days_unfolding

I don't really like the sound of Portuguese as much as I like Italian and French (the two languages that I've studied at length). People say that Italians sing the language rather than speak it. But the idea is to wander around Portugal and see if I might want to live there. I might take a tour to begin with. Go Ahead Tours has a tour for solo travelers. Hmm, I'm looking at a tour of Italy as well. Though actually I found a tour with a different company that I like better. Hmm, I found a tour with Rome, Pompeii, Capri, and Positano, but now I can't find it. I found one that was similar. Hmm, I'd probably save money booking that trip myself. I'll do some research.

I found more books on Portuguese at Powell's, but I'm going to wait to get them.

The uni has announced that we will work remotely until January 18th, and they will tell us more then. Holy cow. The first week of classes will be remote so that students have time to get COVID-tested.

I didn't actually get up early, but I got a good night's rest. I was sitting here lingering after breakfast, when I remembered I need to do laundry before I go out. I guess that I'll sit here longer while the clothes are in the washer. Fed the girls, and if you've seen lions pace back and forth when they're about to be fed, that's exactly what Zara does. She gets too excited to stand still.

I'm thinking that I'll do the Coursera Android App Development certificate this Spring.

Started watering the rosemary and thyme. Mimi jumped up and started harassing the thyme. I told her to cut it out. Scrubbed a litter box. Took clothes out of the dryer and started making a pile of stuff to pack. Mimi was lying in my suitcase, so I want to wipe it off. Put another load of clothes in the dryer.

Started making a packing list, and this time I remembered to put the charger for my Fitbit on the list. (I forgot it last time.)

Ran out and dropped some stuff at storage and grabbed my snow shovel. The laundromat's change machine wasn't working, but it occurred to me I could go to the credit union. Got my COVID test done. Ran to the credit union and got quarters. Washed my car and vacuumed it. As it turns out, I didn't need the extra quarters because the vacuums were only 50 cents for 4 minutes. Got soda and munchies for the trip. Picked up Zara's prescription. I tried turning Sirius on again but still no.

Talked to Mom. She bought the girls a flopping fish for Christmas, and she wanted to know how they liked it. Both of them checked it out, but it scared Mimi when the fish would move. I'm going to bring the fish so Mom can see it flop.

The weather is looking good for my trip. And I have a negative COVID test, good.

Printed off some Web pages about Italian future tense and direct objects to peruse at my mom's house. My teacher still hasn't sent the handouts. He's busy because of Christmas—the nerve :)

Got my box of books and Mom's basket out in the car. I need to wash what I have on, so I think that I'll get in pajamas (done) and putter around. I think that I'll go to sleep early as soon as the wash is in the dryer and get up early to pack my suitcase. One problem with living in a mobile home is that the entire place shakes when the washer spins, and I'm thinking EARTHQUAKE!

Friday was a low-key day at work as expected. I spent the day cleaning out old emails. I dashed out to get a library book. That's what passes for excitement around here. I also returned books to my old library, but they're gone already, so my card will get blocked for an overdue. No big deal. They'll check them in when they get back.

Lay down for a nap and slept through until 3:30 AM. I think that taking naps and sleeping through is my way of doing self-care, although I always intend to get up. I shouldn't delude myself.

And then I put on pajamas because I need to do laundry :) Zara thinks that she's going to be fed and is standing on my chest to make sure that I notice her. I fed them to chill Zara out.

I'm trying to make an appointment for a COVID test before I go to Mom's house, but Walgreens' app isn't working. I might need to go with CVS.

Napped until 10:30 AM. Read an article about the Christmas market in Strasbourg, France. Maybe I could go there during the year that I spend in Italy. There's a train from Milan to there via Switzerland.

I ordered Pimsleur's subscription plan and ordered a Bluetooth device for my car. I can study Italian on my way to Mom's house. Also, when I'm cleaning here. Which reminds me I also have to contact Sirius to find out what's wrong with my account.

I investigated a Greek class, but the time conflicts with my piano class. Hmm. I'd like to take individual piano lessons, but scraping up the money is an issue. Plus the Greek class isn't cheap. And what I really want to learn is Portuguese, but I'm afraid that I'd confuse it with Italian. I've decided to not do the Greek class. My Pimsleur access has European Portuguese, so I'll work on that.

Tried to nap but couldn't sleep. Good. My sleep tank is full :) My pet sitter is coming by to get money. I need to eat lunch and throw myself together.

Booked a COVID test online at Walgreens for Tuesday.

Got my lazy butt out and drove to Springfield. I picked up my mom's socks. They are SO soft! I wish I had gotten myself a pair. Picked up more cat litter to get the litter boxes clean before I go. Then I wanted to eat at Arby's, but their dining room was closed, so I went through the drive-through and ate in my car. I got ketchup on my coat and on the steering wheel. Bah. Yeah, I suppose that it's safer eating in my car, but I felt cranky about it. Then I went to Aldi's down there. The shopping center was blasting Christmas music, which annoyed me.

Talked to Mom. She's excited about my coming there for Christmas. And she's still exhausted and sleeping a lot.

Cleaned off the kitchen table and got Zara's meds out to show the pet sitter. Organized my Italian for tomorrow. Put clothes in the dryer.

I've been looking into language tutoring because I want to learn Italian, Polish, Chinese, a little Lithuanian, and relearn French, and times-a-wasting. Polish and Lithuanian are the cheapest (not surprising), and French is the most expensive (also not surprising). I still need to wait after I go to the conference, but then I want to take some Polish lessons.

On the other hand, learning Italian is something that my mom and I wanted to do....

Harlee just pooped on the cord for my computer :(