Friday, July 10, 2009

Happy things on a happy Friday

It's been a great week. I thought it would drag after the three-day week I had last week, but it's actually gone by remarkably fast, and I'm feeling great. A few things that have helped out with that:
  1. I figured out (after two and a half wasted months) that we don't have to wait until we file our 2009 taxes to claim our first-time homebuyer tax credit. It is very simple to file an amendment to your 2008 return to get the tax credit this year. I did so on Wednesday and now we have only to wait a couple months until we get it, then use it to pay off the surgery completely, saving ourselves a chunk of credit card interest. Then we can put the money we were going to use to pay off the surgery into a high-interest savings account, where we will actually EARN money on it instead of PAYING interest on it, until we have enough to pay for new windows.
  2. Yesterday at the dog park, Montana spontaneously started fetching. She had sort of fetched a couple times in the past, in that she would run after the ball if you managed to get her attention, and bring it back once or twice before losing interest--and even that has only happened a couple times--but yesterday? She just suddenly pounced on a ball that she found at the dog park, so I threw it for her, and she sprinted after it full speed. And did it again, 15 or 20 more times, until we had to leave. A random spectator would have thought she was just ONE OF THOSE DOGS WHO FETCHES. I recognize that this sounds mundane to most people, but you guys, we have been trying to get her to do this for FOUR MONTHS. And then, out of nowhere, she just... DID.
  3. A website that I worked really hard on for a year and a half (the huge deliverable that I had to get done right before my wedding) has FINALLY gone live. It took forever because of various holdups not related to our work, but the client has now put it on the internet for all to see. And it looks very similar to the version we submitted, which I'm proud of. And no, I'm sorry, I'm not going to link it here because it's work-related, but I still had to mention it because I'm so excited about it. (But don't be sad that it's not linked, because most of you would probably find it really boring.)
  4. I am really loving this regular gym thing. I love swimming and I love that I feel fitter and more energetic already. I love that with the gym you see results SO FAST. Seriously, whereas normally right before my period I gain a couple pounds and get touchy and hormonal? This time I was totally normal, mood-wise (Torsten corroborates this) and I actually LOST a couple pounds during the days when I normally GAIN them. I am totally chalking this up to the exercise thing.
  5. I'm starting to feel really settled in Denver. I have a few friends--one of whom is about to move back to the East Coast, which I'm sad about, but she is coming over for dinner this weekend. I have Jeni, and Rosie, and Kath, and two really cool girls I met at the dog park, and our very nice neighbors. I feel like I'm starting to build a social network, and that makes me happy.
What's making you happy these days?

24 comments:

  1. This post made me happy! I am glad that things are working out as they are. I agree, this week has gone fast. the fact that its Friday and I only work three days next week is making me happy!

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  2. I'm happy that as I type this, my kids are in the next room. We drive home today. Huzzah!

    Your list made me happy too :)

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  3. sounds like you are having a great week. i'm happy it's the weekend!!!

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  4. Fun topic for a Friday!

    I'm happy that I went to spin class twice this week, and that I'm off on Monday. Yay!

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  5. Rescue dogs are a special breed, no? I think their development is severely delayed compared to puppies reared from the get-go. SoMi exhibited very similar behaviors - it took her forever to learn how to play (though, to this day, she'll only fetch a ball a couple times before she completely loses interest). I think it means Montana is finally feeling settled and comfortable in your/her home!

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  6. I feel similarly about the gym/working out. It totally helps regulate my mood and now when I don't work out? I want to stab people. So, points for working out! And isn't the pool an awesome form of exercise? I just feel so GOOD after I've swam. Glad you found something that feels great!

    I am happy it is Friday and that I am getting my hair cut and that I just randomly weighed myself and have two more lbs to lose before I reach 25lbs lost and am FINALLY under 200lbs. YES!

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  7. Great post! And yay for being able to pay off the surgery soon!

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  8. Sadly right how, all I got is the chicken curry I am eating for lunch.

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  9. #1 on your list? Totally awesome. That has got to feel SO good!
    #4 is also awesome. I love going to the gym, mostly because I love the way I feel AFTERWARD. That's my motivation to get up off my ass and GO. I've been a swimmer my whole life and swimming is my favorite exercise. Right now the weather is perfect in Seattle for lake swimming. It's such a nice stress release.

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  10. Hooray for paying off the surgery sooner! Now you can buy furniture! And windows!!

    Writing makes me happy. So does the prospect of finally having some hot weather here. And days off to go along with it!

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  11. I like your post! I am happy to be visiting my folks in Chicago this weekend, where the weather will be beautiful and there will be lots of fun stuff to do.

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  12. Great things here, Jess! I am so glad you are settling in so well.

    Today I am happy because I have a great friendship with my dad. Yay, Papa Bear!

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  13. I feel ya on the fetching thing. I always want our dogs to fetch, but they never do. We've had the same experience with them doing it once or twice and then moving on! Congrats to Montana - it will be a great way to tire her out!

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  14. I've also been working out recently, and that's been making me super happy. Over 80 degree sunny weather makes me happy. Lounging in the sun makes me happy. I'm having leftover Thai food for lunch, and that makes me happy.

    I'm glad you're so happy!

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  15. Glad to see you're so happy! I'm mostly happy to be back home where my comfy bed is :p

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  16. I went swimming today and had a great time! I can't wait to go back and burn even more calories!

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  17. SO glad you're happy with your new city and your exercise routine. Exercise makes everyone feel happier :)

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  18. A good friend network makes such a huge difference. It took me way longer than a few months to find mine. I'm glad you're starting to feel settled already!

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  19. Hearing you sound so happy makes me happy and my children being currently off my shit list makes me happy...

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  20. LOL first time here, definately coming back. I have two dogs, one is a non-fetcher so I know EXACTLY HOW YOU FEEL.

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  21. I really love reading things that are making others genuinely happy- thanks for sharing :)

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  22. Aww I'm so glad you're feeling settled and making friends there! That's so great.

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  23. Those are happy times indeed! Especially the gym bit - I'm motivated to go tonight because of this!

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  24. Getting a solid five hours of sleep last night made me exceptionally happy!

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