Sam and Ringo hiking with Dad

1. Our internet at home is fixed, and the technician who came was nice and knew what he was doing and not the same one who jumped our fence the other day while we were at work, cut our line, and left a big mess (all while Sam was thankfully asleep inside and unaware, otherwise the situation could have been so much worse). I didn’t mind not being able to use my computer for stuff because I could use my phone or do things at work, but it meant we didn’t have TV, (since our version of “TV” is a computer hooked up to our TV so we can watch Netflix and Hulu and such). I’m not dependent, but it is a key way I unwind for a few hours after a long day of work and I missed it. Although, I did get to watch Lady Sings the Blues last night, one of my favorite movies.

2. Eric hiking with the dogs. Because he had to rearrange his schedule to be home for the cable guy, it left him free this afternoon and even though I’m a little jealous because I have a shit ton of CSU work I need to finish today and will be at it the rest of the day, I’m glad they get to go have some fun.

3. Going home for lunch. It’s only about a three minute drive, and if there is something there I really want to eat, it’s the best spot in town for a casual lunch, a little break from work.

4. Signs of Spring and 5. Taking a break: Walking back from returning something at the library, I stopped and went mad taking pictures of the cherry trees in bloom. I can’t pick just one to share, so here are a few of my favorites.

Bonus Joy: Laughing, walking with the dogs, making myself the best mixtape on SoundCloud, glazed lemon zucchini bread, hummus and sweet potato tortilla chips, a big glass of cold water, a retreat with the Open Heart Project Sangha, the Daily Dharma Gathering, the best BLT I’ve had in a long time, puppies both old and young, skipping yoga all week after teaching a lot, sunny weather, teasing our neighbor about the zombie proof raised beds he was building, letting my fear be rather than wishing it away or getting sucked into its story, selecting and sending birthday presents to my mom and dad, working and being done with work.

1. Signs of Spring, things turning green and blossoming. My lilacs out front are going to be mad with spring, are covered in almost blooms.

2. Practice, keeping me sane, grounded, here.

3. Glazed Lemon Zucchini Bread with extra glaze.

4. The Daily Dharma Gathering. This morning I listened to the most recent talk from Khempo Gawang and he talked about how it’s important to “think globally, but act locally.” He said the problems of the world are actually a collection of individual problems, so in that way we can make a difference by acting locally. The bottom line is that we can either generate suffering or help. He also talked about the magic of technology, how it allowed us to come together and practice, how it allowed him to come and teach us, that we should “recognize and rejoice” this particular magic.

5. April Love and April Moon, two challenges complete with daily emails and prompts from two of my favorite people.

Bonus Joy: TV on demand, reading, Wild Boar Cafe, talking and laughing with a good friend, a boss who understands, laughing with Eric, dancing in the kitchen, Ringo when he’s being sweet, Sam when he’s being sweet, knowing what I do is helpful, being told that I’m cheering someone up, making them feel better, synchronicity, getting to choose how I move my body and what I eat, not apologizing for myself, trusting myself.