Gratitude Galore!!

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GRATITUDE - warmly or deeply appreciative of kindness or benefits received; very thankful.


In past gratitude weeks I have taken a quiet approach. Sort of a meditative course which has been very rewarding and revealing.  Gratitude seems to rush in during the soft first light of dawn. It is easy to tap into during the stillness of nature or even a sleeping child's bedroom. I've had the best results in amplifying and Cultivating an Attitude of Gratitude All the Time during these ultra quiet moments. 


This week I've decided I want to see what might happen if I shake things up and make a bold and raucous approach. This week I am playing a game to loudly proclaim my gratefulness. Previously I have tried madly listing things for which I am grateful but I did so without getting truly present to the appreciation. In my quest to be bold and loud in my praise I will not be skipping this step.


Part of my quest will include looking in places I have not previously thought to look. It is pretty obvious to be grateful for friends and family, but what about  things of a more banal nature? Take running hot and cold water for example? I use this convenience on a daily basis but is extremely rare for me to even give it a second thought. Imagine what life would be like without it and immediately appreciation is there. I propose we begin paying attention to these sort of things as a way to amp up our daily experience of gratitude!


This week's "Bliss Initiatives" are color coded in purple for quick identification. They are specific things that you too can try, if you want to play along with me. However, because as Earl Nightingale says, "you become what you think about," even if you only follow along, and never take on any of the bliss initiatives, I expect some positive results. I will be exploring and encouraging GRATITUDE this way:

• Grategories -Each day I will be playing my own version of "Grategories" over here at Everyday Bliss in which I will be picking a random area to look for Gratitude. Places like Household Appliances, Software Programs, Public Service Professionals... areas I am not accustomed to even thinking much about but places where appreciation definitely lives.

• Gratitude Games - I will be hunting down and finding more Gratitude Games to play with my family and  encourage us to live with gratitude on a daily basis. I will be be updating here with a post about all the fun ideas I find.

• Grateful for you - This will be introduced tomorrow! I am creating a week long game to express my gratitude for all of you. It is going to be a party of sorts, I hope to introduce you to each other, toast your specialness and even provide door prizes! I hope you find it to be a lot of fun!

I know I am being rather cryptic here with these bliss initiatives but I hope you won't mind. I'm incredibly grateful for surprises and like the idea of springing a couple on you this week! OK that is it for now... and to kick things off over in your world.:


Tell me something, off beat and fun, that you are grateful fo today!


Next Post: The Gratitude Party gets started!

My 13 bliss virtues are joy, order, creativity, passion, whimsy, serenity, inquiry, community, romance, gratitude, moxie, humility, and surprise.



This week we are studying Romance. Next up is Gratitude Week

Enjoying the Romance!

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ROMANCE - To court or woo romantically; treat with ardor or chivalrousness; a strong fascination or enthusiasm for something. [Romance week starts here. Click for this week's Bliss Initiatives.] 

In a comment this week my bloggy friend Theresa said "But really - isn't every day a love letter? Some little thing you might say or do could be a love letter, right?" and she is absolutely right! I'm not giving up on my Love Letter, I have actually started one but I'm done with feeling bad about it not going as I wanted. Expectations about how we want things to turn out really can get in the way of enjoying what we have. Last night my Sweetie came home and grilled a terrific meal for us, our girl went to sleep early (probably because she stayed up so late yesterday!) and we had a nice evening snuggling on the couch. We didn't do anything overtly romantic. We just enjoyed each other's company.

My hubby and I always enjoy each other's company. I need to remind myself what a gift that is. The days he works late or even worse has to travel my days feel very very long. He always says things, like "I wish I could just stay home with you everyday" and when I know he is on his way home I look out the window in happy anticipation at least a dozen times. I don't want to miss greeting him at the door with a kiss and our girl likes to run and jump into his arms with a big hello and a "How was your day Daddy? Busy or fun?" 

