Happy Place: Gratefulness And Smiles

[TattleTeeny]

It’s a beautiful weed!

[Anela]

I finally found my purse. 

[Dimity]

I am happy that thanks to the Olympics my FB feed is now filled with stories about the athletes and the games and not the crap that's been clogging it up for days now!  I am going to enjoy this while it lasts.

[Anela]

I'm grateful for two big things this week, and one of them is that my cat seems to be okay. We still need bloodwork to make sure the blood transfusion is helping, but he's eating, and he's stronger than he was.

[Cloud9Shopper]

I wrote my friend an ER fanfic for her birthday and she loved it! The last couple of times I’ve done fanfic exchanges or a gift fic on my own, I didn’t even get a thanks or kudos from the recipient, which is a bummer. So it was nice that my friend not only loved the fic, but read it right away as soon as it was in her inbox. 

The finished product, if you’re interested. (I need to organize that series and maybe break it into two series, but that’s a separate discussion.) 

[Annber03]

Aw, that's cool! I'm sorry you haven't had much luck in the past with fic exchanges/gifts, done right they're a lot of fun. I like doing them and I've gotten some great fics in turn. A simple thank you alone would be a nice enough response in and of itself. 

But I'm glad that this time turned out much better and your recipient liked your fic :). 

[BlueSkies]

I think there just comes a point in your life where one realizes they sort of have to own what they are..... worts and all 

[Dimity]

My son just sent me a picture of my grandson curled up reading his first chapter book.  He asked if he could read instead of watching TV.  My heart ❤️❤️.

[Cloud9Shopper]

Went to Atlantic City today and ended with double the amount of money I brought to gamble. I don’t gamble a lot so I’m pretty happy with that! 

[PRgal]

21 hours ago, Cloud9Shopper said:

Went to Atlantic City today and ended with double the amount of money I brought to gamble. I don’t gamble a lot so I’m pretty happy with that! 

Good for you!  I've been to Vegas three times in my life but I've only gambled once.  I won like $10.  I'm happy this week because the stock market was good, so my portfolio is back up to where it was before that big crash (oh, sorry, "correction") the week before.

[Anduin]

In case anyone was worried, I can put their minds at rest. Operation: Pizza was a success. I figured out how to use my local place's online ordering system and it worked perfectly!

Millions of pizza*, pizza for me. Millions of pizza, pizza for tea**.

* Or so it feels like.

And tomorrow's lunch. And tomorrow's tea.

[PRgal]

The little guy's first day back (Grade 1!!!) went amazingly well!  Almost all of his closest friends are in his class and the few who aren't are in the classroom right next door.  I think it's going to be an amazing year for him.

[Anduin]

I just have to share the greatest Wikipedia page title I've ever come across. Pilosans of the Caribbean! Doesn't that make you want to find out what a Pilosan is? Of course it does! Turns out, sloths and anteaters of the Caribbean islands. While I grant that it's highly improbable they sail ships, buckle swashes, or wield cutlasses, I refuse to rule it out entirely.

[meep.meep]

Maybe they wear jaunty headscarves and earrings!  And drink a lot of rum!

[KWalkerInc]

I'm grateful that I was able to have a successful trip to San Francisco last week to attend two baseball games.  They lost both, not surprisingly, but I was just happy to be back in the stadium again after five years away.  My father and I would go to two or three every year, but had been unable because of COVID and my risk due to previous health problems, so I honestly had thought I would never be there again.  Aside from being nervous that my father would misplace or have problems with his phone (which had the tickets), and having bags searched by a very nice and professional TSA agent (because the dog at the airport didn't like us for some reason), everything went very smoothly.

[Anduin]

23 minutes ago, KWalkerInc said:

I'm grateful that I was able to have a successful trip to San Francisco last week to attend two baseball games.

Ahh, baseball. Someone thought they could improve on cricket. The correct answer is to play a better sport, but at least baseball games are shorter than multi-day matches that result in ties anyway. :)

Anyway, I'm happy you enjoyed it!

[Mindthinkr]

I had a wonderful stepfather and he loved watching the World Series. His birthday usually coincided with that time of year. One of my happy memories was flying up to visit him for a few years, sitting in the den and watching the series with him. I’m not a baseball fan per se, but I’d look up enough information so I could converse with him about players, and teams. He was in his 90’s so traveling was out of the question. He thought it was the best birthday present to just enjoy that with me. Looking back I’m so glad I did. 

[Blergh]

The other day, I went into the bank to get some spending cash, and the teller actually said that they were worried something had happened to me since I hadn't been there in X number of weeks. I explained that I'd been on vacation AND had some left over 'mad money' that I had cashed from my credit union account  (which I never otherwise touch) so I hadn't needed any spending money for those weeks up to then.

Well, anyway, it was touching to know that the teller not only remembered who I am but also cared  enough to be concerned via my not having been there in X weeks (though I still ALWAYS use my driver's license  to prove my ID at the bank).

[PRgal]

13 hours ago, Blergh said:

The other day, I went into the bank to get some spending cash, and the teller actually said that they were worried something had happened to me since I hadn't been there in X number of weeks. I explained that I'd been on vacation AND had some left over 'mad money' that I had cashed from my credit union account  (which I never otherwise touch) so I hadn't needed any spending money for those weeks up to then.

Well, anyway, it was touching to know that the teller not only remembered who I am but also cared  enough to be concerned via my not having been there in X weeks (though I still ALWAYS use my driver's license  to prove my ID at the bank).

