Hard to believe that both NaBloPoMo and the November PAD Challenge are halfway over. So here’s my progress: I’m 15 for 15 on NaBloPoMo, and 8 for 15 on PAD. Not too bad, and who knows? I may get into a zone and write 2 or 3 poems tonight! Overall I’m happy with where I am with both.

Actually, the game is in Columbus, but Brian and I are visiting his folks in northeast Iowa and are watching the game on TV. Earlier, we went into town for coffee and soup wearing Ohio State gear. Mom told us there are some pretty rabid Iowa fans here in town. We’re such troublemakers, Brian and me.

It’s halftime and since I’m out of town, I’m still planning to post each day and keep up with NaBloPoMo, but I may only write a sentence or two. That still counts. My therapist said so.

Although Basil was involuntarily incarcerated, it was not due to the trespassing charge from last week. He had to visit the scary bad lady for his second senior check-up. He and Hopper get check-ups twice a year since they’re both seniors — it’s how they were able to catch Hopper’s heart disease early. Anyway, his right eye started gooping up this past weekend, so we wanted them to check that out, too. It’s nothing serious, but we were sent home with eye drops.

In fact, Basil exhibited model behavior during his exam, even while the techs took his temperature, blood pressure, and drew blood for lab work, all of which came back normal. His thyroid medication is working the way it’s supposed to. The only thing is, as usual, he needs a dental. According to the doctor, Siamese and Persians tend to have bad teeth, even crooked teeth, which Basil has — his bottom incisors are a mess. If he were a child, he’d be seeing an orthodontist — he’s the right age for it.

Here, the vet is listening to his heart. She could barely hear his heart murmur, which is great news. His heart rate was moderate as was his blood pressure; both are usually higher in most cats while they’re at the vet. He was such a good boy! Hee Seop’s also really good, but probably because he’s also really frightened and shy. Brian and I wish we could bring either Basil or Hee Seop to substitute for Angelo’s and Hopper’s appointments.

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The November PAD Chapbook Challenge and NaBloPoMo, that is. Well, sort of but not exactly.

I’ve surprised myself by blogging every single day so far this month and I’d like to keep it up for as long as I can after November. I’m doing my best to complete NaBloPoMo, but it just may not happen since I already have a lot going on this month. For example, Brian and I will be out of town for a week to visit his folks and some friends in Iowa. My therapist told me today that if a few of my blog posts have to be just a sentence long like a Tweet, so be it. Until our next appointment in 2 weeks I’m to concentrate on enjoying myself, the trip — which she reminded me isn’t a working trip — and reconnecting with people we haven’t seen for some time. I shouldn’t obsess about finding places where I can work out; I should take walks with Brian instead.

As for the poetry, I’m definitely behind but for some reason I feel much less pressure keeping up with each day’s writing prompt. I will be happy with having written 30 poems by the end of the month. Sometimes it’s harder for me to write when I’m given a guideline or topic on what to write about, and sometimes it’s easier. My writing process differs when it comes to poetry and blog posts/prose. I can’t define that process exactly, but with poetry I have to let ideas simmer for a while. I guess it’s like that with blogging, but I don’t feel the need to refine my craft when I blog so although I can choose my topics, there’s less pressure as to how I present them.

Although I realize that I won’t be a loser or failure if I complete neither of these ventures, my mind will perceive that irrationally because I still haven’t learned to break down the high expectations I have of myself as well as the perfectionism in everything I do. I get really obsessive about things and I don’t yet have the tools I need to fully absorb what’s rational and discard what’s irrational. But that’s what therapy’s for.