For the second time in the month of October, the allergens in the air have left me unable to breathe like a normal human being (I don’t know for sure, but I am blaming ragweed. It’s too early for cedar season).
And while being sick (in a non-contagious way - allergies are contagious but I sound like death), it’s a good reminder that even when you’re feeling miserable, you can find little moments that leave a smile on your face.
I have a few this week.
Last weekend, I was actually at my parents’ new house in Brazos Valley, Texas, to do a fundraising walk for the Brazos Valley Down Syndrome Association’s Buddy Walk. While he doesn’t have down syndrome, my brother is special needs and part of the move my parents made to Brazos Valley was to build a nonprofit community for people like my brother.
He’s functional, he had a job for ten years in our home town and has a new one now in Brazos Valley, he makes his own lunches, he helps clean, but there are things he needs some help with. The idea of the community my parents want to build is for people like him to have a place to call their own home when their parents are gone or unable to take care of them. At some point, my brother will be my legal responsibilty and I take that seriously and I want to help with this community they’re building.
But the highlight was getting to spend time with the family, because I think the last time I spent a weekend at my parents’ house when they were both there was in February…. for a funeral.
And sure it’s weird, because it’s not my home that I grew up in, but all the things of my childhood, like furniture and painting and photos…. those were all in this new house. But it was good to spend a day with the family, especially on a Saturday when we got to watch college football.
Part of why my parents chose Brazos Valley is because it’s home to Texas A&M, home of the A&M Aggies, which they both are. And the Aggies love their football.
While I did not go to A&M, I did go to a big football school, Sam Houston State University. And this week, they fired their head coach.
I never want people to be fired, but I went on a few rants last weekend to my parents about how he was a bad coach. Little did I know. When the news broke, my mom got an all caps text message. Probably the biggest thing that happened this week (because I’m sick and I’m not doing anything).
The last little bop I have is that my PKM app, Capacities, released Whiteboards this week. I haven’t played with them yet, but this release video they did has my mind dreaming of all the ways I could use whiteboards for books. I can’t wait to dive in tomorrow and see how this all works.
This is a bit longer than what I anticipate future bits and bops will look like but your girl needed a little bit of a brain dump tonight.
Stay safe this weekend and enjoy your extra hour of sleep. Or don’t, if you’re in an insomniac cycle like I am right now.