Category Archives: Daily

7:13pm
Leo never had the skyline chili, we talked about it in the morning and decidied to go there for brunch. I had a five way and he had one and two hotdogs. He really liked it and couldn’t stop talking about it afterwards. I think we just found another place to eat in the future.

Since yesterday when I saw the new Kindle in Target, I can’t get it off my mind. Leo picked it up and said he would buy it as a valentines present for me. I was ecstatic, and tried to persuade him to go and get it today. After trying to sway me in vain, he gave in and we went and got it. I have this little thing in my hand right now reading Griffins ecstasy with it. I do like the small size and the clear read. Tried out the text to speech and it is decent. We got the wifi one, I can’t see the necessity of having the 3G. I only need it for syncing books and I can easily do that at home and load it up if I need to go on a trip or something. Leo is using the old kindle. And my talks about the kindle got him interested in getting the guttenberg books on his knidle to read. He asked for the USB cable and went searching.

Did the evening prayer with the Divine Office app. Will start listening to the new audible book later. I am starting to make good use of all the gadgets now and it’s a good thing. I am so lucky to live in a time when technology is at it’s fastest growth and so many products are available to make life so much easier.

One advantage I noticed for the iPad kindle app is the ease of touching a word to look it up in the dictionary. On the kindle, I need to move the cursor to the line and then to the word. A lot more cumbersome. So for Merton’s book, it might be easier for me to read on the iPad, but for Griffins book, kindle would be a lot easier. Having options is a good thing.

I am so happy that my life allows me to read, play, knit or spin and dance. I do not spend most of my awake time at a job any more, instead I can decide on a daily basis what to do and need not feel guilty about it. It is almost like a monks life but better. I do not need to follow a schedule decided by a superior, I get to explore my own interest and read the books I like to read. But I come closer to a life that is spent in reading, contemplation than any other time in my life. How lucky I am!!!

7:30am
Woke up when all three pets were pestering Leo for food. Then remembered the toilet that wouldn’t flush for e yesterday that I forgot about. That thought was enough to get me out of bed, eyes half closed although mind pretty clear to address the problem. Do not want to create a frustration for Leo so early in the morning. Plunging and cleaning solved the problem, then saw the dishes in the sink and a near full dish washer and a full trash can. Can’t resist the urge to clean them and start the dish washer. Made the first pot of coffee when Leo came back from walking Benny. Very thankful for him walking the dog twice a day religiously even when he is tired in the morning, he gets up no matter what to feed and walk the dog no later than 6am.

Reading Merton’s “Dancing in the water of life” this morning. Have to check a few words on every page to make sense of what I’m reading. Came to realize the deficiency of my vocabularies when I attempt to read these books. Even so, I still like this book. Jumping in to one of his later journals doesn’t help I’m sure. But this is the period closest to griffins biography, it’s a good base for that book.

Also in Nouwen’s gracias journal. It’s interesting but not as much into contemplative life as the genesee diary. Totally different subject though. I avoid reading about political oppression or social injustice as much as listening to some classical music. The unease created in me disturbs the peace and quiet I seek. An ostrich behavior yet unable to conquer.

2:12pm
Went to Target to get a small heater for the downstairs office.  It gets really chilly down there with the big window.  Of course, I got side tracked as soon as I passed the electronic department.   Lingered by the kindle section for a while, the new model is a lot thinner and slick, there is a red cover for it too.  I was reallly tempted.  However, the iPad still has so much more functions than the mere kindle, I am not toally convinced yet.  Then the iPad section has the Zagg case and keyboard that is very interesting.  But for $99 it is locked on the display and I couldn’t really take a good look at it and decide whether I really like it or not.  The section with the iphone speaker/alarm was equally interesting.  It would be nice to have one in the downstairs office.    So I ended up spending an hour and a half in the store.  I did find my little space heater, a pair of trimfit thick platform walking tennis shoes, and a pair of slippers for the house. 

Came downstairs and finally moved the stuff that don’t belong to the office to the storage area.  It looks a lot better although it is work in progress.  It still needs a lot of work to get it totally functional and organized.  Started the second tape copying for C, so glad that the VHS on the DVD/VHS combo works even though the DVD died.   I just need the VHS anyway to do the copying.  Will have to remember to return C’s double VHS player next time I meet her.  And hopefully finish the copying and have something for her.  It’s been a while since she gave me the tapes.

Love, love this office with the new, white, L-shaped desk.  What a pleasure to work on it.   There is a wintery scene out the window now.  So serene.  Have an idea to make it a prayer room too.  Have mom and dad’s ash tower here with me anyway.  It’s a natural place for prayer.  Feel so content in here. 

3:30pm
It finally got chilly for me after staying down here for a while, I turned the heater on.  The fan blows the warm air out quite nicely.  And Tido is now sitting in front of it enjoying the warmth too.  Once in a while, he turns around to warm his back too.  Now rendering the movie, time to go read for a while.