A Goodbye

If you have been a reader of my blog, you may know that I really, really love my apartment. It is 1,000 square feet of coziness and a true haven for me. Sadly (and gladly), I will be giving my apartment up and moving into Mr. L's house at the end of this month. Though I am super happy about moving in with my future husband, I am not so cheerful about giving up my crib.

It's bittersweet. It's the feeling you get when you have to give something away that you truly love because your life is evolving. Don't get me wrong, I am more than happy for my life to evolve. In fact, I prayed really, really hard for it to evolve, but I will have to leave a little piece of my life behind as this evolution progresses.

I guess the reason I feel so connected to my place is because it has been a real symbol of freedom in my life. It has been a place where I have truly been a happy, healthy person.

Though I have been happy in my cozy little apartment, life progresses, and with progress comes upheaval of your roots and new implantation. It's scary when you face it, but positive change is always worth the fear. The good thing about my upcoming change is that I don't have to do it alone. I have the love of my life to do it with me. And that makes me happy.

Really happy.

So, slowly, box by box, I will pack up my little haven and transport it to my new home. It is a long goodbye to a wonderful phase, however I have a sneaking suspicion that the next phase in my life will be my best on yet.

Orange You Glad

It's almost Friday...

Flu season is almost over...

Easter candy is all around us...

It's almost sandal season...

You woke up this morning...

You're you and not someone else...

You have internet access...

Spring is officially here in 4 days...

Happy Birthday

I'm not gonna lie. Today, my birthday, I woke up in a really, really bad mood. My alarm went off at 5:00 am, and at 5:01 am exactly, I received an e-mail on my blackberry from my boss with a long list of to-do's for today (which included taking a broken chainsaw to the repair shop. Glamorous). The birthday buzz was officially killed 1 minute after I woke up. Not good.

I continued to feel sorry for myself as I got ready for work and looked outside. Cloudy. And Cold.

Then I got a call from a certain someone (Mr. L) who was staying home because he's sick. Great! It's my birthday and he's not only sick, but staying home! Good golly!

I got to work, started my monstrous to-do list, and tried to talk myself out of having a bad day. Feeling a tad sorry for myself, I made it through my morning. The clock ticked past 10 am, and no one had even asked me to lunch. Gadzooks! Does anyone even care? What happened to the days that my birthdays started with smiley face pancakes, ended with cake and had a school party for me squeezed in the middle, huh?

Resigned to a lonely lunch, I kept my nose to the grindstone. Then, at 11:00, I noticed a change in the air. I got a few 'happy birthday' e-mails. Huh, that's nice, I thought. After that I was asked to lunch by two co-workers. Nice! Then, my boss handed me some money and treated us to lunch. Fantastic! After lunch I was informed there would be cake. Superlative!

After the flurry of birthday activity, I went back to my desk, full and satisfied. Now, this is more like it I thought. And then the best thing happened...

My new bff Cheryl placed a brightly colored package on my desk. Inside it contained the cutest apron that she made with her own two hands! It has little stitched cupcakes and my name in pink letters. The best thing about it was the look on Cheryl's face when I opened it. She was so proud and pleased that I liked her handiwork. It made me happy that she was happy, and vice versa.

This thoughtful gift really made my day, and for that this is a truly happy birthday.

4 Days Till 34

Well, it's almost here. 34 is looming and ready to take the rug right from under 33. In honor of my waning 33rd year on earth, I am going to list 33 (big and small) things I have been thankful for this year.

1. Getting engaged to Mr. L
2. Getting a much better job in Birmingham
3. My move to my apartment that I love so much
4. My Mom's remarriage to a man she adores
5. Making a new friend or two
6. My new ability to make people happy through baking
7. Losing 34 (ironic, no?) pounds
8. My amazing black boots I found on clearance (seriously, they're that good)
9. Finding out that you can play movies instantly on netflix
10. Grey paint that goes well with yellow tile
11. Restarting my blog
12. My little black and white kitchen
13. A kitchenaid mixer that I adore
14. My discovery of several great authors
15. Being surrounded by 30-somethings rather than 60-somethings
16. Fitting into my favorite jeans
17. Learning to quilt
18. Finding a beautiful wedding gown
19. Some really wonderful trips to the beach
20. Using my grandmother's apron when I bake
21. My wonderful and magical childhood quilt reappearing
22. Finding out that I have come a long way
23. Mr. L & I's first joint Christmas tree
24. The combination of red and orange
25. Being on my own again
26. French-pressed coffee everyday
27. Sleeping with open windows
28. Using my grandmother's china everyday
29. Evening walks in my neighborhood
30. My Salvation Army mirror
31. The Saints winning the superbowl!!!
32. Geting to wear a the most beautiful ring I have ever seen on my finger everyday
33. Finding out that God opens doors when they are meant to be open

