"When You're Gone" The Cranberries

It's been awhile.

I've been busy working the polls-- and what a fantastic experience it has been. The time seems to fly by, even if you are saying the exact same thing over and over for hours on end. I enjoy the different exchanges with each person-- some are so excited to put their ballot in the box, some their hands shake so much they are barely able write their own names, most are so grateful that we are there volunteering our time to allow them to vote early, others are just "doing their part" and want to get out of the polling place as fast as they can.

I got to work with a guy who was a working musician and he decided to go back to school for three years, graduated and is now trying to figure out what is next. He was looking for something new--a change. A Fresh start. Obviously I could relate.

And he is only 53.

It was refreshing to hear someone else is out there who has a new beginning and took the leap to start over.

Yesterday was pretty interesting. So, I have this thing where I see someone usually out of the corner of my eye and think it is someone I know. And, like clockwork, that person will show up not long after.

It happened with CONNFESSION P.H.D. I saw 2 men that looked like him--old, tall and thin with silver hair. I knew he would be at the polls because I waited on his wife. Luckily he went to a different station, but then I took care of his son, a first time voter. My Republican partner and I decided to celebrate his first experience voting, so we all clapped. It was actually very sweet.

I don't know if she knows me or whether there was awkwardness after, but I hope they appreciated that I tried to make their son's first time voting memorable.

Besides PHD, lots of people I knew came through to vote early. My Soma coffee shop pals exercised their right to vote, a former student who actually showed up at the hospital when I was giving birth, several former parents of students I taught, and even my girl came down to vote.

She is training for a marathon and just completed a 20 mile run before stopping by to vote.

Pretty proud of my girl!

Hoping to do some hiking next week to take in the fall foliage. CONFESSION B-STUDENT used to call Spring sexy-- but I think fall is too.

Hope you are well.

"The Seeker" The Who 1970

One of my favorite (and relatable) Who songs, to be sure. I saw them in Louisville in 2016. Big Sis says it was one of the best shows she has ever seen. I'd say it was up there.

It's hard being a Seeker.

Today I am feeling a tad on the ick side. Cold, shaky, weak. Ick. I hope I didn't catch something from those snot nosed teens (just kidding, although they were sneezing all over the place). I have to shake this and do a full run today! I just watched some Youtuber guy named Victor Oddo talk about spiritual awakenings. It resonated, so I hung around for most of it. He spoke of New Beginnings (I can relate), New Values, which are different from Beginnings and how we need to check in with ourselves on what those are and how they might have changed, for example me retiring (new beginnings) and valuing freedom over worklife and exercise over indulgence. I forget what the third one was... but he said to really lean in (my words here) to the shift.

I think I have written about finding your truth before and he said to " See clearly the truth about you. What is your potential as a spirit?"

I like that.

I wonder if that is why so many people have mid-life crisis' because they don't take the time to re-evaluate these things or at least be honest with themselves about what they wanted to begin with. In their careers, in their relationships, in general.

Being a Sag, I know that freedom/independence has always been something I valued. And while working, I lost a lot of that freedom.

Still, what is the truth about me? What is my potential as a spirit? That is something I am seeking to know.

How about you?

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"Tragedy of the Commons" Band of Horses

It's been awhile since I listened to this band. THINGS ARE GREAT (2022)is solid all the way through. Classic sound. Give it a listen if you have some time.

It's early morning and still dark outside. I am watching my neighbors slowly wake to the new day. I love these cozy, quiet mornings when I have the whole day ahead of me and nothing pressing to do. Still, it can be quite lonely. I think I've been a little down lately. Usually I'm super excited about the upcoming holidays, but it's not hitting me this year. Maybe it's the shitshow that are the people running our country and the exhaustion I feel every time I turn on the news. Maybe it is the lack of connection, my dis-connect. I dunno.

I just need to remember that every day is a gift. Now get out there and do something.

Hope you are well.

The hate train, pray that it crashes Jaded chattering of neo-fascists The clatter of the ever-warring classes So we chose to look within Off my rocker with the rest of them The relatives we'll never see again

"Gimmie That Bounce" Mau P

This is a song on my run playlist that always gets me going. Take a listen!

Well, I did it. I ran the race. And I was first in my category. This week I didn't get enough run time in, but I did it anyway. The run was strong and my knees cooperated, so I signed up for next week's run as well. I ran into some old friends and we had a celebratory glass after the race. Cheers to doing the hard things even when you don't feel ready! ON ON!!

