Awake, thankful for the new day, it's dark yet.
A drink of water, then to the kitchen with our cat Snowy.
Along the way, Carol hops down from the bed she's been sleeping on and gos ahead of me.
First the light on the stove hood, then the light over the sink.
A paper towel for Carol on the counter, a drip of water for her to drink from.
Stove on, check the water.
Throw out the old used coffee filter and replace it with a fresh one.
Turn on the gas, lighting the stove with a puff to assist the electric starter.
Pet carol, rub her chin.
Now some coffee from the freezer, 4 heaping table spoons.
Now joined by Willow, I pick him up while meowing for a snuggle.
After a moment he gets squirmy, I set him down on the rug in front of the refrigerator on his rug.
Now boiling, I pour the water through the Peet's Sumatra coffee grounds. The rich brown tones, swirling bubbles and wafting aroma promise a joy to come.
Stirring the brew, watching the evolution of my first cup.
Give Snowy some fresh water, more thanksgiving for this day.
Switch the coffee filter from one cup to the other using the table spoon to catch the drips while in transit.
More water from the tea kettle,
turn off the stove.
Now some milk from the refrigerator.
This stimulates Carol who reaches out her paw in a gentle reminder that
the CAT wants her milk.
I fill her orange bottle cap with milk, and place it on the edge of the sink.
She purrrs and begins lapping it up as I
put a table spoon of milk in Willow's tiny ceramic bowel and place it on the floor for him to enjoy.
Then milk in my cup,
putting the milk container carefully into the refrigerator so as to not disturb Willow's enjoyment of his milk.
Then it's time for my reward, the first sip of my morning coffee.
Yum, thanks for the morning, thanks for this simple pleasure.
Then I pick up Willow's little dish ( maybe 6cm in diameter) and rinse it,
rinse carol's orange bottle cap after tilting it so that she can get the last milk.
I pick up my coffee cup and lead the cats back to my element where I finally turn on the light next to the computer.
First checking internet, sometimes email, sometimes the news, rotating through the various core sites: gmail, yahoo mail, SFGate, NYTimes, MarinIJ, Arxiv.org, Facebook, Quakes, and the rest.
Check work email.
Write in my journal, respond to electronic communications.
The coffee gone, the day started.
The cats are back in their little sleeping places.
It's still dark,
but I'm behind schedule already.....
Thanks.