Saturday Lite

I haven't done a Thursday Thirteen in too long, so instead I'm borrowing the concept on this Labor Day weekend.
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1. Now that I'm back to work, I love long weekends. JB and I went to the paint store today to paint the old metal baker's rack I got at the weekly auction a Cuban blue and the three outside stoops a dark sand color. These "chores" have been waiting for me for quite some time and just maybe they'll be done by the time Monday rolls around.
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2. Finally, I'm off carbs and sugar until I look svelte.
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3. On a related note, I'm reluctantly nourishing myself with uncharacteristically large portions of patience.
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4. Planning for JB's October 4th Art Fair has begun. About a dozen of our friends and neighbors will be making and selling their art in our side yard. Then we'll adjourn to the back yard for a cook-out. Then we'll do brunch the following morning.
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5. My contribution to the Art Fair will be photo cards--some shots from Italy, some from Provincetown, some from up the street. I'll also do a few tarot card readings as Madame kj.
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6. The story of Alex and Lily has now been reviewed by an independent editor and two people I trust to be straight with me. I'll be making the final edits and getting it ready for page layout and then printing. Maybe it will be in book form by Thanksgiving...
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7. BUT I don't have a title. I was close to choosing "Honey Girl", thanks to Melissa, but I'm not settled on it. The story is simply about light and love. Please please please I will welcome your suggestions.
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8. Ms. Stella, who spent her first year with us hiding and recoiling at being touched, has begun her third year wagging her tail and bouncing around. What an incredible transformation love allows. When you are truly loved, you can be safe.
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9. And when you are safe, you can take risks.
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10. And when you take risks, you open yourself up to newness.
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11. I can't believe I live in farm country. My kitchen counter is filled with fresh tomatoes and eggplant and green beans, green peppers, and summer squash. Even a just-picked cantaloupe.
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12. The American presidential race is unprecedented and fascinating already. For the first time a black man, and now a woman. Whoever wins, I hope for healing from the past eight years.
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13. One thing about the blogs: you can bluff your way through feeling pretty good when you really feel pretty bad. This is a problem with being a writer also. Still, it's hard to be this when you're really that.
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Have a good weekend, everyone!