It Was One of Those Days

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by Arundhati Basu

It really was. The kinds you hold to the bosom and say, ‘Oh please do stay, for another day.’ I was indulging in a spot of self-pity which has the tendency to spread itself out like a dab of ink on blotting paper, you know, so I decided to kick it and head out for a run. The legs were a bit wobbly — was it the DayQuil I wondered. It is this medicine that is less potent than its night version, NyQuil, which knocks you out within one hour of popping it in. I trudged even on plain ground and when I ran up and down the gentle slopes I wanted to flop down on the grass with the sprightly squirrels. Naturally I took breaks in between because you have got to listen to the body after all. Yet it was a long run and it feels good now that I am back home, sipping on red wine to welcome Friday the right way, with fairy lights and Diane Lane on the telly.

There were dogs resting with their masters on benches along the river, a boxer who had done a good deal of walking up and down the hills because I ran past him twice, and then a labrador who demanded a cuddle. I had to hold myself back. It’s difficult business being a dog stalker. One little fella tried dragging his owner to a little enclosure where dogs are allowed to go crazy. But the man resisted because he was enjoying his smoke and he knelt and said something to him. I wanted to bop the man on his bald head. He held the poor thing back with all his might. Also, I wondered why they do need to have an enclosure for dogs in a huge park. Should they not be allowed the run of the entire park just like us all?

At one point as I was photographing the sight of the dreamy blue water gleaming across the park, I noticed a chubby squirrel chomping away. But he was watching me and he straightened up on his legs just like a meerkat does when he notices you. I decided to stay away and zoom in as always. Foodies are not to be disturbed in their serious quest for happiness, right?

The perfect end to the run was a cup of cappuccino which was just right. Not too hot, not too strong, for you know there is science to serving the perfect cappuccino. I could write reams upon it but I shall curb such alarming notions and just tell you that it was chased up by a flaming sunset and leaves collected in the fading light of it.

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Arundhati Basu

The great affair in my life is to travel. I count myself immensely fortunate that my partner shares this passion. We are a team that likes to spend time planning and plotting out places to go. Destination check, flights check, accommodation check, cheesy grins check. Off we go.

63 thoughts on “It Was One of Those Days”

    1. Hi sweetie! Thank you 🙂 The port. How is it going for you? The run is my time for evaluating myself and feeling all doubts about anything melt away, so yes it was accomplishing. xx

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      2. Breathing is becoming too laboured, yikes. I know what you mean. I felt it a bit today. But it feels good to push yourself. It feels like you are alive. I am sipping on wine and watching Diane Lane dither between Dermot Mulroney and John Cusack. I mean is there even a choice there! Who would you go for in this scenario?

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      4. Hmm only if you drink a glass of wine with me 🙂 They are two attractive men and a gorgeous woman.
        That’s Dermot Mulroney:
        https://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BMzM2ODM3NTc3NF5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTYwOTYwMzM0._V1_UY317_CR22,0,214,317_AL_.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000551/&h=317&w=214&tbnid=Niu1FJHTfqZtSM:&tbnh=186&tbnw=125&usg=__ORNrnJmAyDAjaCChCMMj28EkIjE=&vet=10ahUKEwiC8KWHi5LXAhXGRSYKHdt_CnUQ_B0IowEwFA..i&docid=PsUpBicTTRF8wM&itg=1&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiC8KWHi5LXAhXGRSYKHdt_CnUQ_B0IowEwFA

        Diane Lane:
        https://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BMjE4ODQ5NTgxNl5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTcwNDkwMDgyMg%40%40._V1_UX214_CR0,0,214,317_AL_.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000178/&h=317&w=214&tbnid=KBOE5O_tXX8fZM:&tbnh=186&tbnw=125&usg=__4kxI9ZoAoBgeQoZB8BveiOFd8S0=&vet=10ahUKEwjuge2Qi5LXAhVD8CYKHRftAXgQ_B0IngEwFQ..i&docid=Itd0AhK3T_cKlM&itg=1&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjuge2Qi5LXAhVD8CYKHRftAXgQ_B0IngEwFQ

