It’s time again for Five Things That Make Me Happy And One Thing That’s Pissing Me Off. Why add the “One Thing That’s Pissing Me Off?” Because I’m a realist, that’s why.
Five Things That Make Me Happy:
- I discovered that Pandora not only plays music, but comedians as well. I put in Jim Gaffigan’s name and have been laughing ever since. Many different comedians, all making me look completely insane, earbuds in place, doing dishes and laughing my evening away.
- I cooked two of The Pioneer Woman’s chicken pot pies last night and each and every one who sat at my table loved each and every bite. My onion aversive older son, my younger son’s why-isn’t-that-a-chicken-nugget friend and my exhausted husband, who’d just completed a fifteen-hour work shift. Pleasing so many different palates with a single dish is a rare feat. I’d serve this dish every freaking day if it didn’t call for 50-bajillion pounds of butter.
- I walked by my old middle school the other day and was greeted by a wonderful mosaic announcing the school’s new name, which is The Beverly Cleary School. Portland may be currently famous for hipsters, ironic beards and food carts, but when I was growing up, Portland was famous for Beezus, Ramona and Henry Huggins. I grew up a few blocks from Klickitat Street, and those books will always touch my heart.
- The leaves are finally done falling from my monstrous backyard maple tree. That means I am within sight of composting the millions of leaves through my curbside yard debris pickup. This may not sound like a big deal, but dealing with all these leaves is a huge pain in the tuchus each and every year.
- The addition of a pair of Dollar Tree reading glasses into my life means I’m reading again. I now realize my eyesight had been deteriorating so slightly and subtly and I didn’t even realize how unpleasant it had become to read. I now have a fat stack of library books just beckoning my name.
One Thing That’s Pissing Me Off:
- I overslept on Saturday and got my younger son work a half an hour late. He was extremely upset, and I just felt awful that his day had to start so stressfully.
Now your turn. What’s making you happy, and conversely what’s pissing you off? Please share your thoughts in the comments section below.
{ 34 comments… read them below or add one }
Thanks for the picture of the Beverly Cleary School mural. I showed my 8 year old daughter, who is reading Ramona right now, and she was impressed!
That Pioneer Woman uses an awful lot of butter and heavy cream in her dishes. I often wonder what their arteries look like – just because someone is thin doesn’t mean their arteries are clear. Other than that, I think she’s very cool.
It’s too bad your son didn’t wake you up on Saturday. I’m one of those late-aversion people, and it just about kills me to be late for anything. If he didn’t get fired, then it’s not too bad.
I got laid off from my job, so that actually would go on both the “things that make me happy” AND the “things that piss me off” lists.
1. I’m glad the sun is out.
2. I am happy to be spending time with my cute little 9 month old who looks like a flying squirrel in her wide, pink pajamas.
3. I’m grateful my cousins gave us 18 farm fresh eggs.
4. I’m grateful my neighbors graciously took my older daughter to school (so I wouldn’t have to go out in the cold with the baby).
5. I am thrilled to be married to the most wonderful man on earth who gets the coffee going most mornings.
I’m bummed that when I called the animal shelter this morning about a dog my family wanted (we currently don’t have any pets) they informed me that he has already been adopted :(. It’s so disappointing.
1. Reheated some leftover plain rice pasta with tablespoon of water and a sloosh of Italian salad dressing. Once it was hot I added a small handful of shredded mild cheddar and a teaspoon of butter, salt to taste. Move over Amy’s rice Mac n cheese, just as good and no hour in the oven. Happy.
2. Watched free DVDs and free antenna The Good Wife. Happy.
3. I hate having a car now and miss how simple life was walking and riding a bike. And omg my butt is growing. Not happy.
Tna I always read your comments with great interest (in a good way), I wish you had your own blog, I would read it. How did it come about that you are using a car now?
Tna, I wish you had your own blog, you are very interesting! (In a good way). How did it come about that you are driving now?
1) beautiful sunrise happening right outside my window
2) my labradoodle did not get sick from scarfing a piece of smoked salmon she found on the beach. There was a whole pile of it so I was worried that someone had thrown it there because it was spoiled.
3) just had 4 days off in a row and am finally feeling more caught up on paperwork I needed to do for my 91 yr. old mom
4)had a good band practice yesterday, including trying out some new recording equipment
5) finished Mr. Penumbra’s 24 Hour Bookstore. Not my usual sort of read but it was quite fun
And one thing that’s pissing me off-despite going to bed fairly early and taking melatonin, I tossed and turned all night. so starting the week tired and with a scratchy throat.
1. Super happy to discover Pandora has comedians!
2. Super happy it is finally below 90 degrees in Phoenix area. It’s November for heaven’s sakes!!
3. Happy in general.I have enough.More than enough ,and a happy family.
4. ELATED my husband has made the retirement decision (scared too but mostly happy.)
5. Happy to discover a tiny little RV called a Casita which we would be able to tow with our old Highlander and even I could do it. Adventures ahead (first, have to find a good used on online somewhere..) Our days of cruises and resorts are over, time for the great outdoors…
6. Pissed off at HOW MUCH BUTTER and OIL Pioneer Women’s recipes use, too.I drool over those pictures but no way I can cook like that and stay healthy. Maybe once in a while. Is she a relative of Paula Deen???? I hafta just stay off that website.
