Routine

Every day, I read at certain sites. As I once read particular columns in a newspaper. Comics, features, puzzle, work my way forward to the local news, then the national news. Much the same idea, but with the larger sites, followed by the blogs where I leave a note in the afternoon when I'm more awake, usually.

First, usually is NOAA, the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration, or National Weather Service, for the local weather. Good to know if I will need an extra sweater, or boots.

Then, the comics. Doonesbury, Mutts, Rhymes with Orange, For Better or for Worse, and see if Daisy Owl has a new one. Not as long a list as I once had, because many of the old comics have either A. Stopped being any damn good/funny, or B. Are not available for free. A few others I read are too new and uneven to recommend.

Then the USGS for the U, find out if any interesting earthquakes have shaken the area.

Nothing to do with Abroath for a general run down on the weirdness.

Carolyn Hax for sanity.

Then, depending on updating status, Cats, Maru the Cat, Fails, Wins, bad ink, confusing images, & the dangerously clever. I may go to Pete's photo, since I can always comment later.

Mostly Images, easily digested by a sleep clogged brain, takes very little time.

Usually I read the news sites from work on break, the local rag, the Beeb, Washington Post, NYT, Christian Science Monitor, urls I can recall. And at least one trip to Wikipedia. Depending on the day, of course.

The WP has a good crossword online, nothing flashing at me, but has a Check and Reveal button, which I use only after I'm stuck.

Mental stimulation, connection to the world at large, stuff to talk about, a structure to hang my thoughts upon.

A good book trumps all.