A lovely day is winding to a close. But not yet. Not yet! Dani and I had a most lovely walk today – 4.5 miles initially up to 19th, back to MKT and then home…and then after a quick stop at home, decided the outside time could not be done yet! We walked down White Oak to Onion Creek and had a lovely porch time talking and soaking in the sunshine and just being together. Oh bliss. Now back home and a lovely little classical playlist in the background and the candle giving warmth and beauty and soon we shall have dinner. But not quite yet. I think I shall pick up my book and read a few words and just lift my thoughts to heaven and praise my God for all that He has given me. Praise be to my Lord Jesus – him who has given me all and called me to know him now and yea even to eternity.
Tag: journal
Alpine
Hello friends! Writing on a Sunday evening, as is typical of late I suppose. A few words now, most likely nothing creative tonight as I’d love some nice time to read and reflect and muse and ponder on oh so many things. It’s been a lovely Sunday here. Woke up to the temperature hovering about the 40 degree mark, which made my early Sunday morning walk even more perfect. Turtleneck on, jacket zipped – let’s go! The fresh sunlight warmed my face and the hot coffee that I carried with me warmed the rest of my parts and I breathed deep the winter air as I thought on how good my God is to me his child. I did come back home eventually and of course had to turn on the TV to watch the hockey gold medal match. Although they looked oft overmatched at times, the USA somehow pulled out the victory in OT to grab the gold. Go USA!!! That goalie was a beast, stopping oh so many shots that looked like sure goals in any other game. I have to say, speaking of Olympics, how much Dani and I have enjoyed these winter games in Milan. I do usually enjoy watching all the crazy winter sports of test and skill that are on offer, but feel it’s been extra fun this year! Dani and I enjoyed every night turning on the TV and marveling at the feats on display. Especially enjoyed the ladies’ figure skating – what dazzling skill and beauty intermingled! Big congrats to Ms. Alysa Liu at grabbing the gold – first US ladies figure skating gold since 2002! Also loved seeing Amber Glenn’s comeback skate as well as the marvelous skates of the Japanese ladies. Of course there was more than figure skating – loved seeing the downhill and halfpipe events and even showing Dani the craziness of the biathlon. What better combo than skiing and shooting?? Ah now I’ve gone and spent far too many words on the Olympics. But again…it only comes once every four years!
Back to the Sunday recap. Church was encouraging and beautiful and it was oh so good to worship God in the presence of my brothers and sisters and meditate on the wondrous love of my God who suffered and died that I might live eternally! Following church? Alas a quick work meeting was on the calendar, but after that Dani and I had lunch down the street at Local Foods and enjoyed some yummy sandwiches and even better time talking and being silly and just being together. Then…a walk down to the bridge and back, with the special treat of an ice cream stop at MKT. That may have been the favourite part of my day, sitting at MKT in the brilliant mid-afternoon sunshine as Dani enjoyed her ice cream.
Now, off to decide either to write a few words on something else or grab my book and read a few pages while I enjoy this Sunday night. Peace, my friends. Peace and love.
Reflections
A few more words of the non-creative variety. I wanted to mention that I am heartily enjoying the electro-swing that is the current music du jour here at Antidote. Also – I didn’t mention in my previous, but it is now a week since Mom was here in Houston staying with Dani and I. I will not spill all the ink discussing our various adventures here but simply wanted it to be in the chronicles. May it be known that it was a time of love and laughter and all the wonderful talks and smiles and prayers. How precious was it to show her a bit of our life here in Houston, the life that our God has given us this year of 2026. Sometimes one knows they are blessed and richly loved, but to then have the chance for someone (such as Mom!) to come and visit and see it all displayed, one’s breath catches and one is ever so thrilled all the more as that life shines forth in technicolor dazzling in all its glories. Praise to the Lord the Almighty!
Big Air
Hello friends! At the coffeeshop this gorgeous mid-February day! It is such a nice day out – one of those rare Houston days that causes one to rise up and take notice and nod slowly in approval – that it is really almost a shame to sit indoors at the moment, but I do crave some writing time. And I don’t feel too guilty for wasting the beauty of the day since it was well enjoyed earlier today. Had my traditional early Sunday morning walk down to the bridge and it was simply lovely breathing in the fresh air and observing the fresh-washed surroundings after our downpours last night. And then after church, Dani and I thought that this weather simply demanded that a picnic be adventured. And so it was. We grabbed some poke bowls from HEB and proceeded on our standard MKT walk, ending up at a little picnic table where the poke was enjoyed in the open air, with the people walking by serving as entertainment and the various conversations and children’s shrieks serving as our background music. Bit better than a couch in front of a TV, mm? It was beautiful, all the more though because it was with the Dani and mid-afternoon on a simply sublime day. Can my heart repine? I think not.
So now at the Antidote and I am enjoying sitting in my tall hard-backed chair and typing furiously away on this keyboard as I raise my head now and again to observe the patrons that sit around me. There’s an older couple sitting in the central couch, enjoying the Sunday paper and a magazine as they now and again whisper smiles to each other. The woman’s long hair is a gorgeous silver and the man looks quite happy with the little comments he tosses her way now and again, her breaking out into laughter at his last. I look forward to the day when that is Dani and I! Then the majority of the rest of the people inside here are mirroring I (or am I mirroring them?) and on their laptops, some with headphones/ear buds, some with the naked ear exposed for all to see. Scandalous! And I sit here, writing about all and sundry as I sip slowly on my smolderingly hot decaf americano. Yes, decaf. It’s approaching 5pm, after all! Now? What more shall I write about? Well I think this chatty post has about served its purpose, warming up my fingers and stretching the thoughts of my muse to the point where it is about ready to burst forth into spontaneous song. Pardon for what may follow. But for all of you wherever you may sit and whatever you are doing, thanks for reading a little bit of my nonsense. Peace and love.
