My Happy List

March 24, 2010 | Year of Gratitude

These things are making me happy at the moment.

1. Running! GET OUT, right? But the weather has been beautiful and it smells SO GOOD outside. I am also, actually, maybe a little, starting to feel like a runner. I’m really looking forward to my half marathon on June 26th! I love having something funslashscary to look forward to. Today, I ordered myself an iPhone armband thingie. It’s so fun anticipating a package.

2. Clark said thank you for the first time this morning, un-prompted. If I had a dollar for every time I’ve said, “Can you say, thank you, mama?”, I’d have a LOT of dollars. So, yay! I love that boy so much.

3. The Summer is coming. Ahhh! I love summer! There’s a bikeride to look forward to, there are some camping trips in the works, and just more general fun and togetherness with friends and family. And you get to wear sandals.

4. Last night I talked on the phone with my dear friend Heather who is living in Saudi Arabia for a whole hour.

Thanks, y’all.

March 22, 2010 | FUN!

Friday night, I saw the Indigo Girls in concert. Though it’s been a few years, I’ve lost count how many times I’ve seen them. This time, they performed in my beloved hometown, however, and I couldn’t pass it up.

OMG, I am SO GLAD I went. SO GLAD that I spent good money on a seat in the 6th row all by myself. I’m not sure I can adequately describe what a great expereince it was. I was completely shocked, several times, as they began singing a song and tears burst from my eyes, flooding my face and my tissue-less hands.

They’ve been a part of my life for so long. I think I bought my first tape of theirs when I was 18. It’s as if they’ve been with me through the entire forming of my identity. Their voices seem a part of my consciousness somehow.

When they took the stage, I felt like I was seeing old friends. I would have run up and sqeezed them if I could. And of course, they put on a fantastic show. I guess I went into it thinking, “this’ll be a pleasant evening,” but left the show high on life.

I just love them. LOVE.

Well, I guess we can close the file on that one.

March 9, 2010 | Arts and Crafts

Have I mentioned that if the title doesn’t make sense, it’s most likely a quote from the best movie of all time? Speaking of which, henceforth, the 7th of March shall be a Zesty holiday, the day that The Dude was finally honored for the fabulous actor and tremendous human being that he is. Did you see that acceptance speech? I didn’t know it was possible to love him more.

It’s been a while since I’ve done anything crafty, but I managed to complete a quick and satisfying project recently that I must share with you. I found this mirror at The Barn Sale a couple of years ago, and it’s been patiently waiting for me to find the time to paint it. Well! I finally did. Check it.

I’m quite pleased.

Speaking of Martha-type projects, have you been to Home Depot lately? YOU GUYS. They’re carrying Martha Stewart paint now. That’s not the cool part. The cool part is, the colors are amazing, and that’s not all! Each one has this little symbol in the corner that indicates with which other colors it coordinates.

Isn’t that so cool? We three were on our way out when I spotted the display, and I turned to SB and said, “I’m going to need a few minutes.” Oh! And also, on the back of each color, she even suggests woodwork and ceiling shades.

Thank you, Martha. Thank you.

Mini-Break in San Diego

March 2, 2010 | Travel

We had a fabulous time!

The highlights included:

1. Walking on the beach on Friday. It was so warm and bright, and the Pacific was big and wide and crashy. SB and I took a long walk, our pants rolled up, our feet happliy experiencing the sand, our shoes dangling from our fingertips. There may have been some skipping.

2. The middle rainy day. One of the best things about a rainy day is the permission it gives you to do something low key and indoors. There’s no need to feel like you SHOULD be doing something more adventurous, you can’t. You simply MUST curl up and read a book and then go see a movie. If it had been sunny, I’m sure we would’ve had a Big Day Out, and I’m sure it would’ve been great, but reading and movie watching was just splendid. Both are delicious and rare activities at this moment in my life.

3. Dinner at The Red Pearl Kitchen. You guys, this place was sah-WEET. It was super glamorous, with big, dark booths, red walls and flickering lanterns, and beautiful people everywhere. My cocktail was a work of art, my dinner was perfect, and the company was excellent. Incidentally, we all remarked how the service was both superb and performed by ridiculously attractive humans. The remarkable part being that you don’t expect super pretty people to be so nice. Funny, that.

Here are some of my favorite shots from the trip.