LAKE MACBRIDE— Since July, my agenda has been packed with paid and unpaid work. As autumn yields to winter, I found myself working twelve days straight. Feeling similar to how I felt after returning to garrison after long periods of military field work, I’m making time to take care of basic necessities, and have created this chronicle of how things went.
3 a.m.— Rise, make coffee, read messages and articles, write emails, daily planning.
5 a.m.— Breakfast of pancakes with apple butter on top.
5:30 a.m.— Read the rest of The American Way of Eating by Tracie McMillan.
7:05 a.m.—Rearrange cupboard above the refrigerator (clean off thick layer of dust on top). Organize shelf stable goods in the pantry.
9:16 a.m.—Create work space in garage and downstairs.
9:45 a.m.— Pick up paychecks and empty canning jars, chat with two of my favorite farmers, take recycling to Iowa City, get groceries at North Dodge HyVee.
11:47 a.m.— Lunch, start dish washer.
12:32 p.m.— Scan paychecks into the bank account.
12:57 p.m.— Take a nap.
1: 27 p.m.— Select the ripe tomatoes from the counter to make pasta sauce, and get started.
2:09 p.m.— Sort cracked garlic for planting/eating.
2:37 p.m.— Finish prep work and start pasta sauce to simmer.
3:03 p.m.— Pay bills. Read mailers from Wellmark and Delta Dental on changes to plans for compliance with the Affordable Care Act.
3:34 p.m.— Take nap #2.
4:25 p.m.— Clean up to do prep work for dinner, and bask in the glory of a day on my own.
4:26 p.m.— Realize the the existential struggle for existence in the post-Reagan society restarts tomorrow.
4:27 p.m.— Was thankful for today.
Journey Home 
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