I never got to the museum today. There was a lecture at 10:15, but when I woke up I knew I wasn’t going there. It felt good to be lazy, and I spent a long time in the shower. Hot water is wonderful.

Last night we went to Pittsburgh Opera’s "Magic Flute." As usual, the voices and orchestra were wonderful. Staging left something to be desired. It’s a tough opera; doesn’t make a lot of sense. Charna said it’s sung in German, using Italian names, set in Egypt. In addition, they used English in the spoken parts, borrowed a little (maybe not enough) from the Julie Taymor staging, and gave the monster? children such modern toys as skates, scooters, skate boards. Steve couldn’t remember the trials by fire and water. The rest of us suffered more watching than the protagonists who were going through them. Maybe that’s what made me so tired this morning.

I can’t seem to finish binding Grandma’s book. Some of the fabric pieces need accurate trimming, and I can’t find my rotary cutter. So I’m going out to buy a new one. Then I won’t have any more excuses. Maybe I can get something done before I pack to go to New York.

I’ve been eating too much; I forgot to pay some of my bills; I’m messier than usual; I feel like I’m falling apart. Today, I did a big bill pay thing. I stopped eating too much two days ago, and I feel better. But the mess remains. On Saturday I’m going to New York for the week; five days after I return I have a house guest. Obviously, I need to be better organized. Also, the two Japanese print exhibits will be taken down within the next weeks, so I’m feeling like I ought to take one more look: Kogyo today, CMOA tomorrow.

Yesterday I walked back to my car after class; about 2 miles. I’m practicing for New York where I do no end of walking. Today I’ll walk over to the Frick Art Museum, less than a 2-mile round trip, but then there’s all that walking in the museum.

I finally bit the bullet and started working on my tax. For the past nine years, because I was paying tax in more than one state, I had my tax prepared by an accountant. But I only lived in one state last year, and hardly worked at all, so I figured I could do it myself. So far, so good, but I’m stuck because I can’t find all my charitable donation records. Somewhere I have a file with all that stuff in it. TOMORROW.

warm, gray and rainy; the sort of day you want to stay in bed. Instead, I have a full schedule. First, I’m taking Darcy to the groomer, about 3 miles east of me. Then back into town for my yearly mammogram. If that gets finished in time, I’ll go to lunch with Robin and Eli. In any case I’ll take Eli to the airport; his stay with us is finished. Then back to pick up Darcy and a date with my groomer for a haircut. Finally, a well-deserved Shabat dinner with Robin, Steve and Charna. The week has gone very fast.

I have been taking two radically different tai chi classes. One of them meets on Mondays and is part of the Osher program. The teacher is patient and methodical. We’ve been at it for about 7 weeks now and we have only covered 3 moves. This is fine with me. I’m learning it well enough that I can practice the moves by myself at home. The teacher says they are simple but not easy. He is certainly correct. I can really understand the benefit of these moves; they are particularly good for my balance, something I found has deteriorated with age.

I’ve written about the other class before. I haven’t been attending much since January. My Japanese art classes are at the same time; they come first. Today, because I had no Japanese art classes, I went to tai chi. It’s a very different class, lots of movement and a good workout both physically and mentally trying to mirror those right and left moves, but nothing I can take home with me.

One more difference: my neighbor does his version of tai chi in his backyard every morning. He doesn’t look anything like either of my two teachers. I don’t think it matters, but I find the whole thing somewhat entertaining.

Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday we had spring, yesterday winter returned. Renee was supposed to come for the weekend; her plane never took off and she gave up. Eli, on spring break, arrived with only a small delay. Chicago never got this snowstorm. It really hasn’t been a bad winter, but I’m certainly ready for spring to come. It’s supposed to happen on Monday. I got to the fitness center this morning for the first time since I can’t remember when. I think I’d better keep track of my visits; it bothers me that I can’t remember the last one.

I’m still working on Grandma’s book. I ruined my cover picture yesterday when I tried to adhere it to another piece of cloth using a steam iron. The edge of the iron was wet and dissolved the ink and Grandma suddenly had a dueling scar across her left eyebrow. I’m starting all over again.

Spent the day organizing the mess I’ve been making going through all the stuff I accumulated about my grandmother. I managed to throw out about 10 pounds of paper, put most of the stuff back in the boxes and do some cleaning. I still have to organize all the papers I’ve accumulated from the classes I’m taking. Sometimes all the paper drives me crazy. I’ve never been good at keeping it in order and it’s not one of the things that’s improved as I’ve gotten older. I’ll be in class all tomorrow, thankfully, but I’ll get back to this on Friday.

I seem to find Japanese art where ever I go. I was amazed to find anything in Georgetown Kentucky. Since there is a huge Toyota plant I suppose I should not have been surprised. Evidently the impetus for the Japanese Garden was supplied primarily by one man, Milt P., whom I met. He told me there had been an exhibit of the work of Watanabe Kazan at Georgetown College in 2000 and then gave me a copy of the catalog. I’m sorry I missed the exhibit. The catalog is very interesting. I knew nothing about Kazan before, but I was able to find a lot about him on the web. I will bring the catalog to class this morning and see what my professor has to say about him.