The happy meme
October 20th, 2007 11:57 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
shiredancerI was tagged for this earlier in the month by ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
arnie1967 and it has taken this long for me to get to it -- I've been scarce around here lately *apologetic smile*. But it makes a nice framework for posting about my recent doings and summing up the last few months.
List ten things that made you happy recently and then tag ten other people to do the same.
1. Celebrating my 21st wedding anniversary on September 7. Kidlet was away for the weekend, so we made a serendipitous trip to the nearby town of Solvang and the wine country immortalized in the movie Sideways (which, after all that immortalizing and subsequent tourism boost, could have been a very bad idea, but wasn't). After trying to get online reservations and finding everything either completely booked, having a two-night minimum, and/or way overpriced, we just drove up on Saturday morning to see what we could find, and got a very charming room for far less than anything we'd seen on the 'net. We brought our bikes, so drove to the foot of Alamo Pintado Road, unloaded, and set off on our own bike tour of the wine region (thereby saving ourselves many, many dollars compared to the expensive guided tours -- gah!). It was gorgeous: perfectly warm, sunny, not too crowded, no wind... perfect. We stopped at several wineries, saw some famous inns, and rode about five nice, flat miles to the town of Los Olivos. We had lunch at the cafe there, where the dinner scene in Sideways was filmed -- OMG, dried fruits and figs and *incredible* cheeses! But no wine -- we were just a tad sick of the stuff by then *g*. Then we rode back, had a few more tastings, and by then my pannier bags were stuffed with wine bottles, chocolate, and souvenir glasses. Heh. We passed a miniature horse farm too -- they had big plastic balls in the pasture, I guess for the little horses to play with! Soooo cute, and so tiny. We browsed Solvang the next day, tasted more wine, bought cheeses and mead and Danish pastries, and went home happy.
2. Surviving the ashes. Most of the summer was spent under the smoke and ash of the huge Zaca Fire, the second largest fire in the state's history. We had days and days of drifting ashes and health alerts -- hazardous for anybody with respiratory problems. You could track the progress of the fire (even as far in the back country as it was) by the path of the smoke.
3. Taking a small vacation to see my new great-nephew. Yes, I'm old enough to have a great-nephew! We took Kidlet and her friend up the coast, spending a night in Cambria, seeing the elephant seals, driving up Big Sur (I drove!! Peter had a migraine -- it was my first time to drive it and I *loved* it!), staying a night in Santa Cruz and playing at the boardwalk, and finally getting to the canyons of San Anselmo to visit our niece for a few nights. I cooked up a storm for them -- they got bunches of brown rice with mushroom stroganoff, and homemade enchiladas. New parents, you know -- gotta take care of them.
4. Having the most wonderful weather imaginable, all summer long and now all fall. It's been so lovely, but I know the upshot of it is that we're going deeper into a drought. *Sigh*
5. Having some great meals in town, and seeing a few good movies. That's the kind of summer vacation I really like -- right here at home, but living a little bit like a tourist. We ate at the charming organic global cuisine place, the exciting Cajun place, and the exotic Lebanese place; and we saw Stardust twice in the same week (after seeing it once, we *had* to take Kidlet), and more recently Across the Universe. *Happiness*
6. Belly dancing again! I performed for my friends at Moonridge in June, then at a delightfully funky bar/dive with my class, and again with my class at the Lebanese restaurant. Too fun!
7. Finding out that my new supervisor is *great* and a delight and I'm so happy with her.
8. Going to hear Maria Muldaur sing for the Santa Barbara Blues Society. First time I'd ever been to one of their shows, and I became a life member before the night was over. So. Much. Fun. I love Maria, since her early days with the Jim Kweskin Jug Band and long before the "oasis" or "leg" songs. She's back to her blues roots, earthy, raspy, and honoring the great ladies of the blues. They had a dance floor set up, and we got to DANCE to Maria Muldaur's singing! How great is that?? *And* I won a raffle and came home with two free CDs.
9. Realizing how fabulous and wonderful and dear my friends here are, especially when I have Kidlet crises. *Hugs flist tightly* *Hugs mom-group even tighter*
10. Hearing Kidlet sing today with the new teen workshop she's joined, at the annual Goleta Lemon Festival (and that explains the icon, no?). They did a Beatles medley and sounded fabulous. *Proud*
And I do believe that covers everything!
Oh, I don't plan on tagging anybody -- but if you'd like to try this particular meme, please do.
arnie1967 and it has taken this long for me to get to it -- I've been scarce around here lately *apologetic smile*. But it makes a nice framework for posting about my recent doings and summing up the last few months. List ten things that made you happy recently and then tag ten other people to do the same.
