Friday, August 24

Slept late, until nearly 8:30. Did stair stepping, resistance bands, and weights exercises after breakfast. Sis accompanied Mother to our house mid-morning, where they relaxed while I got ready for the day.

It was already 11:30 by the time I came back downstairs, and not long before time to fix lunch. Mother had her usual Ramen Noodle soup, Sis and Hubbie opted for deli turkey sandwiches, and I had the rest of the chicken noodle soup.

Mother retired to the couch afterward, and Hubbie, Sis, and I watched a 2011 Lifetime Movie Network film..."We Have Your Husband." This true crime drama is about an American woman, Jayne Valseca, and her husband Eduardo, who is the son of a Mexican newspaper publisher. In 2007, Eduardo was kidnapped by powerful Mexican redicals, and was buried for seven months in a seven-by-six, two-foot wide box, where he was humiliated and tortured. His wife never gave up trying to rescue him, despite the kidnappers impossible demands.

Shortly after the movie was over, Hubbie and I got ready to go to the yogurt shop to meet my ESL student, who wanted to show me her newest art project. Mother got up from her nap just before we left, and she and Sis watched old "Bonanza" episodes on TVland channel.

Hubbie and I arrived at the yogurt shop at the appointed 3 p.m. hour, ahead of the student. We waited for about ten minutes, and when she didn't show up, we went ahead and got our yogurts, which we enjoyed at an outdoor table.

The student hadn't arrived by the time we finished our treats, and I began to wonder if I'd misunderstood her, and she intended for us to meet at her house. But near 3:30, she finally arrived. She'd been at the art gallery and lost track of time.

She brought along her current in-progress art project...a wooden cross, designed after the fashion of famous Neo-pop artist, Romero Britto. The very precise designs of her work represent the elements of the universe...sky, moon, stars, water, fire, sun, earth, plants, metal, etc., so that it tells a story. It also tells a story about the student, who is meticulous snd detailed in all her pursuits.

We visited for about a half an hour, during which the student commented about how much she enjoys the opportunity to join the Friday Painters, which has gotten her back into the art she had for so long set aside because of other obligations. She said it has allowed her to relax and de-stress, and she feels so much better now. I'm very glad. She works hard, and deserves time to herself to pursue what gives her pleasure. If she's relaxed and stress-free, she'll perform better in her English classes.

Back home, I put leftover stirfry and rice into the oven to heat for supper. We enjoyed the meal with slices of Sis's homemade bread. Shortly after supper, Sis headed home, and I accompanied Mother to her house.

Hubbie and I spent the rest of the evening in front of TV, as usual, including a Lifetime Movie Network 2011 film called "Iris Johansen's Killing Game." Ten years after the murder of her seven-year-old daughter, a forensic sculptor receives a call from a man saying he is the killer.

Good news this afternoon: got an e-mail from the water aerobics leader that the pool is ready for us to resume sessions on Monday. Yay! I'm ready!

The Andromeda Galaxy is supposed to be visible to the naked eye tonight (will appear as a cloudy star), but it is overcast here, so it won't be visible to me at all. Didn't see the meteor shower, and now I won't see the Andromeda Galaxy. Oh, well.