This clock below is 5:30 in the afternoon. It’s the other 5:30 now on the east coast. I love being awake early in the mornings. Truth be told I’ve been up since 3am. Like I said a while back the nocturnal me is returning. I tried to return to the normal sleep times the rest of society seems to observe but I just can’t make it happen.
Photo by Mike Hartley
A wonderful sunny day ahead here in the Mid-Atlantic. A good one to be outside and I will be doing that exact thing. Sunrise will be within the hour.
Photo by Mike Hartley
Just thought I’d share a few images and say good morning to all.
Random Thoughts of the Day
I always tense up and get a shiver when I see the first leaves falling from the trees in late August. And given that cool temp of 57 degrees this morning I shivered again when I stepped outside. Been a while since the temp touched the 50s.
Looking for less stress today and I have a plan to make that happen.
The lack of leadership is getting worse. It’s time we stopped catering to the lowest level of intelligence in this country.
I have a lot of work to do in my office. But it’s a nice day outside?
Morning dew on outside table. Photo by Mike Hartley
I like stepping out on the deck or back porch and looking at the morning come alive. The deer grazing and the birds playing and chasing each other. Same with the squirrels going around a tree. The sun breaking through and over the trees.
Good morning, a simple phrase that I find used less often now. Others like good afternoon, good evening, how are you, good day, hello, have a great day and others are all becoming less shared.
People wave to each other less often also. I used to play a little game by making eye contact with people I’d be passing walking the streets of DC on my way to work from the parking garage. I’d smile and node and see how many would smile or node back. I was surprised how many would smile also.
Well, I’ll just continue to be me even if people choose not to respond.
What are your morning rituals? What does the first hour of your day look like? – This daily writing prompt certainly likes to investigate my personal life.
I’m up early most days so I’ll flip the outside lights on and peek at the weather and look for nefarious creatures lurking outside before I step out. I’ve always been in the habit of stepping outside first thing in the mornings.
I didn’t want to lose that when I retired. Now I have a few minutes to stand there (if its nice out) and listen to the sounds of nature. Be it the rain or wind blowing through the leaves and trees. Maybe the hoof pounding of the herd of deer that I disturbed.
I’ve never been a coffee drinker. I love the smell of it but no on the taste. So, my morning beverage is a 16.9 oz Coke. Sometimes a Cherry Coke. I’ll pound about half of that and put it back in the fridge.
At this point it’s one of two directions. If in pain, I spend some time stretching and maybe a mile on the treadmill. For some reason walking will sometimes free the back. If pain free, a quick stretch and off to the computer for email check and maybe check a few blogs. Put the headphones in and turn up some music. Start my first blog of the day, maybe 2-3 separate ones if inspired.
I try to write my children 3-4 times a week, so most mornings include a note to one of them. Sometimes one to my best friends. I usually turn the tv on but most of the time don’t watch more than a few minutes if that. Don’t know why I do that still. It has been getting less frequent.
I’ll pick up the dumbbells and do a few sets of various exercises if the stretching earlier was successful and if the pinched nerve in my neck isn’t causing pain or numbness in the arms or hands.
Back upstairs, grab the daily meds/vitamins, maybe plug in the camera batteries, sit back down at the computer and edit a few images while eating a nut bar. By this time the music is sounding really good and I might break into some air drums or guitar. Singing at this time of morning would be disruptive to my better half’s sleep.
Oh, if I oversleep, I watch the sunrise in the first hour of the day.
I’m guessing this morning’s sunrise will look like this with the low clouds on the horizon moving further offshore. Photo by Mike Hartley
