R16, D7

[IslandGirl]

This morning, I took two overflowing bags of coffee-shop muffins and scones to the soup kitchen. While I was unpacking the bags, one of the women said, "We got you a thank-you card." I was so touched! And I plan to pass it on to the coffee shop owner, since I'm only transporting the good(ie)s. 

Then I headed to the food bank - another day of juxtaposition. On the "bonus items" table, I found some great - healthy - hot cereal that I wouldn't have been able to buy in the store. So that was awesome. Many of the items they distribute  aren't particularly healthy, but that speaks to a much larger issue: healthy food is more expensive. The food bank serves around 4,000 people and families a month (in a city of 90,000), and the supplies from the recent major drive seem to be dwindling rapidly.

They do try, though: There was an area where I could either choose either some produce or on-expiry yogurt and tofu (that has to be a first for this food bank!). The produce wasn't in very good shape (soft potatoes and carrots that were kind of an eerie Halloween combination of orange, green and yellow). I took a container of yogurt and a box of tofu for my upstairs neighbour, who has a very low income and constantly complains about food prices - and who looooooooves this particular yogurt. I knew she'd eat both items before they went bad (i.e. today). She was thrilled, and that was my gift for the day. (I was allowed to take three pieces from that table, but I figured I'd leave one for another person.)

Later, I gave directions to a young couple who were walking by the water. 

For those who have been nudging me to write a book... I finally emailed my one significant contact, an editor at a major publishing house. I worked with her when I ghostwrote a celebrity self-help book a few years ago (uh, ghostwriting for the guy, not a self-help book for celebrities). I haven't been in touch with her in more than two years, because I wanted to wait until I had a proposal - or something - together. Today, though, I mostly wanted to see if she had more ghostwriting or developmental editing to farm out. Then I wound up summarizing my experience of the past few years - my adventures in neuroplasticity, as it were - and my challenges in framing it. I asked whether she was inundated with material like this, or whether it seemed like this might be something that could work. And within a minute... I received an auto-response that she's on maternity leave. Oh well. More time to figure out what this thing could be. I am disappointed, though, because I'd really like to do more developmental editing...even if I can't seem to manage it on my own material.

This afternoon, I received a paycheque for a small project, so I was able to make a substantial payment on my October rent. Woo hoo!

Hope you all had good Mondays, and that those of you on the East Coast are staying safe, warm and dry! Cheers!

[Deb~ Community Manager]

Glad the rent has come through. A good day all in all.. xoxo

[Lois55 wwt]

You seemed to hit the jackpot with some items at the food bank..I'll second that WooHoo on your receive today! Take care...we are praying for this storm to hurry up and go, it is really wreaking havoc along the East Coast..