The Smaller Things

Although I spent most of the weekend lounging and doing fun, non-taxing things, I apparently brought work home with me. One of my new cases has been on my mind, because I feel really bad for the foster mom. I feel bad for the kid too, because it's a bad fit between the mom's skills and assets the child's needs. I have all this empathy and compassion for people, and all it does is make me feel yucky when I know they're feeling bad.

So today, having had a pretty good day, I'm trying to focus on small things that give me pleasure. For example, the taste of the celery and cauliflower in my salad, having someone great to talk to on the phone, renting a cheesy horror movie from Redbox, and wearing pajama pants and a sweatshirt. It helps me recharge my tired heart and head.

This is relevant to my interests

I was reading through my friend James' blog, and he wrote 20 things that interest him. I guess it's sort of a list of things he enjoys/is interested in. So, here's my narcissistic contribution to the interwebz/blogosphere.

1. Going to the gym
2. Mental health research
3. Cultural anthropology
4. Text messaging
5. iPod Touch (it's seriously amazing)
6. Punk/indie/rock music
7. Nutrition science
8. Anagrams
9. ADHD
10. Facebook
11. Wine and beer
12. Asking "why" questions about food, like, "why aren't there more blue foods?"
13. Introspection
14. Pharmaceuticals
15. Cute, furry animals like cats, rabbits, ferrets, and mice
16. Lucid dreaming
17. Robotics and prosthetics
18. Video games
19. Checking my email
20. Trees

And these are a few of my fav-o-rite things.

Space and Time

Well well well. I've had such a busy month, I haven't had time to update this blog. So, I'll just give a quick recap of the last month:

• I had a very important conversation with my parents that went really well, and really improved the quality of our relationship. It was great.
• I've had many, many visitors! Rachel, Sheloa and Jamie came up for a weekend and we had a blast doing anything and everything, including eating lasagna at 4 AM and drinking absinthe.
• Amanda, Adam and Aiden came to visit me and we went to the Renaissance Festival! It was bitter, bitter cold, but it was so much fun. The turkey legs, bread bowls of soup, warm mead and performers were great, as well as window shopping in all the stalls.
• I went home one weekend and helped my grandma buy a (really cool) computer. I also visited with Denham and Julie, and went to a Halloween party with Amanda, Adam and Aiden. Loads of fun!
• Denham and Julie came up last weekend for Halloween and we had a ball. We went out and enjoyed what the Cinci Metro Area has to offer, including going to a Halloween party at Andy's, eating at Claddaugh's, and going to the USS Nightmare. Oh, and Julie got to meet Beyonce. Not the real one, but pretty darn close.
• I have been at my job for 8 months now. I got my 6-month review, and got Satisfactory or above in all categories. Yippee! I also got an award a LEADER award for enthusiasm, which included a gift card. :) I really love my job. Even though I'm having to pay lots of money for breaking my contract to the state of Kentucky, it's all worth it to work for such an amazing organization with such awesome people.
  
• I bought Dragon Age for the 360 and I'm super excited about it. It's awesome!
• I've continued with my exercise routine, although I've kind of trailed off a bit. But my body fat % has not exceeded 10%, so I'm happy with that!

That's really all. I was supposed to be going to an adoption fair today to advertise for Holly Hill, but the event was cancelled... so here I am on the couch, playing Dragon Age. My life pretty much rocks. :D