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Being an account of semioticrobotic's everyday life
Brisk one today, but I welcomed that. Editing in the morning, then a meeting, then lunch, then more editing and program management before a walk around the neighborhood with Mom. We ran into Diane, who revealed she'd "rescued" Oma and Opa's garden sundial from my trash pile this weekend. Just got off a 90-minute Zoom call with Greg, trying to help him recover files lost from iCloud drive several months ago. What a mess—a cogent reminder of why I ditched Apple nearly two decades ago. Tonight I'll probably do the dishes, pour another Reading lager, then finish reading for group tomorrow.
My first thought on waking this morning was that I was about to begin a shortened, holiday week—which can only mean that it's going to feel like an incredibly protracted, interminable, three-weeks-in-three-days work week. Everyone canceled their morning meetings with me (no complaints), so it turned rather quickly into a productive time. Lunch was leftover Ranch Hour chicken cheesesteak. Throughout the day I took stretch breaks and worked on slowly filling my newly mounted cassette racks. My nearly 400-tape collection is now on the wall, looking sharp. After a decent run and a show, I'm ready to pack it in.
Mom and Dad visited this afternoon. Mom watched the Phillies game while Dad and I hung some vintage cassette tape racks for which I was scouring eBay not long ago. (They look great.) Joey even stopped by. It was one of those amorphous, come-what-may kind of Sundays without pretense or scaffolding that just feels good every now and again. We capped off the evening with a trip to the Ranch House, arriving at 16:45 in perfect Berks County fashion, where I could buy Dad dinner and ice cream as small thanks for his afternoon of work.
A full day at home was quite a luxury today. Cleaned and sorted my new cassette tape racks, installed a new shower head, put my tabletop vinyl record holder together, unpacked boxes, cleaned the laundry room, shined the kitchen floor, and went for a run when it was all over. After a shower (under the new hardware, natch), the best part of the day began: I poured a pint of light, Reading-made lager, turned on some ambient electronic music, and sat in my easy chair, reading beside the open window in my study. For about an hour, I was completely content, at peace, settled. The buzzing of the towels finishing in the washing machine changed that.
Finally finished the entire, laborious process of registering my car in the state of Pennsylvania. Four stages of work spread across several weeks. What a hassle. But it's done now—just in time for me to buy an electric bicycle. Apart from today's walk to the mechanic, the day was a fairly uneventful, straightforward work day that involved the usual interviewing, reading, and writing. A box of books sits on my porch now, waiting for me, and tonight I think I'd rather read more than write.
Such a bright day. Woke early to call Laura and catch up. I'd missed talking to her. Worked through the morning, then met with Michelle to discuss finances for the first time in more than a year. Afternoon meetings, and it was time for desk work before Boehringer's with the family. It was the perfect pre-Memorial Day evening.
Not necessarily the day I wanted (lots of housework), but definitely the day I needed. A lighter meeting schedule meant that I had more flexibility (so I used it to wash socks?). Brent and I could even go see Joey at the shop for lunch. And I shipped my North Carolina license plate back to the NC DMV. It was a slightly emotional moment for me, seeing that plate (which I remember so vividly getting) being packed up and shipped out. North Carolina—the place and the idea—held so much promise, so much potential. That "new chapter" vibe was so strong, so exciting. Now that I've returned, the new chapter vibe feels different—a muted hopefulness instead of anticipation full to bursting.
Awoke to a crew outside, tearing up the street in front of my house to prepare for gas line installation. They started at 07:00 and were finished by 16:00. Unreal. A lighter day at work meant I also had time to run to the notary and (finally) get my car registered in-state. So two of the three arduous phases of work to bring an automobile into Pennsylvania are now complete. Walked with Mom around the neighborhood in the evening, past the schoolyard playground where I once played as a first-grader. A cool breeze swept across the block tonight, making it feel like an afterschool day from childhood, too.
Day began in a bit of a frenzy because one of my authored blog posts went live this morning, and despite all efforts editors still needed last-minute changes. So "morning work" didn't begin until after lunch, for which I ordered a pizza. Also went out for a run this evening, for the first time in uncounted months. While folding laundry, a songstress said she and the object of her lyrical musings were "compatible like the same two sides of Velcro," a statement that just kept getting more poignant the more I thought about it. Maybe I was just really hungry.
Slept late today, reluctant to expose myself to the morning's chill. Organized my books, then set up my new TV. Cleaned my bedroom and my bathroom for the first time since moving in, then spent Mother's Day with Mom, volunteering at the homeless shelter. Initialized booklog. Initialized lifelog.