Cheers

Mom's old record and my player

Autumn Leaves

"Autumn Leaves" Vince Guaraldi

This song. I used to listen to my mom's old records and "Autumn Leaves" was a particular favorite. This jazzy version is perfect for Saturday mornings at work.

Last night after work I decided to drive to one of my happy places and kick back with a glass of wine. Each season has its own charm, and the fall deco didn't disappoint. To get a better view, click on the pictures. See for yourself:

Pumpkins

Happy Place

Oliver

Fall

Today I am back in my old room working the SAT. It looks nothing like my space and the green and blue covers she has over the lights casts a yellow-green hue, which to my eyes is unsettling.

Hope that you are doing something you enjoy today.

"Bitter Truth" Iron and Wine

2 days of Iron and Wine. This one popped up in my feed yesterday and I really like it.

Yesterday was a perfect fall day. I am so lucky I was able to get out a bit and enjoy it. Today is a day for building a fire, making popcorn and reading. Too bad I am at work.

The training for working early voting was certainly eye-opening. Not because of how it runs but more of working with old people. They move slowly. They have a funny smell and they ask a LOT of unnecessary questions. Maybe I am just used to being around teenagers that I didn't know how that population runs. And just like college aged kids look at me in an odd way, I suppose I felt the same about those Septuagenarians. Still, it will be a new experience for me and in a way giving back to my community.

I'm in middle of 2, and now 3 different books. One I picked up after guest teaching for a friend of mine. I am actually using one of the short stories today with a class of what my colleague called the last class a "zoo" and that 2:40 sure feels good this year.

The book is by author John Green and it's called The Anthropocene Reviewed. I think if I were a 14 year old boy I wouldn't mind reading about The Nathan's Hot Dog Contest, wouldn't you? I guess we will see.

I am finishing up The Book Club for Troublesome Women by Marie Bostwick, where I found a quote that really resonated with me, The character, Charlotte, a bold, brash, vivacious and rebellous on the surface but deeply insecure underneath. She is struggling to be a well-know artist, and when she shows her work to gallery owner Fedorov, he basically tells her she doesn't have talent. When the Russian reflects on his work he says, It's a good life. Charlotte muses-- "What would it feel like to say that and mean it? To have purpose and know you had lived to fulfill it?"

Good stuff there.

This class is so terrible. The worst I've ever experienced.

"Carousel" Iron and Wine

Good Morning.

I am at peace this morning. Iron and Wine vibes and candle of cinnamon spiced vanilla burning. I can see the sun rising through the maple tree out the kitchen window. Such a beautiful song with such sad meaning. War's devastating effects.

Fall has arrived in style this season. I am taking more time to take in all the details. Are you?

Yesterday I had a great conversation with my mom. I know those will be missed and I can count how many are left as she ages. It is hard to think of a world where she isn't a phone call away. I'm tearing up just thinking about it.

Today will be a test to see if I can run the 5k without my knees screaming at me. I'm on the fence about the race Sunday. Today will be the deciding factor. Still, I need to be realistic and listen to my body.

It is so nice to be able to move again like I did back in the day.

Hope you are well. So much to say and yet..

and yet.

"In the Morning of Magicians" Flaming Lips

I hope you will take a listen to this song. The guitar sounds so simple I think I will pick up the old gitbox and strum along. Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots is a great album all the way through-- well except for Pink Robots Pt. 2 with so much screaming. I get it's a battle but Yikers! Here is another good one--

This morning I scrolled back to when this blog started-- 2004. Wow. I was a much better writer back then.

Or maybe I just had more to say. The year of the Big D. The big change. The turning point, honestly.

The hits just keep coming!

Yesterday I was lucky enough to get outside and really take in the change of season. You can see it in the sky and the trees, but the tell-tale sign is the smell. I am hoping to do a longish run today just to enjoy the subtle changes eveyrwhere.

On these days I speak to few and it is the usual polite Midwestern response you say at grocery stores or gyms. It's no wonder I have nothing to say. But I have been thinking about a book I read recently called The Correspondent. It is a series of letters to various people in Sybil Van Antwerp's orbit. She is a gifted Epistolarian, to be sure. Still, I was thinking how people just don't write letters anymore. What a shame that we rely on email and text (or telepathy!) to communicate these days. I cannot remember the last time I received an actual letter. Most likely it was a thank you note (and who even writes those anymore?) from my mom.

