He’s probably heading out for a job interview.

Thanks to Donnell and Public School for this.

Remembering that I’ll be dead soon is the most important tool I’ve ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life. Because almost everything — all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure – these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important. Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart.

I’ve been planning a trip as part of Donnell’s first Girl Scout Badge challenge and I’m a day late turning it in. I don’t feel bad, though, because Donnell is late as well.

Our long weekend is to a bed & breakfast in the Texas Hill Country: Rainbow Hearth.

The Plan

It begins with breakfast early on a Saturday morning, cooked by yours truly: Eggs, toast, strawberry preserves, thick-sliced bacon, and freshly-squeezed orange juice. Cleaning up is done quickly, and we hit the road before 10:00 AM, having already packed our bags and dropped Tully off with friends for the weekend.

The B&B is west of Burnet, on Lake Buchanan, and the 120-mile drive takes just over two hours. Once there, we take stock of the surroundings, lounge around on the deck of our yurt briefly, and enjoy the massages included in the vacation package. Any hiking or other exertion is totally out of the question now, so we head back to our suite and quietly enjoy each other’s company for the rest of the day, interrupted only briefly to take in a home-cooked dinner.

We awaken refreshed the next morning, hungry for breakfast and ready to explore the lake on rented kayaks. The northern reaches of the lake are known to be the nesting grounds of Bald Eagles, but the area is beautiful enough that seeing eagles would just be icing on the cake. We stop several times to take photographs and lunch, and head back to the B&B that afternoon in time to take a nap before dinner. We end the day with a long, meandering walk along the lake as the sun sets, and a long, relaxing soak in the tub sets the stage for a great night’s sleep.

After a great breakfast the next morning, we pile back into the car and head home, where the real world awaits…

You’ll note that there’s no shopping on this list. There’s nothing besides kayaking, relaxing, getting massages, eating, and hiking. This trip isn’t about doing things–it’s about being together.

Budget

• The bed & breakfast: $770, meals and massage included
• Kayak rentals (all day): $75
• Fuel: $35
• And…that’s it!

Packing List

• Swimsuits
• Waterproof sandals
• Sunscreen
• Hiking boots
• Comfortable hiking clothes
• A cell phone
• Speakers, for listening to music wherever we happen to be
• Good books

In Summary…

It’s been too long since Donnell and I have been away from home and just enjoyed each other’s company. Our trips to various places have always been about doing things and seeing things and eating things, and this little getaway will give us the opportunity to just be with each other. Ideally, we’ll leave behind all our distractions (except for a cell phone in case of emergency) and remember what it’s like to be free of pressure and expectations and stress.

I really missed the sunsets that come with clouds.

Donnell’s been busy. She’s making a mug rug, knitting a sweater, renovating her craft room, preparing to make a pouch for a swap, and who knows what else. As I’m a reasonably-intelligent, creative, living person, I should be doing something as well.

And I am!

Some time ago, I started working on a promotional video for Lake Waco Montessori school, a Montessori magnet that’s a part of the Waco Independent School District. For various reasons, that project has taken a lot longer than anybody expected it would, but I think we’re on the home stretch. A preview copy of the DVD (containing several short videos on different topics) is in the hands of WISD’s archivist, who is selecting photographs to accompany one of the segments. Once she’s done, I’ll add the photos to the existing video footage, apply some tasteful transitions, and call it complete.

I’m also working on a short video for the same school to enter into a contest, which could net the school $1,000. I hope to finish it on Sunday (which is good, because entries must be submitted by the end of Monday).

Several friends have expressed an interest in playing D&D, so I’m working on setting up a couple of games. Two of those friends (hello, Drew and Ellie!) have never played, so their introduction will be in a small game with Donnell, just to give them a taste of what it’s all about and see if they’re really interested. If they are interested and want to try a more substantial adventure, the larger game will follow, and another friend (with whom we’ve played before) will join. I like the practical application of adventure ideas that D&D offers. Where else can you construct a fantastic scenario and not necessarily be in control of how everything plays out?

The weather is turning, so I’m also considering a knitting project of my own. I need to find a Jayne Cobb hat pattern and the perfect yarn. I don’t have much knitting experience under my belt (having finished a too-small watch cap and a washcloth) but I’m pretty confident I can stumble through a silly hat with a pompom (pompon?) and some ear flaps.

You’ve probably noticed that I’ve changed blogging systems yet again. This time, I’m using something called Octopress, which is designed by and (mostly) for hackers and other people with seriously geeky tendencies.

I’m turning off comments until my new hosted comment provider (Disqus) imports all of the comments from my WordPress blog and I can confirm that they work correctly.

I’d eat this.

Every single day, if possible.

There’s something about this photograph that almost brings me to tears, but I can’t quite put my finger on it.

Maybe it’s just the emotional impact of the day.

The love of my life had surgery this morning, and is sleeping off the anesthesia and pain about six feet away. Machines attached to her and her bed click and whirr and tick, making sure that she doesn’t get blood clots and does get pain medication. I hate their necessity with a passion, but appreciate their intent. If they were animals, I’d feed them some treats to show my gratitude.

The surgery started a little later than planned, and took thirty minutes longer than we’d originally been told it would take (though it lasted just as long as they thought it would). I did okay until the last fifteen minutes, which I spent watching the timer count down, willing it to keep decreasing. It did, and I spoke with the surgeon, and didn’t lose my composure even once. I’m forever grateful to her for taking such good care of my sweetheart.

I think that’s enough for now. This best-of-all-worlds will continue for a while, now that I know that Donnell is going to be fine. Thanks to all of you who sent good thoughts our way. I’m forever grateful to you, as well.

So, I decided earlier that I’d create something today. Anything.

Here is the result. You can click around a little bit, but the interesting stuff is found at the Play in Browser link.