Miscellaneous Missives

I'm crushing it.  Today I actually finished most of my shopping although I didn't realize how well I had done until I unpacked my bags from Small Business Saturday.  I wasn't going to buy myself an ornament this year, but I did until I didn't.  I bought this cool bike ornament, but when I opened it up, I realized it has a kick stand.  It can sit next to my speaker all year long.  Score!  Britt Britt left around 4:30 which allowed me to clean a wee bit (enough) and get all of my Christmas decorations up.  I think it looks festive, and I think Britt will miss my big window.  Did I mention I also have my Christmas cards ready to go?  Yep.  I, however, will wait until December to actually mail them.  Crushing it!

While other people shopped on Black Friday, I wrote on and addressed all of my Christmas cards (both the naughty and the nice).  Some folks will receive two because I couldn't decide which was better suiting for their personality.  Of course, I'll try to wait until December to mail them, but it's nice to have this task completed.  I'm not going to lie, however, I enjoy writing notes to friends and loved ones. Today I also hit the pavement and did a short ride.  The weather was amazing and it felt good to be back on my bike.  Plus, Britt Britt and I took several jaunts up and down the railroad tracks and through the leaves.  Nothing is better than spending a November day outside.  Let me end with a little shopping advice.  If you are like me and hate to shop, the time to go to Costco is at 6:30 on a Friday night.  Parking is available and crazy folks don't run into you with their shopping carts.  Best of all, you don't have to w...

The Gift by Mary Oliver Be still, my soul, and steadfast. Earth and heaven both are still watching though time is draining from the clock and your walk, that was confident and quick, has become slow. So, be slow if you must, but let the heart still play its true part. Love still as once you loved, deeply and without patience.  Let God and the world know you are grateful. That the gift has been given. It's a beautiful Thanksgiving day, and although I didn't participate in the Walk for Hunger as I typically do, Britt and I did take several walks today.  This morning I was able to get some planning for my fable unit done with the help of Back and Forth .  While I worked, I listened to 90s music.  I think the 90s had awesome music.  Now, I am waiting for the spinach lasagne to finish, so I can spend the remainder of the evening reading.  I opened Joe Biden's book, Promise Me, Dad, A Year of Hope, Hardship, and Purpose .  The first chapter...

Britt Britt came to spend Thanksgiving while her family is in Wisconsin.  Her mom took a picture of her and me before they left her.  I'm wearing my new glasses.  One of our first walks was to the pet store to spend some of Britt Britt's allowance.  She chose a toy that looked like a sick pheasant and a couple smaller rawhides.  All were good choices.  Unfortunately, I didn't realize the pheasant had a squeaker toy in it.  If I had known, I would have dissuaded her from this purchase.  She likes it and is fine only playing with it when others aren't sleeping and realizes it's not going in the crate with her this evening when we go to bed.  Britt Britt really is a smart dog. 

I know that it's been several days since I went to see Trevor Noah, but I've been trying to recover from my weekend of celebrating and deal with a short week.  Both have been exhausting.  Anyway, Trevor Noah was absolutely brilliant.  When I wasn't laughing, I was completely silent due to the wisdom of his words.  On the way home we could not quit talking about his intelligence and beauty.  To be honest, there may have been a bit of looking up past and former girlfriends of Trevor's on the car ride home.   Sunday was the Rams-Vikings game, and I am saddened to report that I have still never seen the Rams win live.  Even though my tailgating buddies and those sitting next to me at the game were fun, it still kinda sucked... just saying...

Last night we went to the Talking Volumes season finale with Dan Brown.  It wasn't my favorite of the year, but it also wasn't my least favorite.  My favorite part of the evening, however, might have been visiting Subtext bookstore in St. Paul near the Fitzgerald Theater.  Admittedly, most of the books I buy are eBooks, so I didn't really plan on buying any books.  These days the only books I buy are YA books that I'm going to donate to the school library, education type books, and poetry books.  The bookseller was knowledgeable and delightful, and he commented as we roamed the store looking at books and conversing about what books were on our lists and what books we had read.  By the end of our romp around the bookstore, I left with three books.  Since it was Talking Volumes night, we also stopped at Candyland in route to the Fitz.  I'm going to miss these nights of authors, books, and candy.  By the way, Small Business Saturday is on...

Alas, it seems the best I can do is post once a week, and I'm going to be OK with this.  This week I was President for the history classes bills.  I passed a few and vetoed a few.  I even have my own veto stamp. One bill I vetoed was questioned by the class teacher and the person who wrote the bill.  I had to explain that although I think an individual should lose their license for a DUI, I didn't feel it should be a felony since felons are not able to vote.  Everyone should have the right to vote my friends. I also went back to spin class this week.  It's good people and good energy.  My favorite instructor is back, and he kicked my ass as usual.  He, however, is not the only one kicking ass.  Since the next couple of weeks are going to be crazy, I took one evening to look at my photos from this year.  I was trying to figure out if I had enough pictures of myself for a Christmas card.  After looking at my pictures, I realize...