I loved Beverly Cleary! I am glad that new generations of kids will enjoy her books.
I’d rustle up some pity for you with those leaves were it not for the fact that there are 8 oak trees in my yard.
Wanna switch??
Happy things:
1. Got a freebie Redbox rental for dh this weekend
2. It was a nice, warmish day today
3. Dh is doing great with his hip replacement rehab
4. Ds is going on another job interview
5. I pulled something out of the freezer for dinner
One thing that’s pissing me off:
Constant coughing. It’s from my reflux but some if it is because of the dry air in the house. Have the humidifier running and cracked dd’s window open a bit. She has all her Appalachian Trail stuff up in here room and it can be very, well, smelly. I’ll have to bag everything up.
Oh wow, I used to read Beverly Cleary when I was a kid! Hmmm, I think I still have those books somewhere…now I must look for them 🙂
I know you are frustrated about oversleeping, but I’ll bet your son is old enough to use an alarm clock. 🙂
I *just* discovered Jim Gaffigan (and Gabriel Iglesias) within the last few weeks, though I use YouTube to get my laughs while washing dishes.
Ah, Pioneer Woman. I enjoy both her Food Network show and her blog, but my lactose-intolerant body winces at most of her recipes.
I LOVED the Ramona Quimby books when I was growing up (still do, really). It warms my heart to know there really IS a Klickitat Street. 🙂
1. The weather has been gorgeous for both me and the farmers who are finishing up their harvest
2. My 93 year old mom had a fall in the shower, but she is fine…no broken bones.
3. I sent $$ to the tornado relief. I only mention this because frugality has given me the means to be charitable.
4. I was almost in a car accident but was able to swerve. (Not my fault) No one hurt.
5. I had a charming lunch out today with some lovely, interesting women.
I am still angry at that stupid driver. On a highway where everyone was going 65 mph, he pulled out right in front of me illegally using one of those no-turn-around spaces between the lanes. On top of that, if he’d waited 10 seconds more, there would have been no traffic. Grrrrr.
So MUCH to be happy about this week! In random order …
1. My beloved college football team is still No. 2 in the BCS.
2. I got to spend some much-needed time snuggling with dogs during my animal-shelter volunteer shift this evening.
3. DH and I have spent a wonderful evening reading — no TV, no phone calls, no interruptions. This bookworm is happy. (I’m currently reading “Where’d You Go, Bernadette?”)
4. I took a break away from my desk for lunch today and enjoyed dining with a dear friend — we don’t do that often enough.
5. The weather today was in the 60s. In November. Bliss.
Now, what’s ticking me off today is that our neighborhood grocery store was robbed at gunpoint last night. It breaks my heart to think of all the employees and customers frightened by the actions of three young men — not to mention the poor cashier (likely someone DH and I know well — we’re in there almost daily!) who was the one they accosted at gunpoint. Awful. Awful. I hope they’re caught, and soon.
The happy:
1. My daughter outgrew her Christmas dress from last year and I am going to use the skirt of the dress as a Christmas tree skirt. Probably doesn’t sound very exciting but our sick cat destroyed the last one I had several years ago by leaving a “present” on it and I haven’t found an affordable replacement. I love the skirt of this dress (purchased at Goodwill for $1.99) and was really hoping she would outgrow it so I could justify cutting it up!
2. Used leftovers from an early Thanksgiving dinner at my in-laws as part of dinner last night and tomorrow night. Makes for cheap and fast dinners.
3. Found a winter coat for myself to replace my falling apart 15 year old coat. I have never found anything at Goodwill in the way of a nice warm winter coat for myself but found a down coat on Lands End website tonight for $39.98 and went for it. Was able to get free shipping and used my ebates account. Just hope the color looks good on me as it wouldn’t be my usual choice.
4. Was able to pick up a little extra time at work by subbing for another aide.
Pissing me off:
Any extra money from my extra work time just goes to pay off medical bills.
I love the obvious yet ingenious Christmas tree skirt solution! And “presents” from cats? Umm . . . no thank you!
Katy
1. A warm, beautiful Virginia day today.
2. I’m five days from my due date!
3. Feeling Braxton hicks contractions for the first time. It is exciting to feel my body getting ready for labor, because I was never had the first contraction with my older son.
4. Good books. I discovered this summer that my library will inter library loan pretty much any book I want for free. I’ve had a constant stream of books ever since. (Probably this was obvious to others, but for me it was a revelation.)
5. Preparations to have work done on our 100 year old row house. I want this place to last another 100 years, even if I have to come up off some money to make it happen.
