But that's ok because

The bad news is that the Cardinals snatched defeat out of the jaws of victory,

But that's ok because it's just baseball and now I have more free time in the evenings again.

The bad news is that I had to travel to the northern edge of the world on Saturday (actually, just a northern suburb) to find a church to attend a meeting,

But that's ok because I had the travel time to myself in the car.

The bad news is the meeting I attended really sucked,

But that's ok because I got to see Sr. Sarah again, whom I like.

The bad news is that she's trying to put round peg (me) into square hole (St. Louis Oblates) and I don't fit and I don't want to fit, I just want to go to the monastery three times a year, not meet on a Saturday afternoon for an hour and a half and listen to a bible or Rule study while I knit, and she doesn't seem to be listening the other two times I have gracefully tried to bow out,

But that's ok because I'll try again. Maybe this time she'll see, now that I've seen for sure, that it isn't for me.

The bad news is that the art job is almost definitely not happening, and I knew it wasn't happening weeks ago but still played along like maybe it would out of sheer self-delusion mixed with an overdeveloped sense of responsibility,

But that's ok. It's ok because I've finally decided it's over and I can move into other things in my life. It's ok because even though I love the theory and what I would be teaching, I'd be working in an unhappy school filled with unhappy teachers and what on earth was I thinking? In the end, I was thinking I love the classroom.  But there are other classrooms.

The bad news is that the new scouting program I'm the Scoutmaster for started to fly out of control this morning and really, I didn't need that today,

But that's ok because I reined it in, I collaborated, and I had a pretty successful meeting of interested parents. I don't know how many are interested because they want to stick it to the Boy Scouts, hard, and how many are there for the program itself, but it will settle out.

The bad news is that I went for a bike ride today, aiming for 38 miles, and got to mile 9 and blew a tire. I had to walk 2.5 miles to where Jake could pick me up.

But that's ok because it was a gorgeous day, the walk is still exercise, and it became a sort of emblem for my whole life right now. It gave me perspective. A healthy mouthful of perspective. I didn't want it, I certainly didn't need it for my birthday, but by the time I sat down on the bench at the Grant National Historic Site and took a picture of the trees and sky, I'd swallowed it.

The bad news is that my bike is starting to hurt to ride,

But that's ok because I'm going to go get fitted on it as a birthday present to myself. I'm excited. I am officially over the edge with the bike thing.

The bad news is that at my age it's hard to shift this weight even with 80-90 miles a week on the bike,

But that's ok because I'm still working on it and it is slowly shifting. And I feel great for the first time in years. Thank you iron, B12, ashwaghandha, probiotics, and liquid D3.

The bad news is that this month has really started to grind me down,

But that's ok because I cleaned the guest room. I cleaned out the garden.  Cleaned some of the basement. I'm sleeping right and eating right and I have a trip coming up in November that will ease all this away. Did I mention I have a 6 foot soaking tub? And that my kids have a 5 day break for Thanksgiving? There are things to look forward to.

The bad news is that I'm way behind on my Christmas crafting,

But that's ok because now my afternoons are free.

The bad news is that Fiona started to cry when I gave her the heads up that it didn't look likely (I didn't want her to find out at school which is just the sort of asshat move they would make),

But that's ok because she is resilient and good and it's better to be sad here than sad at school.

The bad news is that I'm having to remind myself that all will be well, actively, consciously,

But that's ok because it's true.