Our everyday life isn't flowing with roses, poetry and candlelight but romance can be found in the little things. Bringing coffee to each other in bed. We take turns being first to do this and I am not sure which makes me happier. Having a cup waiting when I open my eyes or knowing that I beat him to the offering and he doesn't have to get up. We take turns in the kitchen too, each trying to create a new and exciting culinary treat. We think of each other first and go out of our way to make things easy, fun or surprising for each other. Our love language is demonstration and this we do well.

All in all I will give myself a 6 out of 10 for my romantic effort this week. My love letter is unfinished and I didn't follow through on doing something romantic everyday this week as I had planned. In terms of increasing everyday bliss, I give myself two bliss boosts. Getting smart about seeing romance in everyday actions will definitely increase my over all feeling of Bliss. We are ending the week with an actual date night tomorrow, The Girl will be at a friend's house, which means our plans do not require her cooperation.

It is easy to get inspired by the thought of a gesture not normally our style and when it happens the added treat can certainly be a delight but not having it doesn't diminish what we do have. We say often to each other "We have a great life don't we? and until that answer isn't anything but the resounding YES we always speak I don't think the fact that I swing and miss with a big gesture from time to time is anything I need to be sad about. It is fun to try.

Are you doing anything romantic this week?

Next post: Gratitude week kick off!

P.S. I am not done reviewing all of the Love Songs forwarded to me during this week so I will be updating next romance week with my top 5 romantic song list. Feel fre to keep those songs coming until then!

My 13 bliss virtues are joy, order, creativity, passion, whimsy, serenity, inquiry, community, romance, gratitude, moxie, humility, and surprise.



This week we are studying Romance. Next up is Gratitude Week

Romance Thwarted...

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ROMANCE - To court or woo romantically; treat with ardor or chivalrousness; a strong fascination or enthusiasm for something. [Romance week starts here. Click for this week's Bliss Initiatives.]


Well, some of you may have noticed that I haven't been quick to the posting today. Of course I could blame my silence on the fact that I just launched the new Everyday Mommy blog. 


Wait, I haven't really told you this yet have I? Well that is pretty darn exciting news and I'm pretty excited about the new blog, where I intend on sharing all my parenting foibles and pretty much share all the stuff I haven't been talking about over here. I put in this cool scroll which has all the cute stuff my girl has said the past year or so. She is hilarious so even if the rest of the blog is a snoozer for you that scroll might be worth a visit from time to time... 

Image Credit

But honestly, exciting and fun news aside, I am feeling a little thwarted by this Love Letter thing. Yes, the Sweetie did work late last night but the girl decided this was the night to stay up late netting me no bonus time as expected. When the hubby got home he wanted us to watch the series finale of 24, we have been saving it and even though not the most romantic show of all time it was touching to see a tear in the Sweetie's eye when the final credits were rolling. We don't watch many shows, HGTV and Food Network aside as family activities... no wait that is a parenting issue... I'll save it for the other blog. so it will be missed. A single bastion of adult world away from our otherwise G rated home.


Anyway, I digress. The Love Letter just isn't happening. My bloggy friend Nancy, aka BLissed-Out Grandma, just wrote about her difficulties writing cards and in doing so worked out exactly what she wanted to say. So here I am doing the same thing. I've distracted Little J with a bubble bath and a tub full of duckies so I might get exactly the time I need...  I've expressed my thwarted intentions... they are out of the way... so now I just need to begin...


What does it take for you to begin something?


Next post: My Romantic Conclusions.

My 13 bliss virtues are joy, order, creativity, passion, whimsy, serenity, inquiry, community, romance, gratitude, moxie, humility, and surprise.



This week we are studying Romance. Next up is Gratitude Week

The Art of a Love letter

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ROMANCE - To court or woo romantically; treat with ardor or chivalrousness; a strong fascination or enthusiasm for something. [Romance week starts here. Click for this week's Bliss Initiatives.]

