Harry Potter and his "Magic Wand"

Last Thursday, I came home from a Rock Band session at my dad's, and dinner with my mom, to find my dog in the yard. She saw me and made a b-line for the gate. Then she ran back to the house and back to me in a floppy, clumsy excitement. I unlocked the door and she ran all through the house and back to me and to the door and to me again. The one joy in that dog's life. I grabbed her leash and she rolled into the grass, face first.

It was an absolutely lovely walk. We walked through the North End where everyone smiles at you as you walk past and all the houses have open windows. Some 60 degrees and the sun finally came out. Boise is drenched in green. The only word I could think of was pleasant.

I almost didn't go. I was a little tired and I'm not good at walking my dog regularly. But this walk was perfect. Sometimes my dog has a better insight to my life than I do.

And I love my job.

My phone rang at 11:3o this morning.

"Hello?" I said, trying to make it sound like I wasn't asleep. I never sleep so late.

"Jessica? It's Josh. Did I wake you up?"

I love waking up to the sound of your voice, I told him.

Every day I wear cute dresses and smile at people. Rant about how good The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo is. Keep myself busy with little projects and make an adventure out of finding obscure DVDs for customers. Customers who still buy DVDs.

"Music is the red-headed step child of Barnes and Noble" and we are all so stylish.

Today someone called to ask if we sell adult movies. At Barnes and Noble.

"No," I said, and then I walked around the shelves thinking up possible alternative porn titles for Harry Potter. Harry Potter and the Polipenis Potion. Harry Potter Fucks Hermione Granger and Ron Weisley at the Same Time While Draco Malfoy Sucks on his Balls in the Hidden Corridor of Sexy.

I apologize for that. I didn't know I had it in me.

The best part of my job is the drive home every day. I roll the windows down and soar along the freeway, going the opposite direction of traffic, and thinking about how much I love my job and listening to my favorite music.

I'm excited for Phoenix, only four days away. But I learned something from the past year; after living every day waiting for this summer, and hating every day that wasn't this summer, I learned to look forward to things, but still enjoy the present moment.

I enjoy this present moment.