DAY ONE HUNDRED AND ONE OF THE HAPPINESS PROJECT

Day 101.  Today was a day of doctor's appointment, food shopping and making a desert.

I went to see my gut doctor.  I was given a clean bill and don't need to return for 6 months unless something happens.  My stomach has been good lately.  I stopped by my foot doctor and chatted for a bit with her.  We maybe going out with them later this month to the ballet. 

I went to the food store and bought all the food and drink for the party.  Lots of drink.

Today was the day to remove the apricots from the brandy.  They looked great.  I melted the chocolate and dipped the apricots.  To bring you up to speed.  I put apricots in a brandy mixture and soaked them for three weeks.  Today I drained the brandy infused apricot and saved it to put in little bottles for Christmas presents.  I dried off the apricots and melted some vegan chocolate and dipped the apricots in it.  Then I put them in the refrigerator.  They looked excellent.  I can't taste them because I don't drink alcohol but they look great.

I still have to roast the almonds, bake the polenta, mix the dip, make the punch, and pop the popcorn.  I will have to make the seasoning mix.  I can do that tomorrow.  I am close to being ready.  Now I have to clean and put things away. 

Until tomorrow...

DAY ONE HUNDRED OF THE HAPPINESS PROJECT

Day 100. I have been working the Happiness Project for 100 days. Almost a third of the way through with the project.  I had a very nice lunch with a friend today. It was nice to get to know her better.

I got more lights to decorate my naked Christmas tree.  Then I decorated the tree.

,

I think it looks fantastic. Good blinksy lights.

Until tomorrow.happi

DAY NINETY-NINE OF THE HAPPINESS PROJECT

Day 99.  Today I decorated my home.  I had someone help me and it doesn't quite look like Christmas threw up in my home but it is close.  I want it to be Christmas, Christmas, Christmas.  I brought all my decorations up and went crazy.  Lights everywhere.  Shiny stuff everywhere.  Garland all over.  I got a little tree.  Since I am having a party I didn't want a huge tree.  I got a 5' tree (or at least that is what they said) and it is cute.  This is just a start and the tree is not lit or decorated yet. 

I found this cute light up thing that says JOY.  It is in my window all lit up.  I love the lights.

More decorations to come.

Here is a photo of my neighborhood garden all lit up.

The holidays are here.  Oh, I am on Star Wars III.  Revenge of the Sith. 

Until tomorrow...

DAY NINETY-EIGHT OF THE HAPPINESS PROJECT

Day 98.  I am working on being a social butterfly.  Now that I am done being ill, I have a whole lot lined up to do.  Last night I went to a concert with friends and to see a friend perform. 

Something really funny happened.  I don't drink alcohol.  I haven't in almost 20 years.  I don't really know how much drinks cost in a bar.  I know how much drinks cost in Las Vegas because I asked when I was there.  I know my water cost $7, cough.  My water and a mixed drink cost more than $20.  Last night I wanted to buy a round of drinks.  We had ordered our drinks (two sparkling waters and two fancy beers) and two people ordered some food.  When the waitress came with the drinks, I said I wanted to pay.  Everyone objected but I wanted to buy a round.  Little did I know I bought the drinks AND the food.  No one told me until after the concert when they thanked me for buying them dinner. 

Today I had lunch with a friend that I had not seen in a year.  It was great to catch up.  We were both consultants at the same client for about 1.5 years.  She is a hoot.  I really like working with her.  It was a really nice lunch.

I was also invited to another party.  I feel like I have something to do almost every day.  It is great! 

Tomorrow is decoration day.  I am getting up early and getting a tree and wreath.  Then the decorating begins.  It will be Christmas all over the house.  Yay!!!

Until tomorrow...

DAY NINETY-SEVEN OF THE HAPPINESS PROJECT

Day 97.  Today I was all set to go food shopping but I could not find a parking spot.  They have the tree place in the same parking lot as the supermarket and it was chaos.  I will food shop tomorrow.

Yesterday I started watching Star Wars.  I started from Episode 1 and I am making my way through all chapters.  Today I started Episode II.  It has been so long since I watched an of them.

Tonight I went to a concert.  I had a neighbor who is an international star.  He and his significant other moved away last year but they keep coming around to play a few concerts a year.  It was great to see them.  And especially their dog.  He was so happy to see me.  Puppy kisses all over my glasses.

Until tomorrow...

DAY NINETY-SIX OF THE HAPPINESS PROJECT

Day 96.  I am feeling much better and I am done with the antibiotics.  I am still coughing when I talk.

Today I have my first holiday party to attend.  It is a neighborhood potluck.  I bought a vegan pecan pie.  I was too sick this week to make anything.  I don't think anyone wanted me to touch their food with this cough.

