I should post some because there have been good things. I made a beef stew today that came out amazing. Were finishing up an equally amazing pan of homemade brownies. And, as always, our four kitties strive every day to remind us what is truly important: whatever makes them purr.
Let me check my files... Yep, all good.
. Wow... I am one achy, tired, OLD-feeling woman tonight. But:
1: the Uhaul arrived and the scheduled help also showed up as planned (fabulous workers, BTW)
2: only a few things were damaged
3: it is DONE, even if it will take me probably 3 months to sort everything out and clean it up.
Time for major pain relief protocol and many pillows.
Eldest is visiting. He's playing MudBorne, husband is playing Kingdom Come Deliverance, and I'm reading Ray Nayler's newest novel. We ate take-out and had the window open to evening birdsong for a while.
The challenge of being intentional as a way to get the good things to resonate longer than the bad things. Expert recruiter on episode 10 of :
Do the Right Thing
I dont want to go into details but heres the deal.
I have something to do tomorrow and I dont want to do it. Originally, the plan was for my wife and I to do it together. It involves driving for an hour and a half, doing something that may not take a lot of time, and then driving home for an hour and a half. As of now though, my beloved bride needs to work tomorrow so if this happens it will be me doing it alone.
So there are two options. One, I do the right thing and I go and do this task. Two, I dont do it and I stay home and run errands for my wife and just be here with her, which is absolutely what I want to do.
Frustrated sigh If I do this then it will help someone out and if I believed in karma (which I absolutely do not) then it would be a good thing for everyone, karmically speaking (is karmically a word). I just selfishly do not want to do it because it is going to take up the entire afternoon and most of the evening and I really just want to spend time with my wife.
I am probably going to do it. Like I said, its the right thing. The other person involved has already done a similar thing for me. Its only right and proper for me to do the same in return. I just dont want to spend three hours in the car round trip.
Ugh I didnt expect this post to feel so negative. I really just thought it would be an unemotional stating of the two sides of the coin and instead I feel like this reads like I am pissed off and defeated by the situation. Its not that big a deal. For me, its not that big a deal. For the other folks involved it is, but me being involved is a microscopic piece of it. Ugh I dont know what I am saying anymore. Ill shut up now.
On the upside, the Boston Bruins appear to be putting an end to their 10 game losing streak by beating the shit out of the Whalers tonight. Too bad its WAY too late to have any meaning. Ugh. The Red Sox got rained out today so they are going to play a double header tomorrow. Maybe things will go well and well get to spank St Louis twice in one Sunday. Thatd be nice.
#Bruins #DoTheRightThing #drive #goodThings #karma #longDrive #plans #RedSox #rightThing #tasks #theRightThing #thingsToDo #toDoList
Today's Daily Scripture Picture: Spiritual Needs
Psalm 107:9 For He satisfies the longing soul, and the hungry soul He fills with good things.
for today. 1: Meat loaf and fries for dinner. 2: Yummy candy bars, and other things, that Sarah picked up at a free trade market this afternoon. 3: We made it through another day.
1: I had an incredibly kind response from a former student/staffer who read my new book & took the time to send me a note. It made me cry ... none of us can ever be sure of the impact we're having on others. Don't lose heart!
2: Assuming I survive until about midnight tomorrow/Sat, I then get over a week of staycation... off work to try to get the shambles of my life reorganized!
3: The POWER is back on. Ice storm be damned.
Today, I am thankful for good coffee, nice strangers, good friends and my excellent family.
I recommend gently annoying a family member today, like you did when you were a child. Its also a kind of love language.
Only you know what annoys them most. Only they know your pet peeves.
That is love.
More random ramblings before I disappear into my bubble for the day.
I have loads of shitty things going on in my life just now, especially health wise, you all know that, I'm not exactly quiet about it The state of the world right now is terrifying, looking at the news its hard not to just give up and think what is the damn point. A relentless avalanche of fear and misery.
But.
I am still finding lots of good things. So here is a list, sort of.
