My list

I would never claim that my life is perfect. I know one or two married friends who read my blog and are envious of the life I’m able to live in the city as a single girl, but I think they have wonderful lives in their own right. However, I started this list (preferring to focus on the positive) and it just went on and on …

Some things that make me happy:

• A dream that I was holding my beautiful baby nephew (who is yet to be born) and kissing his sweet rosy cheeks;
• Walking down the street where I live, and a car passes by, music blaring Is it gangsta rap, heavy metal? No! It’s “Fly Me to the Moon” by Frank Sinatra;
• Watching a pair of moustached terriers eagerly trot down the sidewalk while on a nightly walk with their owner;
• Taking a really great photograph, or going through my best photographs;
• Dreaming of kittens;
• Reading most books by Janet Evanovich;
• Finding a great “new” CD/song/artist, like “Hang On Little Tomato” by Pink Martini, or “Vocalise” by Rachmaninoff;
• "Moderato" from Piano Concerto #2 by Rachmaninoff;
  
• Book shopping (but this one is mixed because I can never buy all the books that I want to);
• Reading the colourful imagery, dry witty observances, and authoritative voice of Maya Angelou;
• Joe Hutchison's wonderful one-line poem "Artichoke": "O heart weighed down by so many wings";
• Seeing George Clooney on the cover of Vanity Fair;
• Kiwi Lychee Curiosity Fruitopia;
• The banana chocolate chip muffins at the little place in my office building;
• Seeing the guy at my gym who reminds me of Mac, one of my dearest friends from university;
• The way my cat Sabrina sleeps in the crook of my arm with her head on my shoulder;
• Korean food, Spring Rolls’ red curry seafood, and my mom’s potatoes with beef gravy (though not all at once!);
• Thinking of the day my university roommate Faye and I tried to keep a raw egg from spilling onto our stairs (loooong story, but hilarious!);
• Chocolate-covered cranberries, and/or chocolate-dipped strawberries;
• The thought that this November, the Democrats might actually win both the American House and Senate;
• Hiking (easy hikes);
• Adventure;
• Waterfalls;
• The movie “Pride and Prejudice” (the one with Kiera Knightley);
• Watching George Stroumboulopoulos on “The Hour” (when he’s good);
• The movie “The Thomas Crown Affair” (the one with Renee Russo, surprisingly);
• Toronto Symphony Orchestra concerts;
• Nelly Furtado;
• Tango music;
• “I Will Survive” by Gloria Gaynor, because it reminds me of the time that Wendy and I belted out the lyrics to the music (much to the curiosity of the others around our dorm that afternoon);
• Thinking that my friend Abi might actually – finally – be happy;
• Knowing that my brother is happy and married to a wonderful person;
• The way my cats meow when I say “Hungry?” and the way they trot - urgently - toward the food dishes;
• Hearing that my roommate Farzanah likely isn’t moving to B.C. after all;
• Spending time outside work with my colleague and friend Nancy, because she is so in touch with her inner child and can make me laugh;
• Goofing around with Kevin, the best gay friend a girl could ever have;
  
• Remembering Nishi’s expression of disbelief as she told us about a guy she met who still didn’t realize that Nelson Mandela had been released from prison, years after the fact;
• Spanish or classical guitar music, particularly if it is played by John Williams;
• Realizing that my first boyfriend changed the course of my life forever and dramatically for the better, even though in the end it didn’t work out for our relationship;
• The song "Back on the Chain Gang" by the Pretenders;
• "Jesse's Girl" by Rick Springfield;
• Spending time with my friend Andrea, who is so alive and vibrant, and tells me stories like trying not to laugh at her brother's wedding rehearsal when the priest asks the bride, "Rose, you did order the altar boys for Saturday, didn't you?";
• That every year since becoming an adult, life gets better and better;
• Not just passing my Photoshop course, but getting an A for my final assignment, and that it’s finally over!

Feel free to add your own list in the comments. However, here’s another list to keep in mind:

1. My mother reads this blog
2. My mother reads this blog
3. My mother reads this blog

:)