About Me

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On the planet since 1973. Living in sin with M since 1997 and honestly since 2002. Failing at baby-making since 2005. And whining about it here since 2008. Come on in and sit a spell. This train wreck never seems to end.

Tuesday, December 16, 2008

Post #100

Post #100. Drop the balloons. Throw the confetti. Cue the music. Yeah, me.

Sorry I haven't been blogging regularly lately. I've been in one of those "not really feeling it" moods and everything I seem to write is too Debbie Downer-ish to post.

To change my tune and turn my attitude around, I want to use my 100th post to share 100 things that make me happy (in no particular order):
  1. M – I really did marry my best friend
  2. Our geriatric furbabies (Jordan and Molly) with their unconditional love
  3. Our home
  4. Falling asleep on M’s chest
  5. Rubbermaid bins and my label maker
  6. Excel
  7. Working on our budget
  8. Organizing anything
  9. The way M can make me laugh even when I don’t want to
  10. The warmth of the sun on my body when I fall asleep at the beach
  11. Dreams about my dad
  12. Going for leisure drives up the coast in M's antique car
  13. My mom’s homemade chicken noodle soup
  14. Helping people when they least expect it
  15. Nights when I actually stay asleep until the alarm goes off
  16. Changing into my ratty worn out comfy clothes at the end of the day
  17. The support and understanding of my online fellow infertile friends
  18. Not living near my in-laws and their drama
  19. Being able to say that I am an engineer for XXXX
  20. Wearing the same size jeans at 35 as I did at 15
  21. Giving and receiving unexpected compliments
  22. When someone is appreciative of something I have done for them
  23. Visiting with elderly people
  24. Ice cream
  25. When our house is clean
  26. The contrast of my dark hair with blue eyes
  27. Snuggling under the covers during a thunderstorm
  28. Finding the perfect gift for someone
  29. Kind eyes
  30. Warm smiles
  31. A hot shower
  32. Accomplishing a goal
  33. Everyday tasks that remind me of someone/something
  34. Getting a good deal
  35. Feeling understood
  36. Finding money in an old coat pocket
  37. Cookie dough
  38. When my grandma goes through telling a long drawn out joke and then can't remember the punchline
  39. Sharing "Remember the time...." stories with old friends
  40. When my nephews call me "Aunt Nenna"
  41. Clean sheets
  42. Laughing until my sides hurt
  43. Going through my childhood toy box
  44. When our golden retriever pushes a door with his nose and then backs up to watch what happens (over and over again)
  45. Finding a common bond with someone
  46. Wildflowers
  47. My health
  48. Swinging on the swing set like when I was a kid
  49. The familiar sound of driving over the brick streets of my hometown - the feeling of being home
  50. When my best friend sends me a card every year on the anniversary of my dad's death just to let me know she hasn't forgotten him either
  51. The way our German Shorthaired Pointer chatters her teeth every night in the anticipation of getting her medicine (with gravy or peanut butter)
  52. When someone simply uses the words "I'm sorry" without all the "buts", stories, or excuses
  53. Waking up early on the weekend and going back to sleep
  54. The smell of the outdoors (spring, autumn, ocean, fresh cut grass, etc.)
  55. Singing in my car
  56. The feeling of inspiration to just "do" something
  57. Sitting on the old front porch swing at my mom's house
  58. Teaching something I know well to others
  59. The brutal honesty of a child
  60. Finding hope again
  61. When my nephews get excited to play my games because I have the "old ones" (original versions of Life, Monopoly, Uno, etc.)
  62. Picking up someone from the airport
  63. When one of my favorite songs comes on the car radio
  64. Warm, fuzzy slippers
  65. Seeing someone else accomplish a goal
  66. Blogging
  67. Homegrown tomatoes and sweetcorn that my old physics teacher brings to CA from NE every summer
  68. Looking through old photographs
  69. Roadside fruit and vegetable stands
  70. Using old family recipes that have several ingredients with amounts listed as "to taste" or "a pinch"
  71. Buying lemonade from kids on the street corner
  72. Doing something nice for someone without them knowing it was me
  73. Making Sunday morning breakfast with M
  74. Rollercoasters
  75. Off the beaten path mom and pop family owned restaurants
  76. Being told that I always seem to be smiling
  77. Watching a sunrise or sunset
  78. Fresh baked bread
  79. Any episode of Friends
  80. Seeing the deer wander the streets where I work every day
  81. Inside jokes with knowing looks
  82. M&M's
  83. Making someone laugh
  84. Margaritas
  85. Finishing a DIY house project
  86. Watching high school sports
  87. My brother's ability to turn an okay story into something spectacular that is told over and over again
  88. How close M and his brother have become in the last 5 years
  89. That my 7 year old nephew wants to just skip Christmas 2008 and go right to Christmas 2009 because then Aunt Nenna and Uncle M will be with him
  90. Finding good things out of bad situations
  91. Giving and receiving a much needed hug
  92. My experiences of growing up in a small farming community
  93. Friends that pick me up when I am sure I can't take another step
  94. How M can remember every play from a '91 Chicago Bulls game, but can't remember the main (Navier Stokes) equations we used for 2 years in graduate school
  95. Using our golden retriever as a pillow and our pointer as a foot warmer on cold couch snuggling evenings
  96. Rebate checks and double coupons
  97. When things turn out better than expected
  98. Having a husband with an open heart and mind
  99. Spellcheck
  100. Knowing I have and can recognize at least 100 things that make me happy even when I'm feeling down and out
That was alot harder to do than I thought which means I should probably be doing it a little more often. Sending you all happy thoughts and warm fuzzies for the holidays.