1. Lots of bees and butterflies in the garden.
2. The trees are starting to bud again, everything is coming back to life after a long grey winter.
3. I have a bench to sit on and enjoy the brighter days (yes, I had to mention that again).
4. I got a flyer through the door yesterday for a garden centre, which allows me to get a free pack of bedding plants.
5. Despite being a short, fat, broken potato, I can still do the splits even if its a really bad idea - actually, maybe that one shouldn't be on the list of good things
6. I have a roof over my head, food in the kitchen, a huge pile of books and lots of craft stuff to keep me busy.
7. I am lucky enough to have some wonderful friends, especially on here, just in case I haven't mentioned it, you lovely folks absolutely rock and get me through the shite times.
8. I have a theatre trip next week, while I have some apprehension about it, I am looking forward to being back in Glasgow for the day.
9. I still find the strength to giggle and be silly with the child each day, that right there is a damn good reason to keep going.
10. Its race week.
So many of the things listed are mundane, little things but they still give me a spark of joy. Moments of joy don't need to be huge things, they can just be those little things that make you pause and smile for a second. More than ever, I think we all need to find those moments.
Thank you, as ever, for reading my random thoughts, you may continue with your day
Rupi Kaur's wonderful Milk and Honey...
This morning is gorgeous so I have the windows open. I also made scones. That means my apartment is filled with the two best scents imaginable. Spring morning and fresh scones
Love this poem by Matthew Arnold - basically saying it's only our love that helps us combat the world. You and me, darling, against all of it...
Good morning Fedifolk. Hope you all slept well and have something to look forward to today. I'm video chatting with my mom this afternoon to get all the details of her weekend emergency room visit that revealed an unnoticed case of bronchitis and hand worker are coming by to fetch a couple of leftover from the new kitchen cabinets to prep for installation in other spots in the apartment. I expect both events to lighten my load.
1. Hit 10,000 steps this morning without it feeling like a chore! !
2. The chocolate cake I was making yesterday seems to have turned out OK
3. Can't wait to see my friends this evening!
Yesterday in the suburbs, we had some hail, and the tornado sirens went off south of us. After the rainstorm, we got a beautiful .
In the morning, we awoke to snow on the ground, because... well, it's in Springtime.
my social security check arrived on time this month, and for the correct amount.
I hope everyone else has the same experience
Today a kid rage-quit my lesson.
We were playing a Kahoot and he got a couple of answers wrong by mistyping. After one too many he just slammed his laptop closed, stood up and started packing up his bag.
Me: Dude! You can't rage quit a lesson.
Him, still packing: I'm too far into the bit to stop now, Miss!
Cue me and the class collapsing with laughter while he calmly finished packing and left.
Be patient.
Good things come to those who wait.
Just got home from a wonderful evening out! Local high school drama club was performing Sondheim's "Into the Woods". I love love love that musical, plus my manager's kid was in the show and several co-workers were going, plus it's the same high school where I was in drama club 50 years ago. So lots of good reasons to go.
But the best reason turned out to be the one I discovered after I was there, and that's what it did for my spirits. It "spoke to me" right where I am in these days. So many echoes of real life, with words that went to my mind and heart, lifted me up, said what I needed to hear. We are beset by wolves these days, we have to stick together, be brave, take action, not throw each other to the giants to save ourselves. And "sometimes people leave us halfway through the woods". Honestly, "No One is Alone" had me in tears in the dark auditorium, but in a good way. "Hard to see the light now, just don't let it go. ... Someone is on our side ... No one is alone, you are not alone."
I'm so glad I went! Did my heart good!
(And yes, the kids did a brilliant job!)
Was having kind of an out of sorts morning and then I went to the post office and all my seeds had come.
While i was on my way into the post office I put my hand in the pocket of my raincoat and found some beautiful little bumblebee earrings in my pocket that I bought last year at Pride and completely forgot about. It was such a surprise.
So I got home and planted some heirloom sweet peas from the 1600s that are supposed to be the nicest smelling variety of sweet pea on earth. I didn't even mind that it was pouring with rain while i did.
Feeling like a rather serendipitous day. Gardening is hope.
Recruiter discusses if bad things resonate longer than good things and they do, why, on episode 10 of :
Wow, this week has wiped me out. We're short staffed at work (as predicted) so it's just been go, go, go all week. Tomorrow is a public holiday for WA but I work to the NSW public holiday schedule, so it's back to work for me while everyone else gets to laze about at home around me. Meh.
