Happy:
- Building a fire in the fireplace. Not only is it relaxing and cozy, but it draws my teenage boys out to snuggle up with me on the couch. A rare and appreciated pleasure. And since my couch is on casters, I push it up comically close to take full advantage of the warmth, which yes, makes my living room look all weird and cramped up, but who cares?
- Sunny days here in Portland, Oregon. sure, they’re freezing cold and windy days; but it’s just so refreshing to have some sunshine streaming through the windows.
- The last people who stayed at one of my mother’s guest cottages left behind a $11.99 SciFi Now magazine. I would never in a million years splurge on something like that, but I’m really enjoying reading through it as a freebie.
- Planning out my “birthday day of adventures” for this Sunday. My husband is . . . well . . . not as good as I am when it comes to creating this family birthday tradition, so I’ve taken the reigns for this year. No, it won’t be a surprise, but that’s okay since I really enjoyed piecing these days together. Sadly, the movie I’d really like to see (Boyhood) is only playing at 21-and-over theaters, but that’s okay since there’s enough time to plan out something different. Maybe The Boxtrolls? I personally find that having something to look forward to, even something small is a key component to my own happiness.
- Not feeling the need to have January 1st define any changes in my life. I have no particular new year’s resolutions and no urge to sum up the ten best whatevers of 2014. Yesterday was a Wednesday, today is a Thursday and that’s good enough for me. (Wow, that’s a super cranky sounding “happy,” but it is what it is.) 😀
Pissing me off:
- I’m signing my son up for a couple classes at Portland State University. One of the classes he wants to take ends at 4:50 P.M. and the other one starts at 4:40 P.M.! So there’s no way to take both classes! Why, PSU, whyyyyyy?????????
Now your turn. What’s making you happy and conversely what’s pissing you off?
Katy Wolk-Stanley
{ 25 comments… read them below or add one }
Happy:
1. I am enjoying a day in my pjs – probably the first time I have done that in years except for sick days. Just decided it was too cold to go out and who would know?
2. Being grateful for the little things -like the bubbles that came out of my dish soap and made me laugh out loud.
3. Cooking a traditional Southern New Year’s dinner but more healthy – pork roast tenderloin (with plans for all the leftovers), black-eyed peas that I froze after cooking in the crockpot, a hot cabbage skillet slaw with cheap cabbage, and a baked sweet potato that my husband and I will split.
4. Enjoying a day to read a book, knit, catch up on email and Facebook and other pleasures that I usually am flying through without pausing to enjoy.
5. Planning ahead in the sense that I am thinking about what will make me happy in the new year and what goals I have to reach that happiness… such as what books am I going to read, what items I will knit, what clothing I will sew, and house projects to tackle. My biggest goal is to break down these items into small pieces and try to do three things a day/week to get me to my goal.
Pissed off: Having to listen to friends and family who bitch and complain about their lives but won’t do one thing to change the outcome. I have had lots of that today for some reason – guess it is everyone’s day to “reevaluate” where they are in life.
Happy- not working today, prepping to paint a bedroom that really could use a refresher, leftover Christmas ham pulled out of the freezer for a fast and hearty dinner, Modern Family season 5 fresh from my neighborhood library, hubby getting lots of hours at his prn job
Pissing me off- chirpy, annoying new year goal posts, yes, we get it already, your life will soon be perfect
Ha, funny. I resisted doing Facebook’s new year’s “My year was so wonderful, thanks for being part of it” thing because . . . blegh!
My bootcamp instructor sent out an incredibly inspiring email today. Normally, cynical as I am, it would probably piss me off, but she recently went through a horrible period of time where she lost her newborn baby girl after 29 days in the NICU. Seeing her go through it with such incredible strength and grace, I take her words to heart and she makes me want to adjust my attitude and be more positive and appreciative. That makes me happy. 🙂
So sad. Sometime it’s good to put cynicism aside.
1.The cold sunny day. I’ll take cold over rain any time even with the icy spots on the road.
2. The 2 dining chairs I sold on a facebook site. Didn’t need them and I made $20
3. The easy fondue recipe I made today for company. Cream cheese, parmesan cheese and milk. Very tasty with french bread and dry salami
4. The new Danielle Steel book I just finished, Friends Forever. It was much meater than her usual books
5. All the fresh beef that a neighbor gave us. He is single and didn’t realize how much a half of cow was.
And the piss off: I lost a chicken yesterday to what I thought was a hawk, but earlier today saw someone’s german shepard’s trying to get into our fenced area. I don’t want to have to worry over my hen’s all the time, and REALLY don’t want to take action on someone’s dog. Argg! &%^*$#
Happy:
1) Enjoying my guests that came for a visit this past week. They cooked and cleaned up after themselves and we thoroughly enjoyed each other’s company.
