This Here Bliss

Bliss 45

2011-12-21T08:39:00.001-08:00

1. Checking things off the To Do list.

2. Kindergarten plays.

3. Minty lipgloss.

4. Pasta with ricotta and spinach.

5. Patrick saying to me, "Everything you put on looks good."

Bliss 44

2011-11-10T08:58:00.000-08:00

1. A brave kid trying out for the school musical.

2. Last year's clothes still fitting.

3. Competent mechanics.

4. A gift of new dining room chairs.

5. Sometimes feeling like a grown up.

Bliss 43

2011-06-10T07:46:00.000-07:00

1. A good appraisal.

2. Friday.

3. Slate Culture Gabfest and Slate Political Gabfest.

4. My 5 year old telling his friend who is moving away for a year, "I love you. Have fun!" What else is there to say?

5. Moving forward.

Bliss 42

2011-04-18T08:19:00.000-07:00

1. Fits of giggles in the kitchen with Tim.
2. Braised brisket and parmesan asparagus.
3. Apple-carrot-ginger juice for breakfast.
4. A clean bathtub.
5. Werner Herzog Reads Where's Waldo.

Bliss 41

2011-03-21T07:33:00.001-07:00

1. Making a big decision and moving on.
2. Sun and time outside.
3. Tim making up silly lyrics to pop songs and the kids laughing, "Sing it again!"
4. 70's style platform shoes.
5. Shedding belongings.

Bliss 40

2011-02-15T07:37:00.001-08:00

1. Red shouldered hawk in the apple tree this morning.

2. Owen spotted it with his eagle eyes.

3. Owen said today was "elegant day" at school, so he wore a white button-down shirt. So handsome.

4. Nora forgives me and moves on after I speak sharply to her. I wish I could be as flexible with her.

5. This video. I mean, dude.

Bliss 39

2011-02-08T07:42:00.000-08:00

1. Not being the type of person who thinks it's okay to verbally abuse people.

2. Work out - done.

3. Sturdy winter boots.

4. No meltdowns with the under 5 set this morning.

5. Having options.

Bliss 38

2011-01-20T08:22:00.000-08:00

1. Owen didn't miss the bus.

2. Deciding to postpone panic.

3. Dance party in the kitchen with Tim and Nora.

4. A good visit with my mother.

5. Snuggling with Patrick.

Bliss 37

2011-01-17T13:02:00.000-08:00

1. Eight house showings in 3 days, with two more scheduled this week. C'mon buyer, I know you're out there.

2. A good visit with my mother.

3. Haircuts for the boys.

4. A clean house.

5. Deciding to do the Spartan Race with Tim in August. It'll be fun!

Bliss 36

2011-01-07T12:06:00.001-08:00

1. It was light(ish) when I left work last night. Days are getting longer.

2. Feeling of use.

3. Crazy Glue for split fingertips.

4. Everyone pitched in to clean up last night after dinner (with minimal nagging).

5. The kids don't even expect that I'll make their lunches anymore.

Bliss 35

2011-01-05T08:59:00.001-08:00

1. No lice have come home from school... yet.

2. Patrick pointing to his chest this morning and asking, "Will I have nickels when I grow up?"

3. Catching up and keeping up at work.

4. Owen's birthday present will arrive on time.

5. Finding Nora's Thanksgiving report in my bag and remembering what an awesome child she is.

Bliss 34

2011-01-03T04:46:00.000-08:00

1. Kids who make their own lunches.

2. Recommitting to boot camp.

3. Frugality - my new reality.

4. Perspective - it could always be worse.

5. Second chances & resolutions.

Bliss 33

2010-08-06T08:15:00.000-07:00

1. A break in the heat wave.

2. Clean sheets.

3. Mrs. Meyers Lemon Verbena Countertop Spray.

4. Exhausted cave exploring, ropes course completing, sailing, kayaking, rock climbing, swimming kids.

5. A successful hire in my office.

Bliss 32

2010-08-02T06:42:00.000-07:00

1. Boot camp.

2. Curried mussels with coconut milk.

3. Owen's new love for the X Files.

4. A new friendship bracelet made for me by Nora.

5. Blueberries.

Bliss 31

2010-07-19T11:29:00.000-07:00

1. A successful family meeting.

2. The air conditioner in my car works.

3. Reconnected with an old friend over the weekend.

4. Instituting "screen-free Sundays" at home.

5. Eating dinner outside and playing "dinosaurs" with the kids at dusk.

Bliss 30

2010-07-01T08:40:00.001-07:00

1. Exercise that's over by 6:30 a.m.

2. Pharmaceuticals.

3. A moratorium on naval gazing.

4. A good night's sleep.

5. The 100 best movie insults in under 10 minutes.

Bliss 29

2010-06-30T11:44:00.000-07:00

1. Tim and his sailing class had to be rescued by the Coast Guard last night after a rogue wind came up and huge waves swamped their boats. He has a big bump on his head and a woman in his class was sent to the hospital to get stitches, but he came home to us safe and sound.

