That Old Aries Moon

          Oh, how I love the moon in Aries! Not just because both my parents are born under the Ram, but because it’s the beginning of a new cycle, and time to embark on new projects.

          I started the day off in a most unusual way: I got a good night’s sleep and woke up on my own!  I got to complete an elaborate dream that took place on Santa Monica Beach. The room was bright with sunlight. It was almost eight o’clock! Where was the cat?  And the room was just the right temperature. Amazing.

          What I did differently was this: I turned the central heat down to 60 before going to bed. When I got up to pee at 1:00 the room was getting pretty cold, so I turned on the space heater to low.  The cat slept on top of the covers on the side of the bed by the heater, so she was near but not smothering me.  The absence of hot air blasting made it easier to breathe.  The cat could get to the kitchen by going through my bathroom into the hall, so I didn’t hear her crunching food in the middle of the night. And I no longer have to hear her scratching in her litter box either. Yay.

          I stretched and was just about to get out of bed when Audrey jumped on the bed. I gave her a big “thank you” hug for letting me sleep in. She rewarded me with some kneading and a sweet expression that made me squeeze her cheeks and kiss the top of her head.

          With the scent of Santa Monica still in mind, I greeted Walter. He’d pooped on the floor, but so what. He just needed to pee.  By the time I got outside the sun was high enough to not be right in my face, like it has been when I’ve gone out at 7:30. And I didn’t encounter anyone else.

          After breakfast I went online and applied for Social Security. Everyone says, “Wait! Your payments will be higher.” But here’s the thing: the total amount you collect is the same, whether you start taking it at 62 or wait.  The payments are just smaller, per month, if you start earlier. Since we need money now, it better to begin as soon as possible.  Because I never earned very much, even when I worked part time, it won’t be a lot of money, but will certainly help.  One can earn up to $14,000, too, before it’s taxed. Since I make between $5-7K teaching and writing, I don’t think that will be a problem.

          Next, I left a message for the librarian asking for an appointment to discuss After School Writing Clubs at the library.

          Then I called the Yoga Space and signed up for a beginner class, that starts a week from Thursday.  I haven’t done yoga for. . . five years? so I figure I better start slow. My right hip is screwy, sometimes it sticks; and my shoulders still crackle and crunch from having been frozen in the past.

          I mentioned, when I called, that I had been to the Matrix Energetics website and had seen that The Yoga Space had information on this.  Turns out the instructor for the beginner class is the same person who facilitates it.  Coincidence?

          Now I’m going to the health food store and buy something for my stuffy head. I’m feeling a bit better but my nose is still running and I’m still coughing. Everyone I talk to says it’s Mountain Cedar allergies and that there’s a homeopathic remedy that will clear it up. Imagine, being about to sleep and breathe!