Walked home from the mill with my indoor shoes banging against my leg in their bag and realized I was still walking at lunch-rush speed. Nobody needed gravy, the till was closed, I could actually slow down. My calves felt packed tight by the time I reached the river turn, so I stopped to retie one boot and stayed there a little longer than the lace required. The cold felt good on my face after all that steam, though my hands were already getting dry inside the gloves. At home I sat to eat for once. Rice tastes the same sitting down, but apparently I notice more of it.

A regular at the canteen asked what my aunt in Cebu thought of the photos I'd sent her. I had told him about that weeks ago, during breakfast, while he was waiting for toast. Didn't expect him to remember. I got so pleased I started telling him the entire reply, including the part about my coat making me look bigger, and he nearly missed his crew leaving. It is a small thing, somebody remembering your aunt who they have never met. Made the place feel especially good today. I called her after work even though I had no new story, unless a man remembering an old story counts.

Found a used mixer at a price that makes me want to call right now, except we already have one and the kitchen cupboard doesn't expand when something is a bargain. I'm telling myself this one would handle bigger batches if I ever do a lunch counter. That's a lot of future business depending on a machine in somebody's garage. My cousin asked where it would go and I started moving things mentally off his shelf, which probably answers the question. I saved the listing anyway. Going to make supper with the mixer we own before deciding whether it has suddenly become useless.