Day 4

Arrrrggghhh! In true Senegalian fashion I'm already falling behind in my posts. U_U

Zucchini and potato frittata! If you haven't figured out by now, yes I am a foodie and I think it is safe to say that at least 50 of these 100 days will be filled with my love for food. The potatoes and zucchini in this frittata have a nice story to go along with them that added to my happy for the day.

First, the potatoes - these are the very first perfect potatoes that I have cooked up since having a horrible two month encounter with very stinky, nasty, spoiled potatoes. It was a relief to reach into that bag with confidence knowing the vegetable I picked would be edible and odor free. I do not think I have ever experienced a food based horror as horrible as a spoilt spud - it is literally indescribable.

Second, the zucchini - this lovely vegetable was generously given to me by a member of the radio club my husband and I attend. He is an avid natural gardener and has had a very hearty harvest this season; there was more than enough for him to give away. I adore zucchinis and was more than happy to take some off of his hands. These lovely vegetables were the size of eggplants with a nice firm flesh on the inside. A great addition to my home-cooked brunch this weekend.

#100days

Day 3

Big fun cheap sunglasses!
(I wrote this yesterday, just didn't get to post it!)

#100daysofhappy

Day 2

First pedi of the summer - a little late and DIY
#100daysofhappy

Day 1

Food truck lunch!

#100daysofhappy

#100daysofhappy

In my last post I indicated interest in completing the 100 days of happy "challenge". One of my friends introduced me to the idea and she herself dutifully posted instances of happiness on her Facebook. The task is hard because even on the worst of the worst of days you have to find that small ray of light to write about. I hope that this challenge will not only help me appreciate more out life, but will also get me more in the habit of writing in my blog; the latter I need to work on moreso than the former. 

Before I start, I do have to admit I'm cheating a little bit. I knew I wanted to complete this challenge so I already have a few occasions of happy in my back pocket. Nothing like a good head start ;-) 

Here goes! 

That awkward moment when . . .

I am finally a chunk of the way through grad school. Hurray! I passed my qualifying exam last month and I can now focus on doing research. I'm very excited for this transition. No more tests, exams, or essays for life baby! That's just how I like it. 

Now that I clearly have much more free time, I also want to spend more time on my blog. I might even try more adventurous things like actually posting pics and links and memes and gifs. To get back into the swing of writing, I'm going to participate in 100 Days of Happy. One of my friends introduced me to this online challenge that encourages people to be thankful for at least one thing everyday for one hundred days. My friend has been a real trooper and I think she is almost all the way through. It's so important to be thankful in your life for the things you have or don't have, experience or don't experience. As I've started to slowly age more and more, I've come to realize how true this really is. I am very happy to say I feel very blessed in my life with what I have recieved and I hope this feeling of gratitude for the Almighty will never leave me. 

But, before I get into my 100 Days of Happy, I have a very funny story:

The other night, some months ago, my Mr Wonderful and I went out for dinner. I think we had fast food of some kind, not the good kind that stays with you and fills you up. The kind that just passes through and leaves you heading for the toilet. Cheap night out, what can I say. I'm pretty sure I just got the usual burger and shake from this sub-par establishment. The rest of the evening was pretty quiet and everything went along just fine . . . Until the next day at school. 

I'll just cut to the chase and save you the suspense, I needed to poo pretty bad once I got to school. Yeah, it was just one of those mornings. Fortunately, there is a single unisex bathroom on my floor just around the corner from my lab available for moments like this. The worst is when you really have to dump one out and you end up chasing five people out of the bathroom. I found my solace that morning in that single stall unisex bathroom. After the poopoo drama passed I breathed a sigh of relief while washing my hands. I tiptoed out of the bathroom and left the door just very slightly ajar so the fumes wouldn't over take any one passing by. 

As I walked back towards my lab, out of the corner of my eye, I could see a new student heading for the now very foul bathroom. There was no time to divert her - she headed straight into the danger zone. Oh no! Just as I expected the girl was in and out of that bathroom so fast I swear she teleported!

That awkward moment when you see someone walk into and right back out of a bathroom you just bombed. 

I'm pretty sure she didn't know I was the source of the carnage, but it was embarrassing none-the-less! 

Winter to Spring 2014

It's already the fourth month of the year, almost 1/3 through 2014. A lot has been happening with regards to my personal life and grad school. I think I will refer to 2014 as a year of transition, and that comes with some ups and downs. 

As 2013 came to close there were many occasions to say goodbye. I've seen close friends give their last regards to family members. As painful as the grieving process is, I have also seen those same friends rebound from their pain, heal from their experience, and emerge again anew. As some people have left us in this world to move on to the next, I have also experienced shifts in the circles of my friendships. Some people have moved close while others are a bit further than before. Relationships tend to ebb and flow like the movement of the sea; I will always have a few boulders that are too stubborn to go anywhere but smaller, looser stones tend to drift away with time. The boulders help kept me sane, they are the people I I fear losing the most and I am fortunate to have then with me now and I hope into the future as well. 

Just as 2013 has been filled with our goodbyes, 2014 is filled with hellos. So many people in my circles (myself NOT included, at least not yet) are welcoming new life into their families. Little toes and tiny fingers and cute noses now fill the lives of these people with happiness. 

Both of these experiences change lives for better or worse; as I grow up, however, I cherish whatever it is these events bring to my life and hope that they will influence me for the better. 

Now that we are getting into the full swing of things in 2014, I myself have undergone some transitions. Nothing too extreme from my normal self, just a better version of myself. With some nudging from my husband, I've started wearing more religiously asociated clothing. I wasn't walking around like Naked Nadine or Short Skirt Susan so put away those side glances. My dress has always been fairly conservative, I've just kicked it up a notch. At first I agaonized about the change; people would look at me funny or ask 100000000 questions I didn't have time to or care to answer. It would have been horrible! But to my pleasant surprise, it wasn't. And I honestly feel like I'm being more true to myself by dressing this way. So it's a nice change. Plus, it's opened my eyes to a while new world of fashion and fabulousness I didn't even know existed. Hurray for shopping!!!!

In general, I don't consider myself someone who really likes change. I'm more habitual than a daytime television schedule, but I guess it's all a part of growing up. And right now, I'll do the best to welcome the change with open arms. I hope that in the end, it is all for the best, God willing.