happiness

This morning, I'm happy. It's a sunny day, the cool weather is coming, and I danced yesterday. I went to jazzercise around lunch, which was amusing and fun, then ended up walking from campus to downtown for thai food for dinner (yum), and then went swing dancing for two hours. I finally have the idea of lindy hop (yay)! Plus, I just got to spin around a room and feel tall (my dance shoes have heels). It's the first day of classes, but that doesn't mean much until Monday for me :). Plus, this morning began with Malcolm curled up on me in bed, purring like the sweet cat he can be, while I petted him and scratched behind his ears. It was a beautifully sweet moment.
Happy Thursday!

These are a few of my favorite things...

... of the past few weeks (in no particular order):

1. Seeing so many of the people I love and care about so much
2. Enjoying the absolutely beautiful nature that I live in and near
3. Time with friends over - make your own sushi picnic lunch, and an ice cream party at my place
4. Just relaxing with someone special to me
5. Betty Crocker's new gluten-free chocolate chip cookie mix - not only is the dough tasty, but the cookies turn out pretty well and still taste good the next day!
6. Starting conversations with random people in the aisles of Wegman's
7. Late night walks home in Ithaca after delicious food at parties
8. Seeing my friends so happy in their new starts (apartments, marriages, houses, etc.)
9. Having a truly classic sister conversation - I love my sister :)
10. Enjoying the last few days of post-A-exam freedom and celebration before classes begin again

I think that's about all for now. James Taylor, Corrinne May, Red Grammer, Priscilla Ahn, Meiko, Joshua Radin, Jack Johnson, and Jason Mraz have been playing in my "August Mix" this week.

Restful week

Ahh, Saturday morning with no studying to do, no teaching stuff to finish off, no cleaning to do, no necessary cooking. Plus, I woke up to pretty flowers on my dresser, a beautiful sunny day, a kitten snuggling (and wanting to be petted), and all the time to do what I want with. I'm loving the freedom of no immediate responsibilities! It's definitely my time to fill up, before starting the new semester.
Jules came to visit this week, starting on Monday, and we had a wonderfully restful week. We watched lots of movies (something like 7...) over 3 days, ate lots of yummy food, reading out in the sunshine with treats from Gimme, went for several walks to waterfalls, up gorges, around the neighborhoods that I love so much. We house-spotted and commented ;), planned lives living across the street from each other, talked about life and love and school and plans and family. Plus, we got all dressed up, went out for dessert at Madeline's and then went swing dancing at the 2nd floor bar. We had a lot of fun together, a lot of giggles, not many tears (go us), and a lot of love.
Yesterday was a beautiful day, filled with so much that I love about Ithaca - a walk to Cascadilla gorge, lunch at Taste of Thai, hanging out with Malcolm at my apartment, then a hike at Robert Treman Park to Lucifer Falls with a delicious picnic at the top before heading back down, all with good company!
I'm definitely doing everything I can to enjoy the beautiful Ithaca sunshine but coolness (yay for highs in the 70s, even if it's 79)! Soaking up as much sun as I can before winter returns. It's funny how far away snow seems when I'm outside now, though when I'm out in winter here how far away summer is. I love the change of seasons, and it makes you appreciate the beauty of what you have even more.
I'm still listening to my birthday music that my wonderful brother gave to me, with a couple additions. Especially loving:
1. No Answer by Gillian Grassie
2. I'd Rather Be With You by Joshua Radin
3. Red Cape by Priscilla Ahn
4. Happiness by the Weepies
5. Let It Go (and Little Superhero Girl) by Corrinne May
6. Turn to Stone by Ingrid Michaelson
... and much more by those artists. I really love just listening to the same music over and over.
Time for more relaxing, including reading, a movie, some ice cream in the sunshine, and then Rock Band/s'mores party tonight (the flash cards will be burned...)!

Gluten-free cooking successes this week: French silk pie, gluten-free onion rings, gluten-free pasta salad