If life gets any better...So what's good in your life?

[Maddy McCall]

Good morning, friends,

I hope life is as good for you as it is for me right now. This weekend, I have an interview set up--I'm going to record an oral history with a guy whose ancestors are featured in my dissertation. I'm already feeling great about that...

Also, in two weeks, MMjr and I will take a week-long vacation in a cabin on a lake (which is kinda crazy, because we live in a cabin on a creek), and we're going to fish and picnic and cook out every day. Really looking forward to staying a cabin without computers, Playstations, and TVs! We're taking a deck of cards and some board games--we're just going to hang out together without distractions.

Spring has sprung even though we're having cold nights--isn't it just amazing how we humans become energized during the spring?

All of Lucinda's pups are in their new homes, and I've had several calls from the pups new parents telling me how much they love the puppies. That feels good!

We have a dinner tonight at the fire house---one of our town's councilmen is grilling chicken and has invited all the town's firefighters and police--he's gonna feed us. I feel honored! :D

On a sad note, Our fire department had to work a wreck the other night in which a man died...a young man who I knew, who was as friendly as the day is long. It's the first wreck I've worked in which we had to call in a track-hoe to clear up the scene--three vehicles: a car, a log truck and a garbage truck. So if y'all don't mind, could you keep his family in your thoughts.

Well, I haven't taken the time lately just to talk about what's good in my life. Wanna tell me what's good in your life?

[miss_american_pie]

1. Everything

I am incredibly lucky. :hi:

[Maddy McCall]

3. Good morning!

I feel lucky, too. Sometimes things just seem to go the way I want them to, and I feel great when they do.

:hi:

[miss_american_pie]

8. That is a wonderful feeling.

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

2. Everything but my job.

But at least I've got one.

[Maddy McCall]

5. What's going on with your job?

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

9. Despite bringing in several hundred thousand dollars worth of revenue

even though it's not my job to bring in revenue at all, I haven't gotten a raise in 2 years after being promised LARGE raises and promotions, and I still make at least $10k lower than what's typically made for my position.

Needless to say, I've been job hunting.

[Burma Jones]

11. What do you do?

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

22. I'm in politics.

Right now, I'm a lobbyist. I'm trying to get back onto the Hill though in a Congressional office.

[RumpusCat]

40. going thru political career-change myself

But I'm trying to break into the D.C. arena! :hi: I'll send you good luck on the Hill vibes!

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

42. It's tough for us Dems these days.

There just aren't a lot of jobs out there for Democrats, and there really hasn't been for a while. Not helping matters is the pre-election holding pattern that seems to be taking place right about now.

It's looking a lot more positive for January though! :hi:

[Maddy McCall]

12. That sucks

I hope your employer, when threatened with losing you, sees what he's going to be missing.

:hug:

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

23. Meh, I don't care so much about that at this point.

I just want out ASAP. :-)
:hug:

[Maddy McCall]

25. I hope it all comes through as you like.

:hug:

[bigwillq]

4. I am so happy

that things are going well right now, Maddy. You and your family definitely deserve some good in your lives.

Enjoy that week with MMjr. SOunds like a lot of fun.

:hi: :hug:: :pals:

[Maddy McCall]

6. Thank you!

You have to be one of the sweetest people on DU. :hug:

:loveya: :pals:

[bigwillq]

7. Ok, since

you think I am so sweet, any chance you can take me along on your week-long trip?!?!? :P ;) :hi:

[Maddy McCall]

14. Will you bait my hook?

:D

I'll do the cooking, and you don't even have to wash dishes, because we're using all paper products when we go.

:hi:

[bigwillq]

16. I'll bait!

I play a mean game of poker too. Prepare to lose your chips! :)

[Maddy McCall]

19. Cool! Will you loan me $20 to play the slots at the casino nearby....

if I use my food stamps to buy the steaks and shrimp we're gonna eat all week?

