Just 40 Days

Do you have a morning routine?   I have a work day one:  5:30 wake up, let the dog out, make coffee,  feed dog,  [drink coffee and play WWF, DWB, and perhaps read fb].  Shower and get dressed. Pack lunch - repeat [bracket].  Leave for work around 7.  On the weekends: 5:30 dog wakes up and I let him on my bed (he sleeps in his own) and tell him it's the weekend and we'll get up later, which is usually around 7 or so.  Then I follow my work day routine although I try to get a workout in and shower before 10. Routines provide stability.  They make us feel safe.  They are good for the soul.

I need to breathe.  I need to meditate more.  I wish that I would not let what other people do effect me. I'm usually pretty good at keeping focused on my task of helping others with their technology...but Yes I said But.  Lately, my patience has not been with me.  I'm finding the need to vent my frustrations more often than not.  Usually, I'm not frustrated so that in itself is causing me more turmoil.

I can do this!

This weekend my family all gathered at Lake Wawasee.  Justine & Steve graciously invited us up for a family vacation.  We brought air mattresses, tents, and sleeping bags.  And Mary Lynne flew in from Houston.  We all arrived at different times.  Derrick & Mary Lynne arrived on Thursday while Carly and I came after school on Friday. We had a bon fire and made s'mores. Paul arrived early Saturday morning after he got off work Friday night.  All of us were here together for breakfast this morning.  We took an afternoon and evening boat ride.  We ended the evening with a competitive game of UNO power grab!  (And I won! ---- Ha ha Paul!)  Life is good!

Just when I thought today was going to be rushed, mother nature came through with a fog.  All the schools followed with a two hour delay.  Believe me, my first thought was to go back to sleep, but I had gone to bed early and really didn't need any more. So I made coffee! I threw in a load of laundry.  I played words with friends.  I tweeted.  I fed Aiden.  I drank more coffee.  I paid bills.  I packed my lunch and thought about what food I will take to the lake with me this weekend.  I read my facebook wall.  I ate some cantaloupe.  I watched CBS this morning.  I let Carly sleep in.  I switched the laundry from washer to dryer and put in another load.  And now I'm writing this blog and thinking about a cat-nap before I have to wake Carly up and start getting ready for work...in 36 minutes. If you are ever given a gift of more time...try not to waste it!

My go to dictionary, Meriam Websters says that a distraction is something that makes it difficult to think or pay attention.  Or something that amuses or entertains you so that you do not think about problems, work, etc.  Or a state in which you are very annoyed or upset.   I'm not sure which definition fits my distraction today.

I ran into my neighbor Randy while walking my dog at the neighborhood park.  I've hardly seen him since spring.  It was nice to catch up as we walked three laps. The best part, was the distraction...hearing about other people's lives.  The weird thing is, the story he was telling was familiar. He had jury duty last week and somehow ran into my dad!  It turns out that my dad knew the jurist sitting next to Randy.  He called my dad Uncle Chuck.  After describing him to me, I guessed that it was my cousin Joe.  Randy said, yes that's right, his name was Joe.  So Randy is sharing this story...a story I already know about because it's about my dad.    Small world!