I appreciate so many things from this year, like:

• Learning firsthand the ways that changing my brain (on purpose) can make every single part of my life richer, deeper, funnier, more satisfying, and more joyful.
• The chance to really put this learning to the test with all the unexpected events of 2013. Oy!
• The lovely people in my everyday life – both in person and online. I feel like one of the luckiest people on the planet.
• The joyful abandon of Toby Kitten, Esquire. What a goofball!
• Really digging into improv & getting to play in actual shows with fabulously funny folks – including 3 Sundays starting THIS Sunday! 😊
• The excitement of starting YEAR 2 of everyday appreciations tomorrow. Hooray!

I appreciate:

• Patrick’s appreciations today – how eloquent. Me, I’m a list maker.
• Being a list maker – it does make it easier to get things done!
• Getting things done — like making these (gluten-free!) raspberry chocolate chip tart cookies the kids and I baked using fresh raspberries from my brother’s house and a recipe we cobbled from bits and pieces of other recipes. So. Delicious.

I appreciate:

• That even though I wasn’t able to be at Rocky Mountain Song School this year, I still got to have my heart cracked wide open by music this week.
• Sarah, for sharing today’s wild emotional ride with me. ❤️
• Jonatha Brooke, for her exquisite songs and for having the courage to share her beautiful story in My Mother Has 4 Noses — and for sharing this afternoon’s rehearsal with us. Vulnerability, grief, humor, and love are masterfully woven throughout this play and are punctuated by songs that actually took my breath away. Trust me, you want to know about this!
• The beautiful Cindy for telling me about this play and threatening to kick my butt if I didn’t make sure to see it. 😉

I appreciate:

• That even though I (apparently) have trouble counting to 365 in order, I can still go back and re-create what I probably appreciated about most days….or make up something new!
• Thoroughly enjoying my own sense of humor – and being able to find funny in all things absurd, silly, clever, wicked-smart, punny, and goofy.
• The shiny pennies I’ve been finding all week. I always see them as a token of something good to come.

I appreciate:

• That even though I (apparently) have trouble counting to 365 in order, I can still go back and re-create what I probably appreciated about most days….or make up something new!
• Thoroughly enjoying my own sense of humor – and being able to find funny in all things absurd, silly, clever, wicked-smart, punny, and goofy.
• The shiny pennies I’ve been finding all week. I always see them as a token of something good to come.

I appreciate:

• That my friend and her partner can finally be legally married!

• The anticipation of the fun to be had with friends and family at said wedding.
• My friend’s understanding (and acceptance of) of her friends’ dancing abilities — and this great invitation and response card. I am so lucky to know the funniest, most lovely people in the world!

• Invitations! I like being invited to things – looks like a fun coupla weeks coming up!
• Being missed. Thank you friends at RMSS who are keeping me updated on your adventures — and for missing me. I don’t know why, but it makes being here easier!
• Kitten cuddles. The perfect remedy when you’re a little under the weather. Almost as good as chicken soup!

• Being in Joyce’s line at Target yesterday. Whenever I can, I move to her line because she sings as she checks us out. We talked about “fake it til you make it” happiness. She is awesome!
• The humongous mushroom in our front yard. We’ve decided that with that and the baby bunnies living out there, it’s not really a front yard, but Wonderland. We expect to see the hookah smoking caterpillar soon.
• More awesome awesomeness in the ‘hood – a miniature door attached to a tree (over a knothole) with a rope ladder hanging down to the ground.

• The gorgeous weather predicted for this week. Enjoying long walks will help ease the homesickness I feel at not being at Rocky Mountain Song School this year…
• Toby’s continued cuteness. Really helps to remember this when he’s mewing at 3 in the morning.
• The fact that my neighborhood continually offers up new prettiness in the form of flowers. Seems like there’s something new to see every day.

• So much Fringe-y goodness: Getting to spend another afternoon with the beautiful Kathleen, and the bonus of seeing Corinna (who was also in line for the show) for the first time in years and years. Lovely surprise!
• The delightful cast of Hoosiers: The Stage Adaptation. What a terrific show!
• Also, the fun of Once Upon a Chalkboard’s beautiful show. I appreciate the chance to draw props and scenery and “be in a Fringe show” like I’ve always wanted to.