Late Morning/Midday, Monday, March 25, 2024, Madison, New Hampshire
Hi, folks. It’s a cloudy and chilly early spring day here in my corner of New Hampshire on this first day of the new workweek. The current temperature is 35°F (2°C) under mostly cloudy conditions (although to be fair, we seem to be under a gap in the clouds as I write these words). With the wind blowing from the north at 6 MPH (10 KMH) and humidity at 38%, it feels like 45°F (7°C). Today’s forecast calls for mostly sunny skies and a high of 42°F (6°C). Tonight, we can expect mostly clear skies. The low will be 21°F (-6°C).
Weekend Update, Part the Second: Tranquil Sunday
As far as yesterday is concerned, in the context of my new life here in New Hampshire, my Sunday was mostly good. It didn’t snow, for one; we already had gotten 28 inches of the cold, wet, white stuff between Friday night and Saturday night and we don’t (in my not-so-humble opinion) need any more. Of course, we’re bound to get another batch of snow before spring really takes hold here; the five-day forecast for Carroll County calls for a mix of rain and snow on Wednesday. But yesterday it was nice and sunny – I even sat out on the front porch and read part of a chapter from Stephen King’s novel Fairy Tale in the early afternoon.
I also changed my afternoon routine and watched TV in my bedroom for a few hours instead of following my usual weekend routine and staying in my office all freaking day. I watched three episodes of Cold War, a sequel of sorts to the 1970s British WWII documentary The World at War. I would have rather watched Star Wars, but that movie is beyond my reach – much to my frustration – because it’s still (three months after my arrival here) in a box…in the garage. Instead of escapist fare, I had to settle for a jaunt back into a time full of paranoia and existential dread…sort of like the times we live in now, except that people who were around between 1945 and 1991 didn’t have Internet access or social media to get into “political” arguments.
The fact that I can’t watch Star Wars on Blu-ray (or DVD, for that matter) wasn’t the reason that I say my Sunday was mostly good, at least not in a major way. It was an irritant, to be sure, but what marred my day somewhat was anxiety. I still have not heard from New Hampshire Health and Human Services (HHS) about my benefits (SNAP assistance and Medicaid). I think I have a decent (95%) chance of getting the same benefits I had in Florida, at least judging by the vibe I got from the interview at the HHS office in Conway. We (Patti and I) turned in all of the paperwork the agency required, and Florida’s Department of Children and Families closed my case there, so I should be fine, right?
Well, because out here we don’t get mail delivered directly to the house, I have no idea whether HHS has mailed any letters regarding my case there, and there’s no digital correspondence in my email account’s inbox, so I’m anxious because:
- I’m running out of basic stuff like milk, butter, sugar, and other non-perishable food items
- I only have the last EBT “refill” on my Florida-issued card for March, and I’ve already used some of it; after March 31, I won’t be getting any more SNAP funds on that card
- I can buy some food using my credit cards, but I also have other expenses (rent, dump fee, and my share of the utilities bills) to worry about, so…..
I try hard to not stress myself out over these things, but…I’ve always been a worrywart. It’s one of my many flaws, and although I do my best to keep it under control, I can’t suppress the feeling that my life is spinning out of control all the time. And no matter how much I tell myself that things will get better at some point, part of me doesn’t believe it.
So…yeah. Even though I eventually let myself focus on the documentary (I watched episodes about the Korean War, the last years of Stalin’s life and the rise of McCarthyism in the U.S., the Cuban Revolution, and Khrushchev’s rise to power after Stalin died in 1953) and enjoyed the rest of my Sunday in relative peace, I did wish my circumstances were better.
Reunion Gets a New Review
In happier news….
Today I got word from my friend and fellow South Miami High Class of 1983 alum Maggie Jimenez Wunderlich that she had read my novella, Reunion: A Story, and posted a review on Amazon.
I was captivated from the start by the author’s descriptive and easy style of writing. I could picture everything so well and it definitely took me back to the angst oftentimes felt in high school when a lack of confidence could get in the way of pursuing a love interest.
Maggie Wunderlich
She gave the first book in the Reunion Duology five stars (thanks, Maggie!) and wrote:
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent quick read that is bittersweet and heartwarming.
Reviewed in the United States on March 25, 2024
I was captivated from the start by the author’s descriptive and easy style of writing. I could picture everything so well and it definitely took me back to the angst oftentimes felt in high school when a lack of confidence could get in the way of pursuing a love interest. The author captured the 1980s well and it was easy to follow the flashbacks and present tense when the character reflects on the choices he made. Hindsight is always 20-20 and we can see how our decisions in our youth greatly impact our lives, but the author really makes you see how our younger selves may be too insecure and self-sabotage our happiness. I highly recommend this novella that will resonate with you long after you read it. Excellent work Alex! Your South Miami co-editor is so proud of you! ~~Maggie Wunderlich
On Writing & Storytelling: Action This Day
After my lunch-and-rest break, I will work on Reunion: Coda for much of the afternoon. I hope to start on Chapter 14 today, but if I can’t, then I’ll continue checking the Kindle Create app’s version of the manuscript for formatting errors and other issues. I’d rather write new material, but we’ll see what happens when I come back to my desk around 2:30 PM.
That’s all I have to say for now, so I’ll close this post here. Ciao for now, friends!
A Certain Point of View, Too 
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