J. Palmer

Been sitting at the table, adding my Diarium entries into the collection of entries here, listening to the sounds of rain falling outside. And shivering; shivering because I walked the kids out to the bus with an umbrella, and in the process I got wet. I’ve not changed out of the shorts and tee I was wearing, so I’m still damp, and there’s a gentle breeze that keeps lazily blowing in through the windows. Sure, I could go ahead and dress for work, or close a window to rid myself of the discomfort, but I’m enjoying the breeze and my shorts are comfy.

I really don’t want to go to work. Yes, here comes the same old song; I’d much rather stay at home, and do a little bit of housework. Thing is, on a lazy rainy day like to day, I might struggle to get any housework done. Honestly, I’m worried that I will struggle with that tomorrow and Saturday, as there are even higher chances of rain throughout those days. Hopefully, Ashlee can help keep me motivated to working around the house on those days–and hopefully I will be able to offer motivation for her, too, as she may end up suffering from the same issues.

I’m halfway looking forward to next week. Okay, maybe not halfway. Maybe a quarter-of-the-way. I’ve “been shorted hours,” as some of my co-workers would like to say, and am scheduled out an hour earlier than the norm on each workday. I’m excited about that added hour at home, though my wallet may not be. Who cares about my wallet, though?–I’m more concerned about my mind, body and soul.

Well, it looks like the clock is telling me that I should get myself dressed and out the door. Guess I should do that.

I got a little bit of time this morning. But I don;t know what I can write about. As usual.

Yeah. I don’t know what to write. I’ve started three sentences and deleted them before I reached the third or fourth word.

Ashlee sent me a few messages while at work last night, about nothing in particular. I’m not entirely sure if it’s her taking care of her loneliness or mine or both. I’m going to guess it’s both. We’ve been somewhat struggling for a long while with the issues of working opposing shifts; heck, we’ve been struggling with both of us working, in general. There’s a huge desire to be together whenever possible, but it’s just so difficult to do when there isn’t any time to do so.

One of the messages Ashlee sent was concerning this coming Friday, and thinking of what we might be able to accomplish. Friday will be the last day that the two of us have together where we’ll have some time without the youngest around. It sounds like we’re going to try to finish that damned fence, and then do a little bit of tinkering on the pickup to try and get rid of the stumbling that’s crept back into existence. I’m pretty sure the issues are fuel related. I also need to tighten the alternator belt, again–or just replace it.

It’s been kind of a quiet, calm morning. There was a little bit of raucous in the house, as is to be expected with the children waking up; outside of that, relatively quiet. The air is filled with sounds of birds chirping and the tinkling of wind chimes. There’s not been a train to roll by, no dogs barking, no machinery or diesel engines starting up; just a cool, calm morning.

I hate painting that pleasant picture, then tracking off into a complaint, but; there’s something I think is incredibly obnoxious, that I’ve never raised complaint over–machinery and diesel engines. Remember what started me on my stupid fence project?–the neighbor complaints over the dog? So many times I’ve heard the noise of at least one of their trucks starting and idling in the morning. And a bobcat or other small loader or mover being operated. And circular or table- saws whirring and ripping through lumber. God forbid the dog’s barking get in the way of their TV time.

I guess I’ll stop there; I need to get dressed for the day and leave for work. I’d much rather stay here at the kitchen table, sipping my coffee, and listening to the birds outside.