Now I'll be bold
As well as strong
And use my head alongside my heart
So tame my flesh
And fix my eyes...
I'm headed to New York for the week, strapping the shark fins on, as they say. I'm on the Northeast Regional 3:25, clattering my way up the east coast by rail. Through the grittiest parts of Washington, Baltimore, Philadelphia, Wilmington and Newark to Penn Station deep under New York somewhere. The day is nice and the train is full. Every seat and much of the aisle. It's a huge train, made for commuters, not scenery lookers. I found an end of a seat in the cafe car and a surface for my laptop. It is enough.
Water continues to slide quietly under the bridge of Time. July 4 was bright and sunny and relaxing. The Girl and I packed a picnic lunch and set up under a large shade tree on the river bank across from the DC monuments. The day was spent reading, playing games, and trying to soak up as much leisure as possible. A friend from AZ called in the afternoon and obliged to spend the evening with us on the lawn. We stayed for fireworks, which looked wonderful against the monuments and Capitol.
Sunday afternoon, after the fourth, we went to a ball game with some friends. This was followed by a Third Day concert in the stadium and a worship service led by Nats players. Who would have expected?
Work is going well moving into the fall. Our fiscal year ends this month, so it's mostly a happy time of looking back at accomplishments and looking to the future. The so-called busy season is just beginning - it's my favorite time of the year because there's so much going on and people going here and there and stuff getting done. It's exciting. Last week I received my CPA license after more than a year of studying, taking exams and filling out forms and waiting. Also last week, perhaps unrelated, came a large promotion at work. Which likely plays a part in my optimistic outlook.
I’m in the middle of Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, which is just an incredible read. I’ve read it before, and liked it, but what a trip it is every time.
...raise my hands
Paint my spirit gold
And bow my head
Keep my heart slow. [1]