Three weeks ago I was told that my dh probably has a rare and deadly cancer (the same one that killed my mom 30 years ago).
Found out this week that the lab screwed up, and it might possibly be just kidney disease.
There are no words to describe the joy I felt at this news. We may be broke and live in a hovel, but we’re together. This is the best holiday present of all! 
-Wallet-
Ummm…I’m not dead?
What could easily have turned into a grudge holding, decades of bitterness fight with my dad was resolved the next day by accidentally meeting in town, having a hug and saying we loved each other and understood the other’s point of view (even if we held to our own).
I had some time yesterday, which is rare for me this time of year, so I went to the mall to finish some Christmas shopping. This I did–hooray!
I also stopped into the casino attached to the mall. Just for fun, I decided to play $5 in a nickel slot. When I had parlayed that into $25, I decided to stop. So I was $25 to the good–hooray!
Because I now had some extra cash, I decided to celebrate with a beer. Since the bars within walking distance of my place only serve mass-produced domestic swill, the chance to visit one of the mall’s pubs where I could get a nice English beer served at the right temperature was a good thing–hooray!
When I got home, I got to watch the San Francisco 49ers win a game for once–hooray!
Yep, it was a good day.
Hearing other people’s little happinesses does feel gooid - who knew?
Can I add some more?
Yesterday, as a surprise, Ivylad took me to one of those Paint Your Own Ceramic places. I’ve seen them, but I don’t have an artistic bone in my body, so I was very intimidated.
I picked out a butter dish to paint, yellow with ivy leaves. Alas, no decals, but there was a stencil.
Paint the stencil, pull off the stencil, ew, ick, wipe it off, paint again, ew, ick, wipe it off, paint again. Then Ivylad gave me some tips as did the lady at the ceramic place.
I think it turned out nice. Ivylad painted a pirate, and we’ll pick them up next week. All in all, it was a very nice way to spend two hours, and I wouldn’t mind going back again.
Oh, and when we were picking up the mail, without saying a word, Ivyboy hopped out the car to help an older lady who had parked next to us take her packages inside.
I had a great one the other day - we were going up to the express lane in Wal*Mart one evening, and we noticed a lady pulling into the express lane with a loaded up cart. We sort of groused to each other a little bit, then when we got up behind her, we noticed she hadn’t moved up with the rest of the line. I asked her then if she was in line, and when she said yes, I asked her if she knew she was in an express lane. She said no, there was no sign, I pointed the large sign she had walked right past out to her, and she went over to the regular lines with no fuss. It was like a Christmas miracle - everybody won! Well, she might not have won as much, but I prevented her from feeling like a dick later when she realized she had taken a loaded cart through express. 
I have goals again. Life doesn’t seem so stagnant now.
A few things - my boyfriend finished his PhD thesis and I’m so proud of him. Yesterday was my six month anniversary of giving up smoking. I don’t have as many zits as usual. Aaah… life’s pretty good.
This morning I woke about four as is my wont. I am on vacation so I slept in another half-hour. I showered and the bathroom floor was cold under my wet feet. I injected myself (as I do every two weeks and reflected on what a big deal that was when I first began.
I got the papers in my robe. The frozen ground crunched under my sandals. I thought of winters in the field at Fort Benning. I made strong Maxwell House coffee in the dark, but started the day with a glass of apple cider. The Washington Post had several interesting stories.
Once my Mother wakes up, I will take over the kitchen to do some baking.
Life is good on vacation.
I have discovered ‘family time’. Instead of meeting my wife for cocktails after work we meet at home. We talk about our days and I get to feel and now watch the movements of our daughter who currently feels compelled to use every square inch available to her in the womb. It’s quite the show. Come March we’ll actually be spending time with her out here in the world. I can’t wait.
My provincial Maternity Leave money should start coming in at Christmas.
We just spent a wonderful weekend with my inlaws, relaxing and being stuffed full of good food.
The cat snuggled me all yesterday, while I was feeling sick.
When I wake up in the middle of the night, instead of rolling over and immediately going back to sleep, I spend five minutes enjoying quality cuddle time with my two kittens, who are now cat-sized – all the sweet playfulness of kittens, but in a size where you don’t feel like you might hurt them inadvertently.
Cats are the best for all day snuggles. And naps. They are always up for a nap. Having cats means you’ll never go to the bathroom or nap alone again.
Chocolate chip muffins for breakfast.
Cuddling the cat this morning before finally getting out of bed.
daHubby rubbing my feet last night when I was cold and cranky.
Bubble bath. LOTS of bubble bath.
wOOt! That’s so awesome, the dissertation and the non smoking! My husband’s more than 10 years ABD, and predicts being done in February. Cross your fingers for me!
I’m terribly happy that my 2-year old smiled for her Santa picture this year!* We’re really tight on funds, so a good picture means she can “decorate” some construction paper Christmas cards with wallet sized pictures in them and give them to all the grandparents and aunts and uncles as gifts.
I insist that even the little ones *give *gifts as well as receive them, to emphasize that the holiday is about giving, but I couldn’t really afford even to take her to the store to pick out ornaments this year, so she’ll learn about making gifts, which is a great opportunity, I think.
*Is that an awesome Santa or what? His own beard and everything! Driving an hour in a snowstorm to get to the good mall was really worth it!
I’ve got a great job and a fantastic dog and a super new boyfriend who appears to be everything I want and nothing I don’t want, and I am old enough to appreciate how rare and wonderful that is. I often remark to myself about how lucky I am to have each of these things.
But then sometimes the BF sleeps over on weekday mornings, and we all (me, dog and man) wake up together and have a lovely big three-way snuggle, and then we get up and make coffee and smoothies and then I come to work at my great job.
Life is good.
I recieved the cutest little box of candy in the mail yesterday. I’m 98% sure that it was all made by my sister-in-law (possibly with help–and not just from her daughters).
I have a month and a half left until I go to part time on my job and can concentrate on the responsibilities that I enjoy.
In a month and a half (not coincidentally) I will be starting a Ph.D. program and I cannot wait to begin classes again.
My life is stable, I am not only happy, but more importantly to me, I am content. I like thing the way they are right now. And for the most part as time has passed, I have become more and more content. I think I am growing into my life nicely.
Aww, she looks so cute. 
And what a good idea! I didn’t know what to do with Velociraptor but I think I might borrow this idea if you don’t mind. I’d gotten a sheet of wallets when I took him to see Santa so everyone could get one also.