Creole

First of all, I know it's lame to blog about your cat--but just look at this little scooter. He's nothing short of mega-colossal cute. Here are my top 10 reasons I love my darling little feline:

1. He is always happy to see me when I get home, wake up in the morning, or just all of the time. Creole, unlike the majority of his feline brethren, is much like a dog in this way. Most cats (including past cats that I have had) could give a diddley squat about your presence and only seem happy when you have cat viddles in your possession, but not Creole.

2. He doesn't let me oversleep. Creole has this weird ability to know when I need to get up. If it's a weekday, he somehow seems to know that I need to be up and will wake me up a few minutes before the alarm. He oddly does not do this on the weekends. Genius!!

3. He is a great cuddle companion. He loves to sit with me, near me or on top of me, which works out well because I have yet to need to invest in a snuggie.

4. He is not a big, fat, ball-o-lard like most neutered cats. He is a very healthy eater and only eats small portions when he's hungry. Now, if I could only train myself to follow his lead...

5. He fetches. Like a dog.

6. He has never met a stranger. My mom had this cat that, if a strange person would come over, would hide for days (he was dedicated to his fear, I'll give him that...he wouldn't even come out to eat or anything). Creole, on the other hand, is mr. life-of-the-party-you're-gonna-love-me-whether-you-like-it-or-not-you-really-don't-have-a-choice-in-this-matter type of a cat.

7. He's very neat and tidy. That's kind of a boring reason, but it's true.

8. He's always nice to the vet. Unlike some cats, he gives off this real cool vibe when he's at the vet. He's all like, "I don't care, bring it on. You want to stick a thermometer up my butt? Okay, that's cool." He's like the James Dean of felines at the vet. I'm serious, here's a picture of him at his most recent vet visit:

9. He still, at age 6, chases his tail.

10. He's my buddy. When I'm sick, scared, or need a friend, I always have one waiting for me--happy and ready to chase my blues away.

A Good Morning

As I have stated before in this blog, I truly love my mornings. But, if I am to have a really good morning, I need the following elements to be present:

1) COFFEE- Hot and black, made in my french press, and in my favorite Cafe Du Monde mug

2) CREOLE- My cat, snuggled right beside me, keeping me warm and cozy

3) MACBOOK- For blogging, surfing, or writing a few e-mails

4) FUZZY SOCKS- To keep my 10 little pigs nice and toasty

So there you have it, the ingredients to a happy morning. Try it sometime (with your own cat, of course), you just might like it.

Baked

When searching for a way to relax, more and more these days I turn to the kitchen. I have always liked the idea of cooking and baking, but in the past, I found more frustration than serenity. Now that I have learned to slow down and enjoy the process, I feel like I just left a yoga class or massage when there is bread baking in the oven.

For a long time, I had no one to bake for. In my old office in Tennessee, the 2 people that I worked with were constantly “on diets,” and I couldn’t possibly just bake for myself (I’d probably be hitting the 400 lb mark by now if I had) Now, I have a big office full of people to bake for. This makes my heart very happy.

Last night I whipped up some from scratch peanut butter cookies. So far, the reaction has been great. Though they hate me for wrecking their diets, they love me for the comfort food.

There’s something about being in my tiny little kitchen, music on, alone, and whipping up something good that just makes me feel at peace. In my kitchen I have no worries, no exhaustion, no restrictions, no pressure. It’s just me, a half cup of tranquility, a teaspoon of freedom, and a dash of contentment.

The L Word

If anyone out there actually reads this blog, you’ll notice that neither my name or my man’s are included. This is because I never wanted for a potential employer to google my name and voila! --a ticket to my innermost thoughts and feelings. So I am called Capable Girl and I named him Mr. L.

