Come On, Get Happy!

My recent posts have all been grumpy, angsty stress-fests, so I've decided to do another 10 Happy Things post.

1.  I've picked out my parents' Christmas present!  They love Cook's Illustrated, and they love the TV show America's Test Kitchen.  Well they've come out with a cookbook, and Barnes & Noble has it for 50% off with a coupon through the end of next week.  Ding, ding, ding!  We have a winner!  $20 for a joint gift, plus a pair or two of hand knit socks for my dad, and Mom has been asking for some more hand knit face cloths made from Cotton Tots (which is really soft and cozy).  The 'rents are done!

2.  Glory, Hallelujah!  Mom just came in and told me that everything is finally a go with the house!  Closing is now set for Monday afternoon.  Then we'll beat feet for Indiana, and close on the new house hopefully sometime late next week.  Woo hoo!

3.  Last night we went out for dinner and had a really good time.  My uncle is here, helping us get packed up and ready to go.  I've always liked him, but we've never lived close or visited much, so I don't know him very well.  We laughed a lot last night, and I think it's the first time we've all really relaxed and enjoyed ourselves since he got here.  Maybe now that things are getting settled with the move there will be more time for that.

4.  Most of the packing got done yesterday, so even though a couple of movers are here again today finishing the dregs, it is much quieter.  Yay!  I'm sitting on my bed with my computer in my lap (I take that whole "laptop" thing seriously) and Mom walked by and said, "I keep forgetting you're in here-- you're so quiet."  Quiet is good.

5.  I also just found out that I will have a hotel room to myself this weekend.  Bliss.  The stress and noise and commotion has really had my hair standing on end the last couple of days.  Plus, Shark Week should be starting any minute, and that always sends my Crohn's out of whack.

6.  I love funny names for your period.  Shark Week ('cause there's blood in the water), Aunt Flow, Commies in the Funhouse-- they all amuse me terribly.

7.  I've read 395 books since January 1, 2007.  That's when I starting keeping track in a cool little journal I got for being the last Cherry to cross the finish line of NaNo 2006.  My goal for this year was to reach 400, and I will accomplish that easily.  I may even get there before the end of this month.  It just depends on how much reading time I get in the next few days.

8.  The neighbor across the street cut my hair the other day.  I hadn't had anything done to it since right before Christmas last year, and it was getting bad.  She chopped off all the split ends and stuff, and now it's less scraggly and doesn't tangle as much.  It still tangles.  I think that's just the nature of curly hair.  But it's much, much better.

9.  I'm gearing up for NaNo next month.  Last night I googled around until I found some numbers for how much I might make with stories at a couple of different publishers.  Then I had a high old time crunching numbers for highly improbable scenarios, like whether or not I could pay all my medical bills and a few other small expenses if I sold a book every month all year long.  It looks like I could, at some of the more popular epublishers, if I continue to live with my parents.  Of course, the likelihood of me writing, polishing, and selling a book a month is not great.  Even when my health was better and my brain was sharper that was unlikely.  But it amused me to look at all of that.  (I know.  I'm weird.  For many people these speculations would be depressing.  For me, it's a what if.)

10.  It's Thursday, and I still have internet!  I know it's only because the move has been put off a couple of days, but it still makes me happy.  I thought I'd be cut off from the world by now.

And that's what makes me happy!