Periodically reflect on at least 5 things for which I'm grateful

1) Jambalya for late lunch/dinner . . . so good!

2) This week I finally met with the guy who put together my Mothers trust. I am the executor of the trust, but frankly I have never truly understood my role and finally I do. Thank you!!!

3) I finally had the opportunity to talk with my Mom about uncomfortable things that needed to be discussed, but never got discussed. I now know exactly what I am to do when she passes away, which mortuary is handling things, what she wants to wear to her funeral etc. I am so relieved that I finally know what she wants and I don’t have to think about it anymore . . . well until it’s time anyway.

Although 2 & 3 are kind of on the “morbid” side, I am responsible for them and it was stressful for me to not know the answers. I am greatful to have these issues cleared up for me.

4) I had a fun time last night at S’s house. She is the appraiser I apprenticed with before getting my license. We had fun and I haven’t had beer in a long time . . . that was fun too!

5) Working in the yard today. The weather is such that it is pleasant again to work outside and I love puttering around in the yard when the weather is cooler.

I haven’t been online too much lately. My computer crashed and burned during a very short neighborhood power outage last week. I was typing an appraisal report and the power went out for a minute or so and when it came back on . . . my computer was DOA . . . belly up . . . even with a big ole surge protector. Periodically I was able to get in a few cheers here and there on Mr. HC’s computer (which I hate), but computer access was pretty problematic. So today I am greatful for:

1) My new computer and Andrew the computer guy who talked me in off the ledge, got me back on track and shared recipes with me!!!

2) No more 100 degree days for the rest of the year and a light but beautiful rain last night. Don’t get me wrong . . . it’s still hot here . . . 80 – 90 degrees, but when we are out of the 100’s I am estatic!!!

3) Bobby the Foster Pug has rallied!!! It was not looking too good for him and it seemed that it was time for him to make his transition to the Rainbow Bridge, but suddenly he rallied and he has been a super happy little pug, eating, drinking, running, playing and barking at pigeons (that is a new activity for him) like nothing was wrong in the world. I am so happy!!!

4) I won an ebay auction for a pasta maker that I have been dreaming of forever. I have been trying forever and always get outbid but this one time I scored big!!! Said pasta maker should be here any day now. This is something I have wanted to do for a long time. When I was in High School, my best friend was Karen Calacci. Mrs. Calacci made fresh pasta for dinner every Sunday. It was awesome. There isn’t much better than fresh homemade pasta . . . unless it’s Andrew the computer guy’s fresh homemade pesto (he is my next door neighbor btw and grows basil over there by the bushel full!!!)

5) Top Chef tonight and look forward to the “Quick Fire Challenge” that Mr. HC issues on Wednesday nights . . . he feeds my Top Chef addiction!!!

1. Job where I can leave early to go to the dentist.
2. White fillings, instead of amalgam fillings.
3. Beautiful courtyard w/rose bushes, grass, trees.
4. Massage at Betty’s Bath.
5. Mackerel (saba) sushi.

• snuggly dog
• Great co-workers
• The north shore of Lake Superior!One of the most beautiful places in the world.
• local farmers markets
• Fall weather

1. Lil niece is 40 days old :) _{Nothing special about being a 40-day old, I suppose, except a reason to be grateful :)}

2. For a long conversation with dad (Mom wasn’t home, otherwise, “Son, I have to give the phone to your mom to get her off my back,” he would say… “sounds like a solid plan,” I’d remark. “Take care of yourself,” and he’d pass the phone with a chuckle :) Men need this! :))

3. For feeling a bit healthier (at least for a fraction of the day)

4. For getting another paper published.

5. For the cool weather in the morning… it’s nice to be cool in summer :)

6. For meeting some (more) wonderful interesting people… _{I haven’t figured out why this happens yet, but I keep meeting wonderful and nice people only!}

1) All the dogs got a bath today, big job . . . done!!!
2) I have had lunch with my youngest daughter 2 days in a row. . . very enjoyable!!!
3) My house is very clean right now . . . woo hoo!!!
4) We have had some cooler weather (not cool, just “cooler”) lately . . . big relief!!!
5) Had fun shopping for Little Piper Kelly today . . . going through all the baby items in Babies R Us reminded me of my own babies a really long time ago and it made me smile!!!

1) I am grateful for the HUGE rain we had this weekend.
2) I am grateful for Mr. HC actually admitting out loud that “our stuff owns us” and “he” needs to declutter as well. To date he has encouraged and aplauded “my” de-cluutter prjects, but he has not said/done anything about his “stuff” THIS IS BIG!!!
3) I am grateful that my youngest daughter has a compassionate heart. Her friend “S” is very very ill (heart stuff) and is going to have a major surgery on Tuesday which she may well not make it through. My duaghter has been helping “S” and her family (she has 3 young sons) quite a lot without complaint. I know if her friend does not make it through the surgery she is going to be devastated and I will be there for her, but I am grateful that she has a big enough heart to be there for someone else, even though she knows that it may mean being hurt in the end.

4) I am grateful for my silly dogs.

5) I am grateful that the extra work I put into signing up with additional Appraisal Management Companies this week was rewarded with my 1st order. Hopefully there will be more more more!!!

1. Our fabulous new dog. He is the sweetest big, lug of a dog. Training is going very well. We made him concentrate very hard on walking this morning and now he is collapsed in my lap.
2. Coffee
3. My friend with whom I spent the afternoon yesterday. She and I are so utterly different, yet somehow we have become very close friends. Such a surprise.
4. A productive and fun day yesterday. We went to the farmers market, went to dog class, then I hung out with my friend at a coffee shop and worked on my stupid reference statistics database (yes, I’m doing this project again at my new place of work. I hate reference statistics) and had some good, meaningful conversation. I went to the food coop, came home and made 4 batches of pesto and the sweetie made us corn and pest BLTs for dinner. Such a great day.
5. The sweetie is now making blueberry streusel muffins!
6. All the great stuff we bought from local farmers yesterday: blueberries, corn, bacon, basil, dill, parsley, tomatoes, eggplant, zucchini, beans, scallions, onions, garlic, broccoli, etc. Yum.

1. I have a job w/flexible hours.
2. I have a cute, restful apartment.
3. Friends who will go to Santa Fe Opera with me.
4. Friends who come to my house and play cards with me.
5. Friends who bring their babies by to visit.
6. President Obama.
7. Tana French novels.

1) I am grateful for self cleaning ovens!

2) I am grateful for a little extra work this week. The appraiser that actually trained me a gazillion years ago couldn’t get all her reports done by the deadlines this week so she paid me to type her reports to catch her up.

3) I am grateful for this cleaning solution that I found at the dollar store today. It has a really cheesy name (Fabuloso) but it smelled really good when I mopped the floors with it.

4) I am grateful for the rain last night. It was a lot cooler today.

5) I am grateful that Bobby the Foster Pug (with the Chronic Renal Failure) seems to have stabilized. I took him to the vet last week for blood work and his test came back – pretty much unchanged. That is two times in a row now. I would prefer that they come back improved, but I will always take “unchanged” over “declining”!!!