Oh, Happy Day

When I got home tonight, Thomas Keller's new cookbook Ad Hoc At Home was waiting in an Amazon box just inside the doggy door.  To understand my joy, you have to know that I've been waiting for this cookbook for MONTHS-- since I ate one of my favorite meals ever at Bouchon, Keller's restaurant in Napa.

I'm quite sure the roasted chicken recipe in this cookbook will be among the best in existence, although I won't know for awhile, because these days I read cookbooks like novels.  One at a time, cover to cover.  (As I wrote that sentence, I realized it's not true.  I actually tend to read several books at once.  But not cookbooks.  I'm one at a time with cookbooks.)  I'm currently half-way through Salt to Taste, which is completely changing the way I think about Italian cooking.  And salt. And pretty much everything having to do with food, really.

The highly anticipated arrival of something great is one of the hallmarks of a wonderful day, and today I had two highly anticipated arrivals.  "Ad Hoc at Home" was actually the second.  

The first was Gretchen Rubin's book signing at Vroman's Bookstore in Pasadena.  

Since Gretchen is WP's sister, I've been intently following her Happiness Project journey. And she's been extremely generous and supportive of my blogging endeavors, which I appreciate deeply.  

So I was beyond thrilled to see a big crowd at Vroman's.  128 people, to be exact.  The Vroman's people had to keep bringing out more chairs, and still there were folks standing in the back.  For a Monday night in Pasadena, that's huge!  HUGE!!!

All I can say is that I hope every person there benefits as much as I have from Gretchen's insights into happiness.  If you haven't bought the book or checked out the website, now's a good time.  

Because, as Gretchen pointed out tonight, we can all be happier.  In ways big and small, mundane and profound-- like the success of a friend, or flipping through a new cookbook-- happiness is within reach. 

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What's made you happy lately?  Have you had any highly anticipated arrivals? 

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Comments

[Barb]

Hi Sarah,
being close to finishing a project with my partner makes me very happy these days - having her in my life in the first place, that is.

I was happy to hear that Angie Harmon is going to be another book series-coming-to-TV detective (we can't get Lindsay Boxer back, so that's as good as it gets). And speaking of which, I love seeing new people discovering the fandom still.

Hope we get Lie To Me back, soon :)

Barb

[Jen]

I'm on a tight rope of happiness right now, I'd say. There's a new man in my life, but my intentions may not be entirely honorable. :) He's the first since my husband died almost two years ago, and all sorts of dormant feelings and emotions are swirling around in my heart and mind. Having just finished Gretchen's wonderful book, I'm focusing on enjoying the moment, not trying to plan the future, and trying to being honest with myself and in my communications with him. "Lighten up" I've been telling myself.

[Melinda]

The Saints are in the Super Bowl! This made me very happy because (having spent Christmas in New Orleans, where I went to a Saints game in the Superdome) I've become a big supporter of the city of New Orleans -- and I was particularly touched by the incredibly warm and cheerful spirit that pervades everything that happens there, parTICularly everything that has to do with the Saints. You can't imagine how much they love that team. So, knowing how happy my friends in New Orleans are, and what a jubliant joyous lift it's giving to the city right now, has been keeping me smiling all week.