I don't usually have a book going. As I say sometimes, for a lit student and professional word worker and fan of language and story and turns of phrase and type, I read remarkably little, outside stuff on the internet, email, other everday communication stuff (signs, for inst), and the work stuff. And close captioning, I guess. It's nice to have a book going. When I do, it reminds me of someone who always had a book going, and I want to tell her about the one I am into, if I like it like I'm liking this one.
The sneaky way that kind of thing happens is part of what's a joy, so far, in Eleanor O.
I need to eat something. My day is off, tho I'm back at the office. Where the database keeps going down in a small way for a small time. And where I should get something to eat, cuz I need to eat something.
One more thing (sort of) about Eleanor first, tho. I saw the idea floated some many months ago how taking care of something or someone engenders love for that entity, and I thought yeah, I know how that can work. Not every time, of course. But there's a way a deep fondness and caring grows from simple care. I'm growing fond of Eleanor by just learning about her, paying attention and finding out--- appreciating in the sense of coming-to-understand. I think that process leads to love too. Sometimes. Not every time, of course.
When I felt like shit yesterday and the dog was impatient to go out but I wanted to finish scooping the litter box first, I told her, from two rooms away, that I need to finish this not-neglecting and then we'd go out. And then I thought how I was doing that not-neglecting of the cats before doing the not-neglecting of the dog, by taking her out when she needed to go out. And when I too could probably benefit from getting outside, walking down the street, being in the air, etc. This got me to thinking about a self-care angle of not-neglecting as applied to myself. I have major not-neglecting skills when it comes to the other animals living in my house. Maybe it's a way of thinking about it--- a lower bar, but a more fundamental kind of take, and a double-negative--- that can help me
I mean, it's an idea.