9 Ways to Be

Though yesterday we declared an office holiday, I went into the office nonetheless. I felt pleased with the things I accomplished and checked. One of my two law partners' wife re-did the firm name on the front glass door last weekend. I like the way it looks.

Our town decided to host a no-audience fireworks show a mile away last night. I like fireworks shows. I thought we would be able to see it from our house, but a couple of large trees intervened.   Prior to that, we walked on the Ridgeview Trail. I feel fortunate that this local sidewalk trail lacks much foot or bicycle traffic. The Great Blue Heron who often stands on a log suspended above E. Rowlett Creek manned its post once more.

I had a long and enjoyable Facebook messenger chat with my old and very good friend Gene. We should stay in better touch; hopefully, now we will. 

I read the article "9 Ways to Make Any Home Feel LIke a Summer Home" by Ingrid Fetell Lee. Like any "9 ways" article on anything, it felt very  9-ways-ish. But its point about the shift in gears when one stays in an owned or rented a casual cabin rang true. For some years, my parents owned a lake cabin on White Oak Lake they bought for a figure that even adjusted for inflation today would be a small sum--perhaps a bit over twelve thousand dollars. I have lots of great childhood memories of fishing, hiking and just enjoying the cabin for escape we felt there. We were only 20 miles from home, and our home town was not exactly a rat race--not even a rat stroll, for that matter. But the jumble of anole lizards and a little wooden fishing pier across the road and a thing that was not really a sofa and not really a bed but served as both stays with me. We should never have sold that cabin, but should have used it and kept it in the family But it was sold when I was probably less than 20.

I continue to progress through Eddie Robson's "Hearts of Oak", which is a good, light dystopian read. Also, my efforts at Chess.com seem to be helping. My puzzle rating is up to 1810 and my blitz rating has finally risen to 1425. I want both to be higher, but I am pleased with the improvement.

Sister Grove, 2020

I spent a lot of time outside today. I walked in Glendover  Park, Green Park, the Watters Branch Trail, the Urban Loop Trail and the Exchange Trail, all walking paths within a short walk of my home. I did not add any species to my bird list for this year. Ebird reminds me that I am only at 84 species, whereas the past two July 4ths I was at 97 species  This is a small price to pay in a pandemic.

I drove up to Sister Grove Park, a park I have been visiting for over twenty years. I thought at first that hikers were banned from some paths, but it turned out that they have hikers enter through the exits, which made sense. I also stopped by Princeton Community Park, where I walked a bit more. I saw a Painted Bunting, which seemed to descend to give me a good look, before it flew away.

My wife made great tri tips which we ate for dinner. I am exhausted but in good shape.