From Google Images

You know how sometimes the universe just keeps telling you the same thing over and over?


Well ever since I started my Everyday Bliss Experiment I have been casually considering the idea of a Love Letter.  My Sweetie and I have never been love letter sort of folks. We both have a penchant for surprises so that is where we generally go when we are thinking of something romantic to do for each other. Nevertheless, I keep thinking about it.


When I came up with those 101 things I love about my Sweetie and posted them in the blog for all to see  he was totally blown away. I caught him checking back to re-read the list a couple of times which made me totally happy too! A love letter is different from our regular surprises because once it is written it can be looked at again and again. Which has caused some of its own concern because I would want it to be "Worthy" of reading over and over... see how I build up personal expectations such that I become paralyzed into inaction. Quite a strategy huh?


Anyway, so yesterday I happened over to a new Blog (for me), Yellow Kisses by the charming Kami and Peter, to find Kami's delightful poem, to be the first in a whole "Love Book", entitled He Makes Me Sing About Rainbows. The poem is fabulous and the whole blog is a romantic love letter! Hanging out over there really gave me pause to think about my Romantic efforts.


I keep going for the easy sure fire hits. Favorite meals, midnight snuggles (read whatever romantic interlude you desire), warm towels delivered after a shower, and candle light. Writing a decent love letter would actually take a little time (at least this is my current perception... I may be surprised) and when could I actually do such a thing justice?


I cleverly get myself to forget all about my new found revelations and upon waking begin thinking about what cool surprise I might be able to spring on my sweetie today. I pull an old tried and true resource off the shelf, Gregory Godek's 1001 Ways to be Romantic, (which I understand has been completely revised lately) and I opened it randomly to the page about writing love letters!  1001 ideas in that darn book and look where I land!!!


Then to cement the entire deal, that part about "when the heck would I have time to write a love letter" part, my Sweetie tells me he is going to have to work late tonight so I will actually have a full couple of hours to do it! So that is it. I give up my futile resistance!! 


Tonight I write a love letter. I'll let you know how it goes!


Have you ever written a Love Letter? 


Next Post: Love Letter update


P.S. Some exciting stuff is available here, if you care to stop by! 

My 13 bliss virtues are joy, order, creativity, passion, whimsy, serenity, inquiry, community, romance, gratitude, moxie, humility, and surprise.



This week we are studying Romance. Next up is Gratitude Week

I'm a guest story over at LifeUnity! (A small interruption in romance week)

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ROMANCE - To court or woo romantically; treat with ardor or chivalrousness; a strong fascination or enthusiasm for something. [Romance week starts here. Click for this week's Bliss Initiatives.]

(Inspiration Art from Free to Be Me site)

I interrupt this week's Romance discussion for this brief announcement:


My dear bloggy friend, Lisa over at Life Unity, has deemed "my story" worth sharing! 


For those of you who don't know Lisa, she is an immensely creative and passionate woman who has taken an idea, The Strength to Be Me and is on a mission to inspire all of us to be our best me. Over on her fascinating site she shares her own journey in her LifeUnity blog, offers physical strength training tips and tools in Move Me area of her site and creativity boosters in Create Me area. It is like getting three great blogs in one! Whatever your current focus is Lisa is endeavoring to provide you with the tools to take you/us to the next level to be our best me.


Another part of her site she is devoting to guest stories, where she says:

There are universal truths, however fluid they may be. People across the ages have real-ized them and expressed them in different ways - through science, different religions, poetry, or simply a way of living. These different ways are truth stories told in different languages...each just as important as the next to be shared and heard.

And it is there dear readers, she has interviewed me and offered up my life's "strength training" lessons to be shared! More about me then you may ever have cared to know but possibly interesting too. Stop on by to hear my thoughts on the divine as well as very human aspects of living and playing here on planet earth and even if my story doesn't interest you, do check out Lisa's site which in many ways, is already all about YOU!

