Top Ten Tuesday: Rounding out the Week

Last week I had a stressful week. I won't get into details simply because talking about it won't change it; it has already happened and I want to get past it. It was nothing major, just back-from-a-week-long-vacation-petty-nonsense-scheduling-busy kind of stuff. I won't complain any further because y'all know I love my job and I have nothing to squawk about.

However, last weekend surely made up for my lack of pleasure during the week. Below are the top ten things that happened between Friday and Sunday to wash the bad taste out of my mouth.

10. On Friday I received gifts from my friend, Jenn. It's not just exciting because I love gifts, the gifts were exciting because her gifts NAILED me. First of all, I got the tote bag I've been drooling over, the kind of drool that soaks the upper part of your shirt. In the bag were two items. The first was Shel Silverstein's Where the Sidewalk Ends... book on tape... his voice reading his poems!!! I loved it. I *almost* started crying. Shel is important to me because he's a writer who always makes me laugh and/or think. I often share his poems with my kids. But, the main reason I love him so? My sister taught me to read by reading to me from Where the Sidewalk Ends. I would ask her read me "Melinda Mae" and "Sick" over and over and over and over (and she would.) I have now added "Peanut-Butter Sandwich" to my list of favorites because I know Jenn loves that one.

The last part of the gift was the part that made me cry. It was a handmade box full of wonderful things about me, my work, and some funny times/moments we've shared. I couldn't read it in front of her but when I got home I went into my birdroom and took some time to go through each slip of paper. I definitely had a favorite and felt so blessed that this particular person gets me. I'm gruff, brass and have a hard outer shell; she gets it and likes it. We amuse each other.

9. We had my favorite meal for dinner Friday -- shishkabob!

8. I took a "quick nap" Friday evening... from 7pm to 2am. Oops ;) Thank you, Aaron, for letting me sleep so soundly and doing all the chores. I must have needed the sleep!

7. On Saturday I spent the entire afternoon at Barnes & Noble and Michael's. When I got home I curled up in my reading nook and read the afternoon away.

6. My Dad came to visit, unexpectedly, on Saturday evening and we went to Applebee's for dinner.

                          

                             

5. Aaron and I watched SNL with Betty White. I didn't quite make it until 1:00 but it's on the DVR. We haven't vegged out in front of the tube for a long time. It felt good. ;)

4. I made killer blueberry muffins and a tasty fruit dish for breakfast.

3.  We drove down to Boston on Sunday with Aaron's Mom and Grandma to have an amazing meal at Matt & Nelson's house to celebrate Mother's Day.

My *Beautiful* Mother (in-law)

2. While dinner was being prepared, Aaron and I dashed off to a BRAND NEW Trader Joe's right around the corner and stocked up on our favorites!

(1.5) While leaving TJ's we spotted this giant red-tailed-hawk's nest and... he was in it! It made me sad because of urban sprawl but happy the hawk is so resilient!

1. I received a thoughtful card and a bouquet of flowers for Mother's Day- and I'm not really even a Mom (unless you count our beasts which, clearly, Aaron does.)

                                          

A great end to a rough week. That's what life is all about. One of the great things about this blog is while writing this particular post I was able to recall more than ten great things that made a mediocre week a whole lot better, which leads me to believe that sometimes we leave too many heavy stones unturned to find the brilliant happiness beneath. I have amazing people in my life who know me, get me, and love me anyway. And, to give myself some credit, I'm pretty good about making my own happiness.