“Because time is short” is a phrase that came to me in a song in a dream, one so dense and imaginative that I woke up still hearing the lyrics almost humming in my throat.

I’ve found myself to be using it as a preface in many conversations, especially when I find myself cutting across the normal social conventions that we politely adhere to instead of just stating our truth.

Now that I’ve found that I’m not quite as sane as I previously believed, it helps me to telegraph that I’m not just speaking tritely. Our days are stuffed with enough of that already.

A couple of times, it might have alarmed the other person, as if taken that way, it adds an ominous tone to the message.

Because time is always short; if not for me, then for thee.
*One of my favorite quotes, from “No Country For Old Men”“All the time you spend trying to get back what’s been took from you there’s more going out the door. After a while, you just try and get a tourniquet on it.”

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“There’s a lot of beauty in ordinary things. Isn’t that kind of the point?” Pam Beesly

To those who feel: think.
And to those who think: feel.
Your blind spot will eventually teach you more than anything else in life.
If you’re lucky.

A picture of me and my brother when I was much younger. And ran all the time.

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The last movie I wrote about was “Nomadland.” I was surprised and glad to see that it won Best Picture at the Oscars, and more so that Frances McDormand won for Best Actress. The number of views for my opinion about the movie climbed since February and then spiked. I’m not a big Oscars fan but sometimes, it seems like they get it right. “Nomadland” left an echo in my heart.

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Saturday night, for reasons unclear to me, I finally had a good night’s sleep. It’s been a long time. Getting back to something normal is one of the main goals of counseling for me. It would otherwise be impossible to be healthy or happy if I can’t sleep. I’ve never been one to need eight hours a night but the cataclysm of my life in the last few months broke my innate ability to stay asleep long enough to feel rested.

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I’m seeing butterflies already. It blows my mind that last week, we had a short snowstorm here on 4/20. The cold snap killed a couple of plants. That’s okay. It is a reminder to not assume that winter’s grasp is out of reach.

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After work, I sat at my desk and watched the cat, watching birds. He would intermittently chirp and comment on the live action outside the window.

Hearing a ruckus outside, I saw that a bluejay was irritated by a squirrel’s presence. The bird was dive-bombing the squirrel, who fell into the birdbath and then attempted a quick exit. It was a Looney Tunes moment.

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Sometimes, the cat will lie on the floor basking in the sun, slowly pawing at the dozens of little rainbows cascaded from the window above.

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Saturday morning, though I was dull and tired from a lack of sleep, I found the answer to a mystery. For reasons unknown, long filament fibers of the sheathing behind the vinyl siding sometimes magically appeared along the ground. Hearing a strange noise, I thought a squirrel might be clambering over the edges. I peeked out. To my surprise, a robin was yanking and pulling the filament several feet from the house. I startled it and it flew off. A few minutes later, it returned. The robins have been using the filament for nesting. I went outside and cut all the long pieces into smaller ones and placed them over the fence for them to easily retrieve. And I’ll do a better job of leaving them material in the future.

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Though the full moon is due tonight, I went out at 3:30 this morning and watched the solar lights, many of which were still blazing. This one is a picture of the moon at the top. The butterfly lights are attached to a long copper pole set into the sunflower bed.

The above lantern is one I bought from Family Dollar for $5. I spray painted it a bright fuchsia color.

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The alley entrance/exit for Mr. Taco Loco on Emma is a lot less glamorous than the front entrance. But it was worth exiting due to the ongoing mural project on the side of the building on the corner of Main and Emma. It’s worth looking at.

The picture below is taken in front of the wall that is becoming one of Downtown Springdale’s many beautiful murals:

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If you want to see a startling and striking mural, drive by the corner of Allen Street and Holcomb in Springdale. It’s a work in progress. I didn’t take any pictures. You can’t miss it. If only the entire world were painting so vibrantly and with such creativity!

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Not noteworthy, but I bought a nice thermal carafe coffee pot from Walmart. Long story short, it had been put back on the shelf used. There was still water in the carafe in the box.

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I’d heard the song before, but didn’t even connect it to the fact that thousands of TikTok videos sampled it for content (Masked Wolf – Astronaut In The Ocean) )

It’s not the typical song I might like. But I do. When I discovered what it meant to the artist, I liked it even more. You can read his take on it in the comments on YouTube.

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One for those who love Spanish music, another one I discovered only because I’m incrementally reconnecting to the bilingual who thrives inside me (Sabastian Yatra – Como Mirarte):

A bonus Spanish song you’ll recognize (Te Amaré por Mil Años · Coro Iglesia Luz Divina):

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I forgot how useful the website Wordhippo is, especially in regard to the interface. https://www.wordhippo.com/

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At work today, someone who underwent bariatric surgery last year stopped me and asked all the questions you’d expect. He lost a lot of weight. He’s doing well but experiencing a climb in his weight. His life is much more complex than mine, though. We shared a barrage of highs and lows. He was intrigued by my hyper-simplistic approach, especially since I have no structure or exercise system.

Because I’ve been experimenting with prisms, solar lights, and other things, I found these infinity firework bulbs. Simply put, they are beautiful. If you like vivid colors that catch the eye, these LED lights might be worth a look. This one fits a standard bulb socket.

If you search for ‘firework bulbs’ on Amazon, you’ll get a good idea of the variety available. You can also find a huge variety of unobtrusive lamp bases, or make one yourself using a kit.