These Happy Golden Years
A roast chicken is in the oven. Obviously with the obligatory potatoes, carrots and onions in the pan alongside. About to sit down on the couch and relax a bit with a bit of reading (Haunt of Jackals, let’s go!). And oh how lovely this day has been to relax with Dani and Mom, walking to and fro, enjoying various patios and delighting in all the talking about all the things! A movie night later on, methinks. And though there are little trials and tribulations that float and hover here and there, I still now just breathe deep and thank my God for what He has given me this day. I am supremely blessed far beyond all that I could imagine in my wildest dreams. Now I go to find a pretty piece of music to play as I take up my book and read. Peace and love, my dear friends. Oh how I pray this night you all may truly be at peace.
MKT
He walks down the sidewalk in time to a tune only he can hear. It’s been in his head, in his thoughts, in his dreams and even now if he tries he can hum it to drown out all the other melodies that strive for supremacy. He sweeps out his boot across the grass that springs up before him and he halfway skips across the street. The half-broken neon sign beckons him onward for a tasty sugary treat. But not today, old friend, not today. Instead he hums those bars he heard a few hours ago at the opera and thinks of the life that he calls his own. There are little prickly bits here and there of course and it’s easy to snort and roll one’s eyes at the perky hellos he’s given on any given day. Yet rather wouldn’t it be better to dwell on those things that are miraculous in and of themselves? The moonlight glancing upon the surface of the bayou, the cold air giving cause for wearing turtlenecks, even yes those bare branches that testify to the possibility of coming spring. Isn’t his life rather swell? He raises his eyes to the heavens and sighs at the impossibly perfect clouds that float afore his gaze. He walks on down the sidewalk and lifts up his thoughts in prayer. A fellow traveler walks from the other way and meets his eyes and so he offers up a bright hello! A genuine smile replies.
Tiny Perfect
Another wonderful January winds to an end. It is chilly outside and warm inside and my heart is full. Many burritos have been constructed and are about to be placed into the oven. Music calmly issues from the TV. And yes, a candle burns. I am about to open a book and read and enjoy a bare few moments of my mind relaxing utterly as I sink into a tale of the long ago and still yet to come. And I am ever so grateful for quiet nights such as this. I sigh. My heart slows. The dreams in my soul are being fulfilled better than I ever knew. Peace and love, dear friends.
The Stained Cobblestones Call For My Attention
A quiet winter morning awakes. It is still dark outside though there are the faintest glimmerings as the sun begins to rise. And it is cold. The air hovers a few degrees below freezing and I wish I could put on my coat and hat and scarf and gloves and go on a lovely early morning walk to breathe deep of the fresh winter air but alas this is a day in which I am obliged to work frantically away on this little laptop. I should be grateful and indeed I am. But nonetheless I still sigh. My heart yearns for that long winter walk with my legs striding on before me as I gaze up at the clouds scudding past in the early morning sky. Maybe I shall make a slight excuse and go out just for a few minutes. Just for a few. I now with a pep in my step and a fire in my heart leap up. This day shall be glorious.
Coastline
A quiet Friday morning here for the now. A winter storm approaches these climes and though in general I would welcome such, I fear that our city is not well suited for sub-zero temperatures so I’m slightly worried as to how we will fare. But Dani and I are prepared enough and though I doubt we’ll see any snow, I do look forward to some nice cold weather walks where gloves and hat are required! I got a nice piece of beef chuck at the store yesterday, along with the necessary bag of potatoes and carrots, onions, etc. This all points to a yummy roast beef dinner tomorrow night as the bitter cold descends upon us. I think that is most proper, is it not? I also look forward to some extended times of reading and writing and of course flickering candle on the table and a mug of hot chocolate in the hand. Not sure what I shall write but surely my muse will come up with…something? Anything?? Now, back to the task at hand. Work calls my name and by the grace of the Lord, I shall conquer. Peace and love, my friends.
Valentine
A quiet Wednesday evening here. I know I don’t usually post at this time (or – at least it’s been a while!) but thought I had my laptop out and might as well at least write a few words! Today’s been a cold drizzly grey day. Sometimes I love those kinds of days. Alas today my love was dry. After I finished work, I would have loved to go out and walk in the cold afternoon but the showers descending without mercy gave me pause. So inside I have stayed! Bonus work was accomplished. Some reading was also done. I am almost done with the adventures of the Count of Monte Cristo. What a beast of a book! I hit the thousand-page mark last night and still a good bit to go!! It is worth it, although I am not convinced that it compares to some of my other 19th-century favs. Maybe I’m just not a fan of French lit. Maybe I just prefer the Russians. What does that say about me?
In other news, the scents of dinner rise. Dani is in the kitchen and I am now pleased to report that it seems as if a delicious dinner of fried okra and beef is at hand. Soon enough we shall enjoy a pleasant and delicious dinner and then bed time will be my lot. Early I know, but work is pressing hard of late and I fear I need all my strength to meet the challenge. The Lord gives grace, always.
Now I shall cease this slightly rambling evening post. It’s been a bit since I’ve written like this (makes me nostalgic for the entries of my past a bit!) and though I can’t promise I will keep this up, it makes me smile to write a few words in the middle of a hectic tiring week. Apologies for the lack of anything resembling creativity or wit. Perhaps next time, my friends, perhaps! Oh and one question for the readers. What books should I tackle next? I’m pondering which beautiful works of fiction shall be on my reading list this year of 2026. I am considering a Lord of the Rings re-read (it’s been too long!) and perhaps some more Lewis as well. But I am undecided so I would heartily welcome any beloved recommendations.
Now I am off for real. Peace and love, my friends. Peace and love.
Something Weird 