Varied Entertainments. (With a late addition.)

             I’m going to begin this post with my activity report: no biking in the (moderate) heat for me this afternoon.  We had some erranding to get done before Dan left for work, and a bit more tidiness had to happen (in preparation for our guests) here in The Burrow.  So instead, I walked later on.  My five mile route.  Very nice, very energized and pleasant.

             I haven’t marched along that entire circuit in a while, and there were some changes.  As well as wonderful (and meaningful) finds.

The first penny.

            There was another one right after this.  And before I spotted them, there was this on the sidewalk.

NOT a color found in nature.
Here, anyway.

             I also saw two plates while I was out, but one I had to capture in stealth mode.  Damn nosy neighbors!

             It looks much less suspicious if I just have my phone out, than when I’m standing at the end of someone’s driveway aiming a camera at their car.  (Whatever.)

Light and shadow play,
unintentional bonus.

             Other foreign plates were: Minnesota (you can thank Daniel for that one), Colorado, and Montana.  That’s it.  I guess all the track fans went home.

             One of the things I was thinking about while I was out today was how my attitude has changed over the past almost-year.  My feelings about movement in water have always been positive, but now I’m more a fan of so many types of outdoor activities.  Odd, just plain odd.

“Pleasure  ~

Do something just for fun.

Pleasure is one of life’s essential nutrients.”

             I’m not quite to the point of walking for FUN yet.  But I’m close.  I went out this evening because I knew I needed to move more than I had done earlier in the day.  (Evidently cleaning is a calorie burner, news to me.  I just know I still hate it.)  Other than the cats in this one, I don’t mind the illustration too much.  The colors and tones are very nice (except, again, for the animals).

             When we do things that make us feel good, we are uplifted.  When we do things to help others, we are uplifted.  All of the things I keep reading say, and I’m finding it true in my own life, that when we move around, we are also uplifted.   So, really, there is no reason why we can’t help ourselves to feel improved, if even for a moment.

             Speaking for my own emotionally tumultuous self elf, I’ve been doing all three of these.  Preparing things around here for Han’s visit, going outside and moving around, and later on, when my work is done, reading for my own entertainment.  They all help, briefly.  The cool part is, they help for longer and longer periods of time.

             In gratitude news, I’d like to thank everyone who passed my info along.  Thank you.  For sharing that the work I do is valid, and for showing up here every day to see what my next ridiculous move will be.  I appreciate it more than I can say.

             ACK!  This just in!  My computer is coming home next week.  I am SO excited.  There will be pictures, I promise.  (Thanksthanksthanks Michelle and Barbara, my sisters-in-California.  Again.  Some more.)

Today’s Deck:

Self-Care Cards by Cheryl Richardson

             Oops, almost forgot.  When Barb* was here I took her past the pool, and we gaped at one of the yard projects I’m keeping my eye on.  Here’s the progress report as of today.

*Go to her place and take a peek at her summer adventure pictures.

Lookin’ good.

             Everything on the left side of that driveway (which is not painted gray, and is not a plant or tree) is new, including the cement, the stairs, the big deck-porch dealie, and that pop-out entry way.  I wish I knew them, I’m dying to see inside.  (And walk up the steps, too.)

LateNight Travel Update:

just got word that my Hurricane was driving through a thunder and lightning storm with the dogs in a rental car.  Her ETA is about the same time her father takes lunch.  Yipee!

             Here is our Daily Dog (crap I hit PUBLISH before this went up).

Max!

             It came via text from Emmy while we were madly trying to get shit done.  “This is what helping looks like.”