Tuesday, July 10, 2012

stuff that made me smile a lot

so i didn't get around to posting my weekly post last week. so this one will cover a couple of weeks.

* re-watching the avengers with a good friend, dinner at cheesecake factory and getting stuck in northwest dc after the thunderstorm of the century and then getting home safe after it took two hours. i was smiling when i got home and found i still had power.

* the next morning a couple of overly optimistic friends and i headed out to northern viriginia to a thrift store we had a heard about. i say overly optimistic because we had under-estimated the power outages in the area, and all three thrift stores we had thought about visiting had no power. we stopped off at great falls park and looked at the water and some really funky albino bugs with bright red markings, and then we headed back to capitol hill in search of food. cafe 8 on barracks row has really amazing mediterranean turkish food.

* i went back to cafe 8 a few days later with a good friend who is off to start his pre-deployment training and have similar experiences to what i did a few years ago. it was good to see him and spend a little time talking with him. he looked pretty fit and hawt in his aviator shades.

* the really great thing about cafe 8 is that it's right by the sweet lobby. life is just not complete without having one of their divinely decadent macarons (not macaroons, which are also good). these little french treats are just the right size for ending a meal and all you need is one... but two are better... okay maybe three... yeah, they're just good. and to go twice in one week, well what could be better?!?!

* watching the capitol fourth concert and fireworks in air conditioned comfort with a fun friend who is much more geeky than i. and appreciates how watching dr who can kind of freak me out... just a bit.

* i'm tutoring three non-english speaking teens in english. it's really a lot of fun and i'm discovering just how much spanish and italian i get mixed up. they recently arrived from south america and start public school in the fall, so all the practice they can get in their new language will be helpful. i hope it's helping them.

* god is good, and he is good to me. i'm learning that i put limits on what i think he will bless me with. his blessings are so abundant and without limit that it takes my breath away. to have anger taken away, and replaced with light and love is the answer to years of prayers and heartaches. god is so very, very good.

* figuring out what was causing some of my back pain was miraculous as well. if you'll recall my zip line adventure earlier this year, where i hit my bottom on the ledge as i was swinging from ledge to ledge. my tailbone was twisted and listing to the right, and causing all sorts of pain and uneven-ness. thankfully a doctor figured it out and i was able to get it moved back into alignment. i feel like a new woman.

* having the air conditioner in my car stop working, and then having it be an easy repair of a burnt out circuit.  yay for ac in the car (and at home) during the recent heat wave.

* reading an amazing book, and recapturing some reading magic.

* time with my housemate away has made me appreciate her all the more and having her back is really nice.

* moving my bed around in my room and being able to sleep much better in the new arrangement.

* cooking brunch for two best girlfriends. i love to cook for other people and love to cook for people i love. it was the perfect saturday brunch--good food, lovely company and soul-filling conversation. these lovely ladies inspire me to be better.

* during our incredible heat wave staying indoors and watching movies with a friend. only going out to get pizza at 7th hill, the day before it closes for renovations. good times.

* an email from my mtc companion. it's never to late to send christmas cards and catch up with old friends.

* buying plane tickets to visit family and looking forward to the trip all week.

* having my mom call to tell me about her adventures in traveling. she's having so much fun lately!

* mint oreos. seedless grapes. **mormon mimosas. macarons. falafel. cold water. pizza. pannacotta. cotton nightgowns. clean sheets. a vacuum that really sucks. washing dishes. hanging up freshly ironed clothes. a clean bathroom. quiet time. thunder and lightning. rain. pulling weeds. watering my garden. new shoes. a patriotic pedicure. a wedding invitation.

* and this flashmob.


**mormon mimosas - in a 1 litre carafe pour 1.5 cans of original flavored fresca. top it off with orange juice. add half a capful of almond extract. stir and add ice. soooo good!

2 comments:

Alan said...

What an amazing life you live. Lot's of stuff that makes you smile. That is good! Keep smiling! Keeps me smiling...

Ruthie said...

Thanks so much for introducing me to Mormon mimosas! Not sure my life will ever be the same! So excited that you get to go have a fun weekend with your bro! I love your attitude about life lady!