The sidewalks rub my feet as I walk by...

That's his Song about that. Or is that his Logic?

Painters start scraping just before 8 a.m. I really hope they're taking tomorrow off, 'cause I'm really looking forward to sleeping in.

84 txt msgs ths mth. Woah. I feel like one of those young'uns!

Is there any way that I could keep from getting knots in my upper back ever again?

Successful day!

A whopping 500 calories per slice!

...has Pecan pie, or so says The Biggest Loser! I, also, am looking forward to a mellow Thanksgiving with K & J.

A really satisfying class today.

Dad understanding immediately (and with his boisterous laugh) what the ethical issue is, and admitting to his culpability.

After Thanksgiving sale starts at 4 a.m.? Ugh. What is this world coming to?

Looking forward to exciting groupie work tomorrow!

Monday

Feeling a little uncertain about whether my move to an office-with-a-window-view was really the right move, but I did it and it's too late to undo it, so here goes...

Rallying without much effort to hear Scott at the Baja open-mic tonight; carried with me few expectations and loads of enthusiasm, and was impressed, really impressed. Yes. Yes.

Loving the news that Ted is in love with his new pup, Java. Really loving that news.

Working my way towards better understanding of why I don't like the person that I don't like: I think it's (in part) 'cause said person is a know-it-all who doesn't let people finish their stories. And, so reflecting on my self, I remember that I often need to remind myself to listen more. In the listening, you learn how fascinating people are and expand your own possibilities.

Making progress on my papers and knowing that I need to do a lot of focusing in the next 3 weeks to get it all done. Because, it goes one step at a time.

Thankful weekend

A whole series of old friends turn 30 this month: Patrick, Sara, Christena, Kristi. Exciting times.

Saturday full of goodness: a feel-good run on an exciting new route; Bodo's with a growing, laughing group; LaTaza for Honeybush brew, more Paul Farmer reading and chatting with Christie; quick stop downtown and then taking Carolyn's advice and going with the day as it presented itself. First ever watch (or read) of Harry Potter is pretty decent, after all, and then thankfully almost losing my voice just in time for Karaoke. Scott sings "Talk dirty to me" - what a hoot!

Feeling not so great this morning, though cough syrup w/ codeine helped me sleep a solid 7 hours. Up for tea, then back to bed until 1:30. Grateful that 2 cups of coffee, 1000 mg of Tylenol and an icepacked neck quickly kicks the headache to the curb. Thanks to Sister for the nursing advice.

Soaking up what's left of the day's sun, it's warm enough to sit on the porch in a t-shirt. Thinking about... this is what it's like to live in a peaceful land: girl says 'hi' as she meanders down the street; I noticed the grass blowing in the breeze and wonder if I should mow to mulch the leaves or rake; the sun casts an orange glow on the trees and house just-so at this time of the day.

Sending positive thoughts to Devon, who I think by now has played her first night opening for Lucinda Williams, and feeling confident that she's showing London that she is indeed the badass she was born to be.

Thankful that this is a short work week and that I don't have to travel either.

As I watch life begin to measure years...

Thinking about...

...how it's the mid-point of the month and wondering where all the time went.

...a 5 year plan for the first time in my life?

...a young lady's tragic passing in my town this month.

...fantastic supper club conversations!

...4th day of a sore throat, and thankful that the house painters and the Boys let me sleep until 1 p.m.

...sister's prolific blogging this week, and the fabulous optimism of today's.

...friend's successes, supporting big names in far away places!

...PK's 30th birthday and my enduring love for him.

...endless vivid and crazy dreams this week.

...blogger's inoperable spellchecker.

Celebrations

Email Message to Roomie

Great chapter, K. The Thai script came through no problem. I didn't have to do anything on my laptop or my work computer in order to read it. I like seeing the pictures too. Looking at the one of you (self-took, I guess) I feel like you are right where you are suppose to be right now.

I'm sitting on the couch with my feet on the ottoman right now. TV's turned on for background noise. The washing machine is agitating downstairs, and the furnace also likes to grumble now that it's cold enough to turn itself on and off. I feel like it's my friendly monster down in the basement who's just shaking it up a little bit to say hello. The house is a wreck. The dishes won't stay washed, there's stuff all over the living room and there's laundry on the bathroom floor. Things are clean, just scrubbed the bathroom this morning and mopped the kitchen this weekend. You'd laugh to see the place in such disarray, though. Also, the mums on the front porch? Well, they've been dead for weeks. It's a laughing shame really. Who has time for all this stuff, anyway! :)

Had a good week. My neck is finally starting to feel healthy again - it's been a long six weeks - and just in time for me to start training for the 10 Miler. The race is 5 months away, so it's plenty long for me to really take it easy on my runs for a while. I'm meeting some girl friends for a run in the morning, and looking forward to it.

Heaving thinking about what to do with my life. I can't decide: nursing school or a Master's degree. A Master's might take me to Austin for a few years, or Portland, or Columbia (SC) or Atlanta. Austin or Portland seem exciting. Anyway, I keep reminding myself of the philosophy: there are no wrong choices. I'm glad we were able to tease that out enough this summer for it to sink in, or at least come to mind during times like these.

How are things with Aui?

Love.
Cat

I will write you letters...

Still loving that live Frames album (esp the first 3 tracks)...

Loving the feel of crisp 30 degree morning air - can't wait to run in it again! Plans for 10 Miler training in the morning with C and C(?).

A chuckle from D's blog because it demonstrates so well how much there is to learn from people, about taking life easy and having a sense of humor, all the while being quite sincere, and honest.

Finishing up 6th week of chiropractic care, and finally feeling good again - big thanks to Jimmy the massage therapist.

Thankful for the boys.

Tuesday

Way too much to do at work. And, tomorrow's class is throwing off my sleep-wake rhythm and that's bumming me out.

Class was great. The read was great, the discussion was great. Tying together Farmer's ideas about structural violence and seeing how that played out in Lia's life. Fish Soup. And C's exercise showed me why PIH has always made so much sense to me: whatever it takes.

Thinking about what I'm going to do with my life gets heavy all of a sudden.

Another batch of homemade soup. Even without K's secret soup secrets, it turned out pretty good. Love those little pastas in the bottom of the bowl. But, for the record: I'd still love to know the secrets, K. (And, also, I know how you LOVE that I abbreviate names.)

Phone messages are screwing up. Twice, I haven't gotten one message until a second has been left. Erg. Sister: I just today got your message about Xmas plans!!

Happy Birthday to KG! Enjoy Vegas!

Starting anew

Working on letting go of bad addictions and reclaiming good ones.

Two mornings in a row of early-to-rise-early-to-work. And, remarkably productive today.

After-work run, and filling out the 10 Miler Training Program questionnaire - it looks a lot different this year than it did two years ago! Ready to get back in the groove after what's turned out to be an entire year off.

First ever attempt at homemade soup: take two. Adding crushed tomatoes and organic vegetable broth saves yesterday's near disaster! Sweet potato, carrots, kale!, corn, onion, salt, pepper, and a hint of cayenne pepper. Yum.

Googling my grandmother's name uncovers history. Asking about history, Mom sends me a long story about her growing-up years. So glad to read about it.