gratitude-a-thon day 202: small bites friday

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And it’s another addition of small bites Friday! Yipee!

As if it wasn’t enough to have a month long ordeal with an infection and a root canal. I find out yesterday I now have a crack in a tooth, which will actually need to be REMOVED, and another re-root canal BECAUSE both ARE infected. You’d think I was from England. Gratitude to Dr. Les Miller. Sympathies to me.

Well, isn’t this interesting? Somewhat of in indictment of football all by itself. And a big fat yes to that.

Antoinette Tuff is just the freaking bomb. What a lady. This Anderson Cooper interview tells the story of a real hero, and a totally adorable and inspiring woman.

WHAT I’M TALKING ABOUT. An all-bacon restaurant. I’d definitely make a pig of myself!

And speaking of foods I love, here are 6 more reasons (besides that they’re just so damn delish) to eat avocados.

I love the whole google doodle thing. Yesterday’s was really beautiful.

This is a really good list of unnecessary things you must get immediately.

It’s been sunny for like 7 days in a row and the party isn’t going to end any time soon.

gratitude-a-thon day 201: hot-dog legs

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I say legs. You can see the little skin bumps on the right thigh.

Ok, you’re going to think this is ridiculous, because it is. IT IS RIDICULOUS. But last night, we were all hanging out together after dinner and Ally told us about this Facebook page called Hot-dog or Legs (although, I come to find out it’s actually called Hot-dog Legs, to be specific). I let out a howl, because it somehow really got up into my funny bone. Anyway, she showed it to me and I laughed even harder. I was doing my scream laugh, like I did when I saw Ellen Degeneres at The Orpheum.

Anyway, it’s on Tumblr, and it posts pictures of legs, or hot-dogs and you have to guess which. You may now be wondering about my A) intelligence B) sense of humor C) mental health, but I somehow I got totally caught up in this thing and actually could not stop myself from howling like a hyena. Not to mention, I was almost sure I could decipher the hotdogs from the legs every time, like a gosh darn expert (perhaps this will be my next career).

Here’s the thing, I just love that someone out there thought that was funny and went to the trouble of putting together a bunch of pictures. It’s absurd and bizarre and really, really creative. I love that in a world where crazy shit is happening all the time, somebody decided to create Hot-dog Legs. It’s perfect. It makes me want to dance.

Yeah, I’m going to check my meds right now, don’t worry.

gratitude-a-thon day 200: new pencils

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This is the time of year when school starting begins to become apparent and I feel the need for new pencils.

Actually, I feel the need for order. Complete and total orderliness. I guess that’s a way to tame my transition anxiety. And there has never been a bigger transitional year than this one. So, maybe I will get my house into tip top shape. I doubt it, but a girl can dream.

I don’t love cleaning. I love a clean house, and I love to make beauty where I live, but I’m a little bit of a hoarder and did I mention the three barnyard animals I live with? So, keeping things organized is sort of my job, and my job alone. And it’s too big for me. Plus, like I said, it’s not something I enjoy. I know you’re probably thinking, “Does ANYBODY enjoy cleaning?” But I know people who do. I know women who are really neat and keep things spotless and military regime orderly.  And they make me feel like a sloth. I have had a cleaning lady (who I LOVE) for 22 years (the same one) and she is part of our family. If I didn’t have her, my house would likely be condemned, and I would be shipped off to some sort of prison where messy mothers are taught how to use Windex. I should mention here that I make a lovely greeting card, and wrap a very nice gift, just so that you know that I’m not totally without skills.

Anyway, I am grateful that this year, I am just going to try and be nice to myself during this period before school and the big college departure takes place. I am going to try and put everything in its place, because I know that will bizarrely soothe me, while I step into this big change. So, as the leaves begin to morph from green to orange and yellow, I will be sharpening pencils (and hopefully not poking out my eyes with them).

gratitude-a-thon day 199: a little getaway

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I am visiting one of my besties at her family lake house on Lake Sunappe in New Hampshire. While  I have sea and sand running through my veins, I have to say, this place is really relaxing. And we’ve had a billion laughs, so that makes up for the lack of salt in the water.

