mama

Author: jamers

  • ups and downs

    ups and downs

    I feel like I’d have to stay awake for a long time tonight to accurately capture the day in this post. I don’t really feel up for that so I’ll try a list.

    • kiddo slept in a bit so the day started a little slow
    • We did a lot of work work
    • Pete dropped off the car at a mechanic to look at the starter issue
    • it rained pretty heavily for a bit so we didn’t venture out for a run
    • Everything felt a bit mood swingy and down
    • we still hadn’t heard about the car by 3, so Pete called and they hadn’t been able to reproduce the problem so didn’t do anything
    • we all headed into town for a walk
    • the walk was lovely and happy and pretty and lots of photos were taken
    • we ordered pizza and had a beer while waiting
    • ate and hung out at the gallery where we all laughed alot
    • feeling thankful and very lucky to have this much love in my life

    Today’s reading

    Poem: From “First Light: 88 Frequencies” [“fruit fly”] by CAConrad

    Essay: Moscow on the Med by Gary Shteyngart

    Short Story: Angel of the Odd by Edgar Allan Poe 1844

  • Following paths

    Following paths

    Had a nice walk this morning, heard so many birds! The app said there were various sparrows, a yellow warbler, a green-tailed towhee, a hummingbird, and a magpie.

    It’s no coincidence that I read an essay about birds today. When I went to pick one, I skipped over one with vampires in the title. So now of course there are parallels with real life.

    The poem was a fun find though. After I read the essay, I googled it because I was curious about the author. I found an old blog from someone that doing daily reading like me plus listen to albums. From there were some links to other blogs and I found someone reviewing books they read over the past year. I previewed one in the Libby app and found the poem at the front. Following paths like that bring a lot of joy.

    This afternoon I gave myself a mission to find a blue colored pencil and a gold marker for our book club exchange. I spent some time looking at art supplies and started to feel inspired. Then with a bit of time before everyone was ready for dinner, I bought a hibiscus iced tea and sat reading outside for a bit. It feels really weird to have alone time that’s not at home or the library. It was a pleasant and successful outing.

    Today’s reading

    Poem: Spring by Edna St Vincent Millay 1921

    Essay: A Year of Birds by Annie Proulx 2010

    Short Story:The Gift of the Magi by O. Henry 1905

  • all over the place

    all over the place

    It’s Monday and Pete and I both logged in to work. I feel like I’ve gotten a lot done and it’s only 9am. The instant coffee I found is tasty! It feels like such a good “emergency” coffee option.

    We ran 2 miles today. It was better than expected! Running at altitude has never been easy, and my heart rate stayed pretty normal so I was happy.

    After the run we picked up pitas and went to the gallery for lunch. I ordered the teriyaki tofu. Lately kiddo has been asking about how we get chicken and explaining killing animals makes me realize how far removed from the process we are. On the drive here we saw a few feed lots which is incredibly depressing. The days we passed through were in the 90s and there is zero shade there. Other open fields we passed had cows all huddled in the shade of whatever was there, which wasn’t much. So seeing that has made me want to try to be more mindful of what we eat.

    We had a nice pasta dinner with family tonight. There was lots of laughing and storytelling.

    Today’s reading

    Poem: Willow by Anna Akhmatova 1910?

    Essay: The Last Inuit of Quebec by Justin Nobel 2010

    Short Story: The Vibration Wasps by Frank Belknap Long 1940?

  • Down time

    Down time

    I’ve already read a bit today and thinking about how movement seems to mean less reading and writing. I guess that’s where audiobooks come in handy. But also it just makes me think about how much you have to slow down to make art, write, etc.

    Today I noticed how much I enjoy seeing the collection of images for all the blog posts together and how they give an overall impression same as my Instagram- always so much green. Nature.

    I was also thinking about how sometimes my random reading choices mesh with where I’m at- like the essay I picked this morning is about orienteering and maps. I suppose it’s also that you can find your own meaning or parallels in anything you read.

    Kiddo lost her first tooth today. She was very excited. It happened while watching the new live action How to Train Your Dragon and she might have swallowed it so was very concerned the tooth fairy wouldn’t visit.

    The day also had a nice but windy morning walk, a visit to the coffee shop and book shop, sitting on the deck in the sun, watching birds, Pete got a mustache, we bought some fun new clothes, and had a nice cookout with family.

    This post is so disjointed but I’m leaving it that way.

    Today’s reading

    Poem: The Shining of Underlife by Carl Phillips 2020?

    Essay: Aligning the Internal Compass by Jessica Mccaughey 2010

    Short Story: Unauthorized Bread by Cory Doctorow 2019

  • Road Trip Day 3

    Road Trip Day 3

    We had a short drive today of a little over 4 hours. Stopped in Fairplay at the Java Moose which has become a bit of a tradition. I had a lavender lemonade which was quite tasty. Then we headed to the playground (also part of the tradition). We saw a prairie dog that seemed quite used to sniffing out picnic snacks.

