310/365 Grinning fool.

It's the Friday afternoon ritual. My girl is in her acting class, and I grade papers, plan lessons, and diddle on the nets in the San Marco Starbucks down the street. And today I'm smiling in Starbucks. I'm smiling over an email from my baby sister whose son loved the birthday gelt we gave him. He spent it at the book fair, and he's reading voraciously. I'm smiling about a hubby who is alive, well, and just as lovably annoying as ever. I'm smiling about a girl who seems to be making the adjustment to high school better these days. I'm smiling about a job that's fun, if a little daunting. I'm smiling because tomorrow I have a voice lesson where I think we may plan for me to learn repertoire for competitions and auditions. Busy but balancing, I can smile over my espresso.

218/365 Another lonely post

The wifi at the Doubletree in downtown Omaha gave another one of the presenters a virus, so I dare not log on in my room. Alas, I will give up the comfort of my pjs for the integrity of my hard drive, though the trojan would've been the last little push to get me to the Apple store ($100 rebate, fee iPod touch and 3 in 1 printer with notebook purchase). I must blog, Facebook Scrabble and check email somewhere else. Besides, I have to check to see if Omaha Starbucks have the blue architectural cityscape coffee mugs so I can add to my collection (they don't, so at least Jacksonville outranks Omaha in status). Here I sit outside a Starbucks in a chair just like the one I sweat in midrun at home. I sit alone, without my sweaty (running)mate, without the familiar faces. Grateful for the work and income, struggling with the alone time. I guess I've seen how much there is to lose.

164/365 One Step at a Time

Back on the trail this morning, we did our 5 mile Bucks n' Back route for the first time post 5/31. Bittersweet in so many ways. Walking in lieu of "running" attracted the interest of the daughter, who loved the experience and wants to go again tomorrow. At Starbucks we attended a memorial service for Jack. Jack was a Starbucks A.M. regular who held court from the corner chair at our local store, nearly every day since the store opened. For the past couple of years, as we stumbled in, dripping in sweat and parched mid-run, we'd see Jack. Usually surrounded by a group of Bucks regulars, they'd solve the problems of the world, covering topics from politics to college ball. Hearing other people's public conversations like these often makes me cringe, living here in the red zone, but Jack was there for the company and the routine. A long battle with Leukemia ended last week, and his family planned the memorial at the store so Jack's Starbucks family could participate. So for us, the routine is different now. Walking, not running. IMG in our company, and no Jack. But we're still moving forward one step at a time.

159/365 Not your Average Cup

We went to Starbucks this morning. Komodo Dragon blend and a newspaper kept EJG busy while I ran into Publix for a few odds and ends. When I returned, he was still there. Every moment a gift. In my position of nearly-averted tragedy I can stand on my soapbox and admonish my small but loyal readership. Don't waste the gift. Love and live every day to the maximum.

18/365 Bagel Perfection

We've waited so long to find a good, NY style bagel around here. Whole Foods nailed it. Then it was decorated to perfection with Temptee, lox, onion, tomato and lettuce. A mug full of Anniversary Blend in my commemorative NY City Starbucks mug and I have one happy Sunday breakfast.