One day and counting until the month-long challenge begins. So how am I preparing? I created lists of themes and discarded most. Plotted the letters on a calendar and promptly lost the list in midst of the clutter on my desk. Focused on writing stories and poems for classes and fun. Played music on my saxophone. Studied music theory. Avoided serious preparation. I am a jazz fan at heart and improvisation becomes my plan.

A couple days of sun provide natural healing energy and after a week that began with stomach flu, I needed them. I love watching the neighborhood cats stretched out in the same rays I enjoy, burning away winter's heavy coats and perhaps tired joints and muscles. My own cat, now fifteen, spent most of winter sleeping on a heating pad and now gets to split her time between natural Vitamin D sunshine and that still-available heating pad.

Rain is promised for tomorrow and the rest of spring break. That's typical for northwest Oregon. On the plus side, there's plenty of snow in the mountains for all the cold-weather and white-powder addicts. You can probably tell that I am not one of them. I like my comfy home, settled before my computer, cup of coffee to keep me company.

getting ready to start a blogging challenge during the month of April. The idea is to post a blog a day for 26 of the days during the month of April, following the alphabet, A-Z as guides for the day's post. The challenge was originated by Arlee Bird, Tossingitout.blogspot.com and there are already more than 900 bloggers ready to participate this year. This will be my first year.