I was thinking about this the other day and realized that there are many words that I would use to describe Mr. L that actually begin with an L. Like, he could be Mr. Loved, because I love him so. So here’s a small list of names/descriptors that are suitable for my beloved Mr. L:

Mr. Likeable: Everyone likes him. The man has no enemies. He is the kindest, most friendly guy I have ever met in my life. He exudes warmth and light.

Mr. Loyal: This guy is super-duper devoted and steadfast. If he’s with you, he’s with you for life.

Mr. Lawful: He is a rule-abiding gentleman who rarely colors outside the lines.

Mr. Lefty: Yup. He’s left handed all the way. This means two sets of scissors and him sitting to my left when we eat in a booth at a restaurant.

Mr. Lyrical: some of my favorite songs of all time were spontaneously written and sung by him. He has a wonderful singing voice.

Mr. Logical: He is a spreadsheeter; a planner; and he likes to keep his feet planted firmly in the world of reason.

Mr. Loving: He is also extraordinarily affectionate and always has a heartwarming thing to say or do. He makes my heart sing and my knees weak.

Aren’t I a lucky lady? I definitely think so.

An Engagement Story

illustration by my favorite illustrator Jessica Hische

I don't think I ever told you the story of the day (and the day before) Mr. L & I got engaged. So, I guess I'll tell it you now. Read it slowly; it's a really good story.

Scene 1: (In Capable Girl's Apartment. It's a Friday evening, November 20th, after work. Mr. L and C.G. are sitting on the couch)

CG: I don't feel like I have a home. You know, I've moved here, but it doesn't feel like home and where I came from doesn't feel like home either! The holidays are coming up and it makes me sad that I don't feel settled anywhere. (She says this hoping Mr. L reads between the lines. She wants a ring. She wants to be engaged. She wants him to say we'll be engaged very soon.)

Mr. L: Your home is with me.

CG: I know, but I don't feel settled.

Mr. L: Why not?

CG: Because I don't. (She pounds her fist defiantly and pokes out her lower lip)

Mr. L: I said your home is with me. Isn't that good enough?

CG: Well, I don't have a ring on my finger! (As she says this, she quickly extends her left hand to show him)

Mr. L: Look, let’s just get through the holiday season together. It’s coming. All that you want is coming, okay?

CG: (Unenthusiastically) I guess. (In her mind she is thinking, “I bet he hasn’t even thought about buying a ring. I bet it hasn’t even crossed his mind!”)

Scene 2: (Mr. L contacted Capable Girl earlier in the week and asked her to go to Chattanooga with him. Chattanooga is the city where they met. He told her that he wanted to celebrate their one-year anniversary by spending the day up there. He also comes up with the idea to surprise each other with Christmas ornaments, since Christmas is right around the corner. He suggests that they go to separate store, buy each other an ornament and then exchanging them. The two have met up after purchasing their ornaments…Mr. L walks out of his store with a wrapped box. Capable Girl just has hers in a brown bag)

Mr. L: Those ladies in the store wrapped yours. I didn’t ask them to. Hey, where do you want to go to exchange these?

CG: How about up on the walking bridge?

(By the way, it is a gorgeous day. They walk to the top of a really beautiful walking bridge)

Mr. L: Okay, let me open yours. (He takes a silver bird out of the bag) Oh, that’s nice. Here’s mine. (He hands her the wrapped box)

CG: This is pretty. They did a great job wrapping this.

(She starts to open the box)

Mr. L: Remember that conversation we had yesterday?

CG: Are you serious?

Mr. L: (Now getting down on one knee and saying some really nice stuff that CG can’t remember because now she knows that this is it.) Will you make me the happiest man and become my wife?

CG: Are you serious? Are you serious? Are you serious? Are you serious?

Mr. L: Yes, I’m serious! (She open the ring box and sees the most gorgeous ring she’s ever laid her cotton-pickin’ eyes on)



CG: Are you serious?

Mr. L: You haven’t said yes yet!

CG: Oh, jeez! Yes!

(Random people that are walking by are congratulating us. Some kids shout out, "Are you guys getting married?" We shout back, "Yes!")

Mr. L & I on the big engagement day

Love and Toilet Seats

illustration courtesy of this talented lady

This Valentine's weekend my thoughts naturally drifted to romance and love. When Valentine’s Day rolls around, the typical connotations of romance fill the newspaper, storefronts, airwaves, and television screen. Red and pink hearts, jewelry commercials, and boxes of chocolate abound. Many make plans involving candlelight, lingerie, and red roses for V-Day weekend.

