A Happy List

• 3 delicious flavors of hot chocolate and cider in the cabinet

• A sound sleep, in the present time zone

• Coming back to my closet. I always miss my clothes. Is that weird?

• The way M got into the habit of putting dishes in the dishwasher while I was away

• My giant purple purse

• Dr. Seuss' holiday appearance every night (practically) on TV during the holiday season

• A picture text message of the gallery cat with the scarf I gave my co-worker for her birthday wrapped around said-cat's neck.

• Twinkle lights on our window

• The girl I sat near on the plane ride home had the COOLEST backpack with an embroidered tree and button leaves on the back flap. 

• She also had pretty hands

• Listening to my niece's ipod on the plane trip home and how I almost lost it when the "shuffle songs" mode led me to Weird Al's "White and Nerdy." Such a funny song.

• Catching up with D before he left for a quick trip home, then off to South America!

• The Salcido painting he left us to babysit while he's away

• The fact that he trusts us with his condo key and the passing of our phone numbers to his emergency contact

• Setting a deadline for myself to help get a friend's project complete that I have let slide to the back burner for a bit longer than I intended. 

• Thinking about how much of a dork I was in junior high and high school. I know I'm still pretty dorky now, but at least I can laugh at myself about it! 

• Eating cucumber slices, cherry tomatoes, and broccoli

• Listening to my body tell me to relax. Being able to relax and feel able to focus and handle my day with grace and ease.

• Acting like a kid with my nieces and nephews on my holiday venture home

• The way we hid Christmas ornaments at my mom's house when we were decorating the tree. We decided there were far too many ornaments for such a tiny tree (but the gaudy, crowded trees are the best kind!) and we wanted to see how long it takes for her to notice the ornaments, in all the different hiding spots!

• Catching up with both of my sisters, all three of us enjoying each other's company, talking, and being a family together. It felt so good, even if I was sick.

• Wonder Woman on the folder where I hold my student loan bill I must pay every month. Wonder Woman somehow makes it easier to dish out the dollars each month, and I thank her for that.

• The lessons I have learned, and continue to learn each and every day of my life.

Tis the season of thankfulness

1. I am grateful for my sweet little super kitty who lives with my mother now and who
2. still remembers me when I come home to visit. Her name is Pants.
3. She just did a 360 on the fleece blanket I have wrapped around me.
4. She also has been extra snuggly since I became couch-ridden due to whatever bug I have captured inside of my body. Like a good kitty should.
5. I am grateful for my mom deciding on a quote for her Christmas card, and the ideas that have followed since she made up her mind. I've been drawing winter animals today in preparation. (My favorite is the bear!)

6. I am grateful for getting ahold of my middle older sister yesterday. She's so hard to reach, and she picked up the phone when I called her! This is pretty rare.
7. I am grateful for beautiful jewel tones. You know I love 'em!
8. I am grateful for people still wishing I lived here.
9. I am grateful for glue guns
10. I am grateful for fun music that cheers me up and makes me wanna dance!
11. I am grateful for waking up to hear the giant thunderstorm that happened in the middle of the night last night. I hardly ever hear rain any more, so when I was awake for it (albeit feeling not so wonderful), I texted M and shared the moment.
12. I am grateful for the Christmas spirit that is beginning to show up more and more as the days press toward December.
13. I am grateful for being able to seek out knowledge on my own and for the wealth of information that the internet has given me. It's a pretty awesome thing, the interwebs is. :)
14. I am grateful for tall boots and jeans, especially when I am cold.
15. I am grateful for my sketchbook and my pencils and pens.
16. I am grateful for having friends who can pick right back up where we left off, no matter how long it's been since the last time I've seen them.
17. I am grateful for left over soup.
18. I am grateful for my mom bringing me tea with honey this morning. It's nice to be sick at home. It's not as good as being at home and not being sick. But everyone wants their mom to take care of them when they're not feeling well, and as bittersweet as it is, I'm grateful for being sick at home.