10 Things that make me HAPPY!

Thanks Maria for tagging me - I hope everyone enjoys the list! Feel free to do one of your own (hint hint hint).

(In no particular order...)

1) Water - blue, gray, chlorinated, salty...as long as I'm not on the menu (read: JAWS), I'm happy to swim anywhere...but even walking/running along the ocean, near a lake - I've always been drawn towards it.Kona waters.

2a)Kindness - people doing nice things for other people. It restores my faith that there is goodness in the world. To add to that - Doing things for the right reason, not because anyone is watching - but because its the right thing to do. Don't really know if this is a category, but it suites me.

2b)Helping others - seeing people stopping the cars (or workouts) to help turtles. I mean - I'm sure the turtle doesn't want to be in the middle of the road in the first place. But getting an extra 'lift' is always nice. But people helping others counts in my book. I suppose this could go under kindness as well... Hhhmmmm......

Kitties count also! -
Me with Anabelle at the Santa Rosa Vet Clinic, before we officially adopted her. But I knew - even as I was driving with that injured kitten in our car after finding her during a long ride in rural Florida - that we would have to welcome her to our home. How could we not?

3) Being outdoors - especially with people that I love. Well, with friends in general. I won't discriminate... Hiking with Nathaniel tops the list - by far.Volcan Mountain, CA.

4)Reading a really Really REALLY can't-put-it-down-because-its-so-great book (even if it is hijacked by Tabbitha and too-much-laundry). My book club just finished "The Help" by Kathryn Sockett, and it was fantastic. And yes, I will loose sleep in order to read (and sometimes write. Yes - my blog posts can get a bit, errr, long).

5) Training - I love it...most of the time. Racing goes up there as well - which is why I'm SO HAPPY to be doing more short course and intense stuff this year.And YES, that IS a Camelbak that I'm wearing. But in my defense it was 93 degrees with something like 90% humidity. The wonders of the Gulf Coast in mid-May. Joy!

6) The House Monsters - especially when they get along so well with each other.

7) Nathaniel home from deployments. Well, Nathaniel home in general. Actually - NATHANIEL! I suppose this is good, because we are married - after all. But reuniting with him after a deployment is always special.North Carolina, 2004.

8) Cake. 'Nuff said. (Oh - but this was SERIOUSLY the best cake ever. My sister-in-law made it for me after Kona...it was the first thing she showed me when Nathaniel and I walked into her home. Delicious - THANK YOU BETHANY!!!)

9) Spending time with family and friends that I don't get to see very often. I miss Minnesota and Wisconsin especially - and the friends and family who are scattered across the states (and overseas!)Nathaniel, myself, Mom, the Little Sister, and Dad. Enjoying a pint in Victoria, BC!

10) Being creative and using my mind. Both with the silly and serious stuff.