Today I am grateful for: getting up before my alarm, doing Yoga, long johns, comfy socks, snowflakes on my eyelashes, getting the best parking space at work I have ever gotten, having a door at work I can close (and did), being able to do the smart thing, the snow and ice scraper My Heart's Desire put in my car, chocolate-covered marshmallows (the Crate & Barrel ones are really good), practicing holding my tongue, and the Coca-Cola clock one of my writer's group members gave me last night (it really does tick loud but in my bathroom I'm glad to know the time when I'm getting ready).

Three Jerk Rule

I've been told that if you come across three jerks in one day, that you are, in fact, the jerk. It's not the other people that are the problem, it's your attitude.

And today, I was a jerk. This afternoon I was behind a few terrible drivers (very frustrating) and I was very annoyed at people in the crosswalk (they had the right of the way but I thought they didn't). Ugh, jerks! I realized then that I was, in fact, the jerk.

So I had to give myself a few minutes to adjust my attitude and take deep breaths. I also considered #2 of my 2009 Commandments: Be Kind. With a few minutes of contemplation and breathing, I was able to let go of the frustration and start over. I had given myself plenty of time to get where I was going and did not have to drive like I was going to win something. Amazingly enough, on the way home I didn't see a single jerk.

Today I am grateful for: getting 10 hours of sleep, the fleece LA Dodgers blanket my friend Carlos sent me that keeps me warm at work, Mad Men (just started watching), the library emails telling me to pick up and return books, my mentor, the Sweaty, Sweet & Shameless workout mix I got from a friend (she wasn't kidding about the shameless),workout sneakers I liked so much I bought another pair, being able to stay at a cozy B&B at a conference instead of the corporate hotel I stayed at last time that didn't enforce their smoke-free policy, the Barnes & Noble gift card I thought I'd spent but has $23 left on it, DC restaurant week is coming soon, and the fire My Heart's Desire made for us to enjoy.

He takes the cake

For the past few days, My Heart's Desire claimed he had some type of surprise for me, but I was very skeptical. Last night I came home around 10pm, tired from my long day. Imagine my surprise when I came home and our house was not only warm but also smelled really good.

"Did you make cookies?" I asked. He only laughed.

I went upstairs and found a perfect yellow cake, already cool and ready for frosting. We frosted it with milk chocolate frosting (the really good kind) and each had a piece.

I was so touched that he baked for me. Other than grilling (which he's terrific at), My Heart's Desire's culinary exploits are usually limited to boiling hot dogs and microwaving Hot Pockets.



The yellow cake with chocolate frosting was exactly what I wanted. And it was yummy!

Today I am grateful for: getting a good night's sleep, having a short commute to work, the mail order pharmacy that calls me when it's time for refills, a $5 copay for three months Rx, listening to Sirius Symphony Hall at work, writing press releases to amuse myself and send to friends, having dinner with some of my favorite people, seeing an acquaintance I haven't seen in ages, spell check, my shopping philosophy (if it's not an absolute yes, it's a no), listening to The Whole World Over by Julia Glass, being asked for advice, getting referrals to wonderful B&B's, and watching episodes of The Simpsons with My Heart's Desire.

Last week, a family friend (who's known me since I was 2) came over on and showed me how to make "gravy" (meaty marinara sauce) from scratch and we assembled a lasagna. It's the old family recipe, handed down to me from the Bronx.

Since I baked the lasagna, My Heart's Desire and I have had it for dinner twice and lunch once. Of course it was fantastic. There's still one piece left. And we also have some leftover gravy in the freezer, which we will enjoy soon.

My Heart's Desire and I talked about how we entertain a lot, especially in the summer, when we can use the deck and outside and she suggested such delights as Lemonade Pie, Strawberry Jell-O Cake, and Pineapple Upside-Down Cake. Now I can't wait for summer!

But after all of that talk of food and cooking and desserts, I keep thinking about yellow cake with chocolate frosting.

The second Wednesday in February I am going to a potluck and already know what I'm going to bake and frost.

#3 Prepare

This morning I was oh, so proud of myself for getting up early and driving to the gym in the dark and pouring rain. When I got to the gym and was taking my stuff out of my car, I dropped the clean shirt I was going to wear to work in a puddle.

I went in and asked the desk clerk if she could toss it in the dryer and learned that my gym uses a towel service. Oh, well. So I worked out, stretched, then went back home to get ready and wear dry clothes.

I grabbed an extra sweater and brought it to work so that if I ever need a clean/dry top, I'm prepared.

Today I am grateful for: being able to take good care of My Heart's Desire, laughing when I made a mistake instead of getting mad, finding a good parking spot at work, seeing photos of a friend in her wedding dress (she's getting married this fall), making plans to meet with my writing group next week, IM, chicken panang from my restaurant, Amina Thai, post-holiday sales, spending all but $.15 of my 2008 flexible spending account, and getting a kick out of The House Bunny.

My 9 Commandments

I make goals every year. I’ve learned it’s the things I do every day that have changed me, not what I do once in a while.

And even if I don’t accomplish my annual goals, they get me a lot closer to where I was before, and I appreciate the value of that.

One of my favorite blogs is The Happiness Project, and I’ve written my own personal commandments for the New Year.

Here are my 2009 Commandments:

1. Everything counts
2. Be kind
3. Prepare
4. Write three times a week, even if it’s only a little
5. In a 50/50 relationship, give 100%
6. Learn from experience
7. Respond, not react
8. Create a schedule that works for me
9. Complain less, compliment more.

Today I am grateful for: sleeping until I wake up, finding machines at the gym (despite all the resolvers), saving $6 at the supermarket with coupons, buying Christmas cloth napkins on super-extra-ultimate sale, running errands with My Heart's Desire and staying calm despite the crowds, catching up on laundry, being able to help out a friend, reading the paper by the fire, watching P.S. I Love You, the cheesiest film I could find, when Charlie sits next to me and cuddles, then lets out a tiny cat sigh of contentment, and deciding not to take down the holiday decorations quite yet.