Simply Fabulous Friends

Today, I was feeling pretty low and then something awesome happened. I got a chance to see three of my friends, each at work, doing their thing. Each told me that I looked lousy. Each asked me how I was. One went so far as to ask me repeatedly if I was ok, or maybe sick, or maybe just in need of a vacation. He simply wouldn't let me "get away" with the stat, "I'm fine."

What happened next was awesome. They each helped. Heather, who is a massage therapist worked on my back and wrist and helped take away my pain. But she also made me laugh. We laughed a lot.

At the grocery store, Greg made me laugh too. He mocked my purchases and wouldn't let me leave the store without the flyer's weekly bonus points. It feels great to have a friend who knows me that well and makes the effort to turn my day around.

And Steve took extra special care of a gift, at the print shop on my behalf. The gift recipient will be very pleased. But the bonus gift to me, in this situation, was the few minutes Steve and I talked about how precious children are. He and his lovely wife are expecting a child in mere weeks.  And of course I love my kids very much. It was a great conversation and I left feeling good about my family again.

I also learnt a valuable lesson, overall, today. Wear makeup! Apparently, without it I look like hell. Good to know! LOL  And if your friends can't tell you that.... get new friends.

The Perfect Start

I like Mondays. In fact, I can even say I love most Mondays. I see it as a fresh start to a new week and the more enthusiasm you begin with, the better the odds for success. 

Here are the 5 things I treasure on a perfect Monday morning: 

1. Sunshine and flowers.

2. Someone to return your love. (When I dropped C off at school today, he hollared over his shoulder "I love you Mom" as he walked away." Melts my heart every single time!!) 

3.  Coffee & a little breakfast

4. 15 minutes of peace. No chores, no phone, no rushing.

5.  Optimism. And the inner strength that says, "I can do this. Today (and this whole week) are going to be good.

June 24th... a beautiful Monday. I hope yours is too!

A Little Harsh

I may have been a little harsh in my mocking of the GMC Sierra.

I don't think even a Ferrari would have made me happy at the time. The only thing I wanted was to have MY truck back. It's like sleeping on the couch in your own house when you have company. It's fine and you're happy for the company... but all you really want is your own bed.

Nice to borrow a pair of shoes when you've forgotten yours.... but the only thing that really fits and makes you comfortable is your shoes.

I also might be a little weird about my vehicles. It's the one thing I'm obsessively possessive of. As in, I don't let anyone drive my truck, period. I can't imagine an occasion that I would ask or even consider letting anyone else drive it. Yes, you can borrow my shovel, my shoes, my lawnmower, just not my truck.

So, I'm sorry to the GMC Sierra for being a little snarky. Now that I'm back in a Titan, I'm good. It's right where I want to be. It's my happy place.

I have this theory

My theory goes that if you are having a rotten day, you ought to look for someone you can help. There has to be someone worse off than you. So, rather than wallow in self pity, take the bull by the horns and try to change someone else's day for the better.

When you make someone else happy, you make yourself happy too. But it typically also starts a chain reaction of good karma.

Instead of being the one who says, "nobody ever buys me flowers" be the one who surprises a friend with flowers.

Rather than saying "I need", how about being the one who says..."I have this to give."

It sounds all very pollyanna.... which is not typical of my verse. However, I believe it to be true. Pay it forward. It will change your outlook. And it just might be the rainbow someone else is desperately looking for.

Back in the groove

Some things just feel right. 

I like a good groove. I like to feel like I'm firing on all cylinders and enjoying things to the fullest. When I'm at work in the kitchen, I like certain knives for certain tasks. I like things that make sense…. like fries and gravy. Not onion rings and gravy, That still doesn't make sense to me. I like certain products, not substitutes. I like Mother's Day specials in May and sundaes on Sundays. Call me crazy.

I like it when things go as predicted. I like to know what to expect. I'm sure I'm not the only one like this. 

