Better get a bucket. I’m gonna throw up.

Okay, not really. It was a good day. I stayed in bed for three hours after I awoke, cuddling with the kitties and catching up on your posts. Then I had a wonderful massage with my new Pilates teacher. This included half an hour in the dry sauna. The neck and shoulder thing that has been plaguing me since Tuesday is nearly gone. I’m beginning to think it’s stress, rather than something mechanical. Feel like I’m carrying the weight of the world on my shoulders much? Perhaps.

After my massage, I picked up groceries for dinner. Then I came home and sat on the front porch with my iPad, a glass of red wine, cat treats, chicken breast pieces, and left over smoked salmon from my holiday party a couple of weeks back. I sprinkled some of the treats on the sidewalk several feet away from me, and waited. Eventually, Sophie arrived.

Because I hadn’t seen her since a torrential rainstorm days earlier, I was glad to see her furry little face. As she ate the treats, I began tossing little chunks of chicken to her, closer and closer to me, each time. Then I gave her the smoked salmon.

I had her right where I wanted her. Next I offered her more chicken. She ate it right out of my hand. Not once. Not twice. But three times! I’m hoping tomorrow, she’ll let me pet her. I shall have plenty of chicken at the ready. And a better camera. (The iPad camera is worthless.) After Sophie had had her fill and ran off, I made Ina Garten’s shrimp linguini. Delectable. (Tomorrow’s menu includes Jamie Oliver’s eggplant parmesan and a fresh artichoke.)

Yes, today was better. No bucket necessary.