i woke up around 5a but made myself sleep fitfully until nearer my proper wake-up time of 6a. the doggo did not stir – he was still snoozing hard, apparently. i let him out for his morning bathroom break about 45 minutes later when he finally emerged from the bedroom.
i ate a simple breakfast and finished an exceptional tv series then read some more of a non-fiction book i have been reading. i turned on the christmas tree lights – we put it up thanksgiving weekend- and the other xmas lights to encourage the good feelings of the holiday season. i reflected that the pile of gifts under that tree indicated a well-being for our household that many around the world and country do not enjoy. searching for and inhabiting a state of gratitude daily is essential.
i ate minimally, got dressed in the laundry room as i do so i don’t disturb my wife still asleep, petted the dog and the one cat who most often sees me off, and then drove to work. as soon as i got in, the phone rang and an employee called off, using up what i call a “mental health day.” if they feel that they cannot properly deal with the job on a given day, i tell them that i would rather they treat it like a sick day than come in and bite people’s heads off. that kind of attitude can be just as contagious as an actual illness. so, i was ok with being by myself the whole morning. in fact, it’s kind of nice once in a while.
lunchtime at home (a bit late due to aforementioned work stuff): let the dog out, ate some leftovers, brought some freshly delivered packages inside for later wrapping, watched a few minutes of tv.
the rest of the afternoon at work was stressful but not hectic.
after work, i texted my son to see if he wanted me to pick him up. he doesn’t have his own car yet (one that works, anyway) so he’s been getting around on his bike. but the weather was fine so he said no. at home, i emptied, the dishwasher, dealt with the composting, wrapped presents, put a frozen lasagna in the oven, and reconnected with the animals. i then played some games on my phone and watched a bit of a tv show while waiting for dinner to be ready. i opted out of my usual 20-25 minutes of cardio – i guess i just needed a break from it. my wife was working late so it was just going to be my son and i eating together. we sat down as soon as it was ready and talked about the modern mythology that is superhero comics and movies – pointedly critiquing the portrayal of the heroes from the comics in the movies. sometimes our dinner conversations focus on current affairs and the grassroots social movements and societal shifts happening on social media, especially TikTok. but tonight, it was superheroes.
after dinner, my son wanted a shake so we drove to get a milkshake as a treat. i turned the grow lights on for my plants on our back porch and then we left. the conversation during the short trip ranged a bit further afield than superheroes but didn’t stray too far. the shakes were tasty and the dog thought he was getting some at home. we also have a cat who loves ice cream and has ice cream/dairy senses that tingle whenever those substances are near. he sat on the arm of my chair and very carefully avoided my gaze while i drank my shake. i did not share. eventually, the lure of social media and online gaming overpowered my own charm and my son disappeared into his room. my wife arrived at home not long after.
we sat and talked about our respective days at work, the upcoming weekends and holidays, and other things while she ate dinner. then we watched a historical tv show about a subject near and dear to me. i argued with the screen a bit then it was bedtime: put the cats out on the porch, shut off the christmas lights and tv, took my meds, said goodnight to my son (since he is not a lame old person and stays up later), and hopped under the covers