While all of this fanfare is nice, it doesn’t strike me as really, truly romantic. Sweet and appreciated, yes, but it doesn’t really scratch my romantic itch. My idea of romance is a little different. It’s a bit less dramatic and slightly more pragmatic. To me, romance is when you do something you don’t really want to do because you love someone.

In my mind, Romance is working all weekend on re-doing bathrooms because you don’t want your fiancé to move into a house with unappealing powder rooms. Romance is taking off a gross toilet seat for your mate and installing a fresh new one. It’s not something you like to do, but you do it anyway because you want to spare your mate from having to do it. Romance is taking time to give your mate a neck rub when her neck is sore from wielding a paint roller for 48 hours.

I know that my idea of romance may sound strange, but I just can’t help it. Don’t get me wrong, I love all of the fluffy Valentine’s Day stuff, but I have a harder time getting worked up about it around Valentine's Day when it feels kind of uninspired. I tend to like those kind of things more when they are unexpected…like on a Tuesday in the middle of May.

Because of my belief system, I can truly say that Mr. L and I had a really romantic weekend. While covered in paint, cleaning agents, and caulk, we were two of the happiest lovebirds I have ever seen.

Hard Work + After Work Bath = Worth It

Is there anything better than a long, hot bubble bath after a long day's work? I say no.

Mr. L & I had a great day shopping, eating, scrubbing (the bathroom, not each other), painting, de-caulking, and peroxiding (again, the bathroom). It was a good day. Here are the highlights:

1. Waking up to a snow-covered neighborhood. The streets, lawns, trees, and everything in between were encrusted with clean, white snow. It was a sight to behold, especially in the south.

2. An amazing greek omelet with turkey with Mr. L at Demetri's.

3. Picking out the perfect paint color for the bathroom, Wind's Breath. Love the dramatics that the name connotes.

4. Shopping in Home Depot with Mr. L. We had a $100 gift card, so we shopped hard and large. I felt so wealthy.

5. Great back/neck rubs from Mr. L on our breaks.

6. Seeing our progress after coat #2 of paint.

7. A delicious 'Hot Honey' roll-up from Roly Poly. Yum!

8. Hangin' out with Mr. L all day and being silly together.

9. Hangin' out with Mr. L all day and planning our future.

10. The bubble bath just topped it all off. Hot, cleansing, and make-you-feel-good-all-over amazing.

Life is good.

Snow Friday

Sometimes life throws you a little something. You know, like finding a five dollar bill in your pocket, or getting a compliment from a stranger, or perhaps a free sample of a delicious treat. Multiply those experiences by 100 and you get what life gave me yesterday: a snow 1/2 day!

A 1/2 day was the most amazing gift to receive for me because I have been fighting a mysterious case of exhaustion all week long. My theory about the m.c.o.e (mysterious case of exhaustion) is that it's due to not enough "battery recharging." And what's better for recharging your batteries than being 'forced' into leaving work at noon?

Though I was not at work yesterday, I did maintain a full schedule. Here are little snipets from my agenda yesterday:

mandatory cat-snuggling time

'research'

an afternoon appointment. attendees: bathtub and bubbles.

a conference call with Mr. L took place here

PBFFIH (Potential Best Friend Forever I Hope)

A have found a friend; a really good one. This makes me happy because since about the 12th grade, I have not technically had a best buddy. I’m not saying I am at bff level, now, but there’s potential.

The best thing about this friend is that she is from the same area, as a matter of fact, she grew up right outside New Orleans. We recently found out that she & I most likely went to the same Girl Scout camp at the very same time. Her family and my family stood across the street from one another for years during Mardi Gras. We share a love of The Saints, and she knows what lagniappe is. It’s terrific.

It’s important to have a friend that can relate to you and the older you get, the harder that can get. That’s especially true if you move away from your hometown. The other day my friend & I were cracking up about old local furniture store commercials that came on when we were kids. Unfortunately, if she were from, oh I don’t know, let’s say Boise, Idaho—those types of conversations would be impossible.

After Hurricane Katrina, most of what is familiar to me was lost or drastically changed. My home church, my old neighborhood, my city. In a way, that prevented me from ever really ‘going home’ again. I find it a great comfort to have a friend who knows my hometown. That way, it will never be truly lost.

If things keep going, I may have to invest in one of these babies:

and that makes me happy.

