List of love

I was visiting Schmutzie and she had a post up about things that make her happy which she got from Chookooloonks. So since other than Saint, I am having some serious bs around me and could use some good thoughts, I thought I'd participate.

• When I make that connection with someone in a conversation where you both stop and nod because we tuned in to each other
• When I am laying in bed at night, cuddling with Saint and I can hear him fall asleep while I lay quietly and listen to it all. Knowing he is right there. His heat keeping me extra warm. Knowing I am loved for who I am. Knowing I have a fighter that believes in me
• When I come home and neither one of my cats can contain their excitement that I'm finally home and they are both "MEOW!" and "MEW" -ing away
• When I see a child completely let loose and love life, a thing many adults have forgotten how to do
• When I wake up in the morning and it is peaceful with the kitties milling about and I can get up get coffee and then curl up back in bed to read for awhile
• Sitting down after a chaotic day, turn on the tv (the few channels I get) and realize that my favorite show is coming on in a few minutes. (rarely happens, but still great when it does)
• A lazy day watching movies I have seen a million times
• Getting to halfway through a book that is so good, I am sad that it will end soon
• Arriving back from vacation and nothing in my fridge is good, but a milk chocolate filled with peanut butter lady finger
• Hearing my favorite song on the radio
• Getting a nice, long hug from my niece
• a cup of java
• someone else who makes and serves me coffee
  
• having something in my head and then when I put it down on paper (computer?) it comes out exactly the way I wanted
• a cold mug of beer with a good group of friends
• a pair of jeans after they have been worn a few times
• french toast with an egg sunny side up on top with lots of syrup
• taking a picture and knowing instantly it is really good
• waking up the morning of vacation
• Saint calling me before he goes to bed to say good night
• sigh, feeling just a little bit better after making a list of love
  

Metablogging - to follow or not to follow

In the beginning, I would find a blog and follow them simply because I liked their writing. Maybe I even only liked that one post that I read, but I always thought, if later, I didn't really relate to their writing then I would just unfollow.

Easy, thinking.

Like? Follow

No like? Unfollow

But the fact is, once I really got started following people I had so many people I couldn't possibly go through and read all their posts. And as a fellow blogger, I AM A SUPPORTER. If you blog and I like your blog, I want to support you. I want you to know that I am listening. Which means I comment on your blog. Especially when it reaches out and grabs me.

But if after many times of visiting your blog, I don't relate or the post doesn't make me comment, I feel the need to unfollow.

Is this wrong? To unfollow?

I wouldn't think so.

Then I get comments from people who ASK ME TO FOLLOW THEM and I gotta be honest, I think this is rude. I think it is assumptive. I think this feels like high school where if I am cool I will have a million followers.

Is that the goal? To just have followers?

I feel the goal is not to just have a side bar that has a million followers, but to find blogs that you care about and read them, then comment on them. If you read that blog constantly, follow it. Share it. Etc.

Yes it is oh so cool to read and comment on blogs like Dooce or Pioneer Woman, but by the time we really get to these maybe they are already a paying job. Not to say anything bad about that. There isn't. Heck that would be an awesome job. And I constantly read both those blogs. I even own Pioneer Woman's cookbook - it's signed - but I am looking to support my fellow bloggers who are out there letting their voice be heard too. But does that mean, I should go around the blogosphere and just click follow on every blog?

The point?

Please don't ask me to follow you.

If I am playing along with a follow me day, cool, follow me. But do you really need to ask me to follow?

If you love a blog, follow it.

If you love a post, comment on it.

Wanna contribute to Metablogging week? Go here. Or go check out Scmutzie bc I like her blog. (yes, I follow her)

Grace in small things - edition six

My cup runneth over

Today was one of those days where I am so happy to be alive and living my life.

For the first time in almost five days, I am feeling better. YEAH!!

I got to sneak out of work for about 10 minutes. I walked to Starbucks to get some treats for my team. And myself. (perk!!) I was walking, yes, it was still one hundred and hell degrees outside, but it was GORgeous. There was little clouds in the sky, it was bright and cheerful. I was wearing this beautiful skirt that I got from work the other day. My free piece in our latest collection. Oh yes, I get free clothes on occasion. (perk!!) And it hit me -

I was walking to Starbucks.
I was getting paid to go on an errand
AND
I was getting Starbucks too!
ZOIKS!

