Thank God it’s just my brakes!
I cancelled all plans and spent the majority of my day at the Honda dealership for that — strange noise from last Friday. I had to change all brake pads and the rear rotors and resurface the front rotors.
It did make a difference. I also now know better than to let this … happen again. Apparently, it’s not good to be lead-footed and heavy on the brake. Story of my life…
But I’m grateful I got off easy and it wasn’t something major and was caught and fixed in time.
Will and Grace epsiodes online.
What a guilty pleasure. I indulge in binge watching Netflix dramas/comedies as often as I can. It’s great to be able to finish a season in one sitting complete with no commercials but nothing compares to re-watching an old classic like Will and Grace.
This show has become a cult classic for my sibling and I. It’s a fave watch for turning a bad day good. We love quoting lines to each other via text.
If you have not watched it, you must. Hilarious just doesn’t do it justice.
Edgar Allen Poe.
Tonight I got to visit a tavern in honor of Poe’s last poem, Annabel. The tavern/restaurant is small hole in the wall with good food and cozy atmosphere. The tavern is drenched with Poe: sayings, pictures, articles, drinked named after lines from his poems, etc.
I went to the tavern with my english teacher friend, Lisa, all the while remembering my english teacher, Alice Davis, who gave me such a rich english education and appreciation for Poe’s works and writing. I immediately was reminded of my faves, “The Tell-tale heart”, “The Mask of the Red Death”, “The fall of the house of Usher”, and of course, “Annabel”.
I will always remember you, Mrs. Davis. RIP 1956-2011
Luddo!
It’s not just a game. It’s a fierce competition where my parents are concerned. For my mom and I it’s a way to bond. It’s alone time but not awkward moment time. We play, we fight, we laugh, we connect.
It’s a nice way to close the work week: luddo and chai time.
Today I am grateful that a few services places will be open for business on Dr. MLK, Jr day on Monday.
Story of my life… it started out as a slight scraping noise only when I turned left, right? I had a full day planned on Monday, too. Now I have to, thankfully, take my car into the shop early Monday morning. Hopefully, they will be able to fix whatever is wrong the same day. But I’m happy I don’t have to miss work or leave work early.
…and thankfully I have other car options available to me in case I need to wait to get my car back. But that’s another post. 🙂
Summer strawberries — they look beautiful from the outside but are mealy and mushy when you bite into them. What are they good for? SMOOTHIES! Heck yeah! I froze the whole lot and use 3-4 strawbs along with coconut milk, spinach, raw oatmeal, and vegan protein powder. So good. No need for sugar and this will keep you full till dinner. (But don’t skip lunch… )
French Baguettes. ‘Nuff said.
UMBRELLAS!
Today in this rainy mess I am ever so grateful for my tiny umbrella to keep me dry and even more grateful its right where it was supposed to be. Everyone knows umbrellas and I do not mix well. I’m forever forgetting it somewhere when I need it most and finding it at times when I never need it.
Of course I left it at work tonight but it was all clear on the way home so no biggie.
LAZY SUNDAYS! Yes, please!
One of my favorite blessings is a lazy day Sunday which includes leisurely breakfast (YUMMY sprouted grain bread toasted to crunchy perfection topped with gritty but smooth cashew nut butter and coffee) while getting my gossip-magazine fix on, moving to gourmet food shopping and stocking up on good eats like fruits, veggies, salad preps, and snacks, then mani/pedi/hair masque time to the tune of Netflix binge-watching at its finest, concluding with play-off football on the sofa snuggled up with my hot water bottle and lots of blankets all the while doing loads of laundry and catching up on family, friends and bills in between.
Father is back from vacation. He came home early this morning. I know having one’s parents is a big blessing, but I will take a moment to count all the things my father does as separate little blessings. Like, making sure I have my favorite drink stocked in the basement — Perrier sparkling mineral water and cooking the best aloo gobi on the planet, mushy — just the way I like it. I had a hard time being alone this past couple weeks but I am so grateful to have him back, no more scared-sleepless nights. BIG blessing, Alhamdullilah.
Sidebar note: I went to my first volunteer event for 2015, the Maryland Food Bank. I’m excited to note that I put the Maryland Association of Cytology on the books for a recurring event the second Saturday of every month from 12-3p. Today, another board member, Louise, and I (along with about 10 other ppl) helped put together 120 backpacks for children as weekend food kits. The kits were stocked with fruits, easy meats, and canned pastas to help children have food over the weekend until they can get back to school for breakfasts and lunches during the week. Yes, it’s very emotional when you’re packing the items up.
As you place two fruit packs in each bag you pray when they get it it magically turns to 20. Please visit MFB website to find out why you can do to help: https://www.mdfoodbank.org
Life's Little Blessings Count, Too 