes back and forth and throws crewmen against the walls in every episode. I just shake my head and keep watching.

My mood fluctuates. Nothing triggers it. That’s just the way it’s been lately in this weird time. The last few days, actually the last week or so, I haven’t had the wherewithal to do a thing. I didn’t even make a list. I barely moved off the couch. Brushing my teeth was a chore. I rested in the middle.

The mop, the vacuum and the dust cloths have been sitting in my upstairs hall for well over a week. I acknowledged the pile by stepping over it. When I went into the cats’ room, I could hear the crunch of litter as I walked. Shrinking the size of the contact by tip toeing didn’t help. That was a last ditch silly effort doomed to failure from the start. Anyway, back to the story, back to the drama. Last night, around 2 AM, I was lying in bed hunting the elusive Morpheus. It was then I decided I couldn’t stand it anymore. I jumped up and vacuumed the cats’ room. I wet mopped the floor. I vacuumed then washed the bathroom floor. I used all the cleaning supplies from the hall. I went to sleep happy.

Today I expect to go to the dump. My trunk is filled mostly with bags of wet, heavy cat litter. One more bag is upstairs. I couldn’t carry it down as my hands were full of cleaning supplies. I hope to vacuum down here and wash the kitchen floor. I’m happy and productive, but I’d prefer a happy mood which doesn’t include cleaning.