Eleanor

I wake up from some dreams about getting offered multiple other jobs and in my dreams I’m kind of sad about it because my dream self likes my current job. And then I wonder, does my awake self like my current job? I’ve never felt that way about a job, really, so it’s hard to reckon with. But interesting.

This is the view from my bed when I wake up. I wish I had folded that striped blanket. It’s the first actually cold day of the season but I had been planning to go on a run, so I do. I wear a long-sleeved shirt under my fleece and a hat which solves the issue of my hair sticking straight up and then always seeing people I know on Christian St. I run to the Washington Ave. pier.

After my shower, I make a big pot of coffee so Emma will have some when she wakes up. She’s staying home from work today with a cold. I’m usually very strict about always having a fruit and a protein for breakfast but this morning I just have an entirely dry carton of Lucky Charms that I eat with my hands. This makes me feel pretty weird for the rest of the morning.

My coworker and I spend the morning driving around South Philly and Queen Village in our boss’s car delivering flyers for our job’s after school program. This involves a lot of running through the freezing cold rain carrying a ton of manila folders trying to find the front doors of schools.

When we come back, I have my lunch of chicken nuggets and carrots with ranch dressing because I am eating like a child today. I read Live to See the Day by Nikhil Goyal for half an hour.

Then I sit at my desk and do some computer work that probably involved answering emails and updating the after school roster for next season but I honestly don’t really remember.

It’s so warm inside and so cold outside that condensation forms on the windows. The kids find this to be very exciting, obviously, and by later this afternoon there are drawings and handprints all over this window.

I find out that I have to go do a school pickup this afternoon, at a school I don’t often have to go to that is about a mile away. Not the most welcome news on this cold, wet day but while I’m walking down Passyunk I realize this means that my favorite place in all of Philadelphia, The Crabs Triangle, will make an unanticipated appearance on My Day in Philadelphia! What a thrill!

Some of the children are whining about who gets to carry the umbrella, and some of the children are saying “It’s not even raining,” and they’re all very interested in the huge splashes that the cars make when they go through puddles on the street.

On my way home from work, I stop at the One Stop Shop to pick up some orange juice and ramen for Emma. I love the way the store’s bright lights look in the dark and rain but my fingers are too cold to take a photo of it before I go inside. I attempt to take a selfie when I leave but it turns out like this:

I do manage this beautiful picture of Mildred St., though!

Emma’s started cooking the lentils so when I get back, I just need to finish up the rest of the recipe. This is a simple and delicious recipe from my friend’s mom Sonya who died when we were in high school. Here’s the recipe card written by my mom: