Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more.

Melody Beattie

1. It was in the high 20s and cloudy when I got up. It’s another carbon copy of the weather for the last week. Cold and cloudy – no precipitation, no wind, just grey skies. We have reached the high for the day – 34 deg.

2. Quiet morning (so what’s new). By the time I took my shower, dressed, fixed and ate my breakfast and read my emails it was time to fix something for lunch.

3. Breakfast was a cheese omelet, a piece of Killer Dave’s toast with Polaner sugar-free jam, and a bowl of Del Monte red grapefruit. Lunch was a bowl of Progresso clam chowder and a few Ritz crackers. We’ll see what E. has in mind about supper.

4. My excitement for the day was walking (outside) to the front porch and retrieving a package for B. that was delivered. E. is working today, and L. is still feeling pretty punk with a cold.

5. B. is due home this evening. I didn’t get his flight numbers, so I can’t even use Flight Tracker, to follow him across the country. I think I know the flight number based on his departure time from LaGuardia and the fact he was going through Minneapolis/St. Paul. I’m not sure whether he changes planes there, or changes airlines, or what. He may get a different airline to Seattle, or maybe he’ll go through Salt Lake City. Our little airport makes it necessary to change planes frequently.

How about you? What made you happy today?

The promise was that when the glass was full, it would overflow benefitting the poor. But what happens instead, is that when the glass is full, it magically gets bigger – nothing ever comes out for the poor.

Pope Francis

1. It was 29 deg cloudy, when I got up, but apparently the stagnant air is no more. I’m not sure where they think the stagnant air has gone, ’cause we’ve had no breezes today. Currently, 34 deg – the expected high.

2. I’m usually pretty okay with my widowhood. But for some reason it’s hitting me hard this year. I miss Al all the time, but his birthday on 1/19, and now the advertisements for Valentine gifts are hitting me in the feels. The ad for Whitman’s Sampler had me in tears this morning, because he ALWAYS gave me a box that I didn’t have to share with anybody.

3. Breakfast was Trader Joe’s sweet apple chicken sausage, a fried egg, Del Monte red grapefruit, and Killer Dave’s toast with Polaner sugar-free jam. Lunch was the other half of my Jimmy John’s sandwich from yesterday. I have no idea about supper.

4. Luna’s fiancee left on the plane around noon. We’re now down to just E., L., the doggies, and me. Very quiet in the house.

5. I’m going to spend the rest of the afternoon reading Food is Love. by Hugh Hollowell. I’ll have to pace myself because it’s pretty short, and I don’t want it to be over too soon. If you want a copy, you can order it directly from his company – Canebrake Studio, http://canebrakestudio.com

How about you? What made you happy today?

In everyone’s life, at some time, our inner fire goes out. It is then burst into flame by an encounter with another human being. We should all be thankful for those people who rekindle the inner spirit. 

Albert Schweitzer

1. It was near 30 deg and cloudy when I got up. Still lots of clouds and an “air stagnation” warning still in effect. High this afternoon – 34 deg.

2. (Not happy) – Luna and her fiancee (who’s visiting) are both fighting a cold or the flu – coughing and feverish. I’m isolating in my room, and wearing a mask when I venture out.

3. Breakfast was two strips of bacon, a fried egg, a bowl of Del Monte red grapefruit, and a piece of Killer Dave’s toast with Polaner’s sugar-free jam. E. fetched me Jimmy John’s sandwich when she went to get aspirin and cough syrup for the two sickies. I’ll have the other half of my sandwich for supper.

4. I just got Food is Love, written by Hugh Hollowell. I can hardly wait to start reading it.

5. Greisser Girls Gab is this afternoon. I’m planning on having hot chocolate fortified with my Irish Creme instead of red wine – it’s cold and I want something comforting.

How about you? What made you happy today?

The morning is the best time, there are no people around. My pleasant disposition likes the world with nobody in it.

Georgia O’Keefe

1. It was in the upper 20s and mostly clear when I got up. The clouds returned, and by the time I fixed breakfast we were socked in. The temperature hasn’t made much advance on this morning. Currently it’s 36 deg and has reached the high for today.

2. Two years ago was Big Al’s last birthday – he died the following July. We were married 59 years, I still miss him all the time.

3. Breakfast was maple pecan granola with blueberries, a bowl of Del Monte red grapefruit, and a piece of Killer Dave’s toast with Polaner sugar-free jam. Lunch was a Barebells Pumpkin Spice protein bar. We’re having pot roast for supper, but I’ll probably just fix a plate and eat in my room (see #5).

4. B. is leaving this afternoon to fly to New York to a Microsoft conference. He’ll be back on Thursday night or maybe Friday morning depending on weather. Mother Hen worries when her little chick is out of the nest.

5. I’m such an idiot, I thought the finals of the College Football season started at 1:30 Pacific Time. WRONG. It’s at 4:30 Pacific time. At least I didn’t miss it.

How about you? What made you happy today?

Choosing to have joy is not naively thinking everything will be easy. It is courageously believing that there is still hope, even when things get hard.

Morgan Harper Nichols 

1. It was 31 deg and cloudy when I got up this morning. Same song second, third, fourth…verse. A little bit louder and a little bit worse. Stagnant air and high of 36 deg.

2. Quiet day today. Sundays usually are since B. and E. don’t do the church thing. They spent their morning watching TV. I spent my morning with my email and computer.

3. Breakfast was two strips of bacon, two fried eggs, a bowl of Del Monte red grapefruit, and a piece of Killer Dave’s toast with Polaner sugar-free jam. Lunch was a bowl of Progresso clam chowder (I splurged on the real stuff instead of the lo-cal kind.) Afternoon snack was a Barebell’s Minty Chocolate bar. I MAY have a hot dog for dinner, or maybe not.

