A few little luxuries and reasons for happiness from the weekend:
A clean fluffy dog. I am a procrastinator by nature, but I am especially bad when it comes to bathing my dog/indoor pony. Bathing an 80 pound dog (who is a HUGE baby about bath time) is a hard job for a single mom, and not one that I relish...particularly when there's no hose to do it outside. I try to look at this as the perfect excuse to finally get around to deep cleaning the guest bathroom, since no matter how many towels I layer on the floor or how quick my reflexes are in blocking Charlie when I sense him trying to escape from the tub, the bathroom is always in near post flood condition by the time our tussle is complete. Charlie really, really isn't a fan of the bath, and my lower back really, really isn't a fan of the stooping required for it. Still, it always feels worth it when my damp Airedale is bouncing and spinning around, high on cleanliness and freedom and full of goofy antics...and when his Mom is changed into dry clothes and collapsed on her couch with a cold beer to reward herself.
Sleeping in. Enough said.
Dinner out with friends, both new and old. I love, love, love dining out. Love it. And not just for the food. Eating out is a fantastic experience for so many reasons (when you do it right, at least), but one of the best parts is the conversation stimulated by a good atmosphere, good food, good drink, and good company. I was lucky enough to have two fabulous dinners out over the weekend...one with a family I've known for a long time but haven't seen since Christmas, and one with a mixture of people I've known for years and some I've just met. Both were packed with banter, laughter, stories, and commentary on everything from World Cup to pollution in Shanghai to local gossip to Southern culture. For whatever reason, conversation across a restaurant table just always seems a little richer.
Patriotism. Sure, the American guys lost on Saturday, but it was still worth it to enjoy the scene at The Blind Pig. Little boys with faux-hawks and American flag capes, homemade tee shirts reading "AMERICA" on the front and "F*** Yeah!" on the back (the shirt used asterisks, that's not my edit), a frat boy leading the packed room in a jolly rendition of God Bless America, a pretty female bartender sprinting up and down the length of the bar with the Stars and stripes streaming out behind the flagpole she carried. Pretty great when your team loses, a storm knocks the power out and repeatedly interferes with the satellite, and you still have a super fun afternoon.
Speaking of the storm...finally, I am thankful for blessed cooling rain. It's been awhile since Oxford has seen more than a sprinkle here and there. I just saw that the high tomorrow is 87, and that sounds heavenly compared to the sauna we've experienced for the past several days.
Monday, June 28, 2010
Thursday, June 24, 2010
today's gratitude.
Today I am grateful for:
Company coming into town for the weekend.
A front desk shift that was light years more positive and less stressful than any I've had in weeks. Thank goodness for the students who are thankful, compassionate, responsible, gracious, and have a sense of humor! This afternoon I dealt with students of every age, gender, and race, and every one of them behaved in a manner that makes me proud to serve my alma mater and her students.
Lightning bugs and cicadas at dusk. Mmmm, the South at dusk in the summer...I'm not sure if there's anything more magical.
Local hardware stores, particularly Sneed's in Oxford. How is it even possible that a key copying trip during a lunch break could be a pleasant experience? Sneed's somehow manages it.
My pup's head resting against the side of my leg.
Company coming into town for the weekend.
A front desk shift that was light years more positive and less stressful than any I've had in weeks. Thank goodness for the students who are thankful, compassionate, responsible, gracious, and have a sense of humor! This afternoon I dealt with students of every age, gender, and race, and every one of them behaved in a manner that makes me proud to serve my alma mater and her students.
Lightning bugs and cicadas at dusk. Mmmm, the South at dusk in the summer...I'm not sure if there's anything more magical.
Local hardware stores, particularly Sneed's in Oxford. How is it even possible that a key copying trip during a lunch break could be a pleasant experience? Sneed's somehow manages it.
My pup's head resting against the side of my leg.
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
today's gratitude.
Today I am grateful for:
The 50% off sale at Nielsen's that provided me with super chic (and super cheap!) dinner napkins in the exact same print as a shower curtain I previously lusted after. Nothing like a little indulgent treat to perk you up...especially when the treat is also a bargain!
Actually getting up in time to shower before work. I'm aware that this should be an everyday thing, but I usually resort to showering before bed with the assumption that there's just no way I'll get up in time to do it. I'm not knocking showering before bed, but there's just something about starting off the morning fresh and clean that is a huge positive attitude booster.
The delicious smell of a roast cooking away in my Crock Pot. This is my first time cooking a roast, and since it's still cooking I can't yet claim it also TASTES delicious...but the smell certainly seems to be a good sign...
lonnymag.com. Domino used to be my best source for beautiful home decorating daydreams and ideas (and Domino, oooooh how I miss you), but thank GOODNESS Lonny Mag has taken up the torch online.
Two days in a row wearing my contacts! Again, not such a big feat unless you know the whole story...I've been having stressful eye issues for months now. My eye doctor finally diagnosed me with Giant Papillary Conjunctivitis. Lovely, right? It sounds a lot worse than it really is...possibly. Essentially it means i'm allergic to something in Accuvue Oasis contacts which causes bumps to develop on the inside of my eyelids. Pleasant. She also noted that I have chronic dry eye AND grass allergies. From a practical standpoint, all of that means I've been stuck in old prescription eyeglasses for weeks now. I know it's cliched, but...I really honestly don't feel as attractive in glasses. For starters, I have to go without sunglasses. And if you know me, you know that I practically feel naked without a pair of big sunglasses. Besides, squinting in bright sunlight just isn't all that sexy. I also don't feel like I have as much energy, spunk, attitude. ANYWAY, the thing to be grateful for is that it would seem that things are finally getting back under control, since this is the first time I've managed to wear contacts two days in a row without my eyes flaming up in protest. Yay me.
