90. WALKING SHOES

Transportation simplification

* When you are walking to your destination, you don't have to wait at a bus stop or ensure that the gas tank is full or buy a ticket ahead of time.
* During my first year of graduate school, I didn't have a car and consequently went many miles with "walking shoe transportation." If the distance was longer, I might use "running shoe transportation."
* Even today, it can be exciting for me to reach a place on my own two feet. It brings a sense of accomplishment.
* I'd like to salute my friends who are currently walking from Maine to Washington DC to spread the Gospel. I was part of the same Missionaries of the Eucharist walkers in 2006.

89. MULLIGANS

If at first you don't succeed, give it another try

* I think that "mulligan" is a term that is most common in golf. You take a shot, it doesn't go well, you declare that you're taking your mulligan, then you shoot again from the same place as though the first shot never happened.
* Last week, I forgot to post a simple miracle. It was a "bad shot." So I've taken my mulligan and this week I'm trying again.

88. PAPER CLIPS

Keeping things together, preventing slips

* I recall advice when I was applying for colleges: Use a colored paper clip when attaching your documents because it helps make yours memorable.
* In addition to holding documents together, paper clips have many other uses. For instance, this week, I fixed our toilet with a paper clip. The hook on the valve cover split, leaving the chain attached to the lever to slip at every flush. But I stuck one end of a paper clip through the rubber valve cover and the chain through the other and now it works fine. I was very proud.
* Years ago, I used to keep spare paper clips in my wallet, just in case the need arose.

87. INSULATION

Keeps the cold from the hot and the warm from the cold

* On the way to work, this morning I went to Mass, and when I returned, my car was very warm. "Oh no," I worried, "Will the hamburger left over from Monday's barbecue that I was going to eat for lunch be spoiled?" Thinking about the adverse stomach effects of the ferocious bacteria that thrives in warm weather was not encouraging. But then I checked my insulated lunch bag and - the hamburger was still cold!
* My housemates and I say that our house is "poorly insulated." But, in reality, when we turn on the furnace in the winter or the air conditioning in the summer and shut all the windows, it feels much better in our house than it does outside.
* A similar simple miracle ("thermos") was originally coined by Phil List at NCSU during my last year of graduate school (2006-07).