''Tis the season to be slightly depressed. Or REALLY depressed. Or just kinda malaise-y with a touch of the melancholy.
I don't mean everyone, of course. Some people are downright sunny this time of year, and to those people I say, "You are SO annoying," and then I add, "And, also, I'm jealous."
This year, I am uniquely un-depressed, which I attribute almost entirely to acupuncture. Still, in this season of stress and busy-ness and two wars and no health care reform (yet?) and commercialism and obligation and shit-who-did-I-forget-to-get-a-present-for, I thought it might be nice to remind ourselves (read: me) that there is good in the world.
So. In no particular order.
Things That Are Good In The World:
1. Babies.
2. Friends who are thoughtful enough to have babies.
3. Pretty much friends in general.
4. Puppies.
5. Ducks.
6. Gainful employment.
7. Dyson vacuum cleaners.
8. Solar panels. Please let me be able to afford them when I remodel.
9. According to an article I read in the New Yorker, the Chinese are actually pretty on top of this whole global warming thing. I mean, not that they're turning anything around yet, but they've got some serious tech in the works. Sometimes I forget that, uh, nobody else wants to breathe shitty air, lose the ice caps, destroy coastal regions, etc., either.
10. My friend Bob's mole sauce.
11. Any movie with Hepburn and Tracy. (And most movies with Cary Grant.)
12. Down comforters.
13. Soft pillows.
14. Yarn of all kinds.
15. Sweden.
16. Vienna.
17. Copenhagen.
18. Asheville.
19. Minnesota.
20. Keurig coffee/tea/cocoa makers
21. Dutch ovens.
23. Smitten Kitchen.
24. Acupuncture.
25. Road trips.
.
Okay, those are mine. Some of them anyway.
What are your good things?
I'm with you on the babies, puppies, and Dyson vacuum cleaners. I highly recommend having Roomba too.
That's about it for me. argh. Maybe I should try the acupuncture?
Posted by: Chris | 12/21/2009 at 07:46 AM
Programmable thermostats
Toffee
Islands
Posted by: EscapeVelocity | 12/21/2009 at 08:06 AM
Chris-- Ha! Acupuncture= miracle drug! And Escape Velocity-- looking up Toffee Islands now...
Posted by: sarahfain | 12/21/2009 at 08:39 AM
Unless toffee and islands were two things.... in which case, Im with you!
Posted by: sarahfain | 12/21/2009 at 08:41 AM
Very good things: Paris, travels, friends, writing, books, Women's Murder Club, pasta & skype/yahoo. The latter are necessary and life-saving when you and your girlfriend live on different sides of the 'pond';)
Posted by: Barb | 12/21/2009 at 09:34 AM
Minnesota?!!! From someone who lives there: it's alright in the summer, but it was seriously -20 last week. Though I have finally purchased a sensible coat, after 25 years in the Midwest. ;)
Good things to me:
-my puppy
-being employed (with reasonable and nice boss to tout)
-butterscotch pudding
-sleep (and rest in general)
Great post! Happy holidays!
Posted by: veeb | 12/21/2009 at 11:37 AM
Good things:
1) Coffee
2) Sushi
3) Getting sweetly woken up by your kids in the morning -- but only if not preceded by squealing/screaming
4) Books
5) A reasonable amount of snow on/around Christmas
6) Time to think
7) Massages
8) Naps - mine or the kids', as long as they are napping at the same time
9) Percocet for migraines
Wow. I just realized I kinda created a whole arc with my list.
Posted by: Heather | 12/21/2009 at 12:03 PM
Combine 18 & 25. We'll provide 2 &4.
Posted by: steve | 12/21/2009 at 01:30 PM
In no particular order (but numbered, because I feel like numbering them):
1) my daughter Ivy (who's birth changed so many things in my life ...not the least of which is my perspective)
2) books (all kinds of books - books to read, picture books, coloring books, sudoku books, books that become movies, books, books, books)
3) christmas trees and the glow that the lights give off at 5 in the morning before anyone else is up (even the dogs)
4) dogs
5) family (even though they can drive me crazy, i'm blessed to have a good one)
6) angels (yes, angels ... and yes, i believe in them and they are a good thing and i am thankful everyday for them)
7) friends
8) homemade sourdough bread, still warm from the oven
9) cashmere
10) hope (because without it, there might not be peace on earth someday)
Posted by: jeanne | 12/22/2009 at 06:21 AM
Thank you for sharing this list. Sweden, Sudoku and Acupuncture are also on my list :)
Posted by: Puzzles Sudoku | 12/25/2009 at 05:38 AM