2/11/11 Opening Night Galas

I took my mother to the opening night of "The Lieutenant of Inishmore" at A.R.T. tonight. I had recently been to the opening of "Superior Donuts" and they had a super spread of goodies after. Tonight was the same. Fancy cheese and crackers. Fruit. Guinness and wine. I really like when a theatre puts on a great opening night gala. People mingle and talk about the show. People enjoy themselves and enjoy the food and beverages being served. I certainly do. Yum.

I am thankful for great opening night galas.

kk

2/10/11 Chef

I love to bake. This is a fact that has been established. I am not a big fan of cooking. Also previously established. I cook for myself when I have to. I will cook for someone else when it is a special occasion. Funny, I used to cook every night for my ex-husband. I do have to say that I really appreciate it when dinner is made for me. I'm good at breakfast and lunch, but dinners are so hard. I am so lucky to have so many people that enjoy cooking that take care of me and feed me.

I am thankful for having dinner prepared for me.

kk

2/9/11 Fancy Cars

I love my CR-V, and my next car will be another CR-V. But a newer, fancier one. One with heated seats. My mom's Subaru has some. Jason just bought a new car and his has them. They are probably the best invention in a car. I'd take them over a cup holder. They are my new best friend. The other thing that is nice about a heated seat compared with just blasting the heat is that I can have the heated seat on and I feel better but other people aren't taking off their clothes and complaining that my car is like a desert and they are dying of dehydration. I won't be getting a new car for awhile so I have to just work at convincing Jason to drive everywhere...

I am thankful for heated seats.

kk

2/8/11 Vampires

I am currently eating uber healthy. Which means virtually no carbohydrates and very small portions. I eat 6 times a day, every 2-3 hours, but I vacillate between hungry and very hungry. I never feel comfortably full. My stomach doesn't rumble and I don't have hunger pains but I sure would like to eat butter and chocolate and bread and oil with balsamic vinegar and cookies and other delicious things. So while I eat all my lean and green dishes I have found that garlic certainly does make them all taste that much better. I don't feel too bland.

I have always liked garlic. I remember I went to a Halloween party that a friend of mine from college was having many years ago. Maybe six even. John was working at the station so I went by myself. I think I ate an entire bulb of roasted garlic with Gorgonzola cheese on some kind of bread. It was delicious. I couldn't get enough. The next morning John got home and came to say good morning to me as I lay in bed. He got close enough to almost give me a kiss hello and then reeled back telling me how bad I stunk as garlic seeped through my pores. It was pretty funny. Good thing he wasn't there the night before. Mmmmm, garlic.

I am thankful for garlic.

kk

2/7/11 Fun Yet Productive

I am currently in rehearsals for "Lend Me a Tenor" and Lakewood Theatre Company in Lake Oswego. It is such a funny show and we have a great cast of people as well as a super director. What is so great about this show and it's rehearsal process for me is that we joke, we laugh, we have fun and tell funny stories, but we still get work done. We are able to get a lot accomplished while really having a good time. Not all rehearsals are like this and to have a true gem of an experience is rare and very much appreciated.

I am so thankful for the fun I have at rehearsal with this group of folks!

kk

2/6/11 Thank you

My mother worked very hard to instill the concept of thank you notes. The rule was we had to send them to anyone we weren't able to thank in person. We grudgingly sent them out for gifts we received for high school graduation, and to relatives in Chicago when we received Christmas presents. It was always a chore. It took me forever to get my thank you notes out for my wedding gifts. But now, I really like sending them. I like getting them too, but I think they are a thing that is similar to my love for actual paper mail. There is something special about getting a note from someone who takes the time to hand write a card. And now I like being able to send them to people. My sisters and I are very good at sending them. Most people I know are impressed when I send them. I think more people should send them. It should be more common than it is. And everyone should learn how to write one. I have a very simple formula you can follow that I will share at the end of this post.

Today I am sending one to my step-mother for the chairs. My thank you notes have a robot on them. They make me laugh. I like how you can get nice thank you notes for fancy occasions and you can also get them in very fun designs. Options are always good.

If you struggle with writing thank you notes, follow this example:

Dear _____,

Thank you for the _____.

I am going to use it for _____. / I can't wait to _____ with it. / I am excited to finally have one! (Something explaining how your life will change now that you have said gift.)

It was really nice to see you at _____. / I really missed seeing you at _____. / You are so thoughtful to have remembered I always wanted one. (An optional sentence that adds a personal touch.)

Thank you again.

Love,
Your name here

I am thankful for thank you notes.

kk

2/5/11 Checklist

I was so productive today! I am thankful for getting stuff done around the house today. Go me!

kk