random thoughts – Day 1,857 – (Thursday) – lists and progress

I make lists. At work there are weekly to-do lists of the stuff for the week. I’m really good at managing that one. The paycheck is a big motivator. The rest are not always as closely monitored or successfully completed.

At home there are lists everywhere. On scraps and notepad sheets in the office and living room and tucked into drawers. There are writing ideas, grocery lists, gift ideas, recipes to try. For several years, I made a yearly list of tasks and repairs for the house and then would misplace it. When eventually found again, it was fun to cross off the accomplishments. Insulation, fence, gutter screens, closet shelving, and gate for the deck. All were completed. Other tasks have lingered longer. 

The newest house list involves preparations for yet another list -- listing it for sale. A trip to Lowe’s tonight got the paint needed for the sills in the enclosed porch and now I can work on those this weekend. I figure it will go quickly, which means it will probably take me a week to complete. I also got a replacement bulb for the bathroom heat lamp which burned out ages ago. 

One top makes two costumes.

After Lowes’ I stopped at Rainbow, which was my favorite go-to for inexpensive and colorful dance class wear and costume components when there was a store downtown. Now that the only option is across town this was my first visit since around the pandemic. The current costume list included tops in colors to go with the new Bangkok pants and/or tiered skirts, and Rainbow delivered with one in “mango” color that does double duty with two pieces. 

I love it when the clothes and costume pieces play well together. This acquisition doesn’t necessarily mean I’ll stop looking, because sometimes the fun is in the quest. And also, there are more dance skirts and pants that need partners.

What Kiki looked like
peeking over the bed.

There is even list for Kiki. It has “sample to vet for fecal test” (new entry), and the big ones, “turn her into a cuddle kitty,” and “get her used to the crate and go for rides to fun (non-vet) places (more than a year). The plan is to wear her down with shoulder rubs and face rubs and keep inviting her onto the bed each night now that she comes into the bedroom and curls up on the rug. Last night, as I did a final Duolingo lesson before sleeping, Kiki’s ears and eyes popped up at the side of the bed. It looked like the doormat in my Amazon "saved for later" list. She looked at me, I looked at her, and she popped down to under the bed. It felt like a big step.

Tonight, when I went upstairs to lay the pants on the bed to check how they look with the top, there was Kiki, in the middle of rising from what seemed to be her suddenly disturbed nap atop the bed. Busted! She looked at me, I looked at her, and she slunk off the bed and underneath it like she had been bad or thought she would be scolded. Meanwhile, I was excited, telling her she is a good girl and taking it as progress in our relationship. The minimal level of cat hair on the blanket indicates this is likely a new situation. There is hope.