and sometimes it is just this cold, wet fog that permeates the bones like we have had the past few mornings.

Today all I wanted was a good, hearty bowl of soup.

I was making copies at Office Max off of Mt. Vernon, close to my house. I figure, "Ok, Quiznos must have something." I stood there, staring at the menu and the only soup they had wasn't something I would want. And the guy behind the counter, with no other customers, didn't care that I was standing there, so I left.

I wondered, "Does Starbucks have soup? Their drive thru is empty."

Nope. If you were ever curious, they don't have soup. Too bad.

I drove north on Mt. Vernon. Decided, "OK, I know Carrows has soup that is at least hearty and warm."

I had spent the morning walking around Hart Park in the cold with Coryn and my chill had wrapped into my bloodstream so I really wanted to have that warm stuff fill me. I walked into Carrows and was seated in a seat right by the door. The waitress took forever to get to me and I thought, "You know, I really don't want to be here. I want to be at home. I want to have  a mug of warm soup to warm me up in my cold house. I will count to ten and if she doesn't show, I will leave."

She didn't show. I left, even though the manager tried to convince me she would take my order I said, "You know, I just don't think I want to be here." Right now I don't want to spend time anyplace where I don't want to be.

I looked across the parking lot. City Sandwich shop, they must have soup. Everyone knows that soup and sandwiches together is a natural.

No soup today, the counter girl told me. I turned and left. I didn't want a sandwich, I wanted soup.

So I decided it must be karma. I must be supposed to go to the Sequoia Sandwich Shop downtown even if they weren't in my little slice of Bakersfield between Union and Mt. Vernon and between Bernard and Panorama. Sequoia Sandwich Shop always has great soup. Not my favorite kinds were listed on the menu when I arrived there, but they did have a hearty creamy soup that sounded just right.

Yay. Finally.

I got it home and guess what I had? The other kind of soup. Which was good, but not what I wanted. I ate it anyway, looking for the metaphor .  Almost but not quite what I want? No. But yes. Must be something else.

Meanwhile, I have been on a break from theatre, needed to get Sam settled into school and needed to catch my breath after a very harrowing 2007.   Sam has done great in his first two weeks so naturally opportunities are now flying my way at a practically dizzying pace.

That's the flood part, the amazing abundance part of this journey today. The soup? That is the wet, damp fog.

I can't wait to write more about my theatre adventures. I forgot how much I missed it.