Looking forward to picking up a couple of friends for today’s book club. We’ll talk about last month’s pick: “Certain Dark Things” by Silvia Moreno Garcia. Club members enjoyed her “Mexican Gothic” novel last year. A. and I will bring pupusas from a local grocery to share. #mbnov
Today’s expensive lesson was grabbing a paid-for bottle by the flimsy cardboard box it came in. That means the bottle left the box at high speed and landed at my feet on the garage concrete floor. In the course of human events, I tire of gravity, consequence, finding out. #mbnov
One way I described how my job feels sometimes is: you climb into a big wooden barrel surrounded by baseball bats, and wait for anyone who wants to take swings. Lately, working from home means the barrel feels flimsier than before. Then: throw in a hair trigger fire alarm! #mbnov
I made it down to Oakland and back in my Honda, which I hadn’t realized was full of aluminum from its radiator and hubcaps to the alloy castings that make up its engine parts. A toast, therefore, to my car! Noted: these days my beer comes in (what else) an aluminum can. #mbnov
If I’d known I was going to have to leave this way, I’d like to think I’d have behaved different. Maybe I wouldn’t have sat with my friends in that Austin, Texas cafe fifteen-some years ago and shown them our futures. But by now, there wouldn’t have been anywhere to stay. #mbnov
Driving around this morning after acupuncture meant figuring out how to adjust to too much traffic within merging lanes for drivers heading toward the Bay Bridge, too much time paid for at an Emeryville parking meter, and a train delay before reaching a stop in Berkeley. #mbnov
I have my suspicion why the woman behind the store counter asked for ID today after ringing up my non-alcoholic beers. Later, I drank a few while reconfiguring my desk from standing to sitting position. Some things you stand, but other things you ain’t gotta stand for. #mbnov
I stare at screens and windows all day, but my simplest daily use display never gets attention until something as simple as a battery runs down and needs replacement, requiring the purchase of a precision screwdriver with a set of adjustable heads, and some in-person help. #mbnov
Caring for someone or something isn’t always supposed to be easy. When you minister to their needs, sometimes you sign up to go above and beyond the call of duty. You pick the right moment to say something or, more often, hold your tongue. Here endeth the reminder to self. #mbnov
Sometimes I’m too certain about how to respond to things to change my mind or be as flexible or as responsive as I could be. I’ve paid for that in the past, and will pay for it in future in some respects. If it was only my pride, and then as simple as a little humility. #mbnov
