The virtues of self-reward

As I mentioned in yesterday's post, I am once again ugh-free, and I took full advantage of it yesterday, intending merely to walk a couple blocks down the street to Artist's Xchange (a consignment shop for local artists), buy a small piece of art for myself and return home.

I ended up buying this incredible linocut print done by printmaker Katie Gilmartin. Don't ya love it? It came fully matted to 16"x 20".

Anyhoo, even though I had warned myself about overdoing, once I'd bought the print, I needed a frame for it, and Flax Art Supply was only another six or seven blocks away, so I hoofed it with my new acquisition under my arm. The weather was alternating between chilly overcast and sunny muggy and I was dressed in many layers, so the sunny parts made me a little heatolated. By the time I had purchased the frame and was within 3 blocks of returning home, I was huffing and puffing, like the little engine that could: "I think I can. I think I can". The entire outing lasted more than an hour. I was done in, but content, and wearing myself out like that gave me a really satisfying night's sleep last night.

Despite the good night's sleep, I awoke feeling some residual fatigue. Karen came and picked me up to take me to Kaiser for my blood draw (I passed again. No more Neuopogen shots until 1/16), and then we went to the Garcias where Della was just waking up from her morning nap. Karen read Cito a book. Holly finished a conference call for work. René and I watched Della and tried to keep her from destroying anything, and from scrambling out of sight (she's fast). Then we all went to lunch at Green Chile Kitchen. When I got home, Robert was passing by on foot and stopped in to visit for a bit.

Now I feel really worn out, and probably won't be awake to see in the official New Year, but I wish you all a happy, healthy, and prosperous 2010. Not that it will take much for me personally, but I have a feeling it's going to be a much nicer year than 2009.

Happy New Year everyone!