Later on Friday

The art class was very interesting. We worked with charcoal and one exercise in particular really helped me. I have used charcoal before and have noticed that I am inclined not to have strong contrasts—to be a little afraid of making the darks dark and the lights really light. So, what he had us do was to draw an pencil outline of what we were working with. Then we were to color the whole thing in with soft charcoal and finally remove the shadows in the the light areas with the kneaded eraser or a tissue. It was a very interesting exercise to do. Oil pastels next week, I think!

Then I went to Robin’s to help her with the outline of an essay where one argues a point.. She chose to argue that terminally ill people have the right to be helped to commit suicide. Once I had got her on track—I say a lot, “Ok, and what next?” — she did quite well. She had a template to work from, including a counterarguement and refutation and had lots of ideas. She told me that she will not need any help with her summer classes but she will need help in the fall. She has already been told that the college will not pay for a tutor after this year so she asked if I would consider tutoring her and she would pay me herself. Something to think about.

I came home and found Fred out in the back yard fraternizing with Malcolm, the English chow, oh, and Mike and Melanie. Without thinking about it, I had locked the outside door when I came in so Fred had to ask Melanie to call me and ask me to let him in!  Now we are even because one time he accidentally locked me out, too. I usually ask if I need take my keys when I go out for a walk just in case he is going out as he did while I was at the art class but he was back before I got back. I never thought he would be out in the back yard!

I really should go out for a second walk but I am tired and I did climb four flights of stairs rather than use the elevator when I went to Robin’s apartment.

Until later…