As I type, it is early on Saturday. I can hear birds out my windows, chirping and calling to the dawn. It is a good thing the windows are closed, as the heat and humidity outside, even at this time, is close to unbearable. Today will be another day of triple digit temperatures where I live. My weather app shows no end in sight, and no relief, from this type of weather. September will come before a cooler climate settles here. But I am unconcerned: air conditioning is a wonderful invention.
I am looking forward to a slower day today, a day of rest and relaxation. I have an appointment later this morning, but after that, not much is scheduled. Taking it easy is the name of today’s game. After all, I have been working hard on the job and at my parent’s old house for several weeks. They are moving, have mostly moved, to a new house, and at work we had a new senior staff member be hired and there was much to do for their arrival. Happy is the man that has things to do, but I am glad at the moment to have both tasks mostly behind me.
It is dark here in this room, what my wife and I call “the office” but what is really a craft slash hobby room. (We should have a better name for it, I suppose). She has a table set up for painting, and I have an easel for my painting and a table for my photography and making. There is a desk to my left, but it is covered at the moment with crochet cactus, an enduring craft hobby of my wife’s. She loves to crotchet, and currently is obsessed with making little succulents and larger saguaro type cactus. Along one wall there is an open window, where I can see trees and the brightening morning sky. Perpendicular is another, larger window that at the moment is dark. I installed mini blinds last night, and they are yet closed. Finally, the other wall has two IKEA chairs where we mostly hang out. Her crocheting or working on listing crafts online to sell. Me to watch baseball on my iPad, or write, or read, or just relax and be close to her. I love this room.
I installed blinds for several reasons: one, the window was perpetually “open” to the neighborhood, and thus we had little privacy, especially at night. This is a second floor room, but from a distance we realized anyone could gaze into the room and see our goings on. Two, the aforementioned heat. This window receives quite a bit of light, and with it the warmth of the sun. We want to be able to see out, but also block sunlight when necessary, so blinds made more sense over curtains. Three, it makes this room a little brighter at night, with the lamp light reflecting off the white blinds. We purchased cordless blinds, and I must say they are wonderful. Installation was a bit of doing, but only because I used my screwdriver instead of a drill. The process was quite easy. I am happy that my skills as a handy-man are improving, but it also seems that equipment is made to install easier. Between the two, I do ok, having managed to install a TV mount a few years ago that has yet to fall off the wall, and do a few other things around the house. Satisfaction comes with being able to do the little things for yourself, at least for me.
A dog started barking just now. I think she is the black dog that lives next door; I am uncertain of her breed. She must have woke and seen a squirrel or a stray cat. We have many of both, surprising given the predator-prey relationship between the two feral varmints, but there you go. At any rate, the dog has become a bit of a nuisance herself, lately removing herself from her yard and trotting over to ours. Our roommate was recently viciously attacked by (other) dogs, and is a bit shy of wandering canines at the moment. Spot, I believe this dog is called, is gentle, but there is still the understandable uncertainty surrounding an animal one doesn’t know. My wife was forced to call animal control as the family next door seems unconcerned about the fate of their dog. Again, that surprises me. Why would you have an animal you don’t care for? She is barking again, and another dog in the neighborhood is responding. It reminds me of the Twilight Barking from 101 Dalmatians.
My day proper will have to begin soon. My morning routine is comforting. I didn’t think I was one for the routine, but such things are like a easy chair and a quiet dog on the lap: they help to settle me down. Anxiety can often creep into my mind, and knowing what to do, and when, keeps that at bay. I check my blood sugar; I take my morning medication; I drink a protein shake, and I’m done. Easy, simple, and yes, comforting. I do what I can to take care of myself, maybe not as much as I should, but is that not true of us all? But it helps to get my morning off right. Thankfulness is mine for modern medicine that can help identify problems with my health, and at the same time, offer solutions to manage those problems. In the before times, I would worry excessively about health, and other things, but since I nearly died from Covid a while ago, I take a day at a time, and try not to worry so much. I learned then that I really have no control over death and life ultimately. Still, I take the meds and try not to eat too much sugar, but I don’t worry so much about it. It is helpful for me to routinely do what I can, and let things sort themselves out as they will.
Hopefully today will be as quiet and relaxing as I think. I need a little of that right now. I saw a movie yesterday, Thor: Love and Thunder, and that was a perfect way to spend a few hours. The movie wasn’t perfect, but the time spent in the IMAX theater was. Today I have my appointment, then maybe painting a Star Wars figure, taking a toy photograph, sitting quietly with my wife, and I don’t know what else. That part is exciting: never knowing quite what will take place. But about time to get about it, I think. Time to open the blinds, stretch, and go downstairs to begin my routine. It is a good morning.
a simple man 