1. Morning walks. Enough snow melted that we got to go back around the ponds and by the river later in the week. I think I was so excited about it, I took extra pictures. It’s funny how some (most?) mornings I just want to stay in bed or on the couch instead of going out in the cold, and yet EVERY time I go out, I’m so glad I went.
I just noticed this week how gray his face is getting.
2. Comfort food. Sure, a necessary function of food is fuel and nutrition, but getting joy and comfort from food is pretty important too. When I am stressed, I cook. More specifically, I bake. If I feel bad and there’s not much I can do to “fix” what I feel bad about, I’m gonna bake. This week I’m planning on making two or three different kinds of cookies because it’s my great niece’s sixth birthday next weekend and she loves cookies. It might just be the best thing about having me as a local friend because I usually make more than we can eat and love to share.
Pie by EricPie is always by Eric
3. Practice. It’s a pretty raw, rough time for me. I’m so glad that I have practice as a refuge.
4. Wild Writing, Small Group Training, Aqua Aerobics, and Yoga at Red Sage. Quite honestly, I don’t leave my house much, don’t go to church or have family living nearby or a “real” job, don’t have a lot of friends or a busy social life — which is more than fine with me. And yet, there are a few groups of people I get to see on the regular that I enjoy so much, am so grateful for.
5. My tiny family, small house, little life. I’m looking forward to a quiet, cozy, restful, healthy winter holiday season here with my two favorites.
Bonus joy: Smart Food white cheddar popcorn, apple pie, chicken noodle soup, marionberry gummies, good books, a blank notebook and a good pen and a hot cup of green tea, crispy gala apples with crunchy peanut butter, molasses, chrysanthemums, other people’s dogs and kids, massage, down blankets and pillows and jackets, electric cars, space heaters, urgent care centers, pharmacies open on the weekends, vaccines, my infrared heating pad, texting with Chris and Mom and Chloe’, meditating “with” Chelsey, text conversations that are nothing but memes, lunch with Janice, sitting in the sauna, Christmas movies, true crime, comedy, listening to podcasts and audiobooks, making other people laugh, reading in bed at night while Eric and Ringo sleep.
7. Colorado Experience: Sand Creek Massacre. (video) “What would lead approximately 675 volunteer soldiers to attack a peaceful settlement of Cheyenne and Arapaho Indians in the Southeastern Colorado Territory? On November 29, 1864, Colonel John Chivington led a group to do just that, resulting in the deaths of over two hundred men, women, and children. This episode revisits the horrific events and uncovers the history 150 years later.”
8. Confessionfrom Jeff Oaks on Short Reads, “a free literary magazine emailed every Wednesday morning featuring flash nonfiction.”
10. Our Newest Wombat Joey | Australian Reptile Park. (video). “Say hello to Wilbur the wombat joey! The tiny joey was handed to the Park after a passer-by had discovered that a wombat had unfortunately been hit by a car. Seeing fluttering movements from the pouch, the rescuer found the baby wombat inside and quickly brought the joey to the Park to be cared for. Now he’s with Keeper Seleena receiving round the clock care.” Even though most people (even me) would say if I were an animal that I’d be a dog, but I actually think I’m probably more wombat.
11. Writing is a Verbfrom Patti Digh. “Tools are fun and distracting in that way we love to be distracted from the actual work of writing. But really, all you need is a brain and some consistency.”
12. Embracing Courage in a World in Crisison Lion’s Roar. “When the suffering of the world knocks at our door, says Singhashri Gazmuri, we must be courageous enough to open it.”
13. “How To Succeed On Substack”from Summer Brennan. “Anxiety, ambition, professional jealousy, hot tips, vibe shifts, and other things that should make writers wary.” In related news, Yeah, I’m Trying to Make Money on Substack from Esmé Weijun Wang. “And it’s totally great if you’re not, or, drama happens & Internets gonna Internet.”
17. Gather in Poems, “a [FREE] virtual reading and end-of-year offering, an evening of readings by Academy Chancellors and beloved poets in the community, hosted in the spirit of gratitude and a shared hope for the upcoming year featuring Elizabeth Acevedo, Kwame Dawes, Oliver de la Paz, Denice Frohman, Kimiko Hahn, Joy Harjo, John Keene, Dorianne Laux, Ricardo Alberto Maldonado, Naomi Shihab Nye, Yasmine Seale, Yvette Siegert, and Afaa Michael Weaver.”
27. Wisdom from Sharon McMahon on Instagram: “The antidote to despair is action. When you feel overwhelmed by bad news, instead of thinking about it nonstop like a hamster on a wheel or choosing to ignore it because you can’t see a way to fix it and you’re only one person, do something small and imperfect.”
31. American Symphony | Official Trailer | Netflix. (video) “It’s 2022 and musician Jon Batiste is at the peak of his music career while also embarking on his most ambitious challenge – composing an original symphony. In the midst of this meteoric rise, Batiste’s wife – best-selling author Suleika Jaouad – learns that her long-dormant cancer has returned. AMERICAN SYMPHONY is an intimate portrait of two artists and the healing power of love and creativity.” At the end of the trailer, Suleika says, “We’ve both had so many good things happening. And so many incredibly hard things. I honestly don’t know how to hold such extremes” and John, in an answer of sorts, says, “You have to confront the brutal reality…but at the same time, have completely unwavering faith.”
33. Leslie F*cking Jones: A Memoir. I am currently listening to the audio version that Leslie recorded, which includes so many extra moments that I suspect are not in the print version. It will make you laugh, it will make you cry. It’s SO good.
Open Space Practice, (AKA: A Thousand Shades of Gray) 