It’s early here in Tucson, where, at this time of year, it stays dark until after six a.m. I find it hard to get up in the dark, even when I’ve had enough sleep. Something about the darkness compels me to stay in bed a while longer.  The clock on my computer announces that it’s already 6:38 a.m.

I decided it was time to get up, as today was another busy day. Among other things, I have this blog entry to prepare and publish, but I haven’t started it yet.  I stumbled into the kitchen to warm up a cup of yesterday’s coffee. It’s only then that I realized the actual time was five thirty-eight!

Meanwhile, Lola the pup snoozes comfortably nearby.  Neither my stirring nor the illumination from my bedside lamp seems to bother her in the least. At least this morning, she is not snoring.

Between five days of exercise and four days of community education classes, my routine here is congested with activity. Generally, this is a good thing, but there will be lazy days, I know, when it is too much. Although I tend to push myself, I’m not above cutting an occasional class or taking a day off from a workout, and I have earned this right by virtue of being old and basically retired from future gainful employment.

I am still tutoring Zoey back home via Zoom, so there is that.  Of course, “all work and no play” makes a dull boy, as they say, so I try to make time to socialize with friends during the week.

The one area where I have fallen is playing music on my guitar, my favorite hobby for six decades.  I remain a competent musician, but not for long if I don’t play and practice my instrument regularly. I feel guilty about my wicked sloth.

It feels as though I have been burning the candle at both ends this past week. I have been working on a couple of new projects. Later today, I’m doing a short stand-up comedy bit as part of a workshop.  It will be my first.  Tomorrow, it’s my first poetry reading for a poetry workshop.  Hell of a thing, trying to become a Renaissance Man deep into my dotage.