2) Glad that I work from home so that I could see their relaxed faces. Even though they did not disturb me at all during my working hours, it was nice to go into a different part of the house and see them there.
3) Happy that my SIL took the leftover scalloped potatoes that were not that great and made a delicious potato soup with them.
4) Happy to have my guests leave so I can get back into my own bed.
5) Happy that we have begun house hunting for a permanent residence in our new state. Hopefully we will find our future home soon.
Sad/Pissing me off:
That my guests are leaving tomorrow. They are the relatives we get a long great with and now they are 1500 miles away, which in turn is a lot of traveling to visit. But we will hold on until our next visit together!
Happy that I am ready for the new year. I found 11 cents today. We are eating leftovers today, plus my brother’s home-grown black-eyed peas in the pot for good luck. Organic and local! Just — very content. Pissing me off? Nothing really, but I think I might have pulled my back, so I’m a little fussed. But pissed off? Nope. Happy new month, Katy.
Making me happy:
The birth of a healthy grandchild (a boy) and the fun I had with my granddaughter this year since I retired.
I have been lucky enough to find some free programs to attend with my granddaughter .
I am starting to feel more relaxed and comfortable in my downsized in-law accommodations.
A nice New Year’s Day with family and homemade Chinese food. My sister-in-law really enjoys joining in on these celebrations. We usually do something for super bowl, St. Patrick’s day, etc.)
Looking forward to goals (not resolutions) for 2015–reducing stash, continue to reduce clutter, finish UFOs, attending educational programs at local libraries.
I try to be an optimist.
5 Things Making Me Happy:
1-having all my girls home from school. I love being with them and treasure their time off
2-A fire in the fireplace is making the room cozy and adding extra light to the room
3-Mike and Molly reruns which make me laugh anew.
4-Dinner was various leftovers; one daughter had lasagna and garlic bread, another had pizza, the third had Mexican food and I had a mishmash of other stuff.
5-Family walks and chats
One thing pissing me off:
The stupid dishwasher is not releasing the detergent which means lately, I play dishwasher roulette on a regular basis when I open up the door to see if it worked. In our drought stricken California water waste pisses me off!
We have an old dishwasher & the release door mechanism is broken. We put it on the short cycle (no pre-rinse), put the detergent in, and leave the soap door open. It seems to work just fine–the dishes seem clean every time.
Making me happy:
““Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without.” I think this so often throughout the day, my sweetheart may think I say it too much out loud. 🙂 Thank you!
Today I felt *good* which I haven’t in so long.
Day with my sweetie and dogs in bed, read, popcorn and napped.
The quiet peace while they sleep.
Nothing pissed me off today!
I’m so enjoying the crisp sunny days we are having. Sure beats the heck out of clouds and rain. Hope this stays up for the rest of winter in the Pacific Northwest.
Hey, i am planning my own “birthday adventures day” also, this next monday!!
Took the day off (paid for), dropping the kids to day care and taking off for some “me time”!! Chapter’s to read gossip magazine for free, then a stop at David’s Tea for a free cup of tea on my birthday, then a stop at Sephora for a free mini makeup kit, then a stop at Julius for a free smoothie, then lunch at a buffet that offers the meal for free on your birthday (all of thoses stores being walking distance from the already paid parking I get at work) then a movie at the theater with a gift card I received for christmas, and then at night a free class at my yoga center. So, a full day of fun free experiences, awesome!!
Happy birthday to you!!
Oops, “took the day off, dropped the kids to day care” NOT!! That would have been bad, on January 1st!! This is all happening on Monday the 5th. Ouff, still a good mom…..😀
Re your son’s classes. He should talk to the first prof, explain the situation and I betcha the prof will understand. I work at a college and my team of instructors love to see students who problem solve and have some gumption.
That’s the plan. My father says this is a common issue. Plus, the classes are in the same building which helps.
I do welcome 2015! It’s the year I will be free of loan debt that has plagued me since 2004. And I am beginning to tackle my credit card debt. My goal is to be debt free by 73. A long time coming, but living the ultra frugalista lifestyle has helped more than I could ever realize.
2015 is also the year I opened up my etsy shop again. What will come of it, I do not know, but fun for me as making things is my passion.
