Catching up Some

what happened

The events of Wednesday through Saturday seem to blur together. This is why I try to journal daily. I talked to Ken and Basil on Thursday. Friday began with me finishing the process of being fired, then typing notes from the book Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Depression at my parents’ house. I spent Saturday at home, sleeping and reading a book about climate change.

details

I just happen to be reading two three books that touch on journal writing and one that features mindfulness. Jana Levin’s How the Universe Got Its Spots is written as a diary addressed to the physicist’s mother. Walden is mostly the result of Thoreau’s prolific journal writing, as encouraged by Emerson. And Field Notes from a Catastrophe is mostly, well, a carefully edited set of field notes. Thoreau’s book centers on his meditative encounter with nature. It is a fabulous companion to my investigation into mindfulness.

I spent Wednesday at home. I finished my work on the hedges. I worked off and on for several hours, sweating in the sun, trying to get the perfect shape out of the bushes. Cleo joined me for a while, trimming the beds with the weedeater and cutting down some limbs in the back yard. I cooked dinner for Kim. I met her at the door with a kiss and brought her to the bathroom for a hot bubble bath. We ate angel hair pasta and veggie meatballs while watching Ren and Stimpy. Ren and Stimpy killed the romantic mood, but we enjoyed the cherry pie all the same.

I talked to Ken on Thursday morning, after I dropped Kim off at class. It was a good conversation: he was impressed with the level of resilience I have shown in the past two weeks. Talking to him each week has helped me a great deal. I stopped by Dr. Bernstein’s office for an appointment in the afternoon. He listened patiently while I recounted the events of the week. He’s an extraordinary doctor.

Friday brought my second meeting with Sam. I wore my black jeans, a black tank top, and my black vest. People kept saying I looked like Rambo, which was not my intention. It’s a funny outfit to wear on the day that you fill out your exit paperwork. That night, we watched The Last King of Scotland.

Saturday was (too) uneventful. I was sleepy after the late night of movie watching. I slept in after dropping Kim off at work. I did polish off Elizabeth Kolbert’s book on climate changing. It was scary.

this week I was amazed by

the story of the dramatic impact we are having on our climate.

the delicious first few chapters in Janna Levin’s book. It’s a personal account of one scientist’s experience with math and physics

the possibilities of an intense martial arts practice

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