1. Celebrating my 21st wedding anniversary on September 7. Kidlet was away for the weekend, so we made a serendipitous trip to the nearby town of Solvang and the wine country immortalized in the movie Sideways (which, after all that immortalizing and subsequent tourism boost, could have been a very bad idea, but wasn't). After trying to get online reservations and finding everything either completely booked, having a two-night minimum, and/or way overpriced, we just drove up on Saturday morning to see what we could find, and got a very charming room for far less than anything we'd seen on the 'net. We brought our bikes, so drove to the foot of Alamo Pintado Road, unloaded, and set off on our own bike tour of the wine region (thereby saving ourselves many, many dollars compared to the expensive guided tours -- gah!). It was gorgeous: perfectly warm, sunny, not too crowded, no wind... perfect. We stopped at several wineries, saw some famous inns, and rode about five nice, flat miles to the town of Los Olivos. We had lunch at the cafe there, where the dinner scene in Sideways was filmed -- OMG, dried fruits and figs and *incredible* cheeses! But no wine -- we were just a tad sick of the stuff by then *g*. Then we rode back, had a few more tastings, and by then my pannier bags were stuffed with wine bottles, chocolate, and souvenir glasses. Heh. We passed a miniature horse farm too -- they had big plastic balls in the pasture, I guess for the little horses to play with! Soooo cute, and so tiny. We browsed Solvang the next day, tasted more wine, bought cheeses and mead and Danish pastries, and went home happy.
2. Surviving the ashes. Most of the summer was spent under the smoke and ash of the huge Zaca Fire, the second largest fire in the state's history. We had days and days of drifting ashes and health alerts -- hazardous for anybody with respiratory problems. You could track the progress of the fire (even as far in the back country as it was) by the path of the smoke.
3. Taking a small vacation to see my new great-nephew. Yes, I'm old enough to have a great-nephew! We took Kidlet and her friend up the coast, spending a night in Cambria, seeing the elephant seals, driving up Big Sur (I drove!! Peter had a migraine -- it was my first time to drive it and I *loved* it!), staying a night in Santa Cruz and playing at the boardwalk, and finally getting to the canyons of San Anselmo to visit our niece for a few nights. I cooked up a storm for them -- they got bunches of brown rice with mushroom stroganoff, and homemade enchiladas. New parents, you know -- gotta take care of them.
4. Having the most wonderful weather imaginable, all summer long and now all fall. It's been so lovely, but I know the upshot of it is that we're going deeper into a drought. *Sigh*
5. Having some great meals in town, and seeing a few good movies. That's the kind of summer vacation I really like -- right here at home, but living a little bit like a tourist. We ate at the charming organic global cuisine place, the exciting Cajun place, and the exotic Lebanese place; and we saw Stardust twice in the same week (after seeing it once, we *had* to take Kidlet), and more recently Across the Universe. *Happiness*
6. Belly dancing again! I performed for my friends at Moonridge in June, then at a delightfully funky bar/dive with my class, and again with my class at the Lebanese restaurant. Too fun!
7. Finding out that my new supervisor is *great* and a delight and I'm so happy with her.
8. Going to hear Maria Muldaur sing for the Santa Barbara Blues Society. First time I'd ever been to one of their shows, and I became a life member before the night was over. So. Much. Fun. I love Maria, since her early days with the Jim Kweskin Jug Band and long before the "oasis" or "leg" songs. She's back to her blues roots, earthy, raspy, and honoring the great ladies of the blues. They had a dance floor set up, and we got to DANCE to Maria Muldaur's singing! How great is that?? *And* I won a raffle and came home with two free CDs.
9. Realizing how fabulous and wonderful and dear my friends here are, especially when I have Kidlet crises. *Hugs flist tightly* *Hugs mom-group even tighter*
10. Hearing Kidlet sing today with the new teen workshop she's joined, at the annual Goleta Lemon Festival (and that explains the icon, no?). They did a Beatles medley and sounded fabulous. *Proud*
And I do believe that covers everything!
Oh, I don't plan on tagging anybody -- but if you'd like to try this particular meme, please do.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: October 21st, 2007 02:16 pm (UTC)And Happy anniversary, btw. *g*
no subject
Date: October 21st, 2007 04:20 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: October 21st, 2007 06:37 pm (UTC)1- Congratulations! I hope to be in our new master bedroom by anniversary, but hey we'll get there eventually
6- Can you teach that on the internet?
9-Sorry about the non-post on kidlet situation. Everything I typed just didn't seem to really apply. Hang on in there, all we can really do is love them, right?
10-Hearing you kids sing is way up there with wonderful isn't it. Especially when the girl with the microphone leading was so painfully shy she couldn't make eye contact with anyone not related.To see them blossom and gain confidence, amazing.
I had also been tagged for this,but every time I sit down to think of ten things, someone calls me for something. After construction I'm sure ten happy things will quickly leap to mind...one of them being privacy at my computer.
no subject
Date: October 21st, 2007 06:39 pm (UTC)evidently I need more coffee.
no subject
Date: October 21st, 2007 06:53 pm (UTC)::hugs::
Happy belated anniversary! *g*
no subject
Date: October 22nd, 2007 12:04 am (UTC)no subject
Date: October 22nd, 2007 12:09 am (UTC)And you've weighed in with some very thoughtful suggestions on the topic of kidlets, for which I'm so grateful. Still planning that contract...
Wow, a new master bedroom -- how exciting! Please post pics when it's all done, and good luck in the meantime -- construction is something that just has to be born as patiently as possible. But worth it in the end!
no subject
Date: October 22nd, 2007 07:12 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: October 24th, 2007 04:59 am (UTC)California can be one of the loveliest places on earth -- just ask John Muir -- but in situations like the current raging fires, yeah, it can be very scary. Nature has her way here.
*Hugs*