I'm sitting here at work, going through the routine, and it occurs to me that today is beautiful.

It's freexing cold outside. The wind is blowing brightly colored swirls of leaves outside my window, and there's a draft that seems to be bringing outside into this office. I'm enjoying that draft right now.

I'm also enjoying that there is Jack Johnson music playing somewhere nearby- it could be from Tad's headphones, or it could be from the dorm that is right next to our office. But I'm enjoying it. It's reminding me of beautiful mornings last fall when Trevor and I would drive to Rock Creek for church. Those were fun soul-comforting drives. I miss them sometimes. But mostly I cherish the weary memory each time I call it up.

The sun is shining very brightly outside, and Dante (the dog) is outside my window looking at me. Earlier, when I was walking back from messengering, he was following so close that his ear almost touched my hip when I rounded a corner. I hadn't even noticed that he was there. Then I turned around and he backed off- skittish as usual. But he seems to halfway understand that I'm safe.

So often lately, I have felt like Dante.