2. Patrick made his breakfast, washed 5 windows, took a shower, got dressed, and brushed his teeth all by himself this morning. Not bad for a 4 year old.

3. Owen only complained about going to camp half as much as he usually does.

4. Nora asked me if there was any laundry she could do tonight.

5. I gave it my all at boot camp this morning. Ouch. In a good way.

Bliss 28

2010-06-16T09:48:00.001-07:00

1. Being treated to a recital of Nora's personal journal complete with illustrations.

2. Boot Camp has started again after a week off.

3. Flexibility in my life.

4. Watching my children's friendships develop.

5. Altoids chocolate covered mints.

Bliss 27

2010-06-10T07:48:00.000-07:00

1. Patrick's cap gun (that he paid for himself) arrives in the mail today.

2. Watching Patrick & Tim play with LEGOS on the floor this morning.

3. Nora and Owen regularly pack their school lunches themselves with no reminders.

4. Nora getting so excited about visiting the home of a 90+ year old woman who comes into her classroom to read to the kids.

5. Deciding to completely gut and re-do a downstairs bedroom.

Bliss 26

2010-06-03T06:17:00.000-07:00

1. Fitting into pants I haven't worn in two years (and not having to lie down to zip them up).

2. Deciding to keep Patrick in his current preschool and discovering they haven't given away his space yet (at least for the summer).

3. Broccoli with Thai peanut sauce.

4. The way Owen calls me "Mumzulle".

5. Continuing a Memorial Day tradition of a visit to Button Bay.

Bliss 25

2010-05-25T07:35:00.000-07:00

1. Super sharp pencils.

2. Remembering to sit up straight.

3. An amazing workout this morning.

4. Anticipating a lunch date with a good friend.

5. New shoes.

Bliss 24

2010-05-24T12:30:00.000-07:00

1. Owen telling me that he saw a movie, and in it they used "3 of the 5 swear words".

2. A successful sleepover for Patrick. You can come back anytime, Pearl!

3. Mussels, king crab legs and white wine at the picnic table at dusk.

4. Angry squirrel.

5. Nora helping me make vegetable soup.

Bliss 23

2010-05-19T10:43:00.000-07:00

1. Boot Camp!

2. Capturing and releasing an ENORMOUS silverfish this morning and having Nora say, "You're brave!"

3. Owen having a good time at Patrick's preschool picnic yesterday even though he was reluctant to go.

4. Payday. Mama needs some new shoes.

5. Danes singing "Happy Birthday" to their surprised bus driver.

Bliss 22

2010-05-14T09:43:00.000-07:00

1. Sleeping late.

2. A morning alone working from home.

3. Thai peanut noodles for lunch.

4. Owen finishing his homework: on time, on his own and without complaint.

5. Nora and baseball.

Bliss 21

2010-05-13T11:01:00.000-07:00

1. Watching Nora categorize her gems and make "scientific notes" about their differences.

2. Boot camp, laundry washed and on the line to dry, dishwasher emptied and loaded, shirt ironed, lunch made, and bags packed -- all before 8:00 a.m.

3. New white pants.

4. Remembering to bring a dishtowel to put over my new white pants while I ate my spaghetti lunch. (I have a spilling problem... and a remembering problem.)

5. If only these were real... but I love the commercial.

Bliss 20

2010-05-12T08:19:00.000-07:00

1. Games in the instructional league are only 3 innings long.

2. Nora's team hit the ball like the little sluggers they are.

3. Owen took the initiative of bringing his homework to school to do at "homework club" today.

4. Patrick reacted well to the news that he'll be changing preschools next month. (I'm sure this is only the first reaction of many he'll have.)

5. Nora agreed to wear her protective gear when she Rollerblades even though "it doesn't feel good!".

Bliss 19

2010-05-11T12:06:00.000-07:00

1. Dropped one size (going on two), and will bring my big old clothes to the consignment shop tomorrow.

2. Survived day two of boot camp. Now I know why they call it boot camp.

3. A beautiful day for Nora's baseball game this afternoon.

4. Owen & Nora enjoying their new Rollerblades.

5. Broccoli with General Tso's Sauce.

Bliss 18

2010-05-10T07:05:00.000-07:00

1. First day of Burlington Boot Camp. So far, so good.

2. Down 15 pounds so far. Getting there!

3. This morning while I was at boot camp, Owen & Nora had showers, made their lunches, and did homework all by themselves.

4. A good visit with my mother this weekend.

5. Mother's Day eggs benedict, homemade cards, tulips & one hour of clothes shopping by myself.

Bliss 17

2010-05-07T08:00:00.000-07:00

1. Huge tag sale at the kids' school.

2. Egg, cheese & bacon sandwich.

3. Advil.

4. TCB at work.

5. Nora, sun, baseball.

Bliss 16

2010-05-06T07:33:00.000-07:00

1. Watching The Simpsons with the kids.

2. Catherine Keener and her incredible voice.

3. The color orange.

4. Barely overripe strawberries.

5. Everything is blooming at our house.

Tim's Tomatoes (photo by Patrick)

Bliss 15

2010-05-05T06:57:00.000-07:00

1. The smell of good coffee.

2. Consignment shops.

3. retinol.

