Good morning and I hope you are enjoying your weekend so far. I don’t have much to share today except an article of interest or two and some expressions of gratitude for the past week!

Firstly, I am so grateful for the yoga studio that opened up a few blocks from my house. I’ve taken two Saturday morning classes there so far, and it’s been a huge pleasure for me to get back to a practice. Twenty years ago, I took yoga at a great studio in the Virginia Highlands area of Atlanta, and loved it. I haven’t done any yoga classwork since, and being able to re-engage my body in that area, in addition to running, is happy. I’ve also re-engaged with my meditation practice this week, using it in the mornings when I wake up to boost my confidence and gratitude, and at night to gear-shift into a safe space for sleep.

I’m also grateful for the right to VOTE in the Michigan primaries this week. There was record turnout and a remarkably diverse Democratic ballot. In the gubernatorial race, we had a female candidate, Gretchen Whitmer; Abdul El-Sayed, a Muslim American (who called himself a 215-lb “middle finger” to Donald Trump), and Shri Thanedar, an Indian-born entrepreneur. Gretchen Whitmer won the nomination, and will be facing down long-time Michigan politico Bill Schuette (also known in Michigan as “Shady Schuette”) for governor. Unfortunately the post-election was marred by an unpleasant incident when a Virginia Senate candidate with past ties to the far right unleashed an uncalled-for and completely ignorant Twitter slur against Abdul El-Sayed (say what? don’t you have enough to fight about in Virginia? stay in your own lane and STFU. And while we’re at it, just quit with Twitter. Jesus. We get enough of that from 45).

Corey Steward Tweet Calls Muslim Candidate Abdul El-Sayed “ISIS Commie” (Washington Times) Gretchen Whitmer did not let this stand, however, and responded:

No word yet on whether Whitmer will take the advice of many of her constituents and ask El-Sayed, who was stridently endorsed by Bernie Sanders, to be her pick for Assistant Governor.

Couple of other great articles I read this week that might be of interest –

True Crime story involving an uncanny intersection between the unsolved “Lady of the Dunes” case, the filming of the classic “Jaws”, and Stephen King’s son…Shark Thriller “Jaws” Holds the Clue to an Unsolved 1974 Murder (Washington Post)

And a Michigan oddity that I’d never before heard of; The Religious Sect that Became Baseball’s Answer to the Harlem Globetrotters (The Guardian)

I have some other big news about a recent four-legged addition to my already-crazy house so stay tuned or check my Insta account @sixtenpine for a preview!

I hope your August weekend is full of sunshine, sunflower bouquets, goldfinches in your coneflowers, farmers markets, steaming coffee, and firefly nights. xo