Happy Friday the Thirteenth

 It has been about 50 weeks since I looked at my FitBit app and realized that I had reached my daily 10,000 step count goal every day for two weeks.  I decided that since I was on a roll, I should try for a month.  That goal stretched.  Since August 13, 2020 through today, August 13 2021 I have reached that 10,000 step a day goal every single day.  This was not a small achievement for me.  I have walked around in circles in the house on many, many occasions this last year to reach that 10,000 step goal.  

This is most of the last year by month.

This is most of the year before.

Will I continue to put emphasis on reaching that goal?  I don't know, probably.  There have been many days that I have not felt like getting my steps in, but I still did them.  That is when walking around in circles in the house came in handy.  Other happy things for today include:

• While mowing today I hit a praying mantis.  I think it got out of the way fast enough to be okay.

• Keziah called me to come outside to see some birds that were circling out back.  They were much higher by the time I got outside.  I'm fairly certain that they were eagles.

• Zed snuggling up to Winston.

☮

Currently reading: Backpacking: A Hedonist’s Guide, by Rick Greenspan and Hal Kahn.

Thank you for being part of my happy things. Stay safe.

Happy Thursday the Twelfth

Arriving at work this morning I was informed that I would be learning a position.  After some training I got started.  A few minutes in, the trainer working with me lets me know that he gets more steps in doing this job (P2B) than what I had been doing (stow).  Leaving work before I had between 18 and 20,000 steps.  Today I had a little over 27,000 steps.  So, wow.  Since the first 30-45 minutes I was training, and thus not moving much, I expect to have even more on a normal day.  I'm happy to be learning new things and finding different muscles to exercise.  Other happy things for today:

• The other day I enrolled in a webinar about hiking the Appalachian Trail.  That was today and I was mostly able to stay awake for it.  After working all night, staying awake in the afternoon is hard.  It was an informative webinar.  They were also offering guided hikes.  
• There was a small meeting with a few people tonight concerning our SCA event that happens in January.  Due to all the things happening currently with the virus that is causing the pandemic, we have decided to cancel it for the second year in a row.  I am happy that this decision has been made.  I know that I didn't want to go.  
• Thursday is the last day of my work week.  Yay!  Weekend!  

☮

Currently reading: Backpacking: A Hedonist’s Guide, by Rick Greenspan and Hal Kahn.


Thank you for being part of my happy things. Stay safe.

Fruit

 There was another observation at work today and they gave me more swag dollars.  I'm being told that I have a lot of potential.  Part of me is very happy about this.  Another part thinks I should go back to school and get some training in something that isn't working in a warehouse pushing packages.  Truth is, if I knew what I wanted to do, I could do both.  With income comes the ability to pay for some education.  I'm not willing to take out loans at this point in my life.  The other thing that I would need though is time.  Ah well, I'll just keep dreaming.  Other happy things for today:

• After work I suggested to Keziah that we take a few minutes to take care of the peaches.  With the massive amount of rain we had the last few weeks many of the peaches rotted.  We still have enough good ones for Keziah to make a peach cobbler.  There is also a big part of the tree left to be harvested.

Keziah, picking.

• The apples might be ready to pick too.  

There are many more than just this one,
I just liked this picture.

• Today is the last day of the "dog days of summer."  

☮

Currently reading: Backpacking: A Hedonist’s Guide, by Rick Greenspan and Hal Kahn.

Thank you for being part of my happy things. Stay safe.

Happy dog

As usual, I didn't sleep as well as I was hoping on Monday.  Ideally that will mean that I will sleep well today.  This working most of the night thing is certainly taking some time to get used to.  I used to be able to sleep anywhere.  Since I feel like I could sleep now, this will be short.  Other than being tired when I am supposed to be, here are a few happy things for today:

• I found a good use for masks today, other than to help prevent the spread of disease.  While moving some heavy boxes today I know I made some super weird faces that couldn't be seen!  🤣
• Look at that doggy and how happy he seems.

