Sunset is expected at 5:27 PM today. Sunrise came at 7:23 AM. I did the math: ten hours of sunlight plus a few extra minutes.

I can see it easily in the morning. When Papi the ginger mischief maker wants out for his regular 5:50 AM jaunt, false dawn has come up to light the area. By the time I get up, sunlight is flirting with the rain clouds, trying to entice them into showing a little blue sky.

Today is Tuesday, the second of February, 2021. I was thinking about my writing and the novel in progress as I rotated through morning routines of ablutions, feline feedings, breakfast making, blind opening. Into that mix came an Oasis song from 2000, “Go Let It Out”. The first line was the hook: “Paint no illusion, try to click with whatcha got.”

That’s how writing progresses, innit? You work with whatcha got.

Stay positive and test negative. Wear a mask and get vaccinated. Paint no illusion, try to click with whatcha got.