find at least one thing each day that makes me happy

It seems so silly to be happy over something material, but since getting a washing machine was on my list of 43 things… I had to exclaim my joy!

I came in 7th place in a poker tournament (8 hours of playing) last night, so I used my prize money to buy a new front loading washing machine. I’ve been through 4 other washer/dryers with my moves, new houses, divorce; and was stuck with t YEhe landlord’s crappy one. Now I have a gorgeous new one coming my way! Yesssssssssssssss!!!

I’ve been wanting to get a tattoo this summer while the kids were visiting their dad. My daughters & I really love the corpse bride (Tim Burton)... perhaps I love it more so than they do. It’s very symbolic after all I’ve been through. I have the poster of Emily (the Corpse Bride) on my bedroom door – full length of the door. Well, at the end of the movie, she bursts into hundreds & thousands of butterflies & the girls & I cry – and I tell them that she’s finally done suffering, and she’s floating up to Jesus in the form of all those beautiful butterflies. Of course, the tattoo I had done was the exact Tim Burton butterfly that was used on the promos… I’ll have a picture taken & post it. I thought about it for almost a year now, and I took the plunge. No regrets.

I am painting my daughters’ bunk bed purple. It is a surprise for them when they return from their summer visit with their dad. Since the kids are gone, I have been painting wearing only my bra and panties. It is very relaxing, and I have found it makes me happy. So that is my happy thing for today – painting in my underwear.

My son made the finals for the poetry fair at school. I wrote his poem for him about our dog.

My Dog, Romeo
By Mom (a.k.a. svetlanas)

Romeo, Romeo, where for art thou, Romeo?
Is what Juliet would say.
Instead of a boy coming to her rescue,
My dog, Romeo, comes out to play.
She picks him up, he licks her face
He leaps and squeals for joy.
He makes her laugh instead of cry
And she forgets all about the boy.

I posted a picture of our dog instead of my son for safety issues. But my son is the one who makes me happy. Not just because he made the finals, but because he is the sweetest, most charming, adorable child a mother could ever hope for. All the girls say he is the nicest boy at school. I adore him & he makes me happy.

Today was a great day for poker. I took 1st in a 45 person tournament ($85); and 7th in a 269 person tournament ($47). Winning makes me happy – not only for the money, but for the pure sake of winning. Love the competition.