Probably because they don't see a lot of customers anymore.  I don't even remember when the last time I spoke with one.  

[Anela]

Had a misunderstanding with a friend, but everything turned out okay. We both talked, and apologized to each other. 

 

[graybrown bird]

I voted today.  So grateful for this right guaranteed by our Constitution!  And in awe of the many careful poll workers who assure we can exercise this right!

[Anduin]

Possibly the most clever thing I have ever seen. I can walk and chew gum at the same time, sure, but nothing like this.

 

[Anduin]

Let's all find a reason to smile today. My mum's birthday is this weekend. She will be classified years old!*

I'm looking forward to it in general, but especially because I had a moment of foresight and bought her pressie back in May.

*I know she's told me, but I've forgotten. Not that I'd share even if I remembered. :)

[Annber03]

Happy early birthday to your mom :). I hope she has a lovely day and enjoys her gifts from you. 

[Anduin]

17 minutes ago, Annber03 said:

Happy early birthday to your mom :). I hope she has a lovely day and enjoys her gifts from you. 

That's certainly the plan!

[Anduin]

Birthday went well! Gift most appreciated! Purely by coincidence, now I know what to get my sister for christmas. One down...

[Anduin]

There's a public bathroom I often use. Recently it's started playing classical music. I recognise the William Tell Overture and Beethoven's 5th symphony. So far I haven't been able to sync up with the soundtrack, but it's only a matter of time...

[Blergh]

Today, for the first time in my locale since Tuesday, the sun actually came out and SHINED- as opposed to having been rainy, overcast or just gloomy.

Yeah, I know it doesn't actually magically change stuff for the better. However, it proved to be a good morale booster when I looked out the window at work and I was also thankful Mama got to see it outside her kitchen window!

[Anduin]

Because it makes me happy. One of those fun little coincidences. Charles Darwin's book, On the Origin of Species, was published 24 November 1859. Then on 24 November 1974, was the discovery of Lucy the Australopithecus. Big day in evolution. Life is wonderful sometimes.

[Anela]

My dad went to Meijers in the area he was working on Saturday, and bought me a big tin of Quality Street. 💖

[PRgal]

Kiddo's report card was uploaded to the parent portal this afternoon and he's doing well - either meeting or exceeding expectations at his grade level (at this time).  He DOES need to work on his listening skills though!  And consistency when writing sentences (he doesn't always capitalize when he needs to capitalize.  Maybe he's seen us text and picked it up from us?)

[Anduin]

Today at the big family get together, I saw one of my young relatives dipping a slice of watermelon into a bowl of white sugar.

[Browncoat]

3 hours ago, Anduin said:

Today at the big family get together, I saw one of my young relatives dipping a slice of watermelon into a bowl of white sugar.

I like watermelon with salt.

[Annber03]

Went to my sister's place for a few hours yesterday afternoon, and I got to hear my niece (who will be two next month) say my name for the first time ever :). 

[Anduin]

In summer, I often see people walking their dogs after dark when it's cool. This evening, I saw someone had a blinking red light on their dog. Probably to alert people, or to find it if it runs off. Anyway, I found it both amusing and good idea. I hope the dog doesn't mind the light.

[Is Everyone Gone]

It's small, but I'm so grateful I found out how to unshrink wool sweaters. I had a beloved wool sweater I accidentally shrunk recently, and I was heartbroken since it was a favorite.

You put it in a bucket of lukewarm water, add hair conditioner, soak it, and then stretch it out. Then dry it flat on a towel.

It wasn't completely unshrunk but I'd say 95% of its original size was restored. So now it looks slightly snug, instead of a 5 year old's sweater.

[EtheltoTillie]

13 hours ago, Is Everyone Gone said:

It's small, but I'm so grateful I found out how to unshrink wool sweaters. I had a beloved wool sweater I accidentally shrunk recently, and I was heartbroken since it was a favorite.

You put it in a bucket of lukewarm water, add hair conditioner, soak it, and then stretch it out. Then dry it flat on a towel.

It wasn't completely unshrunk but I'd say 95% of its original size was restored. So now it looks slightly snug, instead of a 5 year old's sweater.

That's what we knitters call blocking.  I feel your pain.  I have a handknit sweater that I mistakenly shrank and felted!  I'm glad that worked for you.

[Anela]

My dad is home today, so I've had company all day. 

I think my vertigo is mostly gone, and I just washed my hair, and showered again. It feels good to be all clean, and not going dizzy whenever I move. 

[Wiendish Fitch]

I try to tell myself that the world isn't so completely terrible, because the sea bunny exists.

[Browncoat]

9 minutes ago, Wiendish Fitch said:

I try to tell myself that the world isn't so completely terrible, because the sea bunny exists.

Nudibranchs are so cool.

[JustHereForFood]

And squirrels:

[SoMuchTV]

41 minutes ago, JustHereForFood said:

And squirrels:

I'm sorry - did I open the nightmares thread by accident?

[Trini]

I'm not a party planner, and I had to plan/organize a celebration for my mom's milestone birthday; it went well, and I'm sooo grateful for all the help and participation from various people!

My advice for anyone else who might be in the same predicament: make it a team project. Start early.

Edited Sunday at 07:01 PM by Trini

[Wiendish Fitch]

Next time you're feeling down, just think of this video...

 

[supposebly]

All of these things and the people in these clips, I'm grateful for. And for people like Sam who help me not despair about humanity.