a crepuscularly-themed day

Yesterday was not perfect. But:

1. Morning shower. So. Nice. And. Warm on my muscles aching just enough from Sunday's climbing.

2. A visiting teacher who wants to start a science program at her school. She was really nice, and I got to talk about my job. I love my job.

3. First grade lesson went fantastically. They were really experimenting, really "doing science". And they were so engaged in it - so focused!

4. Caught the sun setting over the ocean, a huge red ball of fire.

5. I took a crepuscular walk on the beach, about a mile down before turning around, after sunset. It was absolutely beautiful, with the waves crashing and the red sky reflected in the water. I had re-learned about the different kinds of twilight the other day and enjoyed really seeing the difference between the sky right at sunset, at the end of civil twilight, and at the end of nautical twilight. (By the end of astronomical twilight, I was back in my car and halfway home.)

6. I made tapioca pudding, which is always a comfort food, and A. came over to share it.

7. Time Enough At Last - old-school Twilight Zone.

In one celebrated example, Dr. Robert Emmons, of the University of California at Davis, asked college students to keep a gratitude journal--over ten weeks, the undergrads listed five things that had happened in the last week which they were thankful for. The results were surprisingly powerful--the students who kept the gratitude journal were 25% happier, more optimistic about the future, and got sick less often during the controlled trial. They even got more exercise... Their friends had noticed them being more helpful and emotionally supportive.
-Po Bronson & Ashley Merryman, NurtureShock

Thus:

1. Toast this morning - made by Mike, covered in strawberry-rhubarb jam.

2. The pleasingly short drive to work from Mike's place, especially because I've figured out the quicker route. (Take 18th past Castro before going north.)

3. Boat building with fourth grade was mellow. My oil spill lesson with first grade was as successful as it had been Monday.

4. K. got her first med school acceptance!

5. A surprise call from M. while I was cooking dinner - and the good news that she's getting over being sick.

6. Spicy tomato soup with D.: good dinner for a cold fall night, good friend for anytime.

7. Eating chocolate ice cream and drinking peppermint tea while reading NurtureShock, alternating hot and cold, creamy chocolate and the sharp taste of mint.