list three things every day that made me happy

1. Took the chum to free play time at My Gym and he taught me how to do a forward roll. OK, we used the wedge mat so gravity did most of the work but I did like 5 of them and it was super fun. Not quite sure what the other parents thought…. ha!

2. The chum and I trimmed all the lavender back in front of and behind the house. No hibernating reptiles discovered and the long snake skin has gone, thank god. The chum was a huge help. He did all the small year-old plants and I did the massive ones. Pretending to be 500 kinds of superheroes and villains (and several Project Runway contestants) is a small price to pay for such help.

3. Finding some more lost musical gens on iTunes as I sort through and discard cassette tapes from 20 years ago.

1. Pumpkin pie for breakfast. I didn’t eat any pie at Thanksgiving because of the 13 (!) pints of ice cream to try, but I did snag a slice to take home for breakfast. Tasty.

2. GG used the leaf blower and blew off the deck and the patio. So clean it is. Why don’t we ever use the leaf blower, I wonder.

3. Feeling like the end of a hard week is nearly at hand. Also red wine.

1. I was really nervous beforehand, but I managed to do the 5K run pain-free.

2. Thanksgiving was one of the most enjoyable in many years. I’m glad I took the initiative and forced everyone to talk about things they were thankful for. Lance was so sweet holding Pepper and crying. It has been a year around here, hasn’t it? And I got to cuddle both little girls.

3. Coming home to my own home where it was quiet and getting into bed with my sweet husband.

1. Met GG for lunch in SR after my haircut. Mmm. Black and blue burger.

2. There were sungolds at Laguna Farms! I bought two baskets. What a treat this late in the year, and they tasted amazing.

3. I had a nice time running to Graton and back with the chum on his bike. Something was wrong with my feet (?) and I was in a pretty high degree of pain the whole time, but it was fun anyway.

1. Will spent the night with his cousins and I was so happy to have him home in the morning. His little smile makes me happy

2. We bought a new tv. Now if only we had living room to put it in

3. It looks like actual progress has been made on our bathroom. It still looks nothing like a bathroom but changes have been made!

1. We headed to Todd’s mom’s for breakfast with her and one of his brothers and wife. So, we got to visit with them

2. Everyone got along for Thanksgiving. My favorite part of the meal this year were the snacks beforehand. We brought some chestnuts from Todd’s mom and there was a homemade cheeseball and also those cheese-stuffed dates wrapped in prosciutto. Yum

3. We came home and lolled about on the couch, unable to focus and finally got in bed with our books and an old episode of “Supernatural” that was very good

Happy Thanksgiving!

1. I am so happy for my sister Sarah. And my mother listened

2. The weather was overcast but not so cold and no rain

3. We went to the new restaurant in town for dinner. There were so many people there. It was nice to see and speak with so many friends and to see the place busy

A really quite horrible day

1. I was able to go back to sleep when GG took the chum to school.

2. Listening to The Secret Garden while I worked and just crying and crying. Oh, sweet catharsis.

3. Listening to Evita and reliving high school glory days.

1. We moved the bird feeder to right outside the kitchen window and the birds are in love with it. They’re out there all the time and we can peep at them all morning. I know storm winds will knock it down since they blow that way, but it’s worth it.

2. Sitting in the warm patch of sun outside the smoothie shop, drinking smoothies, eating pizza bagels and chatting.

3. Looking at every Christmas book in the Santa Rosa library while the chum played on the computer, I found one I think may be a winner – Stan Lee’s Superhero Christmas. Fingers crossed.

1. Like I said, I don’t like to paint, but every little bit of any work is one step closer to a finished home

2. I felt better after the dentist

3. My mom made a good salad

4. Starting a new book