My Interview Story

A Bonus Tale

Lisa's Wonderful Site

Next post: Back to Romance Week

My 13 bliss virtues are joy, order, creativity, passion, whimsy, serenity, inquiry, community, romance, gratitude, moxie, humility, and surprise.



This week we are studying Romance. Next up is Gratitude Week

Song in my heart - What are the top 5 romantic songs of all time?

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ROMANCE - To court or woo romantically; treat with ardor or chivalrousness; a strong fascination or enthusiasm for something. [Romance week starts here. Click for this week's Bliss Initiatives.]

"Romantic Songs" by Lunzen

Alrighty then. I had planned to make a list of some really great romance resources today but I was a little disappointed in my finds. In previous Romance weeks I had already found a bunch of interesting stuff.


       Everyday Romance and Tips
       Romantic Tips and other Fun Stuff


And my goal was to find something NEW.  It isn't as if I have actually already tried all of the old ideas. Really the resources in those two posts are pretty extensive but somehow I am looking for something new to get those romance fires a burning. Then it hit me. What would be NEW for me would be to hunt down some good old fashioned love songs.


I have already confessed my musical ineptitude and several of you were kind enough to provide some musical choices for my initial education when I requested you share "5 must hear" songs. A few of you even sent emails filled with artists and songs for me to check out. I have enjoyed it very much!!  What I did with the songs you sent, in addition to just listening to most of them, is I created a Pandora station based on each person's selections.  Now I can think of music in terms of specific bloggy friends. Oh I'm in the mood for Jingle music or M. songs will make little J laugh or something else depending on who provided the list. It has been a lot of fun.

In the instant that you love someone, 

in the second that the hammer hits, 

reality runs up your spine and the pieces finally fit. 

From "The One" by Elton John

So now here we are in the middle of romance week and I think a musical component is sorely lacking! You see your education is bearing fruit! A few of the "must hear" songs you guys have already shared were romantic but I was wondering if you were going to pick the TOP 5 Romantic Songs of all time what would they be?

Bill Lamb over at About.com puts Beyonce's "Crazy in Love" at the top of his Top 10 Love Songs list.

LoveToKnow says "God Only Knows" by The Beach Boys tops on their Best Love Songs of all Time.

AOL Radio Blog picked Billy Joel "Just the Way You Are" as number one in their Top 10 Romantic Songs List.

So, how about you? What would be on your list. I asked for 5 but any number you would like to share is a gift so please don't let my number restrain or pressure you in any way! If you are willing, I'd also like to know why those songs make the cut for you. At the end of the week I will give you MY top 5 list based on everything I am introduced to this week!


What are your favorite romantic songs? Why?


Next Post: The second installment of the Sweetie Escapades

My 13 bliss virtues are joy, order, creativity, passion, whimsy, serenity, inquiry, community, romance, gratitude, moxie, humility, and surprise.



This week we are studying Romance. Next up is Gratitude Week

Romance week kick off!

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ROMANCE - To court or woo romantically; treat with ardor or chivalrousness; a strong fascination or enthusiasm for something. 

From Art.com

I am really glad it is Romance week! Actually that isn't entirely true. When I woke up this morning, I thought, "Oh my, romance week is here. What the heck am I going to do to kick it off?" You see, I want something grand and extravagant and that usually requires some advance planning. Truth be told, I've barely even thought about it! So little in fact, I ENTIRELY forgot about getting a guest blogger for this week. I really like to offer another perspective on the weekly topics but I'm leaving you high and dry this week.


Unless...  Anyone out there interested in writing something about Romance to be shared over here on Everyday Bliss???  Really! YOU can be a guest blogger, just let me know you are interested!