Lakes are serene, while oceans provide a soundtrack of calm with their rhythmic in and out of water lapping at the shore. Lakes are rugged and outdoorsy, with all their manly pine trees. Oceans are sandy affairs with rocks and beach roses and dune grass and the smell of suntan lotion wafting through the air like sausage on Yawkey Way.

Mother Nature is one creative girl with her ability to express herself in so many different ways. Grateful for that. She makes me look like a slacker.

gratitude-a-thon: small bites friday

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A melange of tiny little gratitudes because, ya know,  it’s Friday.

I am overwhelmed by the total sweetness of this video of a baby panda meeting her mom for the first time. This is like a 1,008 on the cuteness scale.

I didn’t even know these places existed, let alone that I should go see them.

I am reading the amazing Ernie Schenk’s book, The Houdini Solution. And dare I say, it’s magic.

New Series on BBC–Broadchurch. I’m loving it, not to mention dying to go to Dorset, where it’s filmed.

Man, I loved Chris Farley. I’m going to have to read this book.

The weather of the last week should be CANNED AND SOLD DURING NEW ENGLAND WINTERS.

The upcoming Target collaboration with Philip Lim looks amazing.

I am so grateful for Seth at my insurance company who really went above and beyond in getting me coverage for my lost/stolen watch. Thanks, Seth.

This is heavy, but lovely.

Jake doesn’t leave until September 8, but I’m watching some of the other kids leave, that I’ve known since they were teeny, and I’m  wishing  them all the best stuff there is as they embark on the exciting, drunken, enlightening years of college.

Downton Abbey preview. I simply CANNOT wait.

gratitude-a-thon day 196: today’s weather

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It’s August 15, and there is an undeniable whisper of fall in the air. I tried to ignore it when I felt it last week, but it seems to be waking up with me every morning. It’s kind of nice, but I know what it means, and that’s most definitely not nice.

I have realized in the past several years that I am no longer a four seasons kind of girl. Having grown up in Connecticut, sledding down the hill across the street, ice skating after school on a local pond, and learning to ski late, in high school, winter was fun. I didn’t mind the snow and cold. I rather liked the fashion ski jacket options. Praying for a snow storm that would cancel school kept things lively.

But with a wonky back, I can’t ski or skate anymore, and so my use for winter has been disposed of. I am all about summer. I have always leaned more toward the sun and sand than the snow and cold, but now it’s a more lopsided affair. It’s getting so bad that I will probably have to figure out what to do about it soon, as in perhaps living somewhere warm more of the time. New England just doesn’t give me enough of the sunny days I need, seeming instead to allow old man winter to show off for months and months at a time. If winter would just vanish after February, everything would be just fine. But it lingers, and waves its damn flag sometimes right through March and into April.

Anyway, I’m grateful for this day with its cool start and forecasted warm middle. The air feels fresh and clean. The light is clear and pretty. I’m not going to think about winter  I’ll think about that tomorrow. Scarlett had it right.

gratitude-a-thon day 195: adventures in your own backyard

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I will forever hopelessly be in awe of music and what it can do to me.

As I’ve written here before, I was kicked out of chorus by Mrs. Gustafson when I was in 3rd grade, who told me how much she loved me, but in as polite a way as she could muster, the simple truth, that I could not sing. I was very upset. I really liked to sing.

And that’s still true. I am freaking Adele in the car. I am Rhianna in the shower. But if you are listening to me, you might disagree and call me less desireable names.

My cousin Jill posted this song by Patrick Watson, called “Adventures in Your Own Backyard”  and I took a listen. I think it’s the most extraordinary song. It does take a little bit to get going, but stay with it, I think you’ll be happy you did. This guy’s voice is sort of like a combination of butter and whip cream. Guess what I’ll be singing behind the wheel today?