After the party I went shopping for dog food first so the dogs would not starve.  Then I went shopping for Christmas stuff.  I think Christmas threw up in my dining room.  I went crazy considering I have three bins of Christmas stuff downstairs.  I just want to really decorate this year.  Like Christmas threw up in my house.

Tuesday is decorating day.  I will deck out the house and hopefully have a tree to decorate by then also.

Until tomorrow...

DAY NINETY-FIVE OF THE HAPPINESS PROJECT

Day 95.  My parents came back and we went out to dinner.  They gave me a gift that I have been pining for: a popcorn bowl.  I eat a popcorn frequently and I am excited to have a designated popcorn bowl.

I can't wait to use it.

We went out to dinner at a Cheese Cake Factory because I heard they had a new vegan entree.  I thought I would try it out.  It was delicious.  I should have taken a photo of it because it was also beautiful to look at.  I did take a photo of my mother's eggplant Parmesan because she wanted a photo.

It was a good day.

Until tomorrow...

DAY NINETY-FOUR OF THE HAPPINESS PROJECT

Day 94.  Still sick.  But better.  Still have not left the house and basically my bed.  One more day of antibiotics.


Look at Lucky.  She learned to shake paws.  She is so smart.

Until tomorrow...

DAY NINETY-THREE OF THE HAPPINESS PROJECT

Day 93.  I am still sick.  I am better but still sick.  When I am sick I just want to be left alone.  Not in a bad, angry way but in a "I just want to lay around and watch TV" kind of way.  In the last 24 hours I watched the whole first season of Transparent on Amazon Prime.  It is awesome!  If you have not heard of it it won some Emmys and Gold Globes.  It stars Jeffrey Tambor. It is a show about an LA family with serious boundary issues who have their past and future unravel when a dramatic admission causes everyone's secrets to spill out. 

I was mesmerized.  I can't wait for season 2 on November 11th.  I got the free 30 trial of Amazon Prime for the holidays and so far I am loving it.  I have been watching shows and shipping things for free.  I have wanted to watch Transparent since it won the Golden Globe. 

Beyond that I have done nothing.  Just trying really hard to get better.  I did almost get caught up on my work invoicing.  That is one monkey off my back.  As I tried to explain it to one person, it is like a closet.  You put things in the closet, more things, more things.  Then the closet gets full.  You don't want to open the closet and clean it out.  That was my invoicing situation.  I had gotten so far behind that it was like that closet.  I didn't want to open that door.  Now the closet is almost cleaned out.  That makes me so happy.  Now if my closet was actually cleaned out. 

Until tomorrow...

DAY NINETY-TWO OF THE HAPPINESS PROJECT

Day 92.  I am sitting here listening to "Silver and Gold" while watching Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.  It is on SO early this year!  Pretty soon they are going to show it on Thanksgiving night!  I heard my first Christmas carol on the radio on Thanksgiving. Ugh.  I hate that.  Let me get over one holiday before we start on another.

I think I mentioned I am sick.  I feel better in one way but not better in another.  My runny nose has slowed down so that makes me happy.  The coughing is deeper and mostly only happens when I talk or laugh.  So if I sit quietly I am fine.  It is becoming a dry cough.  I am not sure if that is good or bad; it is different.  I am no longer coughing up icky stuff and my chest doesn't burn as much.  Hopefully we caught it in time.  Last thing I need is bronchitis or pneumonia.  This is the time of year I get one of those two. 

Oh, it is the Island of Misfit Toys!  A Charlie in the Box.  A polk-a-dotted elephant.  A choo choo with square wheels.  A water pistol that shoots jelly.  A cowboy that rides an ostrich. 

Today is the first day of December's Resolution: Social Butterfly


“There are amazingly wonderful people in all walks of life; some familiar to us and others not. Stretch yourself and really get to know people. People are in many ways one of our greatest treasures.”

 The categories are:

• Have Parties!
• Get Out and Do Things
• Take Risks
• Meet People
• Don't be Afraid to Go Alone
• Join Something - Get Active
• Volunteer
• Have Fun!

It is the first day and I am in bed for the second day.

I do have a lot of social things planned this month.  I have been invited to three parties, two concerts, one movie (Star Wars!), and three outings with friends.  Plus I am thinking of having a party.  I will also finally go two-stepping as I promised a friend.

I can check off have party, get out and do things, and have fun!  When I go two-stepping that will cover take risks, meet people and don't be afraid to go alone. 

Now I have to get better so I can attend all these social events and be a Social Butterfly.

Rudolph, with your nose so bright won't you guide my sleigh tonight? 

Until tomorrow...