even better

When that student who rocked the interview manages to find you online (you stopped giving out business cards because no one writes thank you notes anymore, so why even bother giving them out), and writes you a perfect thank you note. Faith restored, there is at least one good kid out there.

lost and found

Unexpectedly found the missing mate in my favorite pair of socks. In my sock drawer.

interview season

Doing lots of interviews at work, and also interviewing high school students for Harvard admissions. That thing when you finally talk to someone who just makes you so excited to write their feedback because that person is everything you didn't realize you were looking for and would just be amazing.

unusual week

Last week was awesomely unusual, and unusually awesome. Started with a three day weekend, then spent the week in Hawaii for work. I met up with my Japanese host sister for breakfast on the last day, and on impulse, bought myself a purse because it was bonus day and someone else mentioned getting herself a treat on bonus day. This is my eighth bonus day, and it had never before occurred to me to do anything but leave it all in the bank. Reunited with Henry and Boyfriend, then went up to the city to see my niece star in The Wizard of Oz, hit up an awesome restaurant with coworkers for dinner, gave the kids their belated Christmas presents, spent the night, and hung out for part of the day.

dessert first

Caramel pecan sticky buns with orange cream cheese glaze, an all day production that was so highly anticipated that I ate one as soon as they were ready, before we have our poached eggs and smoked chateaubriand.

best gift

Giving Boyfriend a science-based cookbook for Christmas means that he wants to make lots of new food.

breakthrough

It's just a little over two weeks into bell training, and Henry rang the bell without being asked and without me standing nearby with a treat, and as soon as the door opened, he ran to his spot and peed.

crying

When you both blurt out the same joke at the same time, and that makes it even funnier.

next in queue

Hawaii for work, L.A. for a wedding, Fiji for diving, Italy for food, and that takes us through travel plans so far through July.

chili

Turns out that if you are making vegan chili, two things really help amp it up: tons of chili powder. And ground turkey.

take a chance

Sometimes, the act of putting yourself out there is almost as exciting as actually getting picked. The state of uncertainty between the question and the answer adds a certain something to everything.

not so bad

First week back was totally hectic, but not the losing battle I expected. Marketing person said I was a superstar, and partner call about indemnities only took 25% of the scheduled time, with everyone coming away happy. I'll take it.

6.6

That's how many pounds of gummy candy came today, hand carried from Switzerland then shipped by mail :)

giftbot

Awesome present on my desk from an awesome work friend I don't even work with!

year in review

I did my annual personal self review and overall gave myself an average grade of B+ on my goals from last year. My high points outnumbered my low points. I think that's a pretty good year.

ring any bells

On Friday, Henry was afraid of the bells. Since then, we've moved through several stages. Friday he started associated the sound of bells with treats. Then he started gently nudging muffled bells in my hand. Then unmuffled bells in my hand. Then bells hanging from the doorknob with me right there. Then a few feet away. Just now, he did his first "ding dong" with me just out of sight. All of this for treats, dog likes to get paid.

Next up, ringing before the door opens, and then, some tough leaps, taking the initiative to ask to go out, and finally, ringing to ask to go out when I'm not in the room or waving a treat around.

I'm cautiously optimistic that we'll make it there this month.

going fast

More adoptions than I've ever seen in one day at the shelter today. Six dogs out the door by the time I left, and there were still two hours to go.

no sh!t

Not sure how we didn't realize this, but there is a new Sherlock that just recorded to TiVo today. We are saving it for after we finish the Potter-thon (3 down, 5 to go).

jingle bells

The bells for Henry's potty bell training were 80% off after Christmas. The ribbon was $1 in Vietnam. Now all I have to do is figure out how to teach him to use them.

tally ho

Final count for the year: 101

Not bad, considering that I was taking it a bit easy on the reading and spending some more time with friends and on volunteer work.