Back in college I wrote letters to all my friends because long distance calling was expensive and, well, that was before cell phones. Plus, I was painfully shy and hated to talk on the phone. Now kids don't even know how to address a letter-- or even where to put the stamp. There is something intimate about an actual handwritten letter that requires care and thought. It is a gift to receive one and says so much about the sender.

I sent a care package to my girl this weekend and she just got it. She was so excited to get an unexpected box of fun fall stuff from her mom. Well, it's what I do.

It's almost October. Hope things are well.

"Counting Stars"

I see this life like a swinging vine/ Swing my heart across the line/ And my face is flashing signs/ Seek it out and you shall find/ Old, but I'm not that old/ Young, but I'm not that bold/ I don't think the world is sold/ I'm just doing what we're told/ I feel something so right/ Doing the wrong thing/ I feel something so wrong/ Doing the right thing/ I could lie, couldn't I, could lie/ Everything that kills me makes me feel alive.

I have most of the week to do what I want, but my phone keeps alerting me to Sub jobs that try to lure me back to school.

This month I am going to work early voting at the polls. It actually pays pretty well and who knows what may come of it.

Now I am really starting to sound old! But you know what? I am really trying to embrace this new phase I'm in. It is just so weird that everyone I know is still working and I'm...not.

Especially if you knew my former self. I was a workaholic.

There was no work-life balance except for summer. And now that I have been working for different teachers, they don't do school the way I did school. In fact, most people I have worked for have it pretty easy. And mundane. No wonder they stay until they are 68.

Anyway- you have work to do-- this gym rat is late for my workout.

"Coleman Hawkins" Moonglow

Driving to the build site yesterday, the Harvest moon was impressively full, giving off an orange glow as the sun started to rise behind me.

Too bad the build wasn't as impressive--it was the last day of the 12 day build. Two houses were erected for the happy families. Our job was to do the final grunt work-- trim, cabinents, the last of the siding-- all jobs that I loathe. It was a case of no one knew how to do anything or there were too many of us on a single task. The crew head I was assigned to overexplained things and by the time we started, someone had already finished the job.

After about 30 minutes of this madness, I decided to pack up and go home. The sound of nail guns and generators was too much for me.

Instead, I opted for road tripping to a farm and winery south of Columbus, which proved to be a much better use of my time.

While the wines were less than stellar(and the pours even worse!), the grounds were a gardner's paradise with Koy ponds and gurgling fountains, brick cobblestone paths and bountiful, lush flowers as far as the eye could see.

The historic house was built in 1836 and saw some action in July of 1863 during the Civl War-- Confederate Brigadier General John Hunt Morgan led about 2,500 cavalrymen across the Ohio River into Indiana on July 8, 1863. His forces moved through southeastern Indiana, passing near neighboring communities in Jennings County like Vernon and North Vernon around July 11.

Local folklore in the Commiskey area is tied to the James Covered Bridge (located near Commiskey). A regional legend claims that a Confederate soldier from Morgan’s raid did not return south across the Ohio River and that his spirit—specifically a leg—can still be spotted hanging from the bridge's rafters.. You can read about this beautiful farm HERE.

In the end, my day turned out to be pretty nice. While I feel a little guilty bolting from the Build, it was the right choice for me. Plus, I can work on my own damn house without 25 clueless women working with power tools any time I want.

James Covered Bridge

"Thinkin About You" Flea

I know I have posted this one before, but it is worthy of a repost. I hope to play this record when I get home later today. Love the bass and trumpet (my 2 favorite instruments) together.

I am doing something I love today-- The Women's Build. It is a joy to work with my hands and help to build something with a team of empowered women. Plus, the IPA at Upland afterwards is a rare treat.

Hope you are enjoying the luscious fall weather. Must close, but Thinkin about you.

"Hold On, Hold On" Neko Case

In my single days on a whim after a long day of teaching and dj-ing, I was offered a front row ticket to see Neko Case at the bus-chumb. Still in my dress and tall boots from work, I went and had a marvelous time. The New Pornographers were also in my rotation back then.

I need to revisit.

This week has made me itchy for solitude and personal time. I forgot what it was like to be ruled by a timepiece and I don't like it.

I have exactly 7 minutes to finish this post before I get back to my routine. Looking fwd to Friday when I have the day to myself to wake later, get a full workout in and get back to the things I want to do vs. the things I have to do.

Some of my favorite shots from Peru.

Did I dream it?

vivid dream

Me @ MP

One tiny flower I'm jumpin over