friday five: bliss in the moment

(this picture is actually using milk but times are tough. Shh. don't tell!)

At RevGals Kathryn writes: We lead privileged lives.


True, some are more privileged than others but the fact that we are communicating right now via technological devices puts us in the privileged category.

There are many perks in my life for which I give thanks and then there are some that make everything right in the world during the moment I am enjoying them. I'm wondering what a few of those things - five to be specific - are for you.

Under the circumstances (my laptop screen has died, rendering my computer, and everything stored on it, useless and unavailable to me!), my first bliss is using my own computer to 1) read blogs, 2) check in on facebook, 3) stay informed, 4) stay in touch with folks by other means 5) research various things for business and pleasure, 6) upload and play with photos, 7) write this blog 8) do my work...  What follows is in no particular order:

2) A la Kathryn, coffee first thing in the morning. In a mug. With half and half.

3) Being on vacation

4) Sitting on the porch at Melrose looking at the view (I'd include a picture, but they're all on my computer. Did you hear I can't access anything on my computer?)

5) Creating. In no particular order: photos, sewing, making cards, needlework, cooking, knitting, calligraphy (though it's been a while), scrapbooking.

PS -- I'm an introvert, so of course these are all about me!

a brush with bliss

Thanks to my friend Kim I've had a little pampering in the last couple of days. She posted a challenge on her blog, the prize of which is a collection of fabric that, in my eye, is to die for! How much more incentive do I need? Her challenge was to make a plan to pamper oneself (details on the blog). Hmm. I thought I could handle that!

After a little tumble in the yard the other day when McKinlee decided to take me for a, well, let's just say spin, I knew that certain muscle groups would be feeling the aches of that unexpected adventure. With a physical therapy appointment scheduled for the next morning I got on the phone and was able to wrangle an appointment with a massage therapist following the PT. Woohoo!

But not to stop there (that truly was a therapeutic massage), I determined to pamper myself yesterday with a pedicure. Ahhhhh, bliss. The salon features these fabulous massage chairs attached to the foot bath. No sooner was I in the chair to begin soaking my tootsies than I hit the remote control and let the chair begin its magic movements. I don't know quite how long the entire pedicure lasted (from first soak to dried polish), but I can tell you that most of Let's Make a Deal and the first ten minutes of Ellen were within my view from the chair. Did I mention bliss? I just closed my eyes for most of the duration of this experience and luxuriated. Oh, and they offer wine. Did I mention bliss?

Kim, how can I thank you?

PS. Another new feature in the latest Picasa that I discovered last night: you can customize the ratio of your collage instead of using preset sizes that were the previous defaults. LOVE IT!