Mood: Monday

There’s art. As an example, I previously posted a photo of Deedra Ludwig’s “Solace,” oil and mixed media on canvas, 2015.

Then there are coloring pages. While looking through this book, ponds were still on my mind. Started coloring just before bedtime one night to wind down. Resumed a day later when waiting for an appointment while also plotting and storybuilding in my head. Finally finished it today when I got home from a run of several errands.

Below is what I colored.

During writing time, these were on the playlist.

Switchfoot, The Best Yet; Taylor Swift, Fearless: Taylor’s Version, two disks; Red: Taylor’s Version; two disks.

I’d forgotten there’s a song on that Switchfoot CD that I gave to one of my Saga couples long ago. In fact, she even uses an image in it to describe her attraction to him. It so happens to be the male character I’m writing now, so the song was helpful for writing him (even though he hasn’t met her yet).

I’ll be getting more Taylor Swift music. I like listening to her. I understand why adolescent girls like her. I would have, too, when I was a ‘tween/teenager. I’m glad I had (deep breath!) Dusty Springfield, Lulu, the Supremes, Carole King, Gladys Knight, Carly Simon, Mama Cass, Aretha Franklin, Karen Carpenter, Cher, Grace Slick, Joni Mitchell, Janis Joplin, Tina Turner, Janis Ian, Linda Ronstadt, Joan Baez, Emmylou Harris, and later, Rickie Lee Jones, Debbie Harry, Chrissie Hynde, Ann and Nancy Wilson, Christine McVie, Stevie Nicks. And Madonna, Annie Lennox, Bonnie Raitt, Whitney Houston, Sinéad O’Connor, Alanis Morissette, Sheryl Crow.  Some of the women I’ve left out include country singers and girl groups that came before I was buying music or had control of the radio or stereo the way my parents and older siblings did. I loved plenty of them, too, and I never listened to anyone who said they weren’t as good as their “favorites” or that rock and roll or popular music was really the place of male artists.

ETA on 1/30/24: You know, it was just a matter of being in the “S” section when I got to my two Taylor Swift CDs. Timing. Thanks to my goal every week of getting a notification that says, “Your screen time was down __% last week for an average of __ hours, __ minutes a day,” I’ve eliminated seeing a lot of online hate and vitriol. No Fear Of Missing Out in that regard.

ETA on 1/31/24: Sorry for being vague, but I’m cackling at this and need to note it for myself: 150 seconds out of 9.5 hours. Or 150 seconds out of 34200 seconds. Math is fun.