BBB

So, it occurred to me while trying to figure out what to blog about, that my life is extremely, mind-numbingly, monumentally boring right now. And it began to depress me...

...until I considered what a blessing it is to be bored. I mean, I could be sitting in a hospital room right now, holding the hand of someone I love who is sick. Perhaps I could be in a court room, awaiting a verdict for a friend or a family member on trial. Or worse, I could be attending a funeral today. None of those activities are boring, but then again, they are not pleasant either.

So, I decided I'm BBB-BLESSED BEING BORED. And I certainly hope you are, too.

Dat Trois

Yesterday marked vacation day 3, or 3rd day of freedom, day three of life sans boring job, or three days in my journey to sanity. It was a grrrrreat day.

It started with laziness, making an amazing breakfast, blogging, web surfing, and a little photography. I made Mr. L some homemade tuna salad, watched a little Travel Channel (which is a real treat because I don't have it at home), and called one of Mr. L's friends, and fitness trainer extraordinaire Allison.

Allison picked me up for a trip to Hobby Lobby, where we discovered friendly plastic and its many uses. After coffee and much talk about fitness, Allison dropped me off & headed to the gym.

After Mr. L returned home, we headed to the gym where Allison kicked our rears into gear teaching us a group fitness class called Body Pump. Sounds easy enough, right? WRONG! I can still feel my muscles begging for mercy.

A hungry bunch from the gym headed over to an Indian restaurant complete with belly dancers and dined on incredible Indian cuisine. We were entertained by Allison's boyfriend, David, who told us tales of mentally unwell co-workers. And who doesn't enjoy a good story about the mentally unwell co-workers?

I have had so much fun here & it will be extremely hard to return to 'normal life,' but I guess all things must come to an end, right?

Today Mr. L & I are headed to the beach. Photos and hopefully a few stories to come...

Spring Cleaning-Vacation Day 2

Yesterday I got to play housewife, and it was fun. I spent the day cleaning, grocery shopping, and cooking. Some may say that this does not sound like an awesome vacation day, but to me it was bliss. Pure, unadulterated, unfiltered, 100 proof, zen-like bliss.

Maybe its because I don't get to do these tasks at a relaxed pace normally, or maybe its because I don't do many of these tasks on a regular basis, but whatever the reason, I had a wonderful afternoon. Mr. L came home to a clean house with lit candles and the aroma of a healthy dinner. Call me old-fashioned or anti-women's lib if you must, but I love creating a home. I'm a nester.

Though the day was not filled with sand between my toes or a drink with an umbrella in it, it was a perfect vacation day. And isn't that the point of vacations? You get to vacate your normal life for awhile and live as if you were a different person in a different situation.

Tomorrow we leave for the beach, and I'm excited about our trip, but today I'm a happy, fulfilled pretend housewife again....and I couldn't ask for a better way to spend my day.

Spring Break Away

FINALLY. It arrived. My vacation began yesterday.....and it rained. In fact, it rained all weekend long, but I arrived in Birmingham last night & was able to spend a little time with Mr. L. And that was nice. Reeeaall nice.

Ides of March

The Ides of March are 3 days away, and means I only have 3 days of being 32 left. I have to say, 32 was not all that bad-transitional-but not a bad year.

Let me recap 32 for you (the highlights at least):

I made a career change
I went to Hollywood
I was a Maid of Honor
I went to a Broadway show on Broadway
I found an awesome pair of glasses
I sold my house**
I climbed a mountain
I fell in love*

*the best thing that happened to me during my 32nd year by far
**should be noted that this was a miracle from above (thanks Big Guy)

Like I said, not a bad year. Something tells me 33 will be even better. Sweet.

I Want To Hold Your Hand

(A picture of Mr. L and I holding hands this weekend)

Why is it that the world feels so much safer when you have someone holding your hand? Maybe it's a physiologic thing that goes on (somewhere between the Kreb's Cycle and Oxadative Phosphorylation perhaps?), but I know that I physically feel more calm when holding someone's hand.....especially the hand of someone I love.

Of course, I have lots of examples of holding stranger's hands to seek comfort. Though it's not the perfect equivilent for a loved one's hand, it works.

