The Epitome of Happiness

Today, a certain someone said to me:

"Let's not kid ourselves.

You are going to end up living in California.

Where you can wear sundresses and frolic in a park."

I think that may have been some kind of sarcastic jab? However, all I could think about, in a sudden rush of excitement, was.... YES.

I have probably not felt so energized about a vision in my mind since two Junes ago, when I looked ahead of me and all I could see in my future were sunny days to be spent lying by the pool. 

I think we may have inadvertently stumbled upon the truth about what brings me to my element. And that happens to be the moments spent outdoors, in the sunshine, probably barefoot, sitting next to a swimming pool or surrounded by some kind of grassy, flowery scene. Or standing at the top of a mountain that I've just climbed. Or splashing through the Pacific Ocean.

So. Let's not kid ourselves. Someday I will go back to California. To wear sundresses, and frolic in a lot of parks, and to remember what I love about life. I can't wait.

Dear Valentine's Day

I have always thought you were a pretty silly holiday. Mostly a fabrication of the greeting card industry. I mean, you are a marketer's dream -- and the marketing kids were definitely my least favorite type of business majors.

However. For some strange reason which I don't fully understand, you have always been good to me. I'm not sure why you like me. Maybe you always try to make up for all the other holidays? Ever since I was a kid, I have been thoroughly convinced that Thanksgiving is cursed. I have had more than my share of crummy Christmases and mopey New Years. And I truthfully can't remember the last time I had a birthday where something bad didn't happen.

But you, on the other hand, have always gone my way. You and I have a lot of good memories dating back to my kiddie and teenage years. In fact, you have never really let me down. Even during the times when I have been in a crummy mood, you have managed to cheer me up. Not always with some grand magnificent gesture - although you have given me a few of those, too - but sometimes just in small ways that made me smile.

So, Valentine's Day. Even though I may think you are a little bit ridiculous, and you lead to the sale of way too much unnecessary pink heart-shaped merchandise, I have secretly grown to appreciate our friendship. Maybe you will even remember me this year.

Predictably... this past Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years weren't so great. Just saying.

Guacaomle + Ripples

Probably my favorite thing about Super Bowl Sunday is having an excuse to make homemade guacamole.

Probably my favorite thing about Monday mornings is my weekly Ripples email (The Ripples Project: http://www.theripplesproject.org/). I liked today's message quite a lot. So I sent a quick email to Paul - what better things do I have to do at work on a Monday? - and got this nice response:

Thanks for taking a moment from your busy day to let me know you enjoyed this week's Ripples.

It is SOOOOO amazing that each week I am lucky enough to receive delicious emails like yours. Short enough to read quickly, specific enough to sink deeply into my soul, and few enough in number that I do not get overwhelmed. Sometimes I think all the Ripples subscribers get together each week and ask, "OK, whose turn is it to email Paul?"

Your words were kind and I promise to let them linger in my heart before I jump back into my crazy day!

Peace,
Paul

Paul is definitely one of my favorite ENFP's, and maybe one of my favorite people.  I'm grateful that the universe is sending at least a couple of nice things my way.

Wii Fit

I'm pretty sure I look at least this ridiculous while playing this game. If my boyfriend ever put this on Youtube, though, I'd probably kill him. (Which I think she did.)