Day Sixteen - BBQ Pizza

Today I overslept (Making up for yesterday I guess) so I didn't have time to get breakfast, and I had forgotten to bring a lunch along with me. I was not happy, and neither was my tummy. I complained to my boyfriend (who lives about 2000 miles away currently, it's hard but we make it work) just as a way to vent my frustration, and lo and behold, 20 minutes later, a pizza deliveryman arrives with a piping hot pizza for me. I'm definitely a lucky girl.

Day Fifteen - a long soak in the tub

I'd been trying to find the time to get a nice long soak in the tub but never got enough time in one continuous block to be able to do this. I've had to settle for quickie showers for a couple of weeks. Today, I couldn't sleep, and got up about an hour before my alarm went off. So, I got in a nice long tub soak before heading out to work. Ahhhhh what a great way to start the morning!

Day Fourteen - clicky pens

I love clicky pens. I'm a fiddler when I an in deep thought, or nervous, or bored, or pretty much anytime I'm not busy doing something else. I usually have something in my hands to fiddle with, and clicky pens are amazing for this. Especially the new kind of clicky pen I found. This pen clicks when you press the end like most clicky pens, but then instead of pressing the end again to "unclick" it, there's a tiny "button" on the side of the pen that you press. I am completely obsessing over these pens! It's probably a good thing I don't share my office with anyone, hahaha.

Day Thirteen - sleeping in

It's 10 am right now and it doesn't seem that this post would be about sleeping in, but yes, I got to sleep in today. Woke up, no urgent place to go, kids weren't asking me questions... house was quiet. I just laid there, stretched out and rolled over. Ahhhhhhh

Day Twelve - a good sale

I love a good sale. I'm a single mom working full time under minimum wage, with three hungry teenagers eating all my food, (What's a full refrigerator look like?) so when there's a good sale at the local butcher, I'm SO there. Picked up enough locally raised beef/pork/chicken to last me through two whole weeks, and I spent under $85. I even had enough to get some locally grown produce as well. I can't wait to cook some of this pot roast!

Day Eleven - Strange Car Camraderie

Ever been on the road when you glimpse some reckless driver weaving into and out of the traffic behind you? That can be scary, particularly if the reckless car gets up REAL close behind you and attempts to psychologically "push" you to either move out of the way or to go faster so he can pass. On the other hand, it's pretty awesome when the other cars "conspire" together with you to keep Mr. Reckless in his place at a reasonable speed behind you. Thank you Blue truck and black minivan.

Day Ten - Collard Greens

Cooked up a huge batch of collard greens yesterday and had enough to bring to work today as leftovers. I don't know why I never wanted to taste this dish before, maybe because I thought they were weird (who mixes meat with spinach looking stuff?) or because they smelled reminiscent of cabbage (whew stinky) but the salty, garlicky wonderfulness of collards is simply amazing. The kids weren't impressed, but boy oh boy, I loved em.

Day Nine: Coffee with good friends

Today I met several good friends for coffee before work. We're all former co-workers and have been "set free" from our former workplace in various manners so it had been a while since we had seen each other. (some quit, some fired, some with really good stories to tell) It was wonderful to catch up with everyone (some are moving away, some have new job opportunities, some have job interviews!) and remember all the good things as well as vent a few frustrations about our former workplace. It was very cathartic, and set the tone for the entire day. I'm still smiling!

Day Eight - Music that makes me want to dance

Today I listened to some music and couldn't help but feel the desire to get up and dance. It's so wonderful when music has this effect on you. And as for dancing like this guy? I'll save that for NEXT year's new years resolution.

Day Seven - Being told I am loved

I love you. Such simple words and yes I may technically already "know" that I am loved, it's oh-so-reassuring to hear it. Especially when it's completely unexpected. I got to work today to find a love note from my sweetie waiting for me. "Hi hon, I'm writing this while you're asleep. I just wanted you to know that I love you very much". It was written three days ago and skyped to my work account for me to find today. D'awwwwwww. That melting noise you heard this morning? Yea, that was me.

Day Six - A Bad@ss day

My daughter approached me yesterday and says "Mom?" "Yes sweetie?" "You look bad@ss". While that's not quite the look I am going for, it made me smile all the same.

Day Five - unconditional love

I think our family has been adopted by a gorgeous stray dog. He's been hanging out for a couple days now - and he's a beautiful brindle pit bull, which worried me only until I "met" him. Those huge brown eyes and a mouth full of kisses and he REALLY wants to play. His whole butt shakes when his tail wags. I'm not a fan of big dogs (my Dixie is only 8 pounds) but I'm thinking that if this keeps up we may not have a choice in the matter. There are no "lost dogs" in my area, but he looks cared for, so I haven't fed him, hoping he'd go back to his home, but he just keeps coming back. The neighbor thinks he's a throwaway. He loves us SO MUCH HE JUST CANT HELP IT WANNAPLAYWANNAPLAYWANNAPLAYIMMAGOODBOY.

Day Four - giving a little something back to the world

There are no desks in their two schoolrooms yet. Just tarps over a dirt floor.

Today's joy is brought to you by my boss. She gave me a Christmas bonus this year and I was able to donate some of it so that others less fortunate than I am can learn to read and write and better themselves. I was blessed by being born into a country where I have many opportunities open to me, and I can work at a job in relative comfort and health. Many others are not as fortunate. If you'd like to participate in this joy, find a worthy cause and donate money, time, or resources. I guarantee you'll find many worthy causes needing help.

These kids soak up knowledge like a sponge. 

I donated to KAM Public School in India, where they invest in the children of poor and indigent castes through education and other outreach programs. They're just starting, so right now all funds are being routed through Truthseekers until they can get the paperwork filed for nonprofit status. Read more at www.truthseekersinternational.org and at the KAM public school web page here:  www.kampublicschool.org.

Day three - pink hair!

Pink hair with a flip!

Pink hair. Yep, this brought me joy today. My daughter dyed her hair pink the other day and we're not talking a soft pastel hue but a rich deep VIBRANT cotton candy/bubblegum pink. I really wasn't sure how I'd feel about this color, but then I figured that she's young, hair will grow out, and it's not MY head, so I agreed. It is actually the cutest most darling look!

Day two - learning new words in a different language!

Today's joy is brought to you by a random beefy italian guy named Joe who stopped to chat with me at the grocery store while I perused the pasta and told me that Cannoli means "faucet", Cappuchino refers to a monk in dark brown robes, and "Farfalle" means butterfly. I have no idea if any of that's correct, but it made me happy all the same.

Day One - Orange juice

A huge glass of cold orange juice in the morning BEFORE I brush my teeth. Siiiiip, aaaaaaaah. Yea, you probably don't want to breathe the air near me but man, is it good.