    After arriving we had a fun dinner at Tully’s with family.

    I feel like there is more to say and reflect on but I’m feeling the altitude and the need to shut down.

  • Road Trip Day 2

    Road Trip Day 2

    Today was a tough one. Omaha to Denver is a bit of a haul. At least for me. It felt like every time I thought we had a good chunk done it was still 4 hours to go.

    Some highlights :

    • The coffee with breakfast was surprisingly good. We may look for Hill of Beans Roasters on the way back
    • Kiddo asked for more Zoe and Sassafras audiobook so I felt happy that I picked a good one
    • Pete and I listened to a whole new music Friday podcast
    • Ogallala has a free petrified rock museum which was an interesting place to stretch our legs
    • when we finally got to the hotel we rallied and went out for wood fired pizza which was really good.
    • afterwards we had ice cream at a popular spot called Little Man Ice Cream

    Wasn’t able to fit any reading in again 🙁

  • Road Trip Day 1

    Road Trip Day 1

    It’s been a long day. Some highlights were:

    • Stan’s Donuts for breakfast
    • Kiddo’s “I Spy” challenges
    • seeing what I think were migrating pelicans
    • a walk around the rest stop near Davenport
    • Laughing with kiddo when my bathroom stall door flew wide open
    • indoor parking at Costco
    • finding a beautiful “secret passage” in the Omaha old market

    I ran out of time to read. Guess the streak ends here.

  • Not bleak

    Not bleak

    I tried to start writing early today but it didn’t work out. I’m tired in a way where nothing feels urgent. Bone weary maybe? Listening to the rain pour down outside. And the ceiling fan spin and creak.

    The car didn’t start today. It might be because my key is worn out. The connection is not being made. Things wear down and break. Ha! I’m writing like one of those bleak stories that I hate.

    Tomorrow is the start of the big road trip. I hope to document it well.

    Today’s reading

    Poem: Nature, Which Cannot Be Driven To by Diane Seuss 2022?

    Essay:The Vanishing Point by Verlyn Klinkenborg 2010

    Short Story: Pigs is Pigs by Ellis Parker Butler 1905

    I really enjoyed this part of the poem. It reminded me of how the 10,000 steps a day goal is completely arbitrary. It’s a good reminder that it is ok to just exist sometimes.

  • Nothing much

    Nothing much

    17 days into the digital input challenge and lately I want to mindlessly scroll through TikTok. I think I just want to shut my brain off by watching something. We’ve been watching Murderbot but I think there are only a few more episodes. Pete and I listened to the audiobook on a road trip to Door County a few years ago and really enjoyed it. It’s not too serious and I often laugh out loud at it which is exactly what I need more of. I’m going to also try to find some things to watch on the library’s Kanopy app because its tagline is “thoughtful entertainment”.

    Today’s reading

    Poem:Lift Every Voice and Sing by James Weldon Johnson 1900

    Essay: Famous by Tom Ireland 2010

    Short Story: Boule de Suif by Guy de Maupassant 1880

  • Time flies, time stays still

    Time flies, time stays still

    I read an essay today about traffic in Russia. It brought me back to a time when I very much wanted to take the Trans-Siberian Railway. I still have the 20 year old magazine with the story that sparked the idea to go. Was it the idea of being so immersed in a foreign place? That it seemed like such a rare thing to do? Or was it the idea of having a crazy train story about chugging vodka with strangers? In that way it feels like forever ago.

    It also feels like there was a tiny window in which it was feasible to go. The political climate in the last few years would make the idea of going now a resounding hell no.

    Could this be my take two? It’s interesting that the short story today happened to be about someone coming off as boring or standoffish, but once people got to know her and realized she had lots of interesting stories about traveling to far off countries, she was suddenly cool. Would I have been that different if I actually went? What will the train, the country, what will I be like in another 20 years?

    I’ve also been thinking about how if I’m looking forward to something, I rush past the time it takes to get there. We’re going to spend 2 weeks in Colorado, and for the last few weeks, everything has been focused on the day we head out.

    What about these past three weeks? They’re like a waiting room all of a sudden. Why aren’t I savoring and seeing these weeks? These beautiful days are right in front of me. I guess that’s part of why journaling is helpful. I can see that these weren’t just empty days. We watched Murderbot and ate popsicles and took walks and talked about life with friends. Made couch snacks and watched Secret Life of Pets 2 and enjoyed it especially the part where Max asks “was the world always this scary?” and helped kiddo through all sorts of crises, like why she can’t get married yet, how to deal with people who yell, and why isn’t it time to leave for Colorado yet.

    Today’s reading

    Poem: The Art of Unselfing by Safiya Sinclair 2015

    Essay: Stuck by Keith Gessen 2010

    Short Story: A Fortunate Mistake by Lucy Maud Montgomery 1904