Saturday, September 8, 2018

Notes from the back room - a little break

It's a great morning.

a few nights ago

I'm on a streak - eleven straight days of riding a bike. Last night my wife and I took a ride on rain-damp streets. We don't get out like that enough these days. There was a bit of racing - she won, but so did I. I heard her laugh. I saw mischief in her eyes.

Anonymous coffeehouse art

We've been getting rain lately, nice slow rains. Last night I read the opening pages of The Grapes of Wrath. The way Steinbeck builds the drought - a slow but powerful build and something we've seen around here enough in recent years. So every rain is a relief and a gift to be savoured. (And it's always good to be reading Steinbeck.)

More anonymous coffeehouse art

Life ain't easy, not for any of us. But it's sure nice to have days when the the joys outweigh the stress and the mundane drudgery of chores and jobs and obligations. Lord, it's nice to count the blessings.

May you know peace and joy today - no matter when you read this.

Saturday, September 1, 2018

Okay, I admit it. (The Personal Carbon Reduction fight at 50)

As the Mesquite Hugger, I don't have the fight in me I once had. My beliefs haven't changed, but my desire to fight has been rather flighty. As an environmentalist, as a Christian, and as a human being, I still want a better, safer, healthier world for all, but my arms are sure having a harder time holding up a protest sign.

Yes, I'm still on a quest for personal carbon reduction. Reducing the world's dependence on petroleum and coal will not solve all of our ills, but it's a big step in making a more livable world where we can all live and breathe, and maybe even hate each other less.

Getting older has a few perks - my wife bought me a powerful new PCR tool.
(Thank you, my love!)

I turned 50 this week. And true to form, I've been introspectorating my role in this life a little too much. These days I devote a lot more time to keeping the bills paid and caring for the people around me. (To be fair, they've been working at taking care of me more too.) (I've also had the attention span of a gnat with a bad caffeine habit.)

For the fall season, I am pushing to be healthier and stronger. Less gas, more pedaling. Less solitaire, more Steinbeck. Fewer carbs, more Seeger, Guthrie, and Ochs. Less computer, more compassion. Less batter, more Bible. (You get the picture.)

All this is to say I'm not dead yet and I'm working out to get back in shape for the fight.

May we pedal, compost, reduce, re-use, heal, and fight our way to better place.

And may you know peace.