It’s Friday! Pop the booze and let’s boogie down to weekend town!

I guess that’s a bit much, but I’m happy it’s Friday. This week marks my initial prep stage of getting my book of short stories published. I’m still working on a title, but will definitely write about it when it’s ready to drop on Amazon. Meanwhile, a little gratitude journal to the internet universe:

Thanks to all the terrific fellow bloggers and readers who started following me this week. It means a lot to know that people are reading my words. I’m spreading the good mojo karma and reading/joining yours as well. We’re all in this together!

Thanks to everyone who read my constant words about Robin Williams.

Thanks to everyone who read my ruminations over a screenshot of RW and Louis CK, that brought out a flood of feelings about losing New York and losing the great comedian.

Thanks to everyone who read about my biking days on The Great Hill at Central Park.

Here on the west coast, we just finished up a week of mind melting, pot roasting, chicken dinner steaming heat. I use these metaphors because – I love food – and, as temps reached 100 degrees and beyond, the inside of my non air-conditioned apartment felt like a pizza oven oven during the dinner rush. Unbelievable heat, only eased by whirling fans, open windows and nightfall, when the atmosphere’s thermostat turns down and the night air turns cooler.

The only place that belongs to me that has air conditioning is my car. So here I am in the above photo, enjoying the blast of cold air my Prius gives me every day. I’m grateful for that blast of cold air in the driving heat. I’m grateful for it waking me up in the morning even on the most pleasant of days.

One sad note. A few weeks ago, I wrote about a praying mantis I found on the antenna of my car.  Well, I think that lovely creature kicked the bucket. I found the dried up, shriveled corpse of a green insect on the bottom of my back door steps that vaguely resembles the body of that little guy. I have to assume his time was up. Or maybe our backyard stray cat got to him.

Strange how this guy found his way to my car (out of many in our apartment car port), and then found his way on my steps – when there are other back door steps to which he could drag his dying little body.

Rest in peace little insect. You gave me a symbol to live by. And in death, you’re doing the same.