Here I sit

I'm sitting on the patio at work as the cool morning breeze and mist ruffles my late-morning-bed-head hair. 

I'm watching the yellow autumn leaves flutter to the ground. 

I'm sipping a clandestined cappuccino- warmth fills my stomach and soul. 

The marbled gray sky sends kisses to the earth, and the trees bow in respect. 

My face tingles with the touch of Autumn's delight.

So, who am I?

This child of the Fall

Ashamed of imperfections I possess and pursue

Enjoying such pleasures as passions will endure

Occasionally, I, on my luckiest days

Will become more than mortal

And I will see the beauty that I have missed

As the willow trees hide their sorrows in a kiss

For the earth

I cry for a second chance to take not from the Tree

But to receive such mercies as Fall from Thee

Too short for deep thoughts

This morning as I was getting ready for work at 4:15 AM... (*yes, you can groan with sympathy for me*) ...I looked down at my beautiful sleeping wife and thought: I just might be the luckiest man in the world.  And then I thought- no, there MUST be someone more luckier than me. 

Then I thought some more.

And I decided that yet, indeed, I MUST be the luckiest man in the world. 

I love you Joules.
Tim

"Your loveliness none can see with the fullness that it deserves."

Boringest post ever. Sorry.

I'm wearing a new sweater that Julie picked out for me.  It's gray and warm and so S.O.F.T.

Work has been tough.  I feel stretched thinner than I've felt in a long time.  Lots of hard work with little recognition (and mostly complaints) is difficult for anyone.  My boss was made "Manager of the Quarter" for our district.  I know he doesn't really get a whole lot of recognition- he tends to focus more on the out of sight things that help a store succeed financially, and he's not the best at encouraging the team.  But he's one of the better managers I have had in my life, and I am grateful to be working with him.  And our store has made our budget for the last 11 months (which is pretty impressive for a post-recession).

I'm starting to wonder if I will get promoted or not to Assistant Manager after the holidays like they said- AND if I will enjoy it if I do get promoted.  I feel like, essentially, I'm doing all the things that an ASM does right now: ordering supplies, doing all the promotional work, keeping track of our sales targets and goals, inventory, etc.   So, I guess it's just the raise and the recognition that I'm after...

I would like to go to Maple Valley for Christmas.  I really would.  But sadly, I think I'm going to have to work (especially since two of our shift leads just quit).  :(

Julie and I are just going to have to try to make something special out of what we got.  We're going to the snow on Sunday, at least!!  (note to self: check to make sure we have chains...)  We may even get a Christmas tree!

Thanks for reading my nonsense.