:D

[bigwillq]

27. You can have $40!

For steaks and shrimp, I think that's worth it! :)

[Burma Jones]

10. I have a lot of good things in my life

I have a wife who understands that the most powerful force in the Universe is Kindness

This same wife is in the mid point of a thus far routine pregnancy which should give us another daughter in August

My Son was thought to be Autistic at age three, now he's eight, and the speech and occupational therapies have paid off

My Daughter is smart as a whip, socially well adjusted and absolutely stunning

I'm overweight, but steadily losing the pounds. No diabetes, no high blood pressure and I can do five miles in an hour

I work from home 2 or 3 days a week

I get to sing the Brahms Requiem this weekend here:



I live in the Bluest part of a Blue State

[bigwillq]

13. Your son

Is he still considered autistic? :shrug:

My boyfriend has custody of his nephew, who is autistic. He has a slight case. He is 9 now and has steadily improved since my boyfriend has taken custody of him. He's such a sweet boy. Smart too.

Your daughter is beautiful. Seems like you have a wonderful life. :hi:

[Burma Jones]

17. I'm fortunate

My Son is not considered Autistic. What has developed is that he exhibits what his speech therapist used to refer to as "little reminders" he tends to keep to himself but has friends and gets obsessed with subjects, when he was first evaluated, we were told that most kids that are initially thought to possibly Autistic are not, but that behaviors that show up at age 2 or 3 should be monitored and that the speech and language issues that made folks thing he might be Autistic need to be addressed early so he could learn to communicate. My Son definitely processes information differently.....

Your Boyfriend's Nephew will surely benefit from a stable and kind environment. I've found that the functional Autistics with which I've talked have been interesting and for the most part, sweet.

[bigwillq]

26. Stable and kind environment

yes, that's what the nephew has now. He had no kind of structure when he first came to live with my BF. But my BF is very structured and organzied and the boy seems to be striving. Of course they're some rough days but for the most part, the boy is very well-behaved.

[Maddy McCall]

15. Man, you have got it going great for yourself.

Congrats and peace.

:hi:

[Burma Jones]

18. And You Too.......

[Maddy McCall]

21. Yeah...it's just the little stuff that makes me happy, I guess.

I'm low maintenance. ;-)

[Burma Jones]

30. All I can say is that I never pushed for any of it

You know, all that motivational drive drive drive BS.

All I ever wanted was to be kind to people, I wanted a clean heart - didn't always go down that path, but when I did, things just went better. I was fortunate to get the right kind of religion early on I guess.....

I guess Earl Hickey is right - Karma. You gotta love it!


On Edit: This is my 5,000th post. Whadda ya know

[Maddy McCall]

31. Well, congratulations! And a fine post it is!

I thoroughly agree with you. You know, when my son was born, I decided then that all I wanted from life was to give him what he needed to have a good life...to afford jeans and shoes and maybe whatever gadgets a little boy would want.

I was very nervous about it when he was a baby. But it just seems that whenever it looks like there might be a storm on the horizon, stuff just works out.

And I believe you are right--it works out because of karma, and I've raised my son to treat people kindly and to expect nothing in return--to do it because it's the right thing to do.

We are comfortable--and I don't wish for anything more. :)

Happy 5,000th!! :bounce:

[AirmensMom]

20. I'm in love with harleydad.

:loveya: And all the harleychildren and harleygrandson. :loveya:

I'm glad you're having a good run for the most part ... but very sorry about your friend. Yes, harleydad and I will keep his family in our thoughts.

:hi:

[Maddy McCall]

24. Thanks, Amom!

Funny when you hit that equilibrium in your family affairs---especially in family affairs--how life just seems good.

The guy who was killed worked for the company that hauls our garbage...I didn't know him on a personal level--he was the guy who picked up our garbage...and I always stopped and chatted with him, and he always had nice things to say...but anyway he was a good guy, and I am going to miss his smile and chatting with him. :( I know his family is distraught--he had a twin sister...he was in his thirties. REally a sad situation. Ought to be illegal for those guys to ride on the back of garbage trucks AT NIGHT. :(

[AirmensMom]

28. Well, we have a lot of upheaval going on right now.

Our family is our only constant, but it's precious. I treasure them all. :loveya:

What a horrible accident! I never even saw a garbage truck running at night! Just terrible. :cry:

[Maddy McCall]

32. Here's a photo of the accident...(just the car and truck)

No gore or anything in this photo...I wouldn't do that.

[AirmensMom]

33. Wow.

That looks bad. :cry:

[Maddy McCall]

35. It was the worst one I've ever responded to...

The log truck creamed the gold Chevy and the garbage truck in one fell swoop. As he hit them, he jack-knifed, and his load of logs (most of which were at least 25" diameter) hit the highway like pick-up sticks.

