I was working at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville as a SharePoint Specialist (creating web site templates, web sites, and custom forms) for the past year.  I really enjoyed working there as a consultant.  The project I was working on came to completion this past Thursday, so I’m laid off at present.  It is a welcome break, but hopefully it is a short lived break.  I actually enjoy the work I do, but of course I need to work like most folks.

I have spent yesterday shifting gears some.  I haven’t been able to take many photos, do any writing, visiting with folks, or bike riding.  When I got up yesterday morning I decided that it was going to be a day of simple pleasures for myself.  With Danny being away at a show in Cherokee, NC, I had the day to myself.   I felt grateful for this gift and I didn’t want to waste it, so I set in doing what I felt like doing.

I started off by going to water and then taking some photos of flowers around the creek and my yard.  There were Daylilies in bloom, Roses, White Cone flower, and Rhododendron.  A profusion of beauty where ever I looked.   I created a new header image for this blog from those photos.  I hope you enjoy the new image.

I had breakfast, a shower, cleaned the kitchen, did some laundry and it was suddenly 11:00 am.  I know you must be thinking, why would you do cleaning on a day of simple pleasures.  I’m not fan of house work, I assure you.  Just ask my mother.  But for the past year I have had little time to do house work and the house has gotten a bit out of control.  So it gave me pleasure to start getting things in order again.  It will take more time, but it felt good to start the process.

I headed into Marshall, NC for a good cup of coffee.  A latté.   I took my laptop with me and thought I would apply for my unemployment while drinking my latte.  I was feeling the need to get out of the house and be around people, even if I wasn’t talking with them.  I just felt the need to be around other heart fires.

It turned out that the Latte was really good, but the internet just wasn’t working well.  My connection kept dropping, so I decided to head back home.  It was such a beautiful day and drive.  I just took my time driving home and I drank in the beautiful views, the warm sunshine, and the great tunes playing on my IPod.  I felt such joy in this simple pleasure.

When I got back home, I decided that I would go to a movie.  I love going to the movies.  I had no idea what was playing, so I fired up my laptop and checked out what was playing at our local movie theater in Greeneville, TN.

I found a new movie with Tom Hanks and Julia Roberts and it was called Larry Crowne.  I really enjoyed this movie.   The movie for the most part was  light hearted and funny.

On my way back home, I ran into my son.  I stopped and talked with him a minute and I played a few old tunes for him from my IPod.  They were tunes from his childhood.  One was “Joy to the World” by 3 Dog Night and the other was “Swingin” by John Anderson.

“Joy to the World” starts with the phrase “Jeremiah was a bullfrog”.  My son’s name is Jeremiah and when he was little, he loved this song.

After talking with my son, I head home and settled in on the couch for relaxation.  I soon got sleepy, so I turned in to bed.  I slept like a baby.  It was wonderful.

I hope you get the opportunity to shift gears and have your own day of simple pleasures.

Enjoy!

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