Daily 5 - Day 267

Today's Daily 5:

1. Wearing jeans at work
2. the moment of waking up and realizing that it was Friday and I can turn my alarm off for the weekend
3. Getting so distracted by checking email on my phone that I missed my bus stop and had to get off at the next stop, and discovered that the next stop is a shorter walk to the station where I catch the train.
4. the roses I was given yesterday opening overnight and smelling lovely in my office
5. sold my car today.  this is kind of bittersweet.
6. The insurance company actually admitted their mistake in quoting me.  And, not only did they admit it, but because of it they waived some contractual fees, and instead of owing them money as they initially told me, I'm getting a refund.  Sort of small consolation, but it is helpful.
7. The Treasure Madness game on facebook
8. iphone
9. Kit-Kat bars
10. green grapes

Lighten Up on Yourself

I am not Elizabeth Gilbert's biggest fan.  I don't dislike her, but I've got to tell you, her book "Eat, Pray, Love", the major bestseller, underwhelmed me.  I didn't really like it.  And I LOVE that sort of spiritual/personal memoir genre.  I read a ton of them every year.

I did really like the talk she gave on thinking creatively for TED.

I am enjoying (to some extent anyway) the audio book of her more recent memoir, "Committed".

But I really liked this article that I came across this morning, advising women everywhere that perhaps they can't be superwoman, and to maybe lighten up on themselves.

Tattoos, Car sales and evening plans

I'm hanging out at my parent's house for a while tonight.

Mooching a free dinner.

Selling my car to my brother J.

For exactly what I paid for it.

He's getting an even better deal than I did, because I paid for a few minor repairs.

But I don't feel right selling it for more than I paid.

It was sold to me as a gift of sorts.

And it feels wrong to make a profit on someone's generosity to me.

Apparently I'm also going to get to check out J's new tattoo.

I found out about the tattoo in a text message this morning, informing me he'd show me tonight.

It seems the king of impermance has had something permanently inked on his body.

I'm WAY curious to find out what it is that made the grade for permanence.

I'm still hoping to get my first tattoo later this year.

Probably to celebrate the 5th anniversary of my healing from depression

And then home, and staring at a wedding slideshow.

Watching a little television via the internet while I putter with the pictures.

And then hoping for rest.

New Recipe Project Update

Here's the update on the new recipe project.

The goal is to make at least two brand new recipes a year (either something I've never eaten before, or a recipe I've had somewhere else, but never made on my own.)

For April, the new recipes were as follows (unfortunately, I don't have photographic proof of these ones at the moment... need to check my camera at home, maybe there are photos there!):

1. Chocolate-Coconut Macaroons
2. Hot-Crossed Buns
3. Blackberry Cobbler

Last night I made the first new recipe for the month of May:

This is Tomato-Beef Chowder.  L and I used to cook it all the time, but she always made it.  It was her recipe.  We were both surprised when I actually liked this soup.  First, because I don't tend to like soup.  Second, because it has ground beef and is tomato based, and I don't love either of those things either.  But I really like it, and now that L. has moved to the UK for a while, I wrote her asking for the soup recipe.  When she sent it, I immediately set out to make it as soon as possible.  That was last on Wednesday.  And it was so tasty!

A Good Way to Start a Morning

Fridays just tend to be good days.

They almost invariably start with one of my favorite sensations of all time.  That moment, when, as you're groaning because your alarm has gone off and you're just not quite ready to face the day, you realize, as you reach to turn the alarm off, that, today, instead of just resetting it for 24 hours later, you can actually turn it off for the next 72 hours. 

Then, there comes another of my favorite moments.  The realization that this is the day I get to wear jeans at the office.  It happens once a week, but every time it feels like a moment worth celebrating.  This is the moment I've been planning for all week as I stare in my closet, trying to figure out what the heck I'm going to wear for another day of business casual at work.  And then Friday arrives, and the only decision is whether I feel like dressing my jeans up or down that day.  Because the favorite part of the outfit, my most comfortable pants, a pair of jeans, is already decided.

This particular Friday held a surprise, too, as I stepped out the door to begin the walk to the bus.  There is blue sky.  Hours later, the blue sky is already filling again with rain clouds, but that moment when I was greeted by the sun instead of the dull greyness of the last few weeks was lovely.

The roses my coworker gave me had opened more overnight, and greeted me when I arrived at my desk.

I started the morning with a bowl of apple cinnamon oatmeal and a mug of pomegranate green tea.

It's been a good way to start a day.

Here's to Friday, and the weekend it hints at!