I also like Spring weather in March and April. -20C and blizzards… that's supposed to be January.

Now, of course I like good surprises. Like sunshine on a day the weatherman said was going to suck. Or like tulips being delivered on a joyless Saturday. Great surprises like that, can turn your whole week around. 

These last few weeks have been very hard. I haven't felt right since that yellow handled knife broke on a Friday night, (I'm kidding…. well, sort of.) I replaced the knife but couldn't find my groove.  Nothing major, just out of sync. Hell, I haven't even felt like writing. 

Then I made a quick trip to Vegas. I laughed and laughed. I gambled. I sat in the sun and started to feel like myself again. 

This last week has been intense. No other way to describe it. I got the sunshine I needed. The help that saves the bacon, and the right knife to cut buns again. 

It all came together sitting at the patio, drinking a coke at the restaurant I own. It just felt right. Like the stress was leaving my body and I was at home where I should be. 

I love my restaurant, I love the people I work with and the people I see across the counter. (Ok, not all of them. Some make me want to call the cops.) This is where I need to be. This is where I'm happy. Next person who says I should get a real job, or that I only work half the year… they should try a week in my sneakers. But bring your own knife. I won't let just anybody use mine. 

Day 1

Today was the first official, in-house day of the 2013 ice cream season.  For those in the back benches, it's not my first day working this year. (Hold the snickering please.) But it's the first day I scrubbed a shelf and ordered stock AND spent 9 hours at the building.

I also did a lot of shovelling. Damn there was a lot of snow this weekend.

Anyways, all I wanted to say was that today was a good day. It was a great way to start. I talked to all our suppliers (except for the guy from Coke who always seems too busy to call back little old me), service people and even a few neighbours.  Everyone was happy to chat and share a laugh. That's the kind of "day one" I like to have.

I also had lots of help and enthusiasm from my staff. That's good too. I NEED their support.

I'm excited to go back for Day 2. I have high hopes for Day 3. Four is a good number, so I'll be there too. Five is my lucky number so I'm going to shine that day.

Don't you just love that new season optimism? I do.

Nothing else will do

For some things there are no suitable replacements. But we try, don't we?

Like cake. There is no substitute for cake! It sucks when you can't have cake. You miss cake. And sometimes, just out of the blue you start thinking about cake.

So you grab a cookie. That doesn't do it. Maybe a donut. Nope. So now, maybe you hit the mall and look for a sweater, or buy a new leather jacket or two, just to distract yourself. But retail therapy doesn't help. You still can't deny that it's cake you want.

And there are days, like birthdays and anniversaries, you just expect cake to be there. And when there's no cake it's disappointing.

So why is it that we deny ourselves cake? "I'm too fat. Too old. I don't celebrate birthdays. I'm on a diet. I don't deserve cake. Cake is for other people. There's no good cake anymore."

There's no cake at my house. Well, that's not entirely true. I made a Rice Krispie cake last week. But that's not really cake. It was a feeble, lazy person's attempt at cake. Sure, I ate half the thing but it wasn't in any way satisfying.

I don't need a lot of cake. Just a taste of cake every once in a while. There are very few things on this earth better than cake. And this I know to be true... there are no substitutions.

Encouragement

Encouragement costs you nothing but it can mean a whole lot to the recipient. When was the last time you said, "great work today" to your employee, or co-worker, or even your own child? Was it today? Was it yesterday? If you can't pin point the moment, it's been too long.

What if you told the gas jockey that washed your windows that he did a great job and that washing your windows on this slushy, dirty spring day, really helped you out. Do you think he might remember your words? Do you think it might help him get through the next 5 hours of his 8 hour shift pumping gas?

What if you said the same thing to your dentist? "Thanks for doing a great job on that filling. My tooth doesn't hurt anymore and I'm going to enjoy eating a meal once again."

What if we were all openly, expressively grateful for the little things that make our lives easier? Or just thankful for the people in our lives who make a difference.  What if...