He recommends Ayn Rand: A Sense of Life before asking, "What does it mean to have a sense of humor?"
He suggests Oliver Sacks: His Own Life.
Today I am grateful for the documentary recommendations, the book reviews, the news of catastrophe and those moments when we break through all the noise and share a laugh.
There exists a lone bullfrog who sings through the rain as if he has been through a hurricane and he's just trying to let everybody know he is safe.
I am grateful for safety and groceries and running water and electricity and refrigeration and gas and a job to go to and the people I work with and how we can continue.
She says, "You just wait. I got a story to tell at the table. It ain't good either."
Today I am grateful for the tools, the neighbors, the creeks and that trip with a futbol star when we swam till ten, bought art in the street and climbed on a log into some photos we'll keep.
"Them asleep," she looks as ghostly as she ever has.
I turn and jump, "You scared me."
Plans out the window. There's nowhere that little clicking of her toenails does not resonate and wake and it's not her fault but still it's 4:30 in the morning and Aunt Shea just needed to go to the bathroom and now she's getting the clothes folded for the big day ahead - do we really have to wake up the entire place, Millie?
Millie says yes.
Today I am grateful for how Millie makes those babies start giggling then laughing then here they come then what's for breakfast.
I am grateful for a briefly steamed thin flour tortilla, the wreckage of a skinless, boneless thigh chopped then seared and an extra sharp cheddar, shredded then sprinkled after the careful placement of a drained pico of onions, jalapeños and tomatoes. I am grateful for clean black seedless grapes and water in a heavy glass.
I am grateful for plans to nourish and be nourished.
And wow.
She wears the war paint of popsicle syrup on her face and tells fifteen elaborate tales while eating a sandwich within a five minute timespan. I am convinced that the amount of energy is the same - she just carries it around in that little frame.
Today I am grateful for plenty of work and the comedy club where she performs.
Didn't train.
Today I am grateful for the pressure of tomorrow which should have been today.
Dear me,
You suck. You are going to regret this.
Love,
me
One thing which means one piece of jewelry, one book, one whatever their parents decide is best, but I'm saying $20 plus tax should get a lovely piece of jewelry each picks for herself. We'll have snacks, chairs and blankets. We'll get dressed up, put on our jewelry and eat out on a patio that night.
We'll have a dinner read that evening.
Today I am grateful to imagine.
She recommends Harry Styles, and the boy has a beat. We're getting good reviews on the biscuits. Everybody seems happy. Though he may be suggesting less butter in the eggs.
Noted.
Today I am grateful for grand entrances, the breakfast crew, that old tree turning into a balance beam and an evening hike.
1. Can get pretty slick and wet in places - sure my footing.
2. Do a night run, fall in love with those hills.
3. They do still trade Deet at the local Dollar General. Sprayed on the bottom of my pants and on good thick Mama gave me for Christmas socks in those shoes my feet have molded over many miles - took care of the toes and ankles today.
4. Treat everything as if its the trail. Pulling those limbs helps me get up those hills. The heavier broom is building a stronger center.
5. I love my trekking poles.
6. There will be people faster than me and they'll clear those spider webs. I'm saying that'll cut five minutes off my time - giving me a chance to break.
7. Don't just push myself up the hills only to slow up on the straightaways. Pick up the speed there.
8. It's hot.
9. I hate that I'm already complaining.
10. It is possible, but I am a mouth breather. (Huberman says that I should be doing that through my nose, but... and now whining.)
Today I am grateful for possibilities, the dang cows, walking up on deer, floating limbs over a fence, air conditioning and a good nap.
I love this book and those people who gave me a simple test and called me an hour later to say that girls dinner was on but nobody at that table believed the story about the beavers.
"It was Ray Mosley," she said.
Story of the night could've got us thrown out of the place, but we all got real quiet when that food was placed on the table.
Today I am grateful for them and you and the food and tomorrow's training.
"We're going to be okay," he says.
The scare was obviously me trying to get out of the training.
The bulb gives off a golden color. The only white light comes through the windows and the screen. Rain is pouring from the edge of the roof and pounding the saw dust and the fallen trees. I am in love with the thunder, the electricity, the flashlight, the candles and the music.
Today I am grateful for a good roof.