I felt myself stop mid walk just to take a few deep breaths. It was glorious!

So I started ticking off all the things I am thankful for -

My eyes are feeling better. I gave in and went to the dr on Friday before work. Turns out it is some kind of eye infection, viral, but of course, they don't know exactly what it is. Wednesday, it was in my left eye, by Friday it was in both. They gave me some eye ointment to rub in my eyes over the next week. Said it would feel better after 24-48 hours. Turns out they were right. Huh, odd. I have my energy back too. Not to mention I'm hungry again.

I am in love. And he is in love with me. He is considering moving in with me, which is the next step in a possible long term relationship. He is good to me. He takes care of me. He considers how I feel. It is good to be with him. Am I ever going to get tired of repeating this to myself?

I bought new pjs the other day. Who doesn't love new pjs? AND they were one clearance. They are oh so cute! They're capris. Saint calls them high waters, but what does he know? They are pinstriped with buttons. My first pjs without drawstrings. Without telling too much information, Saint had quite the time figuring out how to take them off. Hilarious!!

I have a beautiful apartment. Two bedroom, one of which is my very own craft room. WOOT! I just redid it. It's all organized and ready to play in. Well, almost. I do have a few things to still organize and decide to keep or throw away, but whatever. (for pics, see Martha Monday post tomorrow)

Clean sheets. Who doesn't love sliding in to nice, hot, freshly made sheets? With my not feeling well, I have been washing the sheets every other night just to make sure.

I am completely addicted to Sun Chips. I love the original flavor, but Saint recently invested in a huge bag of all flavors, so I am trying them one by one. I do enjoy french onion and I don't mind the cheddar, but not a fan of the salsa.

My kitties are happy and healthy. After Izabel's lion cut, she is in a much better mood and very lovable!

My family is taking a nice vacation to New England later in the year together. That will be fun! I have always wanted to visit Boston, Newport, Martha's Vineyard, etc.

Life is good.

Grace in small things - edition five

This post is dedicated to love. That rapturous love that I never thought I'd ever have again. Cool things is, it's way better because I constantly feel my heart bowling over with emotional goodness (which never happened before).

A list of things I NEVER EVER thought I would think were sexy in a man . . . ever but are so frickin' attractive in Saint I can't stand it. I just wanna lick him, they are that sexy.

1. He's responsible. He never calls in to work, in fact, he actually goes above and beyond his job description. He has two jobs and though it doesn't leave as much time for us/me as I would like, it is okay with me.

2. He listens to me. He doesn't say much, unless he gets in that mood, but he lets me talk about whatever. He never tells me I should have done it this way; I did it badly or whatnot. He simply listens and gives validating feedback. (not to say the man doesn't utter the words "you're wrong" on a daily basis)

3. He enjoys hanging out with my family. And my family likes being with him.

4. He not only OFFERS to help with dishes and cooking, but he actually does it.

5. He wants to be with me. He chooses me over most things - work does occasionally come first, oh and sleep, but hey, I'm okay with this.

Grace in Small Things: my edition #1

I am a fan of schmutzie. I think her writing is creative and honest; her photos are inventive and beautiful. So I thought I'd give her suggestion for trying grace in small things a try.

Here's the official link for Grace in Small Things

And the original blog post about her starting Grace in Small Things

1. I am still alive and not wanting to pull the covers over my head in desperate attempt to sleep til my allergies (or whatever is trying to kill me) goes away.


2. My kitties are not only happy, but rolling around (literally) on the ground purring and acting like odd little things.


3. Pecan pie made by Saint, who like an ass, left it at my place for me to continuously eat til it is gone.



4. I like bananas, in fact I would probably eat bananas sliced in my cheerios most mornings except bananas go bad. BUT this has to be the absolutely most offensive looking thing ever. And I keep seeing it - the chocolate festival, the chocolate store (oh, wait, I'm seeing a pattern) yet I find it amusing too. Go figure.



5. The fact that I am in a relationship with Saint that is so easy and so comfortable that we can spend a morning watching tv and cuddling together (ok so I slept and he watched a movie) or an quiet evening putting together a puzzle, talking and laughing together or the fact that my father not only likes him, but respects him. How odd it is to be in a healthy, happy relationship. And how odd that I find that odd.