What I really love about it being romance week is that it gives me an excuse to unabashedly romantic with my sweetie. We are probably a typical couple in that we don't behave in an overtly romantic way except on Valentines Day or other celebratory moments. By having "Romance Week" on my calendar I have created a celebratory moment. It may not seem all that romantic to plan for romance, somehow spontaneity has the distinction of being "more" romantic then planned events but just the idea of a romance week already has me thinking more romantically.


I'd also like to say this week is not just for those of you who are already in a romantic relationship. One of the best ways to pave the way for finding a romantic partner is to get clear about what it is you are looking for in that type of relationship. This is EXACTLY what I did prior to meeting my sweetie and as a result I became VERY clear about what was most important to me in a potential partner. My guy is nothing like the guys I used date but it wasn't until I got really clear about what is important could I see that he was the right guy for me!


This week's "Bliss Initiatives" are color coded in purple for quick identification. They are specific things that you too can try, if you want to play along with me. However, because as Earl Nightingale says, "you become what you think about," even if you only follow along, and never take on any of the bliss initiatives, I expect some positive results. I will be exploring and encouraging ROMANCE this way:

• Put Romance on the Calendar - I have already done this with my Romance Week, but why not more?! Take a look at your own calendar and pick some random days to surprise your lover with romance. He/she doesn't need to know it wasn't entirely spontaneous! Just planning something romantic has the added benefit of making you feel more romantic!

• Make or review your 100 reasons you love your sweetie - A few romance weeks's ago I shared 100 reasons why I love my guy. Now that I've done this I have a "go to" list for getting the romance fires burning. When dirty socks are on the floor and regular daily life is right in front of your nose it is easy forget why you love them. If you don't have a romantic partner, write up 100 things you would want in a future one. This exercise alone has been known to open a floodgate of opportunity!

• Study - This week I am back to making study one of my Bliss Initiatives. There are a ton of interesting romance ideas out there and just thinking about romance will help put me in the mood for a romantic day! If you are playing along do consider your own romance search on the internet. Top 10 romantic ideas searched in google netted a list that could keep someone busy for an entire year, let alone one week!

• Field Work - Back, this week by my popular demand! This works wonders EVERY time! This week I pledge to do at least one romantic thing each day and report back here about it. I will also create one big romantic surprise to be executed sometime this coming weekend. Want to play along? 

Are you playing along this week? What fun surprising thing can you do for your loved one this week?

Next post: Romance resources

My 13 bliss virtues are joy, order, creativity, passion, whimsy, serenity, inquiry, community, romance, gratitude, moxie, humility, and surprise.


This week we are studying Romance. Next up is Gratitude Week

Community week comes to a close

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COMMUNITY - Sharing, participation, and fellowship. [Community week starts here. Click for this week's Bliss Initiatives.]


Community week has zipped right by! I say that every week don't I?! Maybe a better way to play this game would be to spend two weeks concentrating on a virtue before moving on to the next one...  I suppose there will always be pros and cons to any system.  For those of you following my weekly scoring, I have awarded myself a 6 out 10 possible points for the week and 3 total bliss boosts! It really has made a difference for me to think of my blog readership as a community too! 


Anyway, that isn't what I wanted to talk about today! 


So, what do you think? As you can see I've been playing around with a few things on the blog. I enlisted the help of Diane over at Custom Blog Designs to help widen the columns and come up with a few blog buttons. After doing this limited update I think I might go for a full make over. I think it is more readable now (the text used to format small or giant in my old template making it hard to read) but there is probably a lot more that could be done! 


I'm trying to decide between the two "got bliss?" buttons for general use.

 
What do you think? Which one do you think looks better? If you like one or another and would like to grab it for your blog please grab the code over in my side bar! I won't be keeping all of them over there indefinitely so grab one now if you like it!


Since introducing the Discus commenting system the commenting has taken off over here on the blog. Thank you to new and old readers alike for taking the time to do so! If you read Everyday Bliss in a reader or from the facebook page you won't see all of this new interaction so it might be worth a little visit to the blog. 


