10 Good Things...

Last year, when I was home sick, I wrote this post.  I feel as though, being home sick today calls for a similar post.  I'll tell the truth though, I'm struggling with this one today.  I've even felt too poorly to knit and I'm missing Quiz Night tonight!  Oh, the injustice!

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But, along the lines of my recent project of '10 good things' I'm going to give it a go... 10 positives about being sick today...

1. It's a bright sunny day, so the house is warm.
2. The cat has enjoyed having us both home (sick) today.
3. I watched one of my favourite movies ever, Love Actually.
4. I slept for about 13 hours last night.
5. I got to have a quick chat online with Shazeen
6. and she showed me some beautiful family portraits they had done.
7. I have the whole weekend to rest up and feel better.
8. I got to laze around in my trackies all day.
9. I am actively contributing to Kleenex's profit margin.
10. I had a nap on the sofa, with the afternoon sun shining on me.

Okay - not feeling physically better (yet.)  But it could be a lot worse, right?

A fortnight's worth of Sunday Evening Reflections

I was busy having an awesome and relaxing time with LeeAnn in Wellie last Sunday, so I happily neglected my writing last weekend.  In spite of an achy back and a bit of a nasty sniffle, it's been a really lovely fortnight.  Things that I loved over the past two weeks...

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1.  Getting to blob out (or lie on the floor so my back didn't ache) during a sick day last Monday and watching one of my favourite movies - Monsoon Wedding.  I've also just read that it is being adapted into a Broadway musical, which they started casting in June.  I'm curious to see how one of my favourite films translates onto Broadway.  The movie is a riot of colour and festivities, fraught with familial drama - I hope the stage production is as spectacular as the movie!  I always get a bit nostalgic for my family when I watch it, but it never fails to make me ridiculously happy.

2.  Being back in class the day after.  It was actually really lovely and the children were so very sweet, knowing that my back was achy and Katy was still sick.  Such a great group of children.

3.  I did a Parent Information Evening (about Montessori Math and Storytelling) on the Wednesday night of that week, and even though only ten people came, it went really well.  I think it's one of the best ones I've ever done actually!  It's a shame more parents weren't able to make it... but I left there feeling pretty fantastic and I got some really positive feedback about it. 

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4.  Hanging out in the Air NZ lounge, and being able to take my friends in on the way to Wellington and back.  It was just so very decadent and such a pleasant way to wait for our flights!  It made the delay on the way down much more palatable.  I'd love to take Phill somewhere soon just so we can go hang out in the lounge for a bit!

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5.  A fabulous weekend in Wellington, spending quality time with LeeAnn.  Girlfriend time is so good for the soul!  The purpose of the trip was actually work related.  The first reason was to attend a day's workshop at a school only a few minutes away from LeeAnn and Warwick's (gorgeous) house.  The workshop was fantastic to reignite and re inspire me, but most of all, it was a great chance to catch up with other Montessori professionals in New Zealand and to touch base with some fantastic folks that I haven't seen in ages.  Katy and I stayed on and spent Monday morning observing another 9-12 class.  We came away with some great ideas and feeling really excited about implementing some changes to make our awesome class even better. 

(That was mostly just the first week, except for the Monday observation!)

6.  I got my pretty new knitting needles in the post (which I battled for on trademe - I curse trademe lurkers!)  They're beautiful and I'm looking forward to doing some knitting with them! 

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7.  A Friday night, all snuggled up on the sofa, nursing my cold, feeling sorry for myself and watching Iron Chef... I'm convinced that's why I feel better today!

 

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8.  A super Saturday spent pampering myself.  I had my hair done first thing in the morning and then had a fun evening out with Rebecca, starting with a yummy dinner at Wagamama followed by watching the movie, Salt. (I thought it was entertaining - not fabulous, but a good, fun movie to watch on a Saturday evening with a good friend.) Again, girl time is so very good for the soul - and I always have such great time with Rebecca (which I think I've mentioned before!) 

Before.

 9.  I just made some tasty (Weight Watchers) self-saucing puddings.  What a lovely way to end a Sunday evening. 

After.

Whew.  It's been a fantastic fortnight - bring on another week! 

Sunday Evening Reflections

It's been another week, fraught with a great many more downs than ups.  Aside from a whole range of this'n'that, as of yesterday, it's been exactly 3 months since Dad's passing - it was a bit difficult, especially not being home with Mum, Navaz & Shazeen & the Kids... but I am here with Phill and some wonderfully kind, supportive, understanding and loving girlfriends at work and that's pretty awesome.

I have found that making that conscious effort to be mindful of the good stuff throughout the week (with this post in mind) has really helped.  I'm worried I'll forget some things - I'm going to have to start writing them down as they occur to me during the week. 

1.  Two letters from across the ditch and a parcel from across the world this week.  I got a card from Megan on Monday.  I love how honest she is in her letters.  I'm looking forward to getting to know her better.  Later in the week, I got a letter from Sophie in a gorgeous envelope.  She also put in these beautiful note cards - I can't wait to use them!  I also got our Amazon package full of books we had ordered - I'm finally going to read The Girl Who Played With Fire.  I am going to wait until things are less busy, so I can curl up and read for a weekend. 

2.  I can (mostly) drive manual now.  I'm going to try taking the car to work one day this coming week.  Fingers are crossed.  Tightly.  I am probably going to carpool with Rebecca the first time I take it - therefore if I completely lose it, I'll have her in the car with me to calm me down.  (Thank you, in advance, Bexki!) 

3.  I've lost almost 2 kg (4.4 lbs.)  Eating a bit less and moving a bit more is fruitful.  I must keep it up. 

4.  A relaxing Saturday afternoon, watching two hilarious movies to inject a bit of pep to end my week.  I can even feel a smile on my dial when I am thinking of these movies!

First I popped in Sione's Wedding.  This is a hilarious New Zealand film about grown men playing as boyz.  (Yes, I used a 'z' intentionally.)  Sione is getting married on the weekend, and he doesn't want his brother and friends to continue their track record of ruining other people's big days.  The only way they are able to attend the wedding is by bringing a girl to whom they have made a commitment to.  Hilarity ensues.  It's not a cinematic masterpiece, but it's light and funny and the best thing of all - I'm a sucker for a happy ending.  Oscar Kightley is absolutely endearing as Albert, and the rest of the Naked Samoans comedy troupe - hilarious... and Robbie Magasiva?  Not so hard on the eyes, no.

Keeping with the happy endings, I then put in the Aussie classic, The Castle.  This movie is frikkin' hilarious, filled with Aussie colloquialisms and again, lots of warm fuzzies.  The government wants to take the Kerrigan house (and their neigbours) to extend the airport and Darryl Kerrigan is not letting his family home go without a fight.  Not only is it a great movie - the narrator's mullet is top notch!  I can't find a photo of it online, but trust me, it's a stunning specimen.  I can't help but to feel my heart smile when I watch this movie (and no, it's not because I'm reliving my own daliance with a mullet.) 

5.  A pleasant Sunday morning shopping with Louisa and then wandering around a bit with both Phill and Louisa.  So easy to just be with them. 

6.  Going to spend this evening writing letters and cards.  It's one of my favourite ways to spend a Sunday evening.

A rocky week, but no matter how flat I'm feeling - I've always got a heck of a lot to be grateful for.