Things to be happy about:
- it is finally sunny again.
- it is warm!
- i planted vegtables (radishes, cukes, green beans, basil, parsley and tomatoes) on my deck this morning.
- i am super healthy.
- my work is meaningful and i'm good at it.
- my family is really great. (lots of people say that, but i mean it, and it's true).
- i live in a really nice apartment with a nice roommate and it's in the city i love that is my home.
- i have about 30 people i could call if i really needed help in an emergency.
- i have enough money to feed myself, put a good roof over my head, drive a reliable car, ski all winter, go travelling, and more.
- my body does what i want it to, for the most part.
- i am smart. i can t hink critically and have an open mind.



Things to be sad about:
- i can never, in the forseeable future, buy a house (it is financially impossible for me).
- i have to keep dating if i am ever going to find my damn husband.
- i am a little bit jealous of my siblings, who both have someone to love and who loves them.
- i am scared of one of my parents dying and not being prepared to emotionally support the one left behind.
- we live in a country that apparently thinks fighting is the way to get things done.
- we live in a country where violence is really out of hand.
- innocent people are dying, here and elsewhere.
- i, once again, weigh about 20 punds too much and unless i diet for the rest of my life, which includes never eating another cookie or french fry, i probably will continue to.
- stupid american ski corps sold off killington and mt. snow and we still don't know if passes will be affordable next season.
- i am alone.
- i am sometimes lonely. this is new.
- not enough people notice the beauty around us every day.

As far as pro/con lists go, it's a pretty good one. But having a lot of time to myself has got me really thinking about the balance and the real desire I have to keep the happy side stronger.

Munis Unite!

One member of my municipal development services group in Paraguay, Jeremiah, has been asked to write a regular journal which will be posted on the Peace Corps website. Pretty cool. Check it out!

Easter Dinner Soup

I made this up Sunday night after I got home from a delicious Easter dinner at my parents' house, armed with leftovers and not sure how I was going to eat them all in my crazy week. You could still make this tonight and have a lovely lunch for the rest of the week. If it's too late, clip and save for next year. Enjoy!

Easter Dinner Soup

In a large stock pot, put 2-3 tablespoons of olive oil and some chopped up garlic.
Let it get hot.
Add a can of chopped tomatoes, whatever flavor you want.
Add chopped up ham leftover from dinner.
Add chopped up green beans left over from dinner.
Add chopped up baked potatoes (or red potatoes or whatever) left over from dinner.
Add 1 cup of water.
Add 1 cup of milk (whole, skim, whatever you like).
Add 1 teaspoon of salt (more to taste if you like).
Add 1 teaspoon of pepper (more to taste if you like).
Add whatever is in your fridge that you need to use and would be yummy in this soup (I added half a can of black beans I had left over).

Stir and heat. Not too long, since everything is already cooked.

Eat and enjoy. I swear, it's really really good. I've had lovely lunches both days this week so far.

I don't have NESN

What the hell am I going to do? I just moved into a new place with basic cable (you know, the basic, basic kind) and I don't get NESN.

Okay, I could LISTEN to the games.



And many claim this is better than watching.

But, the seasons I've been in Boston, I've had a Red Sox boyfriend who I just love to watch.

2004, Bronson Arroyo, people made fun of me, but damn, I ended up right. He can pitch, he can sing and he is TALL!






2005, Jason Varitek, what's not to love? Seriously?



2006, I was out of the US for almost all of the season, but I've always had a place in my heart for Big Papi...


Now what? How am I going to know who is my 2007 Red Sox boyfriend without being able to see them? Start monitoring the website? Nah. As shown by Caroline's most recent post, you can't tell anything by someone's card photo.





I might have to call Comcast and upgrade. Because look at how good lookin' some of them are on their card photos. If I had them on my amazing 27" TV in my living room, I might really fall in love. And, I'd continue to be able to impress the real guys with whom I might have a date with my extensive Red Sox knowledge.




Hello, Comcast customer service?