GOOD THINGS

In the interest of channeling my inner Martha Stewart, I've decided to compile a list of my own "Good Things". For the unintiated, good things are items, projects, habits that make life just a little more pleasant in the use of them.

*Reading cookbooks and pretending that I might actually, someday make the new stuff. With this, of course, comes a delusional thought/hope that my family might like it. Unlikely.

*Blue Clear Bic Stics-- The only other pen that comes close in flow are the pink pens from the Eye doctor. The blue and green ones that are the same brand are inferior.

*Uniball-micro roller-- Is it strange to have such a love for pens. The micro-roller is especially good for doodling, drawing, etc. on the margins of notes and for making up monograms-- a hobby of mine.

*Fiskars small paper cutter: I own a large paper cutter. It can cut many sheets of paper with one pass. I never use it. Enter, though, the little 8 1/2 in. one that I use for absolutely everything from scrapbooking to fliers. A very useful tool.

* Graco Bouncy Seat w/ vibration and toys: for obvious reasons this little bugger is a real sanity saver. But be careful. Overuse can result in delayed development-- just ask Nate's physical therapist whose first words when she walked in my house were: "Throw it outside and Step away. The bouncy seat is NOT your friend." Ummmmm-- Yes it was. And is again.

* vaseline--when running, this substance protects from chafing, blisters, etc. Lifesaving, even.

* Mr. Clean Magic Eraser.-- Any mom whose ever had a budding van Gogh in their midst can appreciate this little sucker removing pen, pencil and every other art medium off of walls. + lots of other uses.

*Advil-- Ibuprofen is what the doctors were talking about when they said "take two and call me in the morning". 4-600 mg. always seems to cure what ails me. Except when I have a migraine in which case the miracle is Excedrin. I haven't got much use for tylenol, except when nursing the kids. Advil will even usually do the trick for me post-surgery, baby, etc.

*HP5700 Series printer/copier/scanner. When I got my first all-in-one, Rob thought it was excessive. No longer. We copy financial records at home, I can make things up for the kids to do at home. I can't begin to tell you how useful it is to have the scanner and copier features. I have never been able to figure out the fax feature but it matters not. The time and energy I have saved in having this has more than paid for its relatively inexpensive price.

*IPOD: Music is such a part of my life's experience. I love having all of it at my fingertips. So be it a country, or pop, or broadway day, with the click of a button I am transported. Priceless.

*Library card: I'll admit that since the proliferation of my children I have been somewhat remiss in my library attendance. I am known for the late fees I owe as my visitations are sporadic and undisciplined. But a library is a heavenly building. In my alternate life I would probably choose to be Rahni (librarian at East High, I believe) handing out the best books to teens and watching them get excited about the amazing literature out there. I don't think I could work in a book store for two reasons-- I'd spend my paycheck in the store before I ever walked out the door and 2. I would just like to give away books as a gift to people who walk in the door. Anyway, libraries are some of my favorite places.

WOW, this is a way long post but I guess it just shows me how many amazing little things I have to be grateful for, in addition to all the big things.