I have a good dog. He’s cute and loyal and fairly obedient. He can be a goof. When he zooms around the house, he does an excellent impression of a bull in a china shop. Every week he seems to open up a bit more and show more of his personality. This past week he’s…
WingFest
On Thursday night, under the fading light of dusk, I sat listening to music at an outdoor show / wingfest. There were probably a few hundred people at the concert. The lines for everything (especially the wings) were long. About half-way through the event they started running out of the good beer. I don’t think…
Savannah
To date, most of my trips down south have been on the grittier side of travel. There have been hikes in the Smokies and rural Virginia, as well as trips to Memphis and Clarksdale for delta blues, bbq, and what always feels like something slow and of the soil. This past week I took a…
Carefree Sparkle and Fade
My parents have been visiting this week – well two of the four of them. The intention was for them to help out (be around) as contractors came to pour a concrete slab and then an HVAC company would come and replace the AC unit. It’s been hot and crowded (compared to what I’m accustomed…
Living a Good Life, Part 26
we were in that dark forever—it seemed—and now we’re out and life is new and full of possibility, opportunity, do-overs. We can be bruised but healing and smiling. We can love everyone if we want. -Jennifer Jean Rattle June 22, 2021 When I’m disciplined enough to pull my eyes away from the time-suck that is…
Sunday Hike: Golden Eagle Trail
I went for a hike this weekend. Actually, I got out quite a bit. On Friday, I met up with a colleague and his girlfriend for dinner – after which we went to his friend’s house for a fire pit (where I quickly befriended a hefty pit bull named Tank). On Saturday I went downtown…
The Importance of Good Beginnings
The dog was amped up for the morning walk on Thursday – or maybe it was Wednesday. As soon as we stepped out the door, a squirrel ran across our path. I made Kimbrough sit and settle down, but when we started again, he was pulling and a little bonkers. I imagined fireworks of adrenaline…
Old Dog, New Tricks
Today was our first day of dog training – which was probably more about Matt training than it was Kimbrough training. For the pup… well, he did great and got way more treats than he would normally get in an hour. For me, I recognized some of my weaknesses and failures as a human being…
Slip Slidin’ Away
I know a womanBecame a wifeThese are the very words she usesTo describe her lifeShe said a good dayAin’t got no rainShe said a bad day’s when I lie in bedAnd think of things that might have been -Paul Simon “Slip Slidin’ Away” These are the things that seldom get said out loud – the…
Looking for Third Spaces
The daily struggle continues. It seems silly to call it a struggle (comparatively speaking). First world problems of privilege and comfort – finding time to read, write, exercise… feeling guilty because each evening I let chunks of time slip by. I wrote a little this weekend (mostly what’s below). I’ve exercised a few days in…
A Short Appreciation
that’s how it goes when your head and heart
are in different time zones–
you often don’t find out till tomorrow
what you felt today.
Guarding Time
I had just started to exercise when my dad called. I didn’t answer. I saw the little notification that I had a call. Then another one – he left a message. The guilt of not answering, the new obligation to call back…. it ate at me. I tried to focus on exercising and could feel…