A Mindful Life

It was love at first sight.

After a couple of months doing the “all done” sign with Claire, she recently started making the sign when I initiated — for example, after a meal, when I’d ask “All done?” and make the sign, she’d confirm it. But yesterday, she initiated the sign! When she was full, she raised her small hands and [...]

Cooler weather is on the way, so I’ve decided to make Claire a winter hat. I’m trying to experiment more, and I found a pattern called a Ball-Band Toddler Hat. I used a larger needle to get the gauge right and the darn thing came out too large for her. It’s a bit small for [...]

Another photo from my humble back “yard.”

Outside the air quality suffers. The haze is thick, the scent is acrid. Smoke is visible at about a half-mile. It’s very odd, as the sun shines through, the sky is gray-white, and the horizon is obliterated. There are about 800 wildfires burning in Northern California (last I heard). So we aren’t going on many [...]

Poetry is not a turning loose of emotion, but an escape from emotion; it is not the expression of personality, but an escape from personality. But, of course, only those who have personality and emotions know what it means to want to escape from these things. –T.S. Eliot

Also, recent firsts: A ride on a carousel at Oak Meadow Park. A short trip on the Billy Jones Wildcat Railroad — she was fascinated. Actually getting a Cheerio into her mouth — twice!

I have 45 minutes to write this, so we’ll see what pours out. Today I have a beautiful nine-month-old daughter who is pulling up and longs to stand by herself. She is starting to cruise. She’s becoming more aware and more of a little individual daily. Today I am physically and mentally healthy. Today I [...]

more graph humor and song chart memes

George Carlin died. I relished is humor, his crankiness, and his willingness to go to the edge of what was considered good taste for the era. Farewell.