In the lead of the Friday night story of the week 'cause you can't bring more than one story is that dastardly group of beavers who just today while I was at work came and took down some trees and I told him they got the big one. Surely we must find out how old it is.
Nothing fell on the house, and the cat was still here. So many days coming home feels like a gift.
I am grateful for home and story night and how trees can be placed nicely on the ground so sweetly.
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| These People |
Today I am grateful for an office and coworkers and jobs and tasks and deadlines and changes in the schedule. I am grateful that I get to go to work. I am grateful for the soreness in my muscles.
(And clear fingernail polish.)
I pulled the shoulder strap up my arm and over my shoulder. That somehow made my ankle hurt. My body may have suggested I not do it but it's got to saying that more lately. So I made one last call.
"What now?"
"I pulled my backpack on and my ankle hurt."
Today I am grateful for some laughs and two hours and thirty minutes of a loop.
Today's lesson: It's hot, but doable. The third loop at noon will make me hope for a rain. Half a liter of water in a two minute break. Then a liter after. Pick my feet up especially when it gets hard to. Listen.
We have to wait the whole drive there. Not for 13.6 miles can we talk about our week, but when we get to that table we find out everything. Honey barbecue on the wings, she says.
Today I am grateful for some chics.
On replay this week.
It's the 10,000 hour mark. I mastered the preparation for chicken thigh consumption.
Today I am grateful for a skillet.
Something begins to take hold on page 37 of The 50th Law.
Today I am grateful for a shower fix, a chance to say, red pepper flakes and a light rain.
Today I am grateful for pinky swears, groceries and that moment after everything is washed and put up and nearly 48 hours post return when the crickets sing and there is a sweet stillness to home.
At some point someone will have to recommit to something because that someone has a 50K.
He said, "Maybe we can just sign up for the 25."
"Are you trying to back out?"
"No. I'm just saying."
Today I am grateful for preregistration.
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| I kept asking, "Who maintains this?" The place is immaculate. |
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| Pristine. Whoever is in charge of Shelby Farms Park should get an award or something. |
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| Same goes for her. |
You know how someone's presence in this world feels so necessary and how could I ever be so greedy as to want to consume you like I do. Because where do I draw the line with you? And what can I keep of me because it's like that. So I tell myself that you simply being there is enough until I see you and my heart does not flutter. It slows and my breathing does not tremble. It deepens and that is wrong, I think, for you to do to a woman especially around children.
Today I am grateful for Friday night dinner, the garlic parmesan wings, the girls, banana pudding, counting out the tip and an after dinner swim.
Teachers, classmates, new shoes, ribbons in your hair.
Today I am grateful for the smiles and the stories.
I think I just tried to book a commission because who do I think I am but it's about a race and a finish line and we have one of those coming up and here is an opportunity to be inspired.
Today I am grateful for a broom, a mop, a camera and a race.
I think it's good to be watching the Olympics through his eyes while planning a trip to see her.
Today I am grateful for inspiration.
I know it's wrong to love food like I do but I'm going to have to stop treating it as a mental health disorder and more of possibly what this guy is saying. We'll see. I do like to consult physicians through their books, and I do like to plan dinner parties and help create huge breakfasts with leftovers.
Leftovers. People will have to take the food away, but the brisket is already contracted. It's staying.
Today I am grateful for leftovers and the monthly pilgrimage, but seriously 30 miles within 10 hours will be here soon and someone is already trying to drop out.
The brisket is a postponement considering the 50 hour sous vide followed by a 3 hour smoke. We'll talk rub but I love a chili powder and garlic and pepper with a smart salting and the pork loin he likes and it's unanimous on the fig slaw. Definitely flour, not corn. The pico I want to change to that sweet tomato relish she does at Thanksgiving, but the brother says, yes. He is in on the smoking of the 3 to 6 pound slab of fatty beef.
53 hours cooking. 52 years together.
Today I am grateful for a couple of people who are always working it out, how a faucet can magically stop dripping, air conditioning, leftovers and a seriously good nap.
When a dog gets away it's a mad rush of adrenaline in the brain. One could in that weak moment let a curse word slip but only after he crosses the threshold of his pen leaving me holding his food. And I could see it in his run. He'd made it. He'd made it. He was free.
Until that 8 year old dog whisperer forced him with only her attention to lay down and wait for her.
Today I am grateful to have help handling the chores.
