Gently Marinated

All is well, just relaxing, gently marinated. Not much else to report.

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Windshield Replacememt

Today I am sitting in a repair shop about 50 minutes from home as I wait for the windshield to be replaced in my wife's vehicle.  Yesterday, while traveling around, a semi truck apparently kicked up some large rock or something similar and it was powerful enough to punch an actual hole into the windshield.  My wife and her passengers were very fortunately all fine.  

When I called the insurance company, they said we could get this appointment here this morning, or if we wanted a service to come out, they could do this as well, but it would not be until Wednesday of next week.  This little drive and waiting around for a couple hours seemed a better choice for me.  I have used the time to walk my daily walk (actually walked about 7 miles), I have ha a few pipes, and have read a bit and wrote a few updates to some of the handouts I will need for the start of the Fall semester.

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Suicide

Robin Williams apparent suicide has brought back a flood of emotions for me.  I had a teen aged niece who committed suicide 20 years ago.  It is such a horrible, terrible thing.  So pointless.

Families never recover from such a thing.  I feel so sorry for Williams' family.  Depression and mental illness need to be better treated.  He was a wonderful actor and comic.  My niece was a very good, kind young lady.  They both should not have done what they did.  It is an utter shame.  Suicide hurts those you love, and it is so harsh for the families.  I doubt my niece nor Williams would have intentionally hurt those they loved... But that is what they did do.  That becomes their legacy.  It will be a major if not THE major thing that they are remembered by.

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Just Working on Things

The past several days have just been focused on working on a bunch of different things... Some at work, some at home.  I am trying to work hard to have the Fall be more streamlined and potentially more relaxing and enjoyable.  I guess in a way I am trying to "make hay while the sun shines" so-to-speak.  I hope my efforts prove fruitful. 

The pipe is back down to the more typical 6 or 7 bowls again.  I am thinking about again adopting the strategy I had great success with during Lent.  I liked that pattern and was wholly successful with it through the entirety of Lent.  I need to figure out how to have that motivation during non-Lent times, which alluded me thus far unfortunately.  

I was thinking of going to the library today to look for a new novelist to begin reading.  But, unfortunately, the library is closed on Sundays in the Summer.  Maybe I will go to the bookstore?  Possibly, but I like the range and age of the books at the library much more, and of course they are free too.

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Tobacco Road

I did a sizable amount if work today both at the U and at home (most notably some painting).  So, overall I was content with my productivity.  Interestingly, today was a day with well above average pipe consumption as well.  I did not count, but would not be surprised if I smoked 20 bowls of pipe tobacco today... which is WELL above my current average of around 5 or 6 bowls.  I am not really sure why.  Oh well.

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Going Home

Today, I get to go back home!  I cannot wait, and so look forward to being back with my family!  The meeting was much better than I anticipates, and happily also much less stressful.  They also had free beer and wine each evening.  That was helpful too.  Overall, it was a far better experience than I was anticipating.  Bit, I will be very glad to get home!

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