A Mindful Life

The fire which enlightens is the same fire which consumes. –Henri Frederic Amiel On my recent visit east, my father built a campfire (and of course we had s’mores). This photo is a view of the embers from underneath that remained after everyone else had gone in for the night.

Exhaustion and restlessness permeate me. Since arriving home, I’ve struggled daily with a tide of drowsiness, and I’ve succumbed both days this weekend. The naps have been deep and long, but I awake unrefreshed. Unfortunately it’s not due to pregnancy. If it were, I’d feel less vexed by it. I’ve not been inactive, though. Weeds [...]

The trouble with being poor is that it takes up all of your time. –Willem de Kooning

This is a Humboldt penguin which, unlike its Antarctic cousin, lives in the hot, dry coastlines of Chile and Peru. One of the most timid species of penguins, the Humboldt body is made to swim; it can “fly” through the water near the surface at speeds of up to 20 miles per hour. It weighs [...]

Finally, finally I have an Amazon gift certificate in hand (from my Amazon Visa account). They mismanaged their reward program twice, and I had to call and write several times. Finally I closed the account and told them why. It came within a week. So now I have $25 burning a hole in my pocket. [...]

Remember that there is a meaning beyond absurdity. Be sure that every little deed counts, that every word has power. Never forget that you can still do your share to redeem the world in spite of all absurdities and frustrations and disappointments. –Abraham Joshua Heschel

One day late… For All Ah to be aliveon a mid-September mornfording a streambarefoot, pants rolled up,holding boots, pack on,sunshine, ice in the shallows,northern rockies. Rustle and shimmer of icy creek watersstones turn underfoot, small and hard as toescold nose drippingsinging insidecreek music, heart music,smell of sun on gravel. I pledge allegiance I pledge allegiance [...]

I’m home safely, and it’s a wonderful thing. But yowsa! Drama in the form of tropical Armageddon is heading toward loved ones in Texas. My grandma-in-law lives in Houston, as do some family friends. The storm has the potential to stir things up inland pretty intensely too; Austin is expecting heavy weather, and of course [...]

Tomorrow I go back in time to my home in Silicon Valley. It’s been a great visit here, with time to talk and eat and tour and photograph. I’m also missing home, husband, and my cats, so I will be glad to settle in again. Of course, I did get to see cats while I [...]