21 comments:

Just Me. said...

Ok, what colour balloons do you like? And music? I'll do anything you want!!!!

Ok, here's where I think I'm with you on:
1. The support and understanding of my online fellow infertile friends
2. Not living near my in-laws and their drama
3. Laughing until my sides hurt
4. Finding a common bond with someone
5. Finding hope again

But Excel and wearing the same size jeans at 35 as I did at 15? Seriously? :) Ok, can I take lessons from you at Excel? And what's your secret to staying slim?

Here's one more to add to your list: B makes P laugh all the time and B is the BESTEST BESTEST friend to P.

((((hugs))))

ps Sorry you're feeling down. I've been thinking of you.

Devon said...

b - i am impressed! truly, i am. i think we all should do this a bit more often...

thinking of you so much during this holiday season. i am thankful to have meet you for you remind me so often how much i have to be thankful for...

wishing you nothing but the BEST in 2009!!

bb said...

Happy 100th post!! I love the list, and it's amazing how many things you and MTB have in common. {{hugs}}

Wendy said...

Happy 100th post, B! Don't worry about not posting as much lately; we all have our moments.

I also love staying asleep until the alarm goes off, everyone online, and when someone appreciates something I have done.
Oh, and finding hope again. That has be at the top of my list. :)

Jill said...

Happy 100th post to you! I'm hitting mine with my next post!

I agree with you on very many of these! I love my furbabies, falling asleep at the beach with the sun warmth on my body, changing into comfy clothes at the end of the day, and of course the support of my on-line friends. :-)

Phoebe said...

What a great idea for your 100th post! I remember your first posts. I loved the first name of your blog. I've really seen you blossum over the last year. I remember when your posts were so short and to the point. Who knew that an enginerd at XXXX has such depth and compassion?

As for the list, Number 89 really struck me. Dang, your nephew really loves you. I wish it was Christmas 2009 already for him too!

Plant Girl said...

Happy 100th!

Sometimes it really helps to take a few minutes and look at the good, even if it is as simple as the dog pushing the door with its nose.

I hope this reflection gives you a much needed boost.

Anonymous said...

You lucky bum! I *wish* I still wore the same size jeans as I did when I was 15 ;)

Way to go with doing this list - I think it is a great reminder of how we are still blessed in life even when we're feeling down.

HUGS!
xxx

Wishing 4 One said...

great list. didn't you feel good after writing it? i bet you did. you have ALOT to be thankful for my friend, how fabulous. i've missed you and know you are in my thoughts often. xoxoxoxxo

Momasita said...

Congrats on #100! I loved your post. It's great to stop and think about all of the good things that we have going on despite (inspite of) IF.

DAVs said...

Ahhh, I love this idea! I am well beyond 100 but I might have to steal it.
Your list is great--these really resonated with me:
60. Hope--yes, finding it again feels lovely.
78. Fresh baked bread--one of my favorite things to make and the smell is divine. Oh yeah, and to eat!
82. M&Ms. I eat some every day (and hey, I'm still in the same size jeans from age 15 despite my M&M habit)
98. Husband with open heart and open mind. AMEN to that!

And yes, that was super shredded coconut on those polar bears...they had to have some fur!

Tara said...

I love it!

I am jealous that you can wear the same size jeans at 35 as you did at 15!!! I defintely cannot wear the same size at 30 as I did at 15...Maybe that should be my goal in 09 - be more like Brenda :)

kaaron said...

Alright. Must admit I am a bit jealous about your #20.


And I am not sure if you listed it as one of your 100, but I probably would: making lists. And feeing a sense of accomplishment as I cross through an item. Especially if I added it to the list after it was already complete.

I think I might have to do something similar! You are an inspiration!

Anonymous said...

CONGRATS on making it 100 posts!!

Wonderful List!
I believe when you really look at it, we do have tons to be thankful for.

Love 94
ditto 20.

Happy Holidays to you too!

Pepper said...

Whenever I read about you and M, I always marvel at how wonderful your relationship. It's a rare treasure indeed.

And I admit that seeing Excel and Spellcheck on that list made me grin. :-)

Happy Hundredth! Here's to a hunnerd more.

Polly Gamwich said...

I knew I liked you.

Seriously, I smiled in understanding at just about every single one.

I really can't believe you came up with SO MANY great ideas. I think I'm doing better than usual right now and I'd be hard pressed to list 20 items!

Oooh, 52 is perfect.

I hope the new year brings you some renewed hope and good news.

sara said...

I loved your list and Happy 100th post! I love the fact that you married your best friend - that is so sweet and so awesome. I like ice cream and buying lemonade too...and yay for clean sheets. Isn't it weird how they just feel different when they're clean? I hope you are having a good holiday season...I think of ya often sweetie! ((hugs))

Claudia said...

Ah, it's so nice to know that excel is on someone else's list. It is good, isn't it??

I am most jealous of 26. I've got the dark hair, but my sister is the only one of us who got the blue eyes to go with. You'd think I'd be over it by now. I'm not :)

What a great list. It's really inspiring!

filoli said...

I keep coming back to work through this list...how fun...

Lisa said...

I love this list! You are an inspiration. I'm going to get crackin' on my own 100. What a fabulous thing to do. I would carry it around in my wallet and look at it when I'm feeling down.

Shelby said...

Happy 100! This is a great post! I have to say, it takes so much strength in the middle of all this to count our blessings, but I see you have many! My hope is that IF does not succeed in clouding your vision of them, but I know this is easier said than done.

Thanks for this post. It makes me realize my own short-sightedness in being grateful. I share so many of the same things and it's sometimes way too easy to lose sight of them.