Day 1747 - a walk on the beach in an amazing balmy weather, few more tests, some court rulings I should remember and I am done. Ready as much as I can for the test. I know that it's not going to be easy, that some people are not well wishers, and I know so much depends on my passing it. No pressure. I have to rely on my ability to relax and focus. I hope it will be enough. It the first step in a new beginning. I never thought I'll get back to real estate but under the circumstances I don't see any other option. So here I am going for the test tomorrow with the hope to pass it and get my lisence.

Day 1746 - the weather was better today, good enough we decided to risk it and go for a hour hike on the beach. It was a great idea. It was beautiful and calming after days we spent indoors due to the heavy rains. There were other people on the beach and few brave souls even went into the water. An hour outdoors gave me so much energy and was so refreshing. I think that it's time to go back to our morning stroll on the beach. We are in this tiny store so many hours a day, we better get our workout done or we will deteriorate physically. I am thankful for a lovely afternoon walk on the beach. I am thankful for a great and welcoming weather.

Day 1745 - heavy rains over most of the country with serious flooding a in many places. But our city was spared we had rains in the past three days but not in the same quantities thus no floodings. I still didn't find the time to look for my umbrella so I'm twice as thankful we were spared.

Day 1744 - I read somewhere about the rate that our body renew itself. It makes for a very interesting conclusion. If every cell in our body is different then what was there last year then we never look at the same person twice as we are not the one we were yesterday or will be tomorrow. Think about it.

Day 1743 - in a holding pattern until Sunday when I'll have my test. I probably can take few steps already but I prefer to wait few more days. So another test, a little more reading and count down the days. Five days to go.

Day 1742 - With no work at all in the store left three hours before closing, went grocery shopping and then home to cook dinner. At least we can eat in a normal hour instead of doing all that after store hours. It was nice to have dinner at 7:30pm and even the heavens agreed. As soon as we were done the first drops of rain came down. Quickly we gathered everything and stepped inside and few minutes later it was pouring rain.

Day 1741 - tonight we changed our clocks back one hour as the "daylight saving time" ended and this morning heavy rains and strong winds all over the country marked the first day of that. Even in the desert where my mom lives it rained all day. Only yesterday we walked in short clothes and today was chilly and very wet. The sheer force of nature is amazing. The swift changes and the forces demonstrated are beyond comprehension sometimes. At 7 am we were on our porch enjoying our morning coffee and since I'm into painting right now I carefully noticed interesting swips of clouds. But within an hour it became dark with heavy clouds covering the sky and the wind picked up. Within two hours it was raining hard. Fascinating indeed. I am thankful I was a witness to such a powerful demonstration. And as we live in a very dry country that needs these rains, I am thankful for the first day of the rainy season and the blessings it brings.

Day 1740 - painting all morning, visiting friends in the afternoon and going to sleep with an extra hour tonight (switching back to winter time). A perfect day altogether. How lucky one can be!!

Day 1739 - it's Friday thus no hurry to go to sleep and I happily spent the past few hours painting. It's a slow process for me right now and I have very little to show for the amount of time I paint but its not a competition and I love it so why not. I learn new technics by what hung videos and get new ideas about compositions and setting and then I practice it. And it takes time but this is how I will get better and by time also faster. So I got few ideas today how to go about the painting I currently work on which I will try tomorrow. And I have to admit its not easy to pause and delay it but I think it's the right thing to do. I'll have a fresh look at it tomorrow and maybe few more ideas. I am so thankful for this creative spirit that finally came over me after two years of dry spell. I am thinking and dreaming paintings. How wonderful.

Day 1737 - a good day in the store after weeks of very slow sales. Too bad it's such a rare occasssion thus we can't trust it. But it's nice to see some action and see people who like and appreciate what we do and what we have to offer. Sadly it's not enough to justify the store but at least we see some reduction in the inventory we still have. I at least hope we'll be able to make the transition as fast and smooth as possible.

Day 1736 -

Day 1735 - I continued working on my newest painting tonight. I started working a little after 9 pm and when I checked the time few minutes ago it was 2 am!! Somehow five hours flew. Well, I did a lot of progress and it's almost done, but I sure did not mean to stay up so late. But time just stops when I hold a brush in my hand and I'm in a different zone all together. I love it, especially now that I actually know what I'm doing. Playing with light, reflections, techniques. If I'm facing a challenge I watch few videos on YouTube and then try it at home and it works. Go figure, one actually has to learn something to get better. This is what I was missing in my painting class and that's why I decided to leave. So now I'm going to sleep; I have to wake up in less than four hours. But I'm so thankful for a very fulfilling evening and for a very good progress I made.

Day 1734 - a terrorist attack in the city where my daughter lives was a somber reminder to the dire situation in the past few weeks. And in times like that I forgot she's at work and was very stressed when she didn't pick up the phone. But few minutes later she sent a message that she's ok and I was relieved. But six other families where not as lucky and their lived ones are in the hospital right now, some in very serious condition. Such blind hatred as demonstrated by these terrorists is something I can't understand. I am so thankful my daughter is well but so very sad about this attack. I hope one day we'll be able to live here in peace.

Day 1733 - an easy and relaxed Saturday. I did a painting that I am very happy with, not done yet but almost there. Landscape of green rolling hills and a lake. The lake needs some work to make it real but the hills are good. I started it because I wanted to make a study for grass, how to paint grass and it came out as a good picture, good enough to stand alone and I am very thankful for that. I learn new techniques and it's very important if I even want to get better. And it allows me to step into more realistic paintings, something I was not able to do before.

Day 1732 - three tests today, all with great score and two more weeks to the actual test. I think I'll be as ready as can be by then. So in the evening I decided to watch a movie that I brought with me when I moved here, so it took me almost six years to actually take the time and watch it and I sure was rewarded for that. The movie: Blue the Actress: Juliette Binoche. A very somber movie, slow and very lyric. Not an easy one but a very good one. I sure will watch it again. I am thankful for a good day at the store, much better than our usualFridays. I am thankful fr several hours we enjoyed on the beach,until sunset; It's been a while and the cold season is nearing, so I am thankful for every such day.I am thankful for the tests that lift my spirit and make me cautiously optimistic about my chance to ass the test and get my license. I am thankful for a movie night, a very spiritual and sensory experience. and I am thankful I can go to sleep now at the end of a very rewarding day.