The Affordable Care Act (I think this was pissing me off last time too.) I have applied online and by phone and I am STILL waiting to learn our family’s options. I know we still have a month to sign up for 2014 coverage, but it is so frustrating to wait six weeks to get options that took me five minutes to find online when I purchased private coverage last year. Plus, that is a lot of money in limbo–will we be paying $400 a month or $900?
“affordable” care act has me upset too. my policy was canceled and the one that is compliant with the new law costs more than twice as much. $278 to $566.
How very exciting to be so close to your due date and experiencing Braxton-Hicks contractions!
Good luck on your labor and delivery and congratulations on your little bundle of joy!
Katy
On the crazy-butter pot pie…it’s amazing how making something from scratch will finally make it sink in how fatty a dish is. Example…I always knew fettuccine alfredo was a “heart attack on a plate”, but only after making the sauce myself for the first time the other night did I begin to appreciate it! Somehow, after years of gobbling it up in restaurants, putting all that butter, cream and cheese into a pan myself made it sink in how unhealthy it was, and I instinctively ate a much smaller portion than I normally would. One of the benefits of cooking from scratch!
1. Love that my son had a good day at work.
2. Love that dinner only had to be taken from the freezer. Left overs to make taco salad. Yum for all 3 of us.
3. Love that I had basically the day to recover from a 3 day conference I attended this past weekend.
4. Provincial Parent Advisory Conference gave me new hope for out battled and bruised public education. Spoke to Ministry of Education education staff including the Minister.
5. Found out someone in the neighborhood to give books I have read but bought second hand. She is making her own library.
1. Yes again I’m looking for a library book and yes again I can’t find my son’s weekly reading sheet for school. Yes I’m frustrated again with my son’s and my lack of organization. Please God bless me this week with some organizational skills.
Katy, welcome to the “I need reading glasses” club. I wore them for a couple of years, over my contact lenses. Then I just switched to bifocals, since I was wearing glasses anyway. Now I have added a pair of single-vision glasses to use on the computer; much easier than moving my neck up and down trying to focus the text.
For quite a few years I wore only one contact for distance. The other eye worked just fine for reading and computer. My eye doctor recommended it. Try it!
I read the Ramona books many times as a kid; they were faithful favorites… Klickitat Street is real?! I don’t think I ever picked up on the Portland setting.
I grew up on Klickitat Ct. Way out off 135th. Always wished we had been in closer to town so I could say I lived where Ramona lived!
I grew up off Sacramento st. Small world!
Though the neighborhood has changed sooo much
I love Ramona. I loved reading the books as a child and I loved reading them to my daughter many moons ago. “Is the witch done yet?” still makes me laugh, as does the story of the giant beet, the monkey dresses and the “dawnzer lee light.”
5 things making me happy?
1. My friend’s book is going to print! (Did Not See That Coming – it’s a survival guide for single parents)
2. Anticipating spending a few hours with a good friend today – we’re taking turns helping each other declutter.
3. Both kiddos are kicking ass at school and work.
4. After a very long illness, I’m finally feeling better.
5. The rapidly approaching move-in date with the man I love.
1 thing pissing me off? No bacon in the house. Dammit!
Oh, how I loved Beverly Cleary! What I love even more is that my nine-year-old niece loves her too! She’s coming over for Thanksgiving. I can’t wait to tell her that Klickitat Street is real.
Small aside: I went to a private school with a small-ish library. I chose to go to summer school at the public school just to use their library .(They had all the BC’s.) I’d check out a book every day and devour it. I’d go to bed willingly, close my door and then open the curtains so I could read by streetight. I knew if I used a flashlight I’d get busted. Years later when one of my sibs finally ratted me out, my mother said she always wondered how I read so fast and why I was always ready to go to bed at or even before bedtime. It’s probably no surprise that I serve on two library boards these days.
Sorry, nothing’s pissing me off today. I’m a realist, too and today is a really, really nice day.
I found $5 peeking out from the huge leaf pile in the street yesterday. It had about 5 frozen leaves on it but I brought it inside to dry. It was the pile that the city plows to dump into their leaf truck. I was tempted to dive through the whole pile, but I didn’t
1. Yay for good mammogram results – good health is priceless!
2. Yay for my husband’s paycheck coming in early – he teaches & they are off next week, so he gets paid this week. This is actually making my budgeting easier for Nov/Dec. because it puts his & my paychecks back on staggered weeks. I have a love/hate relationship with the weeks we get paid together, lol.
3. Happy to have a few days off next week.
4. Happy my sister is coming on Fri (after Thanksgiving)
5. SO happy that my lettuce is coming in and will be ready to make a BIG Thanksgiving day salad. Exciting to be able to eat something I planted and nurtured for the 1st time.
**Unhappy that I haven’t seen the sun in about 4 days! 🙁 I live in the ‘Sunshine State’ and need my Vitamin D! Otherwise, it makes me crabby.
I’m happy that I made a new skirt last week, with pockets, from recycled materials and…. found a way I didn’t have to hem it!
I call it my “Broken Rules” skirt for a reason, though. You seamstresses who actually know what you are doing, please avert your eyes!
I loved the Romona books, too, by the way. So warm and funny and real!