Diary 2.14.2025
I awoke a little before 7am and stayed in bed a bit to wake up slowly. It seems that it is more and more difficult to just wake up, jump out of bed, and start the day. I doze off a while, open my eyes, close them, repeat, and stretch for a bit. When I do get up, I get coffee along with preparations for a bath or shower. I’ve started adding cinnamon and a vanilla protein whey to my coffee. A hardcore coffee drinker wouldn’t approve, I’m sure, but I am enjoying it, and I think it’s a way to get extra protein.
Once I’ve pulled myself together, my husband asked if I wanted to watch a previously recorded TV Jeopardy program. We have been following a “champion” who is an archivist at Purdue, and we hope to see her win this competition. (Upon retiring from Ball State, I worked part-time at Purdue, so I have a fondness for the university.) Today, she didn’t manage to win the round. We think the categories of questions are harder for this level of competition. (Harder for us, at least!) She has done incredibly well so we were sorry to see her not be able to move ahead to the next level.
This morning, I met friends for breakfast who had previously volunteered at Ball State’s Rinard Orchid Greenhouse. There were six of us on this day and the conversation was brisk and comfortable with lots of laughs. One of the women was widowed a few months ago so this was her first Valentine’s Day without her husband. We thought it might be a difficult day for her, but she discussed her loss and talked about him quite a bit. It seemed to me she was handling things in a healthy manner. Her husband had been a high-level administrator at Ball State so we all knew him in one capacity or another and had supportive things to say about him to her. I’m trying to eat less and lose weight, so I didn’t have food at the café this morning, just chai tea. Upon leaving, I was required to take a detour due to a stopped train on Jackson Street. I don’t know where the train people go or what they do when they stop for so long…Go for fast food? It happens so frequently.
I did two errands on my way home. I stopped by Walmart to pick up some prescription sunglasses. While in Walmart, I bought some seeds for the summer garden – a sure sign that I’m ready for spring! I brought 4 flower packets of zinnias and sunflowers (which will look very pretty!) and two packets of vegetables (which won’t grow.) Most of my garden contains perennials but I plant some annuals for additional color. We love our backyard. My second errand was JoAnn Fabrics. The chain just announced it was closing many of their stores, including the Muncie store. I didn’t buy anything, but I am considering doing so soon. I have several sewing projects waiting for me in the closet, so I don’t need to start anything new, but I have trouble passing up a “deal” on one of my hobbies.
When I got home, I cut small scraps of fabric and put them in the car, so I’d have them the next time I went to JoAnn Fabrics. I’ll be able to match some materials for future quilts. I had a light lunch. For about the next 2 hours, I read a book for book club on Sunday, First Ladies by Benedict and Murray. It’s a historical novel about Eleanor Roosevelt and Mary Bethune.
At 3:00, I went to campus for a meeting at the Rinard Orchid Greenhouse. I was involved in forming Friends of the Greenhouse about 10 years ago. The pandemic threw off our group’s growth and activities. We are trying to decide what the purpose of the Friends group is now and how we can get people involved. There’s not an easy answer. Most of us have taken our turn at leadership and we want someone else to step in. I’m in a couple of groups that are struggling not only with leadership, but it seems purposes/goals have changed. The meeting went until almost 5pm. I’m not sure we settled anything, but we have a better idea of some of the topics we need to present to the whole group and some of the unanswered questions we need to pursue.
I returned home to fix a special Valentines Day dinner. My husband bought salmon and fixed it while I prepared glazed carrots, salad, and heart-shaped cookies. We exchanged cards and small gifts of candy. Additionally, he gave me a glass heart that BSU students made. I cleaned up the kitchen and we went back to campus for a men’s volleyball game. We arrived a little early so we could walk the concourse a few times as exercise after dinner. We stayed for two sets and, unfortunately, BSU lost in 3-2 sets. Each team played well.
We got home after 8pm and I practiced the piano. Actually, I didn’t work very hard at it but I did play the Star Spangled Banner a few times. It does not sound good – too choppy. This is not my best skill, to say the least. I’ve been taking lessons for over two years and have improved but I wouldn’t want anyone to hear me. Since it has been such a full, busy day, I thought I’d better sit down and record my diary entry before I forget anything important. I am now worn out and ready for bed. Good night!