Spreadsheets

I stepped outside for a minute to get some air after the rain. I was tired of looking at spreadsheets and talking about spreadsheets. It was pleasantly cool and breezy. I listened to a bird singing on the powerline in front of the sandy colored building across the street and wondered if he was singing for himself, talking to someone, or maybe singing for God. He flew over to my side of the street—singing the whole time—and landed in a tree in the parking lot. A big black street cat quickly ran past me and under a bush. I walked over to the railing and saw him crossing the street into the big fenced off parking lot by the sandy building. He must have jumped from the ledge. The bird began singing again from the tree behind me as I watched the cat prowl along the service vehicles in the lot. A FedEx truck drove past. Water suddenly spilled from a PVC pipe I hadn’t noticed on my side of the street. Suddenly a little bald man in a sanitation uniform came out of the sandy building’s garage door with a plastic or styrofoam bowl with something in it. Seven or eight cats—including the one I had been watching—rushed over to where he sat down the little bowl and began voraciously eating. This must be a regular ritual for them. It started to drizzle again and I went back inside to look at some more spreadsheets.

An Aside

Also, beauty has been in this world as long as ugliness, if not longer. In fact, I would say beauty underlies and informs everything. Ugliness couldn't exist if beauty didn't first exist. Ugliness is a rebellion against beauty.

Guys, I flew too close to the sun. I always wanted a pair of white pants but never bought a pair because of the obvious risks. A few months ago I was like YOLO and went for it. What a beautiful couple of months! Today when I was working on the printer at the office, this happened. All I can say is cherish the time you have with your loved ones, and don’t take any moments for granted!

Some Small Advice on Living in a World That Isn’t Right

I am lucky to have sons who care about people and the condition of the world. They are very attuned to what is going on and feel anxiety over what is happening and how they can have an impact. Eliot and I have been having conversations as I leave for work in the morning and he is returning home from his third shift position, and they have been wonderful. We didn’t have much time to talk today however, so I shot him this text when I got to the office. I’m sharing it here too, just in case it is helpful to anyone: I am just one guy, so this may only apply to me and I may not even have the whole picture. I most likely do not. For what it's worth though, this is my purpose in a world that is not right: 1. Do not become hard to fight hard things. Strength and hardness are different. 2. Protect and engage in the things that make humanity beautiful: kindness, joy, art, silliness. Those are the real enemies of fascism. 3. Cultivate Joy and Hope in yourself and share it with those around you. Joy and hope are not things that you run out of. Unlike other things, the more you give them to others, the more they increase in you. I hope that is helpful.

My Beautiful Pens

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Eastgate, January 3 2025

The good thing about the sky is it can be seen anywhere by anyone at anytime. All you have to do is look up. No economic class, race, gender or nationality has a view better than anyone else.