4. Nora's gorilla and monkey imitations.

5. Huge, fast moving thunderstorms.

Photo credit: Mark Gould, Burlington Free Press

Bliss 14

2010-05-04T07:04:00.000-07:00

1. Everything is blooming. Photos to come soon!

2. Nora has her first baseball game tonight (if the rain holds off).

3. Reading Tom Sawyer to Owen & Nora last night. Owen really identifies with Tom's attitude toward school and chores. My sympathies are with Aunt Polly. (Thanks for the book, Dad!)

4. Continuing to lose weight (down 13.8 pounds in 10 weeks... and yes, I am counting those 8 ounces).

5. An easy-ish morning with the kids.

Bliss 13

2010-04-30T07:15:00.001-07:00

1. Owen and Nora get to stay home from vacation camp with Tim today.

2. Owen finally agreed to get a haircut. Now I don't have to remember what color his eyes are.

3. Tim took Patrick to school today and made a surprise stop on the way for donuts.

4. Two fabulous podcasts I've just discovered: NEA's The Big Read and WNYC's Talk to Me.

5. The view from my window at work.

Bliss 12

2010-04-29T07:24:00.000-07:00

1. Sun.

2. After finishing a project at work, my boss gave me a big gift certificate to a good restaurant.

3. A new pink and orange scarf that Nora picked out (and that I'm borrowing today).

4. An art show at Patrick's preschool today (he's so excited!).

5. A weekend on the horizon.

Bliss 11

2010-04-28T07:13:00.000-07:00

1. New nail polish.

2. A bacon, egg & cheese bagel.

3. Healthy (albeit grumpy) kids.

4. Two good books: Up in the Old Hotel by Joseph Mitchell and Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel.

5. Sun tomorrow.

Bliss 10

2010-04-27T07:45:00.000-07:00

1. New hair cut and eyebrows.

2. Getting out of the house this morning on time with all three kids.

3. Cold medicine that helped me sleep last night (even if it's made me a space cadet today).

4. Finishing a huge project at work.

5. Boys singing.

Bliss 9

2010-04-24T11:38:00.000-07:00

1. A new store opening tomorrow.

2. A neighbor who works for Green Mountain Coffee and brings us bags of my favorite.

3. Sun!

4. Patrick on the mend.

5. A visit from Ruth.

Bliss 8

2010-04-21T07:27:00.001-07:00

1. A vigorous workout before work.

2. T. staying home with a sick Patrick so I can go to work.

3. Bananas.

4. The joy of watching Nora at baseball practice. The girl is gifted.

5. Creating more space by getting rid of toys and clothes the kids have outgrown.

Bliss 7

2010-04-20T08:22:00.001-07:00

1. The new furniture rearrangement in the play room seems to be turning it into a reading room.

2. Learning that my mother is still on board to move to Vermont.

3. Sun!

4. Many of my clothes are too big.

5. Finishing a big project at work.

Bliss 6

2010-04-19T06:46:00.000-07:00

1. Great signs from Boston.

2. Unexpected sun.

3. My cheerful, cooperative kids.

4. Patrick looking so sweet in one of Owen's old shirts.

5. Capable Nora.

Bliss 5

2010-04-18T08:07:00.000-07:00

1. Rearranging the furniture always feels good.

2. Continuing the weight loss.

3. Seeing a red winged black bird and a turkey on the way to the grocery store this morning.

4. Checking things off my to-do list.

5. Good book recommendations.

Bliss 4

2010-04-17T10:56:00.001-07:00

1. Exercise... done.

2. Having a boss who lets me borrow his extra car when mine breaks.

3. Popcorn with lots of salt.

4. Shea butter for my poor old waitress feet.

5. Rhododendrons in bloom.

Bliss 3

2010-04-16T06:49:00.000-07:00

1. Owen seems to have weak lungs -- at least, that's what germs and viruses think since they always push their way in. I'm thankful for modern medicine.

2. Today's rain. What a nice break from all of the sun we've been enjoying. I mean, TWO WHOLE DAYS OF SUN in a row. Enough already.

3. Sarcasm.

4. The Sartorialist, who is teaching me how to dress in my next life.

5. Burt's Bees Lip Shimmer in Fig.

Bliss 2

2010-04-14T12:50:00.000-07:00

1. Seeing two old women walking down the street in the sun, leaning on their walkers, giggling like girls.

2. Picking up Patrick early from school.

3. Having a flexible job where I can leave if I need to.

4. The crockpot. We'll eat dinner early tonight, for a change.

5. Fitting into old jeans.

Bliss 1

2010-04-13T11:48:00.000-07:00

1. My two favorite minds, together in one place.

2. Working with the window open to sun and breeze.

3. Starting to see results (in the form of stamina, if not weight loss, alas) from my daily workouts.

4. Fabulous parent-teacher conferences with my amazing kids.

5. A brand new broom.