At this point in time I've been responding to comments via email AND over here on the blog.  I never want anyone to think I haven't responded so I still think an email is a good way to go but to keep myself from going insane with duplicate commenting (email and on the blog) and to make it worthwhile for you to comeback and check the comments over here, going forward I am going to mix it up and answer on the blog in a way that I hope encourages further discussion. You will still get an email from me (if your email address is provided) but I will also be responding directly on the blog differently so do check back here also!


My intention is to make the comment section very interactive. I figure our collective knowledge and perspectives will exponentially expand what we can all learn about the weekly virtues! Romance week next week is a perfect way to test this out since it is a topic in which everyone can contribute. So please don't be shy about speaking up! And don't forget it is now possible to reply directly to any comment that inspires you to do so. 


I have some other stuff I am working on as well but I think this is quite enough for a sleepy Sunday morning!  I have to send a great big thank you out to Diane again for helping me update the design of the blog which in turn is helping me to feel more energized and excited about my Everyday Bliss project. I don't think we are done yet! (If you are looking for an update on your blog and/or just want a button or two you should definitely check out Diane's very reasonably priced services.)


Do you like what you are seeing over here at Everyday Bliss? Anything different you would like see? 


Next post: Romance week gets underway!!

My 13 bliss virtues are joy, order, creativity, passion, whimsy, serenity, inquiry, community, romance, gratitude, moxie, humility, and surprise.



This week we are studying Community. Next up is Romance Week

The post about my Facebook addiction

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COMMUNITY - Sharing, participation, and fellowship. [Community week starts here. Click for this week's Bliss Initiatives.]

This Speed Bump cartoon by Dave Coverly

I just couldn't let this community week go by without talking about Facebook. There are lots of folks out there that love it and just as many who hate it. I am in the former category. I would say that I am a "FAN" but for some odd reason Facebook has decided "FAN" is too strong a word so I am only able to "LIKE" them. Yes, Facebook has its foibles and all privacy concerns aside, it has been one of the best things in this transplanted, somewhat well traveled, nosy, late to motherhood, social butterfly's life.


I am truly addicted. Because of Facebook no era of my life has to die. I can kibitz with grade school and college buddies, reminisce with exchange students all over the globe, follow the inside jokes of former colleagues, be reminded of great restaurants and bars in many cities, track my relatives, get advice and share some fun with people I met when I was in diapers or even just this week.  Communities are kept alive because we can so easily participate together.

This Cartoon from HubSpot

I have to fess up.  I have even been known to get some news via Facebook. If a couple of my friends comment about a story then I need to know more. Even better if I hear of something happening in Boston I can check the validity with Maria who lives near by.  What happened in Texas? I have several friends there! Chicago snow storm, Volcanic ash over Ireland, Florida Hurricane... I can get real time information from all over the world instantly!


Facebook brings sad news as well as good. A favorite Latin teacher passes away, a former colleague has a heart attack (We are so glad to hear you are recovering quickly Bob!) a friend's spouse is ill. Jobs are lost and found. We hear about babies (Walter's updates on the twins are particularly fun!) I can share about my own. (Funny things my girl says is a regular feature over there.) The stuff of life happens there in quick little tidbits. Just perfect for my busy life.

"Facebook Hangover" by Mark Stivers

Since starting my blog I've been able to curb my obsessive compulsive status update checks and I haven't spent nearly the time I used to spend over there but I love that no matter the hour it is waiting for me. I can jump in on Joanie's "Where you at Wednesday" game or check to see if my niece is still in love with the cute boy I met last time I was out there.  If I need mommy advice a bevy of local friends and my Over 35 mom's club (ok I know I'm even older but if we started at 45 the group would be really little!) are quick with answers. Facebook is just there waiting for me to start a conversation, join or just follow one. Just knowing my 550+ friends are out there makes me feel like I am still part of the communities that make up my life.


Do you Facebook too? What do you love/hate about it? Does it make your communities stronger?


