1. I think my basic optimism stands me in good stead. My default setting is "expecting good things."

2. I'm glad I started Swedish classes again instead of giving up forever. I'm enjoying it so much. Fighting the good fight against unrealistic standards for myself.

3. I am so appreciative of the person who found my lost keys on the ground and put them in a place where I might see them. Thank you, helpful stranger!

Re 1: I think this was one of the really good things that my parents and my grandparents and my first gifted ed teacher combined to instill in me: the sense that something wonderful could happen at any time. This is not the same thing as optimism entirely. But it's awfully nice. And then I got myself into a profession where it's literally true.

This past week I visited a couple of people I've known for decades, one much longer than the other. I've known both through some pretty rough stuff, so seeing them happy together gives me such intense pleasure. That and the little things they did to make me feel welcome.

1. I've become pretty strong recently, physically. This is rather awesome.

2. I went out dancing even though the venue was far away and there was a dubious band playing. But the band turned out to be delightful and I had a wonderful time.

3. A friend (who is not a professional author) shared with me something they had written, which was very sweet of them.

I'm actually rather obnoxiously perky the past couple of days. Life is fun! I'm getting lots of exercise! Some people are nice! Food is good! Coffee!

I like that I'm able to be loving and kind. I'm proud that I was still able to edit a webpage I hadn't messed with recently. I so much appreciate my son's generosity to his brother, supporting him through a period of unemployment.

1. I like my smile and I love the act of smiling and how I can make other people smile.

2. I wrote chapter one of my YA werewolf novel. I didn't like the chapter, but I was thrilled that I finally did it.

3. My baby niece crawled this week, an amazing accomplishment. :)

1. I like that I don't get discouraged easily.
2. I handled a potentially Awkward Conversation with a coworker in a way that was both friendly and professional, and which I hope will lay the groundwork for a better working relationship between his team and mine.
3. I really appreciate the people who contributed to or proofread the FOGcon 3 program book as I was putting it together over the past couple of weeks. I'm slightly awed by how generous people have been with their time and talent.

1) I like my creativity, which expresses itself in designing quilts and writing fanfic.

2) I'm proud of the fact that the TV cabinet remodel I'm in the process of installing actually fits both the cabinet & the TV.

3) DH just changed our plans for Spring so that we can go to WDW in April, because he knows I love it.

1. I don't have a guilt button. Which is not to say that I can't feel guilty, only that I can't be guilt-tripped at the behest by others.
2. I did not have my cat put to sleep last week. How much longer he will be with us is in the lap of the gods, but it will be longer than the vet expected, and I will ensure he is happy and comfortable throughout.
3. My lodger took over organising some very necessary plumbing work when my brain was occupied full time fretting over the cat.

1. I like my flexible stubbornness.

2. I got a major project through a major milestone at work yesterday, even though I was recovering from a nasty bug and it was tough to find the spoons. (And it's kind of cool that I'm not fungible with everyone else at work, even though sometimes it means doing this kind of thing.)

3. My boss told me to stay home and unplug and get better today, and took over all the mopping up from yesterday. (And it's deeply cool that my boss understands that my physical and mental health are part of what make it possible for me to push sometimes, and is willing to work to preserve them.) And my household has been awesome about taking care of me, each other, and the baby so that I can relax and recover.

Flexible stubbornness is awesome.

I guess this is for #2: After three and a half weeks of leaving fruitless messages trying to get the clinic who gave me a tetanus booster three years ago to figure out whether the shot they gave me was the one with whooping cough vaccine in it, I just spent six minutes on hold with the old insurance company who were able to look it up and tell me that in fact it *was* the right vaccine, and I don't need another booster. Small victories, but I was about to have to go over and be all hysterical pregnant lady at people in person, in a public clinic in the middle of flu season, which didn't sound like a lot of fun. So, yay!

(Which would maybe make #1 that I've largely managed not to be hysterical pregnant lady, I guess.)

1. I am a quick study at most things; I usually pick up and integrate new information readily and enjoy the process of learning.

2. I chaired Potlatch 22, which was held in conjunction with Foolscap over the weekend of February 1-3, after having had a ramp up period of only four months. The basic things I really wanted to insure, happened: we brought in a lot of attendees to Foolscap who do not traditionally attend it, we got a really good hotel-night pick up, the hospitality crew put on a really stellar Potlatch-style hospitality lounge, and, most importantly the attendees from both sides of the house had a really great little convention. Plus, thanks to a stellar auction crew the Clarion West Scholarship auction brought in close to $2K, which is more than I dared hope for. I'm proud of myself and my entire crew for making that happen.

3. Hal has taken over doing the kitchen laundry without being asked. Lovely fellow.

I like that I am sensible. I have my hang-ups and my freakouts, and I know I probably worry about things more than most people do, but I am not paralyzed by worrying or by freaking out. I have my moment and then I go try to make it work, and more often than not I succeed. I can sort out my shit effectively. And what's more, usually the ability to consider many angles -- the thing that leads me to worry more than most -- also leads to better, more complete solutions. I wouldn't swap it. It's one of the best things about me.

I cooked yesterday! I haven't been safe to cook since Christmas, because the anemia was so dangerously bad that I would almost black out just trying to get dressed. I'm still not safe to leave the apartment unchaperoned, but I CAN COOK AGAIN. I just have to take it easy on the amount of chopping and bending/straightening I do. No hauling big pots or kneading dough or stirring thick things for ten minutes straight or other stuff like that. But that still leaves a lot! It feels so good to be able to make things again and have some control over my life back. I CAN COOK. I know you will completely understand this.

Earlier today, my friend Juli tweeted: "I think my real new role at work is as unspoken peace keeper, empathy encourager, and general educator. So you can call me [Chelle] now." She gives me credit for a lot of things that I don't always give myself credit for and notices the things that other people often don't. (Or at least other people sometimes notice a few things -- mostly the things I do for them specifically -- whereas she notices a LOT, including what I do for other people who are not her.) Usually I'm the observant cheerleader for everybody else, so having someone who does that for me is something I really, really cherish.

COOKING, heavens yes, although this comment makes me feel like we should talk more, now that your twitter is locked and I don't have twitter. Because blarg.

(1) I'm dogged. I do what needs doing even when it's unglamorous or uncredited.

(2) Such as schlepping a heap of used washcloths to a closet where they'll actually get collected, and getting a proper collection bag for the original location.

(3) My sweetie taught me how to lock a bike. Bikes are still strange creatures to me, and how to thread and secure the lock properly was not obvious to me. So I feel better about the prospect of riding the bike to places where it will need to be locked, now that he's given me a hands-on lesson.

1. I am proud of my memory. I've trained it fairly well, and it can pull out some amazing things on occasion.

2. My book tour! It was my Very First Real Book Tour, and I think it went very well.

3. kniedzw brought me Girl Scout cookies. <3

1. I am willing to be a beginner, to start new things that scare me and then to pursue them with enthusiasm. I'm proud of it but it's also just a way I make myself happy.

2. I followed a job lead for something way different than I'd been doing, something which has some markers of low hierarchy, and I took the job and am learning to do it well.

3. My friend Jake not only sat through a play for the fourth time so he could see it with me (he's a theatre student and was taking tickets) but then took me to the stage door to meet the cast, and skipped part of his roommate's going-away party to have coffee with me. And told me I was a talented storyteller.