Crap. Our thirty-year-old furnace gave up the ghost. So I’m waiting for someone to give us an estimate for a new one. Thankfully, I dragged my feet on getting a new deck—the one taken out by the ice dam. The one that insurance covered. I’ll be able to use that money to replace the furnace. Next year I’ll look at financing a new deck.
Because, you know – I’m committed.
NO! Not to an institution, you jerks. To running. I’m committed to running.
Everyone’s a comedian.
Yes, I’m up. I’ve been up since 5:25 AM when Smokey decided to step on the Apple remote and turn on the TV. The little shit. Of course, she was attempting to knock things off of elevated surfaces because she wanted her morning treats.
So, I’ve managed to get through my morning routine. That includes finishing my two cups of coffee. Next? I’m contemplating a run. I’d go on a bicycle ride, but 49 degrees is just too chilly. I’ll probably end up going for a run.
Oh, speaking of Smokey, here she is sitting on the stone table watching for the red squirrel she treed earlier. It was chattering away in anger on the tree in the background as this picture was taken.
I paced myself based on my breathing. I ignored all other cues. No heart rate announcements, no pace announcements. Just paying attention to my breathing. As a result I ended up with my second best performance since switching to Strava to monitor my exercise.
A run, walk and bike ride.
It never feels good. We can embrace it, yet it still feels uncomfortable. We can accept it is happening, yet we still feel vulnerable. We can hope for the best, but it will always be messy and uncontrollable. At best, we can be mindful and let go of our expectations.
Fight change and suffer. Be unhappy. Be angry. Be afraid.
Accept change and be unsure, afraid, and powerless.
Yes, whether you accept change or fight change you will be afraid.
Whatever is happening to you, are you paying attention?
I’ve spent my Sunday Morning playing around with WordPress Themes. I’ve settled on the Sandalwood Theme. Simple, uncomplicated, and modern. Plus, I added a picture of Two Harbors, Minnesota, to the header. It’s taken from the breakwater barrier. Tina and I had a picnic there a year or so ago. Afterward, we took a walk to the end of the barrier. There are a few other pictures from that day.
Sigh. Yes, I’m up. I’ve had my coffee. Now to go out into the world and adult. Okay, change of question: who invented adulting?
I’m doing okay. I struggled mid-sleep time but, for the most part, slept well enough. The week begins, and I’m up for the challenge. However, I’ve yet to finish my coffee. Still, I’ll hold onto my hope and see what the day brings.
The rest of you be on your best behavior. I’d tell you all to behave, but that’s asking for more than can be expected. Instead, be Zen about the day. If you can’t behave than at least go all out in whatever behavior you are going to engage in today. It probably is all I can ask.
The question I keep asking myself – what’s the use of writing about politics? What purpose is there in pointing out the inconsistencies, the hypocrisies, and the outright lies of the current administration?
I started blogging in 2003, writing about everything political, hoping against hope things would change. And for eight years, I held out hope. I had hope that compassion, acceptance, and inclusion would win out.
And then 2016 rolled around, and all my hopes turned to horror. I have watched over these last three years as racists, white nationalists, and bigots freely walked the White House’s halls. Hell, the crafting of policies occurred with them seated at the table. Meanwhile, twitters released daily, barely lacking qualities of an educated pre-schooler, are enflaming the uneducated and intellectually lazy masses.
I had, for a few years anyway, hope that love would govern the day. It is not to be so. Instead, hate, fear, and insecurity rule this era.
People holding the idea that the Office of the President of the United States being nothing more than a seat for a puppet surely have not been paying attention. Shit indeed runs downhill.