I am seeing the world differently every day – especially fear – and I am actually a bit at a loss how to write about it. I will figure it out later. This morning, I was struck by the feeling of my life with an artist, how it changes the environment around me. People say I am an artist, but I think I am a writer, which is different than an artist, at least to me. Artists and writers are not better than anyone else, are not magical or gifted beyond the average human, they just see the world differently than most people, and this is reflected in my living room windows, which change color and shape daily. This morning, I came downstairs to see one of Florence’s blue shoes on the sill, having appeared magically in the night. I love the elf who does this.

I’m talking to my editor at 10:30, then going to Battenkill Books to take some calls from people participating in the Virtual Cash Mob there today. I am getting wary of Gray Thursdays, Plaid and Black Fridays, Virtual Cash Mobs and Cyber Mondays. I feel that the Corporate Monster is devouring me and our lives day by day, and the measure of a good shopper, as opposed to a normal one is is good ones buy fewer things at smaller places. My inbox is flooded with promotions and discounts and I would like to celebrate the week by buying nothing. I’d love to see that Meaningful Consumption Index measured on TV and in the news – how long can people go without buying things they need during the holidays.

But I’ll do that after selling some books at Battenkill. 519 677-2515 or www.battenkillbooks.com Hope to talk to you from there.