The Zoo Book

via Daily Prompt: Zoo September, 1973. I arrive at Carleton College as a freshman. One of the items we are given during our orientation is the “zoo book”, a small book containing the names and photos of the members of the class of 1977. In most cases, the photos appear to be our high school graduation […]

Snippets from a Morning Person

via Daily Prompt: Snippet I’m a morning person by nature. I recall getting up early for summer band practice, being up and making my breakfast while the rest of the household slept, and then walking to school. All before 7am, which is a bit unusual for a 12 year old. A few years later, my […]

Maybe

via Daily Prompt: One-Way With this for the daily prompt, I feel compelled to once again post my favorite sign: As a traffic direction, I find this wanting. As a reminder that our options are often less limited than we might believe, I find it useful. A college classmate of mine was the oldest child […]

Good-night, Sweet Prince.

“Now cracks a noble heart. Good-night, sweet prince; and flights of angels sing thee to thy rest.” William Shakespeare, Hamlet. Today we said good-bye to Jules the cat. He arrived in our lives more than 19 years ago, along with his sister Lucy. He’s been a wonderful fellow, even tempered, easy going. Such a sweet […]

Skyfire

Early sunset calls Eyes to the sky. Stop and watch Stunning sky fire. The past few weeks, our weather conditions have been such that we have had gorgeous sunrises and sunsets. Scattered clouds, low moisture, the angle of the sun. I’m not sure which are the essentials, but they’ve been gorgeous. Last weekend, a number […]

Underdog

Appearing as the daily prompt, on Saturday morning, no less: Underdog! As kids, we were pretty limited in our TV watching. First off, there wasn’t a lot to watch, as with our antenna in the attic and a hill between out house and the transmitters, we only got two channels: 4, which was an NBC […]

Tri this: Month 5

I’ve been at this triathlon training project for five months now. The newness has worn off, and as I mentioned in Tri This: Month 4, one of my current challenges is finding the rhythm of training that works for the long haul. I’ve been working out regularly, 5 or 6 days a week, and I’m noticing […]

Thanks

It is the season for thanks, connection and all manner of challenges for some. That may be what I am most thankful for: that my challenges feel manageable to me. I have the great good fortune that the day to day struggles of survival are not a big issue in my life. I can’t take […]

Mercy

having compassion despite the option to hurt choosing love often via Daily Prompt: Mercy <a href=”https://dailypost.wordpress.com/prompts/mercy/”>Mercy</a>

Nest

We have solar panels on our roof. They’ve been up there over 10 years now, and in the summer, we make a lot more power than we use, and while during winter we run a deficit, our net usage is around 1000 kW hours per year, about an 80 percent reduction. The panels have worked […]

Sludge

what remains after mining, brewing, and flooding stinky oozing mud via Daily Prompt: Sludge Sludge

Animal Haiku Challenge

Engaging us still, The old cat limps on, yowling Where’s dinner? You’re late! http://cactushaiku.com/wk-3-come-join-animal-senryu-haiku-tanka-challenge/

Particular

Yes, that’s me in many respects. For example, I am very particular about where I keep my keys. This habit developed nearly 40 years ago. I’d given my roommate a ride to the airport; he was off to visit his girlfriend for the weekend. I was now on the north side of Chicago and decided […]

Honk, take two.

via Daily Prompt: Honk Okay, I admit it. I’m easily entertained by the minor oddities and surprises of life. I encountered another little surprise this morning while out for my run. As I mentioned a bit ago, in Season of Change, the recreation center near me is undergoing a major renovation and expansion. Any time I […]

Honk

via Daily Prompt: Honk Annoying from cars Pleasing and connecting when Geese announce through fog <a href=”https://dailypost.wordpress.com/prompts/honk/”>Honk</a>

Weed Eaters

Yesterday morning was beautiful; sunny and mild, with a light breeze. This is the kind of day when I love to be outside. So I took myself up to Davidson Mesa for my run. The day was prettier than I felt, which was stiff and a little awkward, as I caught my foot twice on […]

Cat Tales–Waylon

Sunday is laundry and change the sheets day at our house. As I removed a load of sheets from the dryer this morning, there was an ancient purple sheet in the mix. BA is a weaver, and is currently working on rag rugs; the purple sheet was being prepared for its next incarnation. Looking at […]

Living with Elder Cats, part 2

One of my first posts when I began blogging was about my cats, Jules and Lucy, in Living with Elder Cats. Lucy has made two subsequent appearances in The Cat Crunchie Caper and Elevate. Today its Jules’ turn. As I mentioned when I introduced him, Jules has arthritis in his hips, which makes sitting a very laborious process as […]

Gingerly

via Daily Prompt: Gingerly gingerly: with care ginger: red, warming, spicy perhaps ginger lee? <a href=”https://dailypost.wordpress.com/prompts/gingerly/”>Gingerly</a>

Frosted Haiku

via Daily Prompt: Dancing Icy fog cloaks all Silent, cold. The sun cuts in. Welcome nature’s dance. <a href=”https://dailypost.wordpress.com/prompts/dancing/”>Dancing</a>

Faint

Faint. Weak, pale, difficult to discern. A trace or clue, a shadow. Losing or lost consciousness. The still small voice of wisdom. It’s there, pay attention! <a href=”https://dailypost.wordpress.com/prompts/faint/”>Faint</a>

Panning Panacea

via Daily Prompt: Panacea Ah, the cure-all. That one thing that will fix everything. In my professional life, this gets called a “salvation fantasy”. If this event occurs (I lose weight, get the job, Dad is happy, the cancer is cured, I meet and fall in love with the person of my dreams, etc., etc.), […]

Favorite Eggs

via Daily Prompt: Egg <a href=”http://Egg“>Egg Eggs are one of my favorite foods, likely the animal product most difficult for me to give up, were I to go vegan. This morning, we had one of our favorite breakfasts, a poached egg perched atop a patty of Indian-spiced sweet potatoes, a thin slice of grilled ham, […]

Daily Prompt: Neighbors

Neighbors Proximity implied Close. How close? Too close, not close enough? You decide. via Daily Prompt: Neighbors <a href=”https://dailypost.wordpress.com/prompts/neighbors/”>Neighbors</a>

The Idea vs Reality

The idea of doing something as opposed to the reality of what is really involved. This comes up a lot in life, and I notice it quite a bit in sports. As I’ve been blogging about my experiences as a beginning triathlete, I’ve received support from a number of other athletes, some are bloggers; some […]

T.H.I.N.K.

This acronym appeared on my town’s community Facebook page this morning. There’s been a little bit of bad-mouthing and haranguing going on recently, and a reminder of the groups intentions and standards was posted. As I read the reminder, I was thinking about the THINK acronym, as I sensed it was pertinent. Trying to recall […]

Mystery

via Daily Prompt: Mystery So many mysteries. My inner toddler inquires Why? The jaded, busy adult often ignores, claiming she “knows the difference*” Its a mystery, not my responsibility. But is it? A mystery? Inquiry first, then acceptance. Acceptance of mystery invites enjoyment Hmmmm. *from The Serenity Prayer, written by theologian Reinhold Neibuhr in […]