Happy New Year!
Happy:
1) I found a nice rec center just down the road from my new digs. Going to sign up for a one-month trial membership this morning and jump on a treadmill. Pudgy me needs to do this.
2) I have a rare day off work today, which means that I can go down to the rec center and sign up for a one-month trail membership and jump on a treadmill. Then I’m going to read and see a movie tonight with some friends.
3) I have a refrigerator full of veggies.
4) My teenage daughter and her boyfriend actually prepared some of these veggies last night for their dinner rather than going to McDonald’s.
5) Books, books, books.
Pissing me off: my ex-husband owes me $2000 for old propane heating bills. He hasn’t paid me a dime, but when I recently sent him a $43 check to cover a parking ticket our daughter incurred, he cashed it. Sigh…..
1. Enjoying the sunny, although cold, day here in Pennsylvania. We sure haven’t seen much sunshine lately.
2. Glad to have the day off without a lot of pressing things to do around the house.
3. So thankful for my dishwasher … I just don’t know how I would have survived these past few weeks without it.
4. I’m also very glad that the holidays have passed. I can enjoy them, but when they are over, they are OVER! My house is back to normal and my routine returns on Monday. I am more than ready …
5. And last but not least, I am very thankful to have Katy and her website, which offers me so many ideas and new ways to look at things.
And as for the one thing that’s pissing me off …. The supposedly “affordable” health care that has been anything but affordable. I shall not rant …. I shall not rant ….
I would totally push my sofa up to the fire if I could. Great idea!
🙂
1. I am right now eating chocolate chip pancakes.
2. Post Christmas clean out and organizing happening here today. I find it infinitely more fun than actual Christmas.
3. I met a neighbor’s five day old infant yesterday. He is almost as delicious as chocolate chip pancakes.
4. I’m pretty sure I’ve worked out a 0 dollar toy “out of sight out of mind” solution.
5. I’ve spent break listening to audiobooks and quilting as if I’ve died and gone to heaven.
🙁
The whole time we’ve lived in this house the floor under the toilet has been a little sunken from some long ago leak. It’s never gotten any worse, so we haven’t prioritized fixing it. But now it is getting worse. We’re blessed to have the cash to fix it, but I can think of so many more fun things for that money.
Happy:
Out flight back from the mid-west went smoothly, despite having to fly through O’Hare.
My husband is finally feeling better today. He had a respiratory virus that made him feel awful for twelve days.
My daughter finally has time to relax and catch up on sleep after a long semester of classes and work. I see her being a little more alive each day.
My daughter cleaned out some kitchen cupboards last night. Things are more organized and I have items to donate.
I was able to attend my regular yoga class today. I felt great afterwards and I had time to talk to a couple of friends I made in the class.
Pissing me off:
I have not yet written all my thank yous nor send all my holiday cards. That is my fault entirely.
Great sentiments and being able to see it in REAL life 🙂
After some very busy but delightful days I’m happy for a day at home doing nothing but catch up, read, relax, nap when I felt like it and have an air conditioner to turn on for this hot summer day here in Sydney, Australia.
For time to peruse and play with photos to use in my blog …once I get to actually post again.
Alexa-asimplelife
Ps…re your son’s Uni course , just leave one subject early and get to the other one a trifle late?
1. Back at work today after Thursday and Friday off. I had to work 11 hour days last week to take both Thursday and Friday off without using a precious vacation day, but I did it and was so glad I did. The four-day weekend was really nice.
2. Glad that I buckled down and got the Christmas decorations put away for another year. I like how they add sparkle and shine to my house at the holiday, but I wouldn’t want to live that way all year. I’m mostly a non-sparkly person.
3. Gathering things for a third annual yard sale. I’m seriously trying to reduce clutter.
4. Happy that I have 2 of 3 door panels sewn for our exterior doors — all are French doors and need some kind of curtain for privacy. I priced new, but ended up making them out of an old set of bed sheets that were the right color.
5. Pleased that I managed to avoid wasting any of the holiday food, right down to the turnip greens, black-eyed peas, and fried hog jowl. We ate it all or used it in a new dish. The Christmas ham bone went in seven bean soup made from beans in my pantry. The soup also included the leftover black-eyed peas and was eaten with the leftover New Year’s corn bread.
Pissing me off — I feel Kathie’s pain. My 2015 insurance will cost me an additional $6000+ a year. And we get no raises. Argh.
Yes, there’s something so cathartic about putting the Christmas decorations away again.