4. No exercise today. That’s probably okay. It’s best to take a day off at least once a week.

5. I see folks in the neighborhood walking their dogs. I’m thankful that the three fur babies that live in this house have a nice fenced-in backyard to run and woof in. It’s cold out there.

How about you? What made you happy today?

Gratefulness allows us to nurture a keener eye that no longer rushes past the small everyday moments that make up the larger part of our lives.

Guri Mehta

1. It was 31deg and cloudy when I got up. More clouds and stagnant air. The current temperature is the expected high – 36 deg.

2. I didn’t even get up until almost 10:00. I did manage to get all my outstanding emails read, and either filed or deleted.

3. Breakfast was two poached eggs on toast, and a bowl of Del Monte red grapefruit, Lunch was maple pecan granola, and blueberries. Supper will be leftover pizza from last night.

4. B., E., and I went to the gym and worked out for about an hour. I usually manage to get warm, at the gym, even though I’ve been cold all day.

5. I’m going to sit down in my rocker, and watch a little TV.

How about you? What made you happy today?

The earth is a living thing. Mountains speak, trees sing, lakes can think, pebbles have a soul, rocks have power.

Henry Crow Dog

1. It was 32 deg and cloudy when I got up. The temperature hasn’t changed much all day. In fact, now it’s 35 deg – probably the high!

2. I managed to get my emails all read and deleted this morning (unless they were terribly important.)

3. Breakfast was a cheese omelet, Del Monte red grapefruit, and a piece of Killer Dave’s toast with Polaner sugar-free jam. Lunch was a bowl of Campbell’s tomato soup, and some Ritz crackers. Papa John’s pizza for supper.

4. B. and I are headed to the gym to get that out of the way. If I stay here, I’m liable to eat something.

5. We’re home from the gym, and I’m ready to sit in my rocker and veg out for the rest of the day.

How about you? What made you happy today?

What will matter is the good we did, not the good we expected others to do.

Elizabeth Lesser

1. It was 32 deg and foggy when I got up. The fog is still with us in the middle of the afternoon. Current temperature is 39 deg. Anybody, who thought maybe winter was over, was wrong.

2. It’s been a quiet day so far today. I was alone in the house with the doggies until about noon when Luna brought her girlfriend back. They left before I got up this morning. She seemed happy to lie on the couch and watch TV before Luna got home.

3. Breakfast was a Trader Joe’s sweet apple chicken sausage, a fried egg, a bowl of Del Monte red grapefruit, and Killer Dave’s toast with Polaner’s sugar-free jam. Lunch was two chicken thighs that I finally remembered to move from the freezer to the refrigerator so they would be thawed enough to cook. Also some leftover rice, and six Brussels sprouts. I’ll see what, if anything, others are having for supper. I may skip it.

4. B. just got home from his meetings at Eagle. He said the weather wasn’t too bad for him. Some freezing mist, but nothing was sticking. I’m happy he’s not too tired to go to the gym. We’ll go before too long. I’ve missed going since he’s been away.

5. I was super pleased to find I had lost a pound overnight. Now I have to lose one more before the end of the month (and keep this one off) to make my goal. I’m trying for 2 pounds a month.

How about you? What made you happy today?

Do not be afraid to start over. 

Pam Munoz Ryan

1. It was 32 deg and clearing, with an air stagnation advisory, when I got up. It was pretty clear this morning, but gradually, the thin clouds have returned. I guess that’s what they mean by an “air stagnation alert.” We’ve reached the expected high for the day of 44 deg.

2. This morning I spent my time reading my emails, and disappearing down several rabbit holes. There’s no reason on earth that it should take me almost two hours to read, and delete all my overnight email. But I didn’t really have anything else to do.

3. Breakfast was maple pecan granola with blueberries, and some orange juice. Lunch was half a little ham steak, some broccoli, and a medium sweet potato. I’ll have a Minty Chocolate Barebells protein bar for afternoon snack, and a chocolate covered vanilla ice cream bar for supper. I’m struggling (as I have for years) to get enough iron. and keep my fiber and calcium up.

4. Since B. is at a conference, I did sit-to-stands, and some weight work by myself this afternoon to get some exercise.

5. I know I need to find some sort of continuing project to work on. I’ll bet you all are getting tired of me talking about the same thing every day. But I enjoy my life as it is, and I don’t want to change anything about it.

How about you? What made you happy today?

I choose attentions as an act of love – and of resistance.

Nadia Bolz-Weber

1. It was 40 deg and cloudy when I got up this morning. Spotty clouds all day with a few peeks of the sun. It’s 53 deg right now, and it MAY get a couple of degrees warmer before the sun goes away entirely.

2. I got up and started my washing before breakfast. The washer did its thing all morning, and I had everything transferred into the dryer by 10:30. The dryer was finished about noon, and I got everything hung up before I ate lunch.

3. Breakfast was two poached eggs on Killer Dave’s toast, another piece of Killer Dave’s toast with Polaner sugar-free jam, and a bowl of Del Monte red grapefruit. Lunch was a Simply Fresh BLT salad and a couple of Ritz crackers, with a Barebells Caramel Choco protein bar for dessert. I’ll find something for supper…

4. B. left this morning to go to a work meeting for three days. E. has entertained herself making the King Cake to tempt me with.

5. Greisser Girls Gab is this afternoon. I’m looking forward to having a glass of wine with the sisters.

How about you? What made you happy today?