There was the time when I was 8-years-old and had to be put under general anesthesia for a minor operation. I was truly terrified of the 'gas mask' that they were going to use to put me out. The thought of being forced to go to sleep at someone else's will scared the dickens out of me! However, one of the nurses offered her hand and told me she would hold my hand until I went to sleep. There was something about being connected to someone else (even a stranger behind a medical mask) that comforted me so greatly, that I went softly into that deep sleep.

Then there was the time that I was on an airplane flying over the desert to San Diego. I admit I am not a great flyer, and I sort of freak out during turbulence (though I have gotten much better in recent years). I was seated next to a man I did not know and had not spoken to on the flight. He was Asian and I could tell by his interactions with the flight attendant that he did not speak fluent English, so we sat there in a polite silence. The flight unexpectedly hit some rough air and I know I must have scared him with my white knuckle grip on the arms of the seat and quick gasps that I could not control. He kindly offered his hand, and I took it. I remember squeezing the devil out of it when we would make a sudden drop. Thought I was still nervous, his hand was like a safety rope that was wrapped around me, saving me from the precipice of panic. When we were once again flying smoothly, he patted my hand and gave me a reassuring smile. I think he might have been a guardian angel.

There have been numerous other strange hand encounters: one of the way up to the top of the Arch in St. Louis, one at the summit of the Chimney Tops in The Smokeys, one at the hospital after a heart incident, and I have been grateful to all who offer their hands as a source of comfort. Luckily, I have been able to return the favor to humanity a few times, and it makes me feel equally as good being the comforter as being the comfortee. (Side story not about hand holding, but leg holding: when I was working as a paramedic, we were transporting an old man with dementia. He was super confused, and aggitated, but calmed down significantly after putting his hand on my upper leg. I let him do it because it calmed him so. I thought to myself, what's the harm in letting a confused old man put his hand on a spot not normally reserved for strange men?)

Holding Mr. L's hand has the same calming effect, even if I am not holding it due to crisis or fearful situation. Holding his hand brings me back to center, reminds me that I am loved, and makes me feel secure. Like I said, it must be a physiological reaction, because I can feel the stress melt off like butter slipping down a stack of warm pancakes...

In fact, I have an idea: try holding someone's hand at every opportunity. In this time of financial and patriotic panic, I think we all need a safety rope, reminding us not to fear. After all, we have each other, and there's no better reminder than passing comfort on hand to hand, brain to brain, heart to heart.

A Few Good Things

I wanted to share with you a few good things that happened to me today:

*I got flowers (purple tulips) delivered to me at work!! (usually I just watch the flower delivery guy pass me by, but not today!)

*I found just the right shade of 6 hour lip gloss (L'Oreal Infallible in Raisin...ahhmazing)

*My boss left today and will be gone tomorrow AND ALL NEXT WEEK!

*The sun is shining (I count this even though it's not just shining for me)

*I brewed my coffee to just the right strength

*A solicitor came by and delivered chocolates (flowers and chocolates...ON THE SAME DAY!)

It's like the blessing cloud is over my head and showering me with all sorts of goodies today. I'm thankful for this & I really appreciate it. I know I am blessed everyday, but it's tough to recognize it, especially if you are experiencing monster PMS (which I am), are in an in-between stage in life (this, too), and feel like you have so much work to do to get where you are going (uh, huh).

It's funny how I few simple things can really cause you to reflect. And today, I'm feeling reminded that I am a truly blessed person. I have so many things that I take for granted, as we all do, and sometimes it's good just to thank God for the simple stuff.

Several months ago, I read about a blogger who was involved in a devastating plane crash. Her struggle and recovery really got me thinking about all of the things that I should be thankful for, but often overlook or take for granted. So, when I started to get frustrated in my daily life, I would try something like this:

God, I thank you for this traffic jam. Because I'm in this traffic jam, that means I have a car.

God, I thank you for this line at the grocery store. Because I'm standing in this line, that means I can walk and I have the freedom to shop wherever I would like.

God, thank you for getting snipped at by my boss. If I didn't have a job, there would be no boss snipping, so thank you for my employment.

In recent weeks, I've seemed to stop using this tactic. Maybe it's because of the PMS, or maybe it's because I've been tired and a bit depressed, but whatever the reason, I think I am going to start recognizing my blessings more and my lack less. After all, I know that I have far more blessings than lack, and for that I am grateful. Now, the challenge is to remember this as I'm driving home and tempted to ram a rude driver with my car. I'm pretty sure I can resist that temptation today.