Write things that make me happy, daily

Yesterday, cousin Alex had a fifth birthday party. Hard work for adults, but the kids adored it.

I made a birthday card for him out of prints of an old painting I did that I then personalized with acrylic paint. And I made a tiny banner of felt pennants for the inside and two tiny paintings of a bunny and a monkey on the back for my kids’ “signatures.” Crazy sounding, but I like it.

Little girls in princess outfits.

Little boys who can wrestle with other little boys, and being on the same physical level, can do so without mommies worrying that someone is going to get hurt.

Coffee.

An “ice cappuccino” made with coffee drink powder, cold milk, and ice. Shaken not stirred. To be sipped through a straw.

Almost being done with my second draft.

Grown up tv shows.

S bringing me coffee in the morning.

Some money came through unexpectedly without the hassle that was expected. yay.

How much kids love a package of 1.99 rubber snakes.

Thunder and lightning and dark swirling clouds.

Rain in summer.

rearranging the kids room.

Rearranging my room to facillitate packing/moving. It makes me feel like I’m taking steps.

Reading stories from inside the newly rearranged playhouse/camp tent/bed.

New magazines with lots of ideas for things I can do.

Good day in California.

(when I figure out how to reduce picture size on my new computer, maybe I can start posting photos again. where is the “thumbnail” file?)

New computer so I can get back on line. It’s cherry red and shiny. The adventure of trying to figure out new ways of doing things on a slightly different system.

Catching up on my paintings.

Kids playing in the rain.

Drawing a hopscotch board on the path. Kids trying to jump into the squares.

Penne alla vodka w chicken sausage.

Sherry on the rocks.

Crazy sunset and oncoming storm. Cool breeze. Brick alleyways.

I fixed the VCR! It was not working because it was filled with things, like markers, little tea party plates, rocks, paintbrushes. What were they thinking when they put those things in the video slot?

A new game with the kids. The “wiggle wiggle” game. Which consists of me telling them to do stuff, and them doing it. You know, wiggle, clap, jump, clean up the floor… well not the last one… YET.

Hugs and kisses with the kidses.

Good phone call with S. Things starting to look up out on the west coast.

New FB friend so I’ll have someone I know out in CA.

Someone wants to buy my new painting. Original. Not print. Now, how much to charge?

New Martha Stewart in the mail.

Stupid movie on tv which allowed me to paint another painting. Which is a new version of the streak I’m on. I like it when the paintings metamorph into something different.

A salad for lunch in the first time since forever.

The decision to count ALL the art I do as part of my 100 in 100 days creative challenge. I was doing only strict paintings in only a strict theme, and not counting any of the sketches or experimentations or artjournaling I was doing, and was stressing out over being a couple days behind. ridiculous.

Rain, and the cooler weather it brings.

Going over my thousands of photos and deleting masses and finding gems.

The relief when what you thought was a disaster either resolves itself, wasn’t that bad to begin with, or is cleaned up and just bloody over with.

A nice shower after said disaster.

So You Think You Can Dance. Seriously. So good.

Getting surprise packages in the mail. I never get snail mail.

Finding long lost friends. I love Face Book.

Relaxing and coming to terms with the fact that it does not all have to be done right now.

My made up pork tacos… these things came out GREAT. In a crock pot. A pork roast, a chopped onion, half a chopped pepper, a couple of chopped garlic cloves, a spoonful of pureed chilpotle con adobo, a small can of pureed tomatoes, tbs cumin, tbs chili powder, tsp oregano tsp adobo… on high for 4-6 hours. Shred. Fill a flour tortilla with meat, sour cream, guac, diced jalapenos, scallions, tomatoes, whatever floats your boat. YUM.

A call from my cousin in California.

Cuddling with the kids.

Mom coming for a short visit and playing with the cuckoo kids.

G and Ai having a blast, playing football, hide and seek, chase, just generally laughing ridiculously.

planning an impromptu birthday party for G on thursday, although his bday is net months (so we can celebrate with S before he goes to California) and finding martha stewart to be a great example.

Birthday menu: parmesan chicken fingers, french fries, greenbeans, juice, berry tarts, strawberry ice cream cones.
Birthday decor: balloons, birthday banner, pennants, wading pool, sparklers

G saying, “That’s exactly the ice cweam I’ve always wanted!” strawberry, in a sugar cone.

Ai agreeing and saying pink ice cream was necessary.

playing in my Wreck this Journal.

Finishing today’s painting and having the kids say it was wonderful

wrote a few words in my revision of my novel, despite having read the first page and feeling singularly unimpressed.

thinking that this Star Wars meets Jane Austen novel might actually be a love story… but not between people.

watching G grow up before my eyes and turn from a baby into a big boy.

G told his first knock knock joke, created all by himself.

that I can bake a mean roast chicken, despite my many years of being poultry shy. Not only did I meet the goal on my 40 before 40 list, but I kicked it’s chicken butt.

My morning reading and musing in the bookstore. it happens rarely nowadays. but it helped me get some brains wrapped around my novel.

new book and journal.

working on my Wreck This Journal. Slowly she is wrecked.

Smashing mosquitos. Damn buzzing devilspawn.

Reading on the couch and not forcing myself to work work work.

Bagel w apricot jam and butter while doing the Sudoku.

Hugs with Cuddly Ivy.

Conversation with wiggly Gabriel.

S in a happy mood.

Another night of SYTYCD tonight.

Doing a Tyra photoshoot. find your light. novocain mouth. tension. smile with your eyes smile with your eyes. And having fun w black and white.

How much fun Ivy has playing in the pool.

How G says, “reawwy, reawwy!” whenever he thinks what he has to say is very important.

Standing in the doorway with S watching the kids run in and out of the kiddie pool in the garden.

Dreaming about misty mornings in California.

French Bread Pizza from stouffers instead of cooking dinner.

Anticipating SYTYCD tonight. I haven’t seen it yet, but I’m positive it will make me happy happy.

Spending the day reading an book, instead of rushing to “be productive” and get things done. And doing it with satisfaction, instead of guilt or depression, or out of a need to hide. Just reading for enjoyment.

Comments from my blog readers on how touched they have been by my 100 in 100 creative challenge project and my paintings.

Yummy mango.

Making margaritas and relaxing before dinner while…

S cooks dinner all by himself. Pork chops in mushroom sauce. Was yummy, too.

New show on tv: The Mentalist. I like it. I like when a new show comes on to replace the ones that have been cancelled.