My own Coaster

Sam and I bought some cork coasters for our house a few years ago from IKEA.  The girls have broken more than a few of them as they’ve become playthings over time.

But in the late winter earlier this year Edith grabbed one to draw on.  It’s become my favorite for obvious reasons and I hide it on my desk so it can both be found and used by me, but also so that it doesn’t mix in with their toys like so many other coasters have.

I put the title on and dated it but the rest is her fantastic drawings from back when she was just 3 years old.

I think I’ll try to hold onto it for a long while.

Coin Pocket

I wear jeans pretty much daily.  I’m a stay-at-home dad so they fit what my days require of me.

Every day, in the little coin pocket, or watch pocket, I keep three coins with me.  Have for years now.  Doesn’t feel the same without them.

One is a 1979 Susan B. Anthony One Dollar Coin.  When I was principal of Summit Academy Lorain a handful of these came through our school.  And every chance I got I replaced them with a dollar bill so I could keep some. I have several in my sock drawer, but this one has been my pocket coin for years now.

The second is a 1979 quarter.  No reason other than it’s a quarter from the year I was born. Same for the dollar coin.  For years I’ve kept it alongside the Susan B. Anthony.

The third one has only ridden with me for a few months, but it’s a Bicentennial Quarter.  My dad always instilled in us that these were special coins. So when I got one as change a few months ago I added it to my collection.

They feel.. lucky maybe.  I always liked being both in 1979… Being able to say I was born in the 70’s instead of 80’s.  Technically I had a while decade of experience that they didn’t.

Yes I know it doesn’t work that way, but it was fun to say when we were growing up

Bizarre Dreams of a Future King?

I sometimes wonder why I still hold onto this site. Almost 20 years ago I started it on a whim. I updated it often when there wasn’t much else in my life. When I drew daily, when I had lots of time to myself.

Now, well its almost all family time. And when it’s not I read, or run, or sleep, or clean, or work…. or a million other things that are more pressing than updating this site. And while it could be somewhere to write about family, Sam and I long ago decided not to post lots of pictures of our girls online.

But some nights when I get pretty good sleep, I still have bizarre dreams that I want to write down. And this is the perfect place for that.

Last night I had a dream that I was the new King of France. But oddly it took place in or around the house I grew up in. And before I was anointed king, I climbed a weird statue or marker in the town square that had all the other kings’ names before me etched on it.

After climbing it I had to listen to the two chambers of Lords argue with each other. One was a more populous Lower Chamber with lesser Lords, and one was a sparse Upper Lord chamber with only a few dozen Lords. They argued about which laws to enforce, the role of religious figures and other such.

Eventually there was a type of coronation ceremony. There was the Pope/Religious head, a few more ‘regal Lords’ and some of the wealthier citizens.

Oddly the first I noticed, and pointed out, was that the Pope was a weird wicker puppet, with teeth carved out of wood and hay sticking out of his sleeves. Working the Pope Puppet was a weird giant slug like creature. I pointed out how he wasn’t human, how he shouldn’t be there and some guards dragged the puppet and slug like creature away. The whole time the slug creature was making the Pope Puppet say things like “Oh my son you are awfully mistaken,” and “Hundreds of Thousands of citizens praise and worship me!”

When the chamber was silent again I was called on to speak. I spoke of creating a community bank to fund small businesses and investments. Of using their wealth to give back. Of creating loans to improve lives of others. Of how using their money this way could actually increase their net worth over a longer timeline while improving all of the citizenry.

I was asked to leave while they pondered this. Which I did. I entered my parent’s house, the house I grew up in and sat around the kitchen talking to my parents, sisters and brother about how bizarre the whole scenario was and how I knew the wealthy would never go for my plans.

That’s where the dream ended. I woke up confused and totally groggy.

Not like exhausted, but that I woke up at the wrong time and was not motivated much for my run this morning. But I knew I had to get this dream down somewhere. It was the strangest dream I’ve had in a while. I’m sure influenced by the books I’ve been reading – I just finished the second book in the Wheel of Time series yesterday evening. But also, just bizarrely way off – Puppet Pope Slugs don’t appear anywhere in the story….

At least not yet. But 12 more books to go in the series so I may be wrong.

What did Time taste like?

‘There was a thought. What did Time taste like? Like didn’t and clocks and people.’

I am reading the book Sam got me for our annual Christmas Eve book gifting.

She had asked what kind of book I wanted and I told her something she read that stuck with her, or was important to her. 

She gave me two books, the first I’m reading is ‘The Martian Chronicles’ by Ray Bradbury. I’m about halfway through it and enjoying it, but this is the first quote that stood out to me.

What does time taste like?

Forrest

School was cancelled for Marceline this morning, so the house is quiet as everyone else is sleeping in. 

I already ran on the treadmill and showered, so I’m having my morning coffee and reading in the quiet.

We bought a tree last weekend.  Her name is Forrest (all the trees had name tags).  I love that our star is a felt star Sam sewed years ago.  It’s a little beaten up but it’s ours.

This is honestly, a nice relaxing way to start the day.

Doesn’t quite make up for more sleep though.

At Home

I haven’t been motivated much to work this week.  Last week’s board meeting was draining. 

I have enjoyed the courses on non-profit work, board etiquette and fundraising.  But this week I’ve been reading and listening to music instead.  Plus it’s damned cold out.