Morning Rituals

Here I am at work just starting my day and I realized how slowly I actually start. When I first arrive at work I need to make coffee and grab water. Can't function without the coffee, even though it's decaf. Next I sit down to read the news. Jeff taught me to always read the news first. That way I get the depressing stuff out of the way and can focus on the fun stuff. I read Google News, CNN, BBC, The Des Moines Register, and KCCI. By that time I'm sufficiently depressed. But part of the job so I get it out of the way early.

Now the fun stuff. Over the last couple years I have found about 30 or so blogs that I follow. And all of those get read every morning. Some post everyday, some don't. I have art blogs, writer blogs, WOW blogs, animal blogs, and some that are just strange stuff. But they put me in the right mood for the day. It's all about learning and fun. So every morning I go through them at work, feeling slightly guilty for wasting time, but not enough to actually stop. And truth be told I normaly only waste about an hour that way. I know I'm lucky that my job allows me that flexibility. If I had a different job I wouldn't be able to start my day this way.

But I just have to point out some of the most recent editions, just in case anyone is looking for a fun new blog.

Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast. (a blog about books) http://blaine.org/sevenimpossiblethings/

Curious Expeditions http://curiousexpeditions.org/ (interesting history that makes you go hmmm)

Cabinet of Wonders http://cabinet-of-wonders.blogspot.com/ (mechanical history told through pictures. Plenty of learning and great photography here)

And Roadside Scholar. http://www.roadsidescholar.com/ (because I love fun art)

Just some new ones that haven't made it onto my profile yet. But all of these make my morning just a little more interesting.