        And John Cusack for sake of comparison:
        https://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BMTk4MTAwMjYzNV5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTcwNjIxNTU1OA%40%40._V1._CR286,2,351,422_UY317_CR25,0,214,317_AL_.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000131/&h=317&w=214&tbnid=-aLzNtz2y1IcMM:&tbnh=186&tbnw=125&usg=__tkS14UcLmYyKKsSGMO_DurwAL9M=&vet=10ahUKEwiHyPKdi5LXAhXBdSYKHQbECxMQ_B0IvwEwGg..i&docid=sYbIwbhYtZh1hM&itg=1&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiHyPKdi5LXAhXBdSYKHQbECxMQ_B0IvwEwGg

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      7. Hehe, no, I didn’t choose. I find few men good-looking enough to consider them attractive. How boring of my, huh. They’re also both too old for me – I’m not into that. Maybe I’ll just hang out with Diane Lane and see what life advice she can share with me.

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    2. Me too – glad it helped. For me I think it’s about getting to the point where you are working so hard you’re focused on form, breathing, or just getting to the end in one piece. When I’m focused on that long enough, whatever was bothering me gets pushed away long enough for me to get some perspective.

      And of course endorphins are a wonderful drug also.

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      1. Thank you Todd. Endorphins top it. They just buoy you up.
        You are right about focussing on one aspect or the other. It is about getting all my thoughts in one place and ploughing through them, one at a time. Form better fall in place! 🙂

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      2. For sure! My runs are definitely my therapy. It’s great when I have someone to talk to, but it works like a charm even when I’m on my own. Glad it helped for you too:)

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  3. Poor little dog! Who wouldn’t want to run free in a dog park smelling all of those wonderful behinds? At least that’s what my parent’s dog, Kuma would do. That bald man should be bopped! 😉 Loved reading your post and seeing the lovely photos. Enjoy your restful evening with the wine and movie. – Neek

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      1. Sound like fun! Well, we’re watching the World Series right now. If the Dodgers don’t win, I’m afraid we will need several consolation drinks tonight. Wish us luck! As for Kuma, charming is not quite the description of him especially when he’s slobbering all over you! Take care!

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      3. Sorry! I shouldn’t have assumed you know the sports teams here. The Dodgers are a baseball team and we lost yesterday 😦 We do have a photo of Kuma on our Instagram page but you have to scroll way down. He’s giving Lex a kiss too! We also nicknamed him “Melonhead”.

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      4. I shall check him out. A Melonhead sounds too cute for words. Also, I shall do my best to learn about the teams slowly 😀 I am sorry though that the Dodgers lost! Darn it. I hope you drowned your sorrow in a few glasses. xx

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  6. Are you doing okay? Did you have to take DayQuil, for a cold? It was good that you went for your run. I always feel better after I go to the gym.
    All the photos are gorgeous. I love the first one with the water is as blue as the sky and the bridge must be miles long. The sunset, another photo with blue water…. I love them.
    Hope you feel better!

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  10. Glad to hear you’re recovering from your cold.

    Also delighted to meet someone else who attracts four-legged admirers. I’m like a dog magnet. Well actually it’s not just dogs, it’s pretty much all animals..

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    1. Thanks Sheree. When we are older, I have told my husband, I want a cottage in Cornwall with a menagerie for ourselves 🙂 There is nothing like the innocence and love they make your heart well with. xx

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  12. Oh my gosh, what a treat to read about another of your days, and to have the photos to go-with, Dippy-Dotty Girl! I love that you think of yourself as a “dog-stalker.” Hah! Very nice images. Hope you’re feeling better soon! 🙂

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    1. Thank you Theresa. The meds and run went hand-in-hand and I am on my feet and feeling ready to take on a hungry bull (thought I would rather you not put that to test). My husband and I both stalk dogs. Let there be no doubt about that. xx

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      3. Oh! What type, do you know yet? My son Leslie had a wonderful large black dog named Tovi who just died last year from old age; he was so loyal and could run forever. Long legs and lab-like ears, but they thought he might have been part Alaska dog, because he had a white undercoat and could run forever without getting tired. Leslie used to mountain bike in the hills outside of Bend Oregon with Tovi. He was a warm hearted dog. 🙂 (Leslie had adopted him from the ASPCA.)

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      4. We love big dogs…so possibly a golden retriever and a leonberger! 🙂 That is a beautiful story right there of Leslie and his mate Tovi. He must miss him so because they do leave such a gaping hole in your life. Tovi sounds like a winner. A dog who likes to climb mountains is my kinda dog 🙂 xx

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