☮

 

Currently reading: Backpacking: A Hedonist’s Guide, by Rick Greenspan and Hal Kahn.

Thank you for being part of my happy things. Stay safe.

Swag

 On Mondays I try to get up around 4:00 AM so I am able to sleep in the afternoon to get to work Tuesday for 1:20 AM.  This morning when I looked at my phone I had a message, sent at 2:00 AM, from work offering volunteer extended time at 4:00 AM today.  I looked to see if anyone actually volunteered.  The time had changed to 5:00 AM, I guess there were no volunteers.  I thought about it, got up, got ready, and there was time for me to get there.  I went to work for five hours.  For being able to help them out one of the managers let me choose from the entire collection of swag available.  I chose a bandana.  

It is reversible,
the other side has branding.

Other happy things for today:

• I was home early enough to get more lawn mowed.  The amount we have to mow seems never ending, but we have a yard sale again this weekend so I need to get it all done.
• Keziah spent some time organizing games today with a new-to-us bookshelf.

One bookshelf is still not enough!

• One of the things I meant to do this afternoon was to shop for some work food and something to hold my glasses onto my head.  I forgot.  After a brief search I found a chain to hold my glasses around my neck if they fall off.  This is important since we are wearing masks at work now and my glasses are old and don't like to stay on over the mask.  Ideally this will mean I don't break my glasses. 

They are just a little bent.

☮

Currently reading: Backpacking: A Hedonist’s Guide, by Rick Greenspan and Hal Kahn.


Thank you for being part of my happy things. Stay safe.

Rain

Stepping outside for the walk to the compost pile I was struck by the smell of rain.

Walking through the yard, the air cooler than the house, tiny droplets kissed my skin.

Those two sentences remind me that I haven't written any rhymes this year.  Maybe one in January or February, but not the one a week or month that I had hoped for.  All we got for rain were a few tiny droplets.  I'm happy I was able to experience them.  

Other happy things for today:

• Before the rains were supposed to arrive I got some more of the lawn mowed.  That will be a chore for the rest of the week, to get the yards looking good for next weekend.  It was just Gideon and myself at home again with the animals.  Last time Aesop, our new puppy, bit Gideon just enough to leave marks.  This time I put Aesop on the run and gave him a rawhide chew to keep him happy.  It worked long enough that the battery on the mower was mostly dead by the time he was no longer entertained with the treat.  Yay!  

• As for Aesop and the cats... they might be getting closer to tolerating each other.  There is still hissing from them, but they are willing to be in the same room.  Progress!

Excuse the dirty laundry... it's,
you know, the laundry room.

• Often the happy things are small like hard boiled eggs coming out perfect, making breakfast potatoes from leftover French fries, or talking on the phone with a friend.
• Keziah and I walked Aesop before bedtime.  I'm loving the light up collar she got for him.

☮

Currently reading: Backpacking A Hedonist’s Guide, by Rick Greenspan and Hal Kahn.

Thank you for being part of my happy things. Stay safe.

Lazy Saturday

 This was such a lazy day.  Perhaps the heat contributed to my lack of wanting to accomplish things. I did do a few things.  Zed walked the dog, Aesop, this morning so I tried to play with the cats.  Zed and Keziah went off to help some friends and Gideon and I stayed home with the animals.  The van broke down so I got things ready to go help them out, then waited to find out that I didn't need to.  Other friends were able to help them out and AAA got the van to a shop.  Happily, the van got repaired and they have it back.  Other happy things for today:

• Aesop likes people.  It may seem small, but it is so important for us who go to events with lots of people.

• In the late afternoon I made it out of the house to run errands.  This put me in the right place to see the beginnings of the setting sun.

The picture is a blurry mess!
Thankfully the live, in person version was lovely.

• Zed and I stopped at the ice cream shop while walking Aesop.  He got a doggy dessert!

☮

Currently reading: Backpacking A Hedonist’s Guide, by Rick Greenspan and Hal Kahn. 

Thank you for being part of my happy things. Stay safe.