I woke up late today.  During the work week I have to wake before the sun.  On the weekends, I choose to wake with the sun.  Today, I woke up after the sun.  He fooled me.  Today was one of the rare days in Southern California where cloud cover and rain were in the forecast.  It was a bit blustery and cool with mist and rain blowing around.  It is winter, so I guess I can deal with the odd day out of three sixty five of crummy weather.  My only full day off in two weeks I was determined to enjoy the day no matter what.  Every idea taking place outside and most requiring me to drive somewhere fell flat.  You see, in Southern California the weather is usually perfect, so when it gets even the slightest bit sketchy it’s best to stay off the roads.  I wanted to go to the store for a couple things but knew that getting in the car would be nothing short of aggravating.  I spied my pair of neglected hiking boots and my all weather jacket and decided that today, I would walk.  I grabbed my backpack and headed out the door.  The wind was blowing and there was some moisture in the air just like the weatherman said.  I had to think to myself, “when did you become such a pansy-ass?”  Sometimes you just need to take a walk.  Things come to the surface of your mind to think through.  Things come through your other senses that you haven’t thought about in a while.  Some of those things will make you sad and others will make you happy.  I thought about the difficult walks I have taken that left my heels blistered and bloody.  I thought about the walks along the many beaches I have been to and the footprints I have left in the many miles of sand.  Erased, all of them.  None of them will show their face until you take that walk.  It feels so good to just walk around and see, smell, and just plain ol dredge up things in your mind that need to be seen and smelt again.  Take a walk and leave the excuses on the mat.