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[n8murphy]

Friday blessings A thought I had tonight. I've been seriously hard on myself for quite some time. Not working hard enough, not likeable enough. Could be a better parent, son, friend, worker. Should be a better person. Tonight though, I git some welcome good news (insurance company wants to give me twice what I expected for my trusty, old, well-used Malibu). I started at this, and kept thinking. What other good news have I heard lately? This week alone, my boss handed me a good bottle of bourbon for helping him out while he was away (I thought I was just doing what I should), and a work colleague I've known for a decade gave me two very thoughtful gifts: an Amazon card for Christmas and recognition that she values me as a friend that always supports her work. I used the card to pick up these two musical gems. #LittleFictions is very new, #CrookedRain a tad older. Both were special to me, and now even more so. That thought I had? It went something like this: Even when it feels like I'm standing in the middle of a pile of s@#*, there are always reasons to be #grateful. A day late, a dollar [longer], and I'm sure I'll start beatimg myself up again tomorrow anyway. But for tonight, it's time to chill and appreciate how this week turned out, at least. #blessings Hope everyone enjoys their weekend.

[n8murphy]

Sunday stroll Me and #Kitty took a walk this morning in #downtownchandler with coffee and donuts. Two miles with this beauty and one helluva #tumbleweed Christmas tree. Great way to start the day. #love (at Downtown Chandler)

[n8murphy]

Reaching Sometimes you reach out, and it seems like no one answers. Other times (if you're like me) too many voices respond at once. Every once in a while, though, when you stop reaching, something (or someone) reaches out to you. Grab on and hold on tight. #lifeline Happy Friday, folks. Pleasant weekend wishes to you. (at Chandler, Arizona)

[n8murphy]

Circles My old friend @ajedmiston1 introduced me to this record in another lifetime. I instantly loved it, and soon got the CD. It was a favorite all the way from PA to AZ, and many places in between. That is until the CD changer on my first (and likely last) brand new car had to be replaced. Since then, I've had many of the songs digitally, but always wanted it back. Fitting that the LP showed up today. After two weeks of research and dealing with the headache that is car delearships, I bought another car today. Instead of posting a pic of that, I'll just leave this gem here and go have me a listen. A car is just a machine to deliver me from A to B. Music takes me further. And makes the ride more fulfilling. Hope y'all had good Saturdays. #flaminglips #cloudstastemetallic #lp

[n8murphy]

Stretch out and wait Sometimes everything seems so far off. But then it's all upon you at once. So keep your eyes turned to the horizon, just make sure it's the one you want to get to. I'm prepping to come out of the cocoon again. I'll let ya know how it goes. Hope everyone is enjoying their days, however you choose to spend them. Much love people.

[n8murphy]

Food prep toons The past two days, I've gone back to my roots. Musically and otherwise. I love music, and I'm most at home making food for other people. (I still don't eat much of it, but when day one yields a haul of salsa that's greedily gobbled up by my staff in no time, and day two brings an experiment that gets 2 thumbs up from the toughest 8- and 11-year-old critics this side of the Atlantic, I pat myself on the back.) Lord knows I could use a few more of these moments. #stickyfingers ain't a bad soundtrack, either. #thankful (at Chandler, Arizona)

[n8murphy]

Light Wins. It may grow dim. It always gets dark, too. But if you keep at it, the fire finds you. It may burn a dozen times, but it eventually shines. So will you. #trust #work #struggle (at Chandler, Arizona)

[n8murphy]

Plentiful Harvest #ArizonaHarvestFest #goodtimes It didn't feel much like Autumn, and it only will for maybe a week or so, but getting the kiddos out is always good. Especially when they push my patience past its limits, like they did today. (Happens every time I decide to turn their screens off). They even play together once in a while (if only briefly). The youngling with them tried her best, but had a hard time keeping up with these two. #luckydad #prouddad #Ryan #Kitty (at Downtown Chandler)

[n8murphy]

Every #touchdown imaginable #Ryan threw one, ran one in and caught one today. #saturdaysports (at Hamilton High School)

[n8murphy]

Forever #1 Saturday morning #soccer. Goalie: #Kitty (at Snedigar Recreation Center)

[n8murphy]

Shadow puppets A piece a quiet morning time on the couch with #Kitty. Friday is looking pretty good. Have a great day everybody! (at Chandler, Arizona)

[n8murphy]

The Gold... "Everybody's searching for something, they say. I'll get my kicks on the way..." Wednesday turned out better (and more productive) than Tuesday. Sure, the to-do list grew more cumbersome, but isn't that the way it goes? These shoulders have gotten stronger in the past few years. Carrying things (not to mention srugging them off) is a workout. Things keep moving, whether I dwell or not. I was in my 20's by the time I realized what 'the movement you need is on your shoulder' really meant. It took at least another decade to grasp how to do it when it matters. Shrug. Then find something useful to focus on. In between, have fun. Get your kicks, however simple or unpopular they may be. I'll go into Thursday looking for kicks along the way. You should do the same. Much love to everyone who stayed this long. 💚 #latergram (at Williamsburg, Brooklyn)

[n8murphy]

Nobody got hurt Tuesday was entertaining. But Wednesday is already looking decidedly better. Although I pretty much detest car shopping. This old Malibu served me well, though. And still works. Mostly. (at Chandler, Arizona)

[n8murphy]

Good Start Let's do this Monday thing. Make it a great week folks (at Chandler, Arizona)

[n8murphy]

I got nothing left for you tonight. Read the sign. Don't worry, though. I'll be working again tomorrow. There's always more work than time. #outofservice #sundaynight (at Chandler, Arizona)

[n8murphy]

The Ghosts are everywhere I'm sitting here recalling a few too many with a fondness that borders on melancholy. All while these Sonoran Desert mornings keep whispering the promise of an Autumn I know by now they can't deliver. Either way, the seasons change. Enjoy yours while it lasts. Pleasant weekend wishes everyone. (at Snedigar Recreation Center)

[n8murphy]

Keep it like a secret You build walls. Brick over brick, tall as anything. Plaster over it. Paint. Stucco. Repaint. Add another layer of bricks. Make the best wall anyone has never seen. Keep building the wall, and no one can touch you. Nothing hurts. There ate, however, costs you haven't imagined. Hidden there, beneath it all, is the secret. It's still there, and it's still beating. Always has been. And, like water, the light will always find its way through. Then it shines. Shh. Don't tell anyone. Maybe they won't notice mine. #hearts #seethemeverywhere (at Chandler, Arizona)