The 50% off sale at Nielsen's that provided me with super chic (and super cheap!) dinner napkins in the exact same print as a shower curtain I previously lusted after. Nothing like a little indulgent treat to perk you up...especially when the treat is also a bargain!
Actually getting up in time to shower before work. I'm aware that this should be an everyday thing, but I usually resort to showering before bed with the assumption that there's just no way I'll get up in time to do it. I'm not knocking showering before bed, but there's just something about starting off the morning fresh and clean that is a huge positive attitude booster.
The delicious smell of a roast cooking away in my Crock Pot. This is my first time cooking a roast, and since it's still cooking I can't yet claim it also TASTES delicious...but the smell certainly seems to be a good sign...
lonnymag.com. Domino used to be my best source for beautiful home decorating daydreams and ideas (and Domino, oooooh how I miss you), but thank GOODNESS Lonny Mag has taken up the torch online.
Two days in a row wearing my contacts! Again, not such a big feat unless you know the whole story...I've been having stressful eye issues for months now. My eye doctor finally diagnosed me with Giant Papillary Conjunctivitis. Lovely, right? It sounds a lot worse than it really is...possibly. Essentially it means i'm allergic to something in Accuvue Oasis contacts which causes bumps to develop on the inside of my eyelids. Pleasant. She also noted that I have chronic dry eye AND grass allergies. From a practical standpoint, all of that means I've been stuck in old prescription eyeglasses for weeks now. I know it's cliched, but...I really honestly don't feel as attractive in glasses. For starters, I have to go without sunglasses. And if you know me, you know that I practically feel naked without a pair of big sunglasses. Besides, squinting in bright sunlight just isn't all that sexy. I also don't feel like I have as much energy, spunk, attitude. ANYWAY, the thing to be grateful for is that it would seem that things are finally getting back under control, since this is the first time I've managed to wear contacts two days in a row without my eyes flaming up in protest. Yay me.
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
gratitude.
I suck at gratitude. Really, I do. I sometimes have a hard time expressing gratitude to those closest to me, and I couldn't even really tell you why. Likewise, I often find that I have a hard time keeping myself focused on the positive things in my life. It's just so easy to get bogged down in the difficult stuff...lost relatives, breakups, financial burdens, health issues, etc.
A few years ago my Mom referenced an Oprah show (of course) in which Oprah and a guest discussed keeping gratitude journals, essentially pausing during or at the end of each day to reflect and jot down five or so things they were grateful for in the past 24 hours. I passed this off as being somewhat new age and goofy, the power of positive thinking and all that.
In my old age, however, I'm beginning to change my mind a little. Maybe there really IS something to the art of forcing yourself to think positively. I've been thinking that perhaps it would do me good to spend a little time focusing on the positive things, both small and large. And that means you, dear readers, are going to be exposed to it...
Today I am grateful for:
Fresh raspberries brought back from a family friend's garden in Florence. They made for a fabulous breakfast this morning mixed with whipped vanilla yogurt.
An unexpected financial windfall, albeit a small one. Apparently the upside to living in an old beat up apartment is that you get your security deposit back so long as you don't bash a great big hole in the wall or something. I've lived in plenty of apartments, duplexes, rental homes, etc, and put down plenty of deposits. I've never gotten a single one back, so I absolutely wasn't expecting this! Definitely a nice surprise, and an answered prayer for sure.
Guilty pleasure television. Say what you want, but there's no better way to top off an extended work day, a busy grocery trip, and an evening of cleaning than a lounge on the couch and new episodes of The Hills and The City.
The wonderful sound of a relieved mother laughing delightedly after I explained her daughter's financial aid eligibility and proved that she'll have enough money to make it work (and in the meantime looked up Paris's province for her, since the daughter needed it to list place of birth on her application). Definitely worth staying late.
My first michelada of the Summer (beer, lime juice, a shot of Zing Zang over plenty of ice).
Cheers!
A few years ago my Mom referenced an Oprah show (of course) in which Oprah and a guest discussed keeping gratitude journals, essentially pausing during or at the end of each day to reflect and jot down five or so things they were grateful for in the past 24 hours. I passed this off as being somewhat new age and goofy, the power of positive thinking and all that.
In my old age, however, I'm beginning to change my mind a little. Maybe there really IS something to the art of forcing yourself to think positively. I've been thinking that perhaps it would do me good to spend a little time focusing on the positive things, both small and large. And that means you, dear readers, are going to be exposed to it...
Today I am grateful for:
Fresh raspberries brought back from a family friend's garden in Florence. They made for a fabulous breakfast this morning mixed with whipped vanilla yogurt.
An unexpected financial windfall, albeit a small one. Apparently the upside to living in an old beat up apartment is that you get your security deposit back so long as you don't bash a great big hole in the wall or something. I've lived in plenty of apartments, duplexes, rental homes, etc, and put down plenty of deposits. I've never gotten a single one back, so I absolutely wasn't expecting this! Definitely a nice surprise, and an answered prayer for sure.
Guilty pleasure television. Say what you want, but there's no better way to top off an extended work day, a busy grocery trip, and an evening of cleaning than a lounge on the couch and new episodes of The Hills and The City.
The wonderful sound of a relieved mother laughing delightedly after I explained her daughter's financial aid eligibility and proved that she'll have enough money to make it work (and in the meantime looked up Paris's province for her, since the daughter needed it to list place of birth on her application). Definitely worth staying late.
My first michelada of the Summer (beer, lime juice, a shot of Zing Zang over plenty of ice).
Cheers!
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