Today it rained and I made a list of all the household things that needed to be done, both outside and inside.  Obviously I couldn’t do the outside things because it was raining, so I made that list really long.  I also know it is going to be a very rainy week so I even added a few things that I’d never do.  For some strange reason the list gave me a huge sense of satisfaction in a job well done.  I stuck the list on my “to do” pile and looked around my studio for something new to do.

I’d like to take a moment to describe my studio.  It is quite large, 20′ by 30′, cathedral ceiling with windows on the West, North, and South sides.  On the side without windows I have a built in bookcase with cabinets below.  Crammed full…but that’s another story.  I also have a coffee pot and cabinets, and a large stainless-steel sink for my many art projects.   My studio is set up with comfy seating on one side and my work space on the other.  Supposedly I am to create masterpieces of one kind or another, but to date, other than my lists, I’ve created next to nothing.  I do, however, have a lot of unfinished masterpieces.  I’m hoping that by sharing my life with anyone who wants to read along, that I will be encouraged to write, paint, and create.  Feel free to suggest, critique, and be my neighbor in this venture!

Referring back to my title today, my nieces and a nephew stopped by to help me with “computer stuff” and I heard my older niece exclaim to her brother, “GUESS, just GUESS, how many emails Aunty has!!!”  She kept looking at my phone with amazement on her face.  My nephew, half paying attention, glanced up and said what he thought would be a crazy number.  “3,000?”

“No.”  (I felt it was a very harsh “NO!”- at least that’s how I heard it…)

This response from his sister brought him to full attention and he turned to look at me.  I shrugged my shoulders.  His sister said, “Try 24,589.”

All eyes were on me.  I smiled and countered with, “Well, actually, there are more like 54,000 because every time my emails overwhelm me, I just get a new email address.  I can start fresh!  Isn’t that normal?”

Their eyes met and exchanged looks that only had meaning to them.  When they left after dinner, I furtively erased at least 60 emails. 😔