:right now it is hard to find joy in the world but it was a beautiful day at the seafood market. I guess it is the small things.

Joy today
 

The most joy I ever get is skyping with my surrogate granddaughter. She tells me her life story (4 yrs old) and the goodbyes last about 20 min. with the thrown kisses and I love yous'. She is the light of my life and her mom says to me "you are important to all of us" . Nice feeling, much joy.

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Finding Oct's issue of Chicago Magazine in my PO Box a few days earlier than normal!

It's the little things....

The magazine was fine BUT now, I've got Chicago Fever.....
 

~~~
A phone call from my "favorite traveling companion" in Chicago!

Ordering my glasses today. I'll be able to see in a week to 10 days.

Driving home after, I passed a field with about six horses. One of them was rolling around on his back. He looked like he was having fun. :)

I may have gotten a little joy from today's headlines.

Early this morning, after taking pictures of the moon, I got to watch 4 beautiful deer (3 doe and 1 of their babies) dance, jump, kick their back feet up, run around playing together, and almost do back flips like a bunch of baby goats. They looked so happy and were having so much fun! It made my day.

Later, I had lots of joy as I bought a bunch more stained glass (at a huge discount).

When I got home, I got to enjoy a few minutes in my new pole barn gazebo. I'm very happy how it turned out.

a bouquet of dinner-plate Dahlia's <3
 

Reading an article my buddy posted on Facebook about gay men taking over the hashtag #proud boys on twitter.

Makes me proud of all those boys!

A day spent exploring the coast.

Joy today
 

Most joy I ever get, talking to the little one on skype, well, I guess you would call it listening to four year old stories

I found 5 new masks under the sink.

Joy today
 

No more daylight savings time. yesssssssssssssssss

Voting! I stood in line for an hour and fifteen minutes. I am glad that part is over.

My phone interview went well and I have a video interview on Monday. If I get this job I will be extremely joyful and grateful.

I received my Absentee Ballot today. I am so excited to vote! I will be filling it out today and then checking it over tomorow and taking it to the post office. Then I will track its progress online.

Go Blue!

Conference time with colleagues. It was great asking them about a case i have that clearly none of them (they are seasoned) even know what to do.. Glad I was NOT the only one stumped!!!!

Joy
 

Yesterday I spent time chatting with dear old friends. What a great day. The pandemic may stop us from visiting but a phone call can really put a spring in your step. Joy.

:cowboy:

So true...
 

~~

:goodpost:

Second best only to a phone call......
 

~~

A letter in yesterday's mail stack that I didn't discover until just a few minutes ago...

Took a walk...

Took a walk through my neighbourhood and noticed that people are starting the annual "winter prep". We all pray and hope that the seasonal cycles will stay relatively constant but we prepare for anomalies and , at worst, disasters.

We look forward with joy to our "4 season" climate and realize with dread that human beings may have f**cked that up forever.

Our politicians owe us their best efforts to prevent or at least forestall that cataclysm till we can figure out what to do.

If they fail at that, what does it matter what else they do.

Joy to the World.

Reading a satirical article poking fun at Susan Collins...
 

Satire from the Borowitz Report in the New Yorker...

Susan Collins Concerned That Amy Coney Barrett Too Indecisive.

WASHINGTON (The Borowitz Report)—Calling the Supreme Court nominee’s testimony “worrisome,” Senator Susan Collins said that she is concerned that Amy Coney Barrett is too indecisive to sit on the nation’s highest court.

“When she was asked a question, she often appeared hesitant, evasive, and wishy-washy,” Collins said. “That’s no way for a person serving in a high government position to behave.”

The Senator from Maine said that Barrett’s dithering verged on being “annoying and even aggravating.”

“The American people deserve decisiveness from their public officials, not relentless shilly-shallying,” Collins said. “This is the sort of vacillating that makes people despise you.”

Asked whether she would ultimately vote to confirm Barrett, Collins waited for a full minute before responding, “I am deeply troubled and concerned by what I have heard from her to date, but would need to hear more before I could come down one way or another on that.”

....:rofl:....

I got to have my nephews for a few hours today. I see them so sparingly now with them in school and all of us trying to stay covid free. We had an outside play date for two hours while my sister in law got to go out to lunch with a friend. I brought chalk and this thing to make snow and slime. We had a lot of good messy outside play time. Best was we made optical courses modeled after the sensory hallways that a lot of schools are doing. I made them one and then they made another one of their own creation. I wore them out, as promised.

Hearing good news after my sister went to her doctor's appointment.

Okay technically yesterday and maybe joy is a bit of an exaggeration but it was still a bright spot in an otherwise difficult day. While out secondhand shopping I found an unopened pack of six Kirkland Signature heavyweight all cotton men's crew neck undershirts and five JCPenny short sleeve Xersion T-shirts also brand new with stickers and tags still on, altogether for about 1/3 the cost of retail. I also found two gently used Dickies Cooling Temp-IQ Performance short sleeve T-shirts. I'd bought one the other day instead of both because I didn't know if or how much I'd like it, but it was so comfy I knew I just had to get the other. Well today there was another so I bought them both and now have three. Though slightly used I actually like the Dickies better than the brand new ones so will just have to see which I like best after they all come out of the wash. Of the lot surprisingly the only ones I'd feel comfortable wearing outdoors are the undershirts because they're actually heavier weight than many of the T-shirts I see both women and men running around in outdoors these day but they're way too long. That's okay, fine for around the house and when I lose some more weight they'll make good nightshirts.

The hours long phone call I had with my baby brother. He's bringing my mother over to see Rico and I, this fall. It will be the first time I have seen my mom and brother since a few years ago. And it will be their first time meeting my future husband. Rico is beside himself with joy to meet my mom and brother. And I am beyond filled with joy that Rico is mine and I am his and the fact that my mom and brother are so excited to meet him. :stillheart:

My boss wrote me such a stellar recommendation letter with lots of kind comments. It feels so nice to be appreciated. Speaking of, I'm trying to think of a way to express my gratitude to her for the letter. If we were in person, I would give her a card, but we're all remote, and I don't want to ask for her address to mail one.

I just confirmed plans to see my niece on Sunday!!!!

Internet is back up, and running faster now too.

Knowing that I do not want to let go. I want to hang on for dear life - and live the rest of My life surrounding Myself with those that want to hang on for dear life too.

Cautious joy but... joy. Voting early today.