Yesterday for lunch I had a bowl of chili. It was from my store, but I brought it home and dressed it up with some shredded cheese, jalapenos and sour cream. On a cold day in January, that's mighty yummy

Sweats. These are the Hanes sweatpants and old sweatshirt I got from my brother, and you really have no idea how much time I spend in them. :)

Also, my local country music station that does a drive-home show from 4-6. They do these trivia questions and people call in trying to guess the answer (I'm not thinking about people driving home and calling the radio show at the same time) and I learn stuff. Like, did you know 2 out of 3 people need 2 alarm clocks to wake up in the morning?

Crawling back into bed for a little extra snuggle time. This can be rare because we have to be home on the same days... But it's a great way to spend the morning!

Then that first sip of coffee. Which lasts until afternoon.

And lounging around in silky PJ pants and an old concert T.

Ah... what a wonderful life... :)

Today I discovered I can get morning talk shows until noon! Crazy little things....

My chair is a marvelous thing.

It's not solely my chair, it's not new, it's not fancy, I didn't even buy it. It's a hand-me-down, overstuffed chair, of the sort that comes with any 3-piece living room set (I also have the loveseat, the couch went a different direction long ago).

It's comfy, the arms are wide enough to hold a cup or a laptop, and the ottoman goes nicely in front of it. It's currently surrounded by Sunday's paper, a cell phone, my cordless mouse and a cup of tea. As soon as I sit, I relax, and I can spend hours, right here, accomplishing... nothing.

It's a refuge from the world.

Happy New Year!

I've never been the all-out kind on New Year's. My mom never wanted me to go out, so I'd have friends over and we'd watch a movie, snack, and that's that. Once I got older and could go out, it just never felt right. I can go out any night of the year - New Year's? That just became about reflection and good friends for me.

We had my neighbor over, and a friend from Shakopee, and one of my good friends stopped by. It was good to see them all, and all I really needed. These people are blessings in my life, and it was nice to be able to say adios to 2009 with them.

Tears are liquid emotion. They can bring everything you're feeling into relief and truly let you experience what's happening so much better.

There's an email going around about the 7 wonders of the world.

To see
To hear
To touch
To taste
To feel
To laugh
To love

... good points...

I had drinks with a friend the other night. Just the two of us, sitting at a bar we don't really go to, enjoying each other's company.

There's something very relaxing about being able to focus on one person and leave everything else behind for the moment.

This is honoring neighbors who leave things in your fridge.

This is not a little thing, mind you, but a simple thing... because of how simple it is to leave something behind for your hosts to enjoy later, but how huge of a blessing good neighbors are.

And tonight, I came home craving flavorful beer of the variety I enjoy (and hugely enjoy) on a rare occasion, and lo-and-behold there's an oatmeal stout. I didn't buy it, but there it is and neighbor has said what's left behind is fair game.

It tasted good. Simple blessings make life worth living.