Next Post - Some community business


My 13 bliss virtues are joy, order, creativity, passion, whimsy, serenity, inquiry, community, romance, gratitude, moxie, humility, and surprise.



This week we are studying Community. Next up is Romance Week

Cheating on My Community or My Great Blind Date!

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COMMUNITY - Sharing, participation, and fellowship. [Community week starts here. Click for this week's Bliss Initiatives.]

I had planned to put a post about Facebook here today but I just had to tell you about my "cheating! blind date" yesterday. You see I have an amazing group of mommy friends with whom little J and I spend countless hours and adventures with but yesterday I decided to sneak off to one of our regular haunts with strangers! Who were these strangers? The Darling M. of we bloom here and her sweet child S.  

A Rainbow of Birds From we bloom here

I already introduced M. to you guys when I found her delightful birdy project, which the girl and I immediately had to copy! So while not strangers entirely, and we have developed a nice on line friendship,  when we realized we live close enough to actually meet that is when it got positively titillating for me.

Our version made it to The Jungle!

You see, prior to meeting and marrying my Sweetie I was a fiendish an avid on line dater. I really enjoyed the anticipation of meeting... what would he be like? Is he as cute as his picture? Would he like me? Over the years I had some crazy dates but I never stopped enjoying the mystery of the "what ifs" that preceded every first date. It was always fun but in those cases where I had actually corresponded for a while and I had started to form real feelings there was an additional layer of trepidation. I felt like I already had a friend. Would, could meeting ruin that? Often it did. 

Well, meeting M. was a little bit like that kind of first date. Reading someone's blog for a while you start to think that you really do know them. I went into our planned meet up wondering if meeting might ruin what we already had? While reading her blog I had created her as the perfect, sensitive and kind parent I always hoped to be. She was smart, fanciful, had environmental values I share and seemed to be walking  her talk far more then I ever have. How the heck could this paragon of virtue actually want to be friends with me? But here she was agreeing to an actual meeting!

In the morning I was scurrying around performing my former pre-date rituals. You know, figuring out what to wear, making sure I took the time to blow dry my hair and since we were double dating after all, picking out a cute Naartje outfit for little J. I did all this entirely laughing at myself. M. might think I am bonkers if she ever found out (yet here I go telling her! lol)  I really was carrying on like I was going on a first date. And then the phone rang.

It was M. We had exchanged phone numbers in anticipation of the meet but we hadn't actually spoken. All of our logistics were handled by email. So of course, like every paranoid dater, I was certain she must be calling to cancel. I was certain she must have changed her mind and we would make a faint attempt at rescheduling but it wouldn't happen. OK can you say jaded? So some of my online dating experiences weren't all that great after all...

But NO!

All my paranoid thoughts leaping to crazy conclusions were immediately quashed. M. was calling to suggest a change in venue because the weather wasn't looking promising for our planned activity. We laughed together at how it always takes longer to get out the door then you think it will and set plans for 1:30ish and she would call again when she arrived. She sounded nice! This was getting more promising by the second!

J and I arrived about 30 minutes before M and S. Just long enough for my girl to make a dashing glance at every exhibit and for me to check the time 85 thousand times.  And then finally it was time! M and S were at the front door and we went to meet them.  

It was friend at first sight! 

We spent the rest of the afternoon thoroughly enjoying each other's company.  So much in fact, there was a few minutes when we lost track of our kids who had run off together, enjoying their new friendship too.  Sharing panic has a way of cementing a friendship so I know that we will enjoy future adventures together. You can read more about our day together over on M's blog here.

Do you have a favorite first date story? Have you ever met any of your online friends?

Next Post: Might actually be the one about Facebook!

My 13 bliss virtues are joy, order, creativity, passion, whimsy, serenity, inquiry, community, romance, gratitude, moxie, humility, and surprise.



This week we are studying Community. Next up is Romance Week.