Daybook: Aug. 24, 2010, first day of school

riend Jen has done the daybook practice a couple of times lately, and each time I think, "Oh, good one! I should do that one of these days..." Apparently, today is the day! What better day for taking stock than the first day of school?

Outside my window... it's very quiet except for the lawn sprinklers. And a few birds. Oh, and the dogs. But still, quite quiet. And cool. I'm amazed at how quickly it's turned from "too  warm all night, I wish it would cool off just a bit" to "wow, where are my fuzzy slippers?" That's first thing in the morning, of course; looking out at the cloudless sky, I'm thinking it will warm up to a nice sizzle by the time Seth takes his first cross-country run this afternoon.

I am thinking... that the world can be a sad and crazy place and almost everyone I know has a slice of the pain/disappointment pie, on some level. Thank goodness for love, that's what I'm thinking. Because loving each other through the pain is about the best we can hope for, most days. (And if you're feeling like the pain/disappointment pie has passed you by--roll with me here, I know that metaphor doesn't quite hold--just wait for a minute or two. Or, take up post in a public place and people watch. Really watch. There's joy, there's laughter, but there's also a lot of pain. Sorry for the downer paragraph here, it's just what it is, not always sweet tea and sunshine!)

I am thankful for... time. I realize more and more how quickly it's all going by, and the ability to pause and breathe in and out and be appreciative is a skill I'm still working on. It's going to be a lifelong thing, the learning to pause...

From the kitchen... I'm making a nectarine coffee cake for a mom's get-together later this morning, and it's spilling over in the oven, oh joy... yes, the kids go off to school and we celebrate. A fabulous thing, really. Also just made husband his breakfast shake and Seth an egg "mcmuffin." Smells good around here.

I am wearing... my favorite black skirt and a tan polo and my favorite Teva flip-flops too. Comfy.

I am creating... a physical space to create in. And mental space that is more focused than it's been lately. Trying to pare down the scattered thoughts. Wish me luck.

I am going... for a run later today. (If I say it out loud, it will happen. That's a theory, right?)

I am reading... How Did You Get This Number by Sloane Crosley. It's my palette cleanser after the heavier reading of the summer. Well, one heavy book. Give me a break. (Oh, and I just noticed there's no question mark in that title. That could well and truly drive me nuts. That title needs a question mark... I wonder how many editing meetings took place over that title? I hope the copy editor went down swinging, that's all I can say...)

I am hoping... to achieve some clarity and direction in a meeting later today. Love a little hope!

I am hearing... that bedbugs are back as an epidemic. This is dampening my travel "bug" a little, so to speak, but not a lot. I'll get past it. And buy some bug spray.

Around the house... Seth and I did some good work on Sunday, getting a few problem areas in the house under control--my office, for one, and then his game space in the basement, and my crafty space too... feeling much better about the clutter, but there's more to be done. Hello, fall energy, I am glad to see you!

One of my favorite things... about summer has been the absolute cornucopia of fresh fruit. I have loved it, as always. And already feeling nostalgic for berries...

A few plans for the rest of the week... Just getting into the groove of the school routines, making lists for fall plans and getting our schedules all on track...

Here is picture for thought I am sharing...

 Mr. Eighth Grade, heading off into the world

If you'd like to try out this exercise, go to: The Simple Woman's Daybook.