I want to get up slowly (when I can).  First, I may throw some sweat pants on, make coffee and wake up gradually.  I don’t always have that privilege, but most times I do.  The dogs always want to go out in the yard immediately and are not shy about it.

I often get up before my wife although that is not always the case.  If she is still sleeping I try to walk around quietly.  I make sure our “menagerie” has food and water.

After I am sufficiently “coffeed up” and I am awake I start looking around and figuring out what tasks need my attention.

Before that though, if my “muse” is telling me to write or edit, I obey it, then return to my duties.

Before all that, after I am fully alert I may do a quick devotional and sometimes find myself thanking the Lord for all bounties.  This often happens spontaneously.

My wife may have some requests for tasks that need my attention.  At some point, I check our postal box and peruse our mail, being careful to put our bills in the proper file.

In the afternoon, I sometimes have appointments to go to (usually doctor’s or blood work).  This is typically my routine.

Sometimes I have awful timing and you think I would have learned after eight years but I haven’t.  We got in a heated argument about finances.  I should have known better.

We get up at different times and I am still learning to leave her alone right after she gets up and let her wake up.  After all, I had the time:  she didn’t.  I have gotten better about this but I am a slow learner.

It was bad timing to engage in an argument right after she got up.  Maybe next time I will hold my tongue and at least wait until she had done her devotionals and had sufficient time to enter her day.  My timing was terrible.