The guy driving the log truck was driving at least 75 on this rural highway. I really pity him. He's got a long row to hoe...he had dropped his comprehensive coverage on his rig just a couple of weeks ago, and only had liability. I suppose that liability insurance will come in handy with the lawsuits he's going to face. I really feel for him. His career is over, because he lost his means of making money--his truck.

I hope to god that somehow a law can be enacted to make it illegal for the guys to ride on the back of garbage trucks when they aren't in city limits. Especially at night. It's so sad. :(

[AirmensMom]

38. This is sounding worse all the time.

:wow: I'm with you on that law!

[JitterbugPerfume]

29. my oldest daughter

who escaped from an abusive marriage several years ago is getting married to a real prince next month

I lost five lb last week


spring is here and soon the daffodils will bloom

and


* numbers are in the cellar

[Maddy McCall]

34. I am so happy for your daughter....

I know that you must sleep easier these days knowing that she's with someone who doesn't mistreat her.

Yes, my daffodils are blooming, too! I adore them. You can't look at them without feeling happy. :D

And congrats on losing 5lbs! :bounce:

[bmbmd]

36. Great thread.

My wife's biopsy was benign. She thinks my backside is superior to superstar Terry Bradshaw's derriere in "Failure to Launch". My kids are happy. It snowed a little this morning. I'm going to DisneyWorld.

[Maddy McCall]

37. You really should be celebrating!

Tell your wife that I said WOOHOO! when I read about her biopsy being benign. That's something to celebrate!

And you have a nice booty and your kids are doin' well. What more could you ask for--all icing on the cake. :D

Are you really going to Disneyworld? Or are ya making fun of Nancy Kerrigan? One day I'm going to save up the $$$$ to take MMjr to the plastic city. :D

[bmbmd]

46. June 16-30.

Wife, our two teens, and their buds...

[RumpusCat]

39. Today is six months with my awesome girlfriend

I've never felt this way about anyone else... it's thrilling and scary at the same time! :loveya:

Um, otherwise I've got a lot of upheaval and turmoil going on but I think/hope it'll wind up being more of a grand adventure than a harrowing experience. Moving, changing careers--it might result in some eating of ramen and pinching of pennies but I'm hoping to come out the other side in a position where I can use my brain and education more and have a more fulfilling social life. Too bad there's not a crossing-my-fingers smiley!

Have fun on vacation! That sounds like my kind of retreat--forget tourist traps, I would just want to relax and enjoy nature and good company. :hi:

[LaurenG]

41. I have a home, food and clean water

I have a car and enough money to fill it up when I need to. I have a job and clothes and I have two warm coats. (sounds like I bragging, huh. I'm not it's just nice not to have to worry about how to keep warm and get to work, etc). Things are good.:thumbsup:

[Blue Diadem]

43. There will be a new grandbaby

in November. My oldest son called me yesterday and told me. :bounce:

My youngest son and his fiance will marry in Oct. :bounce: He'll also be finishing his apprenticeship and his fiance will be graduating with her Masters. This also means I may be getting back my living room and will finally be able to get into his bedroom to redecorate.
:bounce: :bounce:

edited to correct my stupid spelling..

[AlCzervik]

44. My kid got her science project done--early and we're going to London

on April 3rd. right now i have nothing to bitch about in my personal life.

[Don Claybrook]

45. I quit smoking

Thanks for the thread, by the way; it's a good idea.

If anyone has already seen any of my other "I quit smoking" threads in the smoking cessation forum, I apologize, but it's a big deal to me. I've smoked for 20 years, a pack per day, and I quit 8 days ago. And I'm losing weight--dieting because I didn't want to gain weight while quitting smoking, so I just did it all at the same time, and so far it's working out.

My family and I are taking our first vacation in 3 years in about a week from now.

And the piano is starting to work for me, instead of me working for it.

We have a wonderful golden retriever puppy (Calypso), and that's a very good thing.

We're finally debt-free after a long time of owing everyone money.

Finally, if I can throw in a small item, one of those intangibles that makes life worth living: I heard the Hollies song The Air That I Breathe. Haven't heard it in years and years (#50, 1974), and it made me happy.