However, I did get to go to the community garden yesterday, which was fun. We harvested hops flowers (they smell delightfully herby and fresh) and dandelion root. I've chopped up the root and will roast it tomorrow to enjoy my very own cup of locally grown 'coffee'. Kind of excited about that. The hops flowers are in the freezer to be used in a relaxing tea when needed.
The long-range forecast for the current and next season, Bunuru and Djeran (autum, or roughly March -- May) is warmer than usual and also dry. I am trying to see how we can budget in a rainwater tank or two for next summer. I'm looking forward to the rain, as always at this time of year.
Failing the rain, here are the good things:
- found a ripe strawberry while watering the garden and ate it
- descaled both the washing machine and the dishwasher and cleaned the seals. That might sound very proactive of me, but I can't remember the last time I did either, so they were well overdue. However, I did feel very accomplished
- there were no eggs at the shop the other day and we were completely out and then Kid2 went hunting and found four! Woohoo!
for
1: Had a chance to download some preview songs from a cherished friend's upcoming new album... JR Richards is, as always, just... WOW.
2: Was able to cross off 8 of the 14 must-do entries on my weekend list.
3: Read that today's subzero temps are supposed to give way to 30ish by Monday.
Today I managed to dig a little hole for a little hazelnut that lived in a pot in the drive of our old rented place for nearly five years. Through heat domes and wildfires and deaths and everything else that came down the line. Today I let it put it's little feet in the dirt, and told it that it won't always be a little hazelnut. Perseverance is everything and planting it was everything I could manage today, and that's okay. Now I'm going to rest aggressively.
So this amazing little moment happened today.
I've worked with a particular guide in Bhutan for about a decade now. He's a gentle fellow and simply the best guide I've ever had. And I've had some really great guides.
Rinzi saw my project to make a TV series in Nepal, and saw my fundraising page. He offered to shout us a brekky (one of the donation options) so he could contribute.
Today is Buddhist New Year by the way. Losar Tashi Delek!
about today.
The living room is habitable again, and now boasts LED TV backlighting.
Fried mushroom sandwiches.
Sometimes travel brings you these good experiences.
Just after scolding myself in public for not taking a selfie with Iga witek, i approached a chocolate stand in the Brussels airport, where a chocolatier was offering tiny freshly-made chocolates. I asked him what he is doing I expected to hear that he made these great chocolates that I was welcome to taste.
Instead he responded: 'I live my dream. I make chocolates. Be my guest.'
With all the chaos going on, it's important to make time to embrace the things that make life worth living
Make lists of to improve your mental health.
Good things about my toenail fungus:
1. Has not spread
Good things about Donald Trump:
1. Saw my sister and nephew today, had tasty soup, and laughed!
2. 48 days in a row of starting the day with a short story instead of my phone.
3. Sci fi, just generally really glad sci fi exists!
We strive for happiness and yet it always feels like the bad things resonate longer than the good things. Why is that Or perhaps it's just me. Regardless, this question - which I aked Michaela Morgan in season 1 - i posed to Creative Director Anthony Giaccone on episode 27 in season 2:
You know you have a friend at your local Tim Horton's when the Iced Cap is *always* filled to the top of the bubble plastic cap!
Looking forward to saying hi to them again today.
Three days into my week+ long visit in . So far, Uber driver returned my left-behind Handy, connected with and (frolleagues), saw a wonderful performance, enjoyed a dinner (schmeckt lecker!) with a lively conversation about love of , battled jet lag and won (I think), revised my talk slides (again), and immersed myself in the first day of the conference. So many more yet to come!
Chaat lunch with husband! Moong dosa & fish curry - mmmmmmmmm!!!
Good tree. Good sunrise. Good dog.
Yesterday I took the afternoon off to get a haircut and have lunch with a friend. We had a tasty lunch at Della Fattoria in Petaluma, and as we were finishing, a staffer came by and offered each of us a free loaf of bread. My breakfast this morning was toasted slices of this bread along with some strawberries.
for Friday...
1. The last minute 8:30am meeting with my employer's VP was very not good news, but -- speaking very selfishly -- it did not involve me getting laid off
2. Payday
3. The general sense that I've managed to survive capitalism as long as I have. It's a game very much rigged against everyone who isn't super wealthy, and that after over 5 decades it hasn't absolutely destroyed me yet is my ongoing defiant middle finger towards a heartless system