Let us try a Sunday start to the week!

March 1st is a nice confluence of beginnings.  Meteorological first day of Spring.  This year it falls on a Sunday, which is first day of the week, too.

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Yes, those of you who follow the news may have noted that we actually had an earthquake or two out here.  The first one was the biggest at a 4.3 on the Richter scale.  It was a bit south of Hastings, Nebraska, where my older sister plays viola in their local symphony.  They did not however have any performances scheduled for Sunday the 1st of March.  But there were people here in town who definitely felt it, and even some as far away as Omaha reported feeling it.  

I am thinking that to feel it you had to not make assumptions about your body giving you fake signals.  At my age if things feel a little shaky I'm thinking oh I'm having a dizzy spell.  Or at the very least question my judgment as to what's going on.  But the young alert folks definitely nailed it: it was an earthquake.  Two smaller ones followed on, an hour later, and then 5 hours after that.  The epicenters of those moved toward the South.

Monday is the 2nd of the month, and for this dog-mama it began with waking up at 1 a.m. and not being able to get back to sleep.  OK, I might have dozed off and on a bit between then and 5:24 when I finally "gave up and got up".  

The Prisoner had gone outside at "last call" Sunday night, so was ready to come back in and be fed.  

Ember was full of herself!  She decided to "dig" at the seam between carpet and tile. She pried one of the Italian tiles up from its initial "super glue" repair.  She accepted mom's judgement that she needed to "kennel up" while mom cleaned up after her.  Reattached, and left to dry.  Ember released from time-out.

By now, of course, the day's order was disrupted, and we ended up doing poo patrol, then jumping in the backseat of the car for a ride through the coffee drive through.  Mom caved to temptation and bought mint chip chocolate cookies for the human breakfast, along with her mocha.  Ember got her big chewstick, then put herself back in her crate for "human time".

Tuesday, I skipped the trainer again.  Body was not being cooperative.  I still managed to do dog laundry and vacuum out the x-pen.  It was kind of drizzly outside.  Smells like Spring coming on.

The war that fired up last weekend is too close to home.  Today the news reported that one of those killed in the drone strikes is from about 50 miles away from here.  Army Reservist, working in Kuwait.  He had been previously deployed there in 2009 (same time as my son was passed through there on his way to his station).  Just.  Too.  Close.  And he is about my son's age, too.  To be clear:  ANY war is too close.  But coincidences bring added impacts.  If it means anything to anyone, my own apologies for the chaotic nature of the current leadership of the USA.  Makes me wonder how ordinary people felt in other times... in other places, when the "selection of leaders" seemed to be out of their hands.  'Nuff said.  Bible verse that covers that one is Mary pondering what she observed in her heart.

Wednesday, March 4th.  This is one of two competing dates for National Sons' Day.  I like it better because it's easy to remember:  "march forth" is what sons do... march on out of a mom's life as they become men.  I will celebrate in true Emberville style, by posting the picture of her licking her "big brother" when she came to live with me, nearly two years ago.  That cute little pink tongue gets me every time.

Still moist and relatively spring-like temperatures outside.  

One of our Ember car rides was to the library.  I started reading a book that "the kids" had read to their foster son at bedtimes.  It's called When Stars are Scattered.  It is biographical tale of Omar Mohamed, with Victoria Jamieson co-authoring the story.  This is a graphical novel, a format that I haven't indulged in very often, but it's like a blend between comic book art and writing.

Wednesday evening, I was sick.  Ugh!  I'm pretty sure it was food poisoning, rather than an illness, because once the nausea and such were past, I slept well and long.

I awakened later than usual Thursday morning.  Ember's time at home before day care was foreshortened.  She was happy to head off to play with her puppy friends.

I took it easy, particularly taking it easy on the tummy/digestive tract.  I know there is one brand of frozen entrees I shall not purchase again.  Might just take a break from those cookies, too.  I did a small load of laundry and did some basic cleaning.  I took a nap on the couch.

Meanwhile, the season is progressing, flip-flopping temperatures notwithstanding!  Little shoots of daffodils to come are poking their fingers up along the fence line, and beside the A/C.

Thursday, I finished the library book.  I found the story gripping.  It is about the refugee experience of the author, who entered a refugee camp in Kenya at age 4, taking care of his two-year-old brother.  They arrived there in poor condition after walking, fleeing the war in Somalia.  It tells of their experience growing up, how much waiting there was, the entire process of vetting before being approved to come to the US.  It tells of conditions in the schools there, how competitive it is just to keep going.  How many years he waited (over ten), living his childhood out in the camp.  He was 18 by the time he was approved to be resettled.  Many people helped along the way to get this promising young man to America, where he graduated college, got care for his disabled brother, married, started his own family, and became a citizen.  Highly recommend.  

Suddenly, it's Friday.  I woke late, after having a period of wakefulness in the night, similar to overnight Sunday to Monday.

It is a mild wet morning.  Mild enough that I took Ember out on leash around the neighborhood.  She behaved well, except for one episode of licking at someone's spilled green bean casserole.  Makes one wonder how such things end up splatted in the street... careless garbage workers?  Anyway, we worked our way past that and got home, then went on a ride through the coffee drive-thru, where they always have a milk-bone for Ember.

Life goes on in our space, regardless of what shows up on the news.  And life is good.  Keep on Sparking, doing what you can.  Kindness is the real king of humanity.