Mundanely pleasant

Ever have a day that for whatever reason, is just a really pleasant day in all its mundane glory? I'm sure you have. Today was one such day for me.

I had the best 8 hours of sleep last night that I've probably had in the whole time I've been here in Seattle and woke up this morning feeling totally refreshed. Bright sunshine coming in through the windows, I opened my eyes and noticed it was only 7:30am....yet, I was ready to jump out of bed! Sunday while on a walk with my mom, I found I liked the route with all its hills and other natural splendors. I went for another hour long walk on the same route on Monday as well as this morning.

Maybe it's fun because to me the route is kinda like a maze: I walk about a block, make a left that slightly curves around on a dead end street veering into another street. I come upon a slightly ajar fence that leads into a moderately big apartment complex parking lot, cut through there, exiting the complex onto another street. Walk to the end of that street. Turn right, walk on the sidewalk of another street for half a block, cross the street and turn onto a paved airport parking lot exit from high up on the hill so that I'm walking down a steep slope. There is a grassy marsh/hill to the left that sounds like it has a mini brook of water running, which is very relaxing to walk beside. I cut across the vast parking lot, walk a little uphill to exit the lot. Take a left onto SeaTac Intn'l Blvd where the airport and all the hotels are located (naturally, I think of my friend Carol when I think of hotels....I miss that lady so much!). I walk straight for 2 blocks and turn left onto 188th Ave and stay on that street for about 10 or 15 minutes, which is an uphill slope a majority of the time. I then turn left onto my mom's street and walk half a block.

What I loved most about my walk was listening and looking at all the beauty around me. I love looking at all the colorful flowers and trees, especially the huge cherry blossom trees; they're everywhere! I've also decided tulips are my new favorite flower. I never really noticed the elegance of tulips before. I'm not sure if it's because I see them more than I ever have prior to my move to Washington, but regardless, my eyes enjoy looking at them. :) I listen to a little bird chirping above me on the telephone pole wire. I see and hear more than one airplane taking off in the blue sky in front of me. It reminds me of how excited I feel when I'm on a plane, about to see someone I haven't seen in a long time. Or going to a fun destination in hopes of great adventure.

I'm also reminded of how much walking helps me to do two paradoxical things: to think AND not to think. How amazing it is when your mind lets you do both at random times, giving a comforting and much needed balance between problem solving and calm meditativeness. It's funny because I don't have any music to listen to while exercising. At first it was a nuisance, a boredom not to have...but now, I'm starting to enjoy the silence.

After my walk, I decided to make an excursion downtown to see a movie that a friend of mine told me about, "Forgetting Sarah Marshall." What's funny about having watched this movie is that it made me chuckle (in more ways than one), mainly due to the blog I wrote about men not getting naked on screen (See "Private Gender" blog: 4/16/08). In FSM, the main character is completely naked in like three scenes. It was great! Hahaha. And not for reasons you may think, although probably those too. ;) FINALLY it's a man getting naked in a movie, not a woman. Come to think of it, I don't think there were any naked women in the movie. There was a scene where there was a photo collage on a wall in the men's bathroom where women are flashing the camera, but I don't think that really counts. All bodily exposure aside (hahaha), I enjoyed the movie. I definitely recommend it to my friends!

My mom also gave me an ivy plant that she bought tonight, so I have a plant to take care of again; yay! I'm becoming such a domesticated nerd. :)

Ok, it's 11:30 pm. Time to go to bed soon and hopefully have another mundanely pleasant day tomorrow....