A couple of changes to my work routine this week:
I’m very thankful to be in a job that allows for this.
The ups and downs of a new job. Last week I had a discouraging day. Today was difficult but, in the end, I wrestled a reconciliation into submission and learned a lot.
Thanks to some past discussions here (can’t remember who or when exactly), I’ve been intending to get my beloved Timberland Chelsea boots re-soled, rather than replacing them. I took them into Crane’s Leather shop and he said my boots were built only to be disposed. Can’t re-sole them. Disappointing.
I asked him to show me a few that could be, and I settled on a pair of Chippewa. I considered some Red Wings but they would have been at least $50 more and, in the end, I’m cheap. So at least now I have myself a pair that can be repaired rather than replaced. And if Crane’s ever goes out of business, there’s always the Amish.
Well that was a discouraging day. Just when I felt like I was getting the hang of the new job, I screwed up half a dozen ways in a single day. I told one of my co-workers, “I promise I’m a good accountant!” 😂 I just ate my weight in taco salad so things are looking up.
Growing up, I watched my dad check the door locks every night–and I picked up the habit from him. I’m probably worse than him, actually. I have my theories about why we each acquired this compulsion, which I won’t get into here. And though I don’t know where the clinically compulsive line is, I’m probably too close to it. Besides, it sucks as a nightly ritual. This morning it occurred to me that this whole thing needs a reframing.
The look on Rachel’s face when I said, “I just subscribed to Plough magazine”…
“There’s a whole magazine about plows? And you’re subscribing?” 😂
Last night one of Darcy’s friends told her our house has “chill vibes.” I take that as a great compliment and recognition of what we’re trying to do here. One of my weekly prayers to the house spirit is, “may all friends be welcomed and all enemies turned away.”
We have a Christmas tradition of visiting the West Baden Springs Hotel and the French Lick Springs Hotel, both classic, beautiful spots. The first picture is of the West Baden hotel, which locals generally know as the Dome. Always beautifully decorated at Christmas. The second picture is by Darcy.
Happy Yule!
Last year we had goat kebabs for Yule and we want to do that again this year. Last year we couldn’t find already-ground goat so I sorta-kinda got it done with a cleaver and blender. Today I drove all over Bloomington and finally found properly ground goat, so it should be even better this year.