yesterday, like most weekdays, my I woke up to Tim Armstrong singing Wake Up at 5:30AM.  First things first, I go to the bathroom, drink a glass of water, then put the kettle on the stove for coffee.  I decided while moving to switch to french press coffee.  It is tastier, my counter is cleaner, but making it takes a decent fraction of my morning ritual.  While the water is boiling, I clean and prepare the press (and a little bit of the kitchen). For the 30 seconds I wait for the plumeria I hang like a ragdoll, feet shoulder distance apart, knees bent, butt on the cabinets, for a quick #hitreset. Stir the coffee, fill the remainder with water, and put the lid on.  About now, Badger gets up and comes to see what I’m doing.  I say, “Good morning!” and get some kisses and hugs.  He goes back to bed until I am ready to sit.  Once I pour my coffee, I grab my computer and go to the couch.  I didn’t write yesterday. Instead I read.  I read mostly about elite and professional runners.  Most notably, Like a Motherfucker, by Sara ‘Mac’ Robinson. She describes her journy running as a mother, feeling guilty for taking time for herself, away from her brand new human.  Her conclusion is that she better make the most of that time and run like a motherfucker, after all she owes it to her daughter and husband to run like a motherfucker. Now I have inspiration for my marathon trials posters (for which Mac is running)!

Now I realize that I’m cutting close on time so I need to shower.  Good thing its not hair washing day.  I shower, dress, pack my lunch and run out the door.  Thankful that its warming up (in the 50s this morning) and there is no condensation on the car.  My commute is becoming routine, I didn’t even need to look at GPS today.  I changed my route when my office location changed last week.  I get in and go straight to my office to begin the day.

I start work, editing a manuscript from the group that I am joining.  The software I requested is finally ready, so I begin install.  Later, around 8:25, I try to log in to watch the Center’s All-hands meeting.  My computer freezes, I decide to wait it out.  I continue editing on a hard copy I have of the manuscript.  Nothing is happening. Ctrl-Alt-Delete isn’t even doing anything.  Its been an hour, so I manually hard restart the machine.  I’m finally able to log-in.  I get into the Q&A at the all hands. Now my computer restarts on its own.  Okay.  Finally log back into the meeting, and its totally over. Awesome (<- sarcasm). At least I can add my edits to the digital copy.  I realize that I’m getting hungry, so I eat an apple and start my count down to lunch time.  Which is easy because my computer keeps prompting me to restart AGAIN.  After a game of being disrupted every 10 minutes, I set it to postpone for an hour and agree with myself to go to lunch then.

For lunch, I have cauliflower rice, 1/4 a huge ass baked sweet potato, leftover ‘carne asada,’ and an avocado.  Luckily the cafeteria below me has a microwave.  Once I go permanent, I think I will outfit my office with the luxuries of a minifridge to store my lunch in.   Surprisingly, I don’t finish lunch by the time I’m full.  This is good, I’ll have a nice second lunch later in the afternoon.  During lunch, I scroll through instagram.  One post catches my eye. An untranslateable greek work: meraki.  I do some googling about it and find this post and begin to notice a pattern of  what the universe is putting in front of me today.

After lunch, more editing.  Until I have to drive to another location for meetings.  Meeting 1 is about a project I can work on after this 3 month tour is up. Honestly, it sounds really interesting.  I will probably do it.  It is a good group, interesting work, and if it goes well can lead to collaboration (and funding) for part of my time in the future.  The second meeting is a required meeting for the program.  A more senior engineer, with a lot of initiative to make things happen, is presenting to all of us new professionals.  His main message is that if you find a gap of something you need, then take initiative to fill that gap.  We work for big brother, but our Center is supportive of people making things happen.  Awesome. (<-not sarcasm).

Take initiative.  Work/live with meraki.  Engineer/run/live like a motherfucker.  I get it.  I’ve taken a lot of time away from being passionate about my work.  I have been passionate about technology and making things happen, but not my work, not even my life.  I have taken some time to recover from grad school. I have been cautious, protected.  I am in a position now where I have opportunity at my finger tips.  Its time to go all in. Whole heartedly.  To love what I do, and be my best while I’m doing it.

I end my day with my second lunch and more editing.  When I come home, I feel totally drained.  I forgot my gym clothes in the morning, spent my evening at the grocery store. After coming home, I have intention of working out in our second room, but get distracted by planning dinner and reading about picky bars.