"Three grand essentials to happiness in this life are something to do, something to love, and something to hope for." -Joseph Addison

I have gratitude today for...
* the chicken parm sandwich from Tonio's that helped make me feel better from last night's festivities. 
* playing our first Scrabble game of the season
* having a relaxing afternoon with Andy
* still being able to watch such exciting hockey games this late in the season, disappointing we lost again though.

"It a funny thing about life; if you refuse to accept anything but the best, you very often get it." -W. Sommerset Morgan

I have gratitude today for...
* all of the yummy fruit for breakfast 
* going down to visit Mikayla and giving her the adorable sailor outfit
* not feeling rushed driving to Wendy's wedding
* watching Wendy & Ed so happily get married
* that Mom & Cookie are so close again
* being chosen to be a part of the ceremony and reading the Sand Ceremony without messing up.
* seeing one of the girls we grew up with, Keli, after 20+ years! It's so hard to believe how much time has gone by. 
* Andy dancing with me during the wedding 
* being invited to such a perfect wedding with a bride and groom that are so in love!

"The greatest discovery of my generation is that a human being can alter his life by altering his attitudes of mind." -William James

I have gratitude today for...
* all of the excitement that was building throughout the day for the Flyers game tonight
* sitting on the upstairs deck with Andy listening to music, drinking beers and enjoying the view of the harbor
* PJ & Mary Anne coming over for part of the game
* seeing another great hockey game, but we were sad the Flyers didn't pull through!

"Action may not always bring happiness; but there is no happiness without action." -Benjamin Disraeli

* being able to listen to my DMB mix on my iPod and take in the gorgeous spring air while I cleaned this morning, making $30 an hour---not too bad.
* everyone arriving for Memorial Day Weekend- the true kickoff to summer!
* the great Italian dinner we had tonight

"The big secret in life is that there is no big secret. Whatever your goal, you can get there if you’re willing to work." -Oprah Winfrey

I have gratitude today for...
* Produce Junction. Although I'd love to eat everything organic, it's just so expensive. We're lucky to have a place where we can get so many fruits and veggies for such low prices!
* being with Megan to pick up the boys from their first day of camp. We walked in and there were 10 little kids taking nap time in sleeping bags. It was such a cute sight to see. 
* riding to the shore with Megan and having a couple of hours to talk. 
* having such a fun night with James and Jeffrey. Pizza party and spending quality time laughing and playing with them. We even got to watch a thunderstorm and Jeffrey thought the "booms" were the coolest thing! (After Aunt Teen made him think they weren't scary.)

"Plan for the future, because that is where you are going to spend the rest of your life." -Mark Twain

I have gratitude today for...
* having another great day observing with a fantastic Business Ed. teacher. I'm already starting to say prayers that I get to student teach for her and eventually work with her too. 
* watching the American Idol Finale, I loved both Crystal & Lee but think Crystal deserved to win. I have no doubt she'll put out an awesome album and be successful in the music industry. 
* catching up on U.S. of Tara with Andy. Kind of weird, but definitely entertaining.

"Will you look back on life and say, “I wish I had,” or “I’m glad I did”?" -Zig Ziglar

I have gratitude today for...
* getting things cleaned up and organized around the house
* heading to NJ in the afternoon to celebrate Mom's birthday tonight
* going to a yoga class with Mom & Dad at their gym. I really loved it and wish I had a convenient place to go around here. 
* watching the NBA playoffs with Dad, like the old days. 
* Klondike Bars for dessert, hadn't had one of those in a LONG time!

"Life is full of endings, but every ending is a new beginning." -Unknown

I have gratitude today for...
* Wendy allowing me to spend the day at their house so I wouldn't have to drive all the way home just to drive back to S. Philly tonight
* being able to share ALL of my music with Wendy & Ed and setting up their iPod for them. I love being able to share music with people.
* the nice walk I took with Buddy, their adorable doggie
* the great hoagie I had from the sandwich shop in the Chickie & Pete's shopping center
* going to Game 5 vs. Montreal with Andy. It was so much fun to feel all of the energy in that building and to be there to see them clinch the series. On to the STANLEY CUP FINALS!! So exciting, and I'm so happy to share this with Andy.

"Show me someone content with mediocrity and I’ll show you someone destined for failure." -Johnnetta Cole

I have gratitude today for...
* a nice morning in Avalon with Andy
* getting to Wendy's rehearsal dinner on time since I hit unexpected traffic (even though I left plenty of time for delay.)
* being asked to read Wendy, Ed & Sarah's Sand Ceremony on their big day. I really am honored to be a part of their wedding ceremony. 
* a fun time at the restaurant for their rehearsal dinner and the excellent food (and wine!) Good times with friends and family. 
* being able to stay over Wendy & Ed's house after the rehearsal dinner so I could spend even more time with them. 

"To live is the rarest thing in the world. Most people exist, that is all." -Oscar Wilde

I have gratitude today for...
* hot tea making my throat feel better
* getting my iTunes organized and importing all of the new music I got from Debbie
* our first Mack's pizza of the summer!
* watching such an exciting hockey game with Andy, Flyers win again! We are so excited for Monday night since we have the chance to see them clinch. 
* an easy dinner with all of the leftovers from last night
* the Sex & the City marathon on TBS

"We make our fortunes, and we call them fate." -Earl of Beaconsfield

I have gratitude today for...
* having help with the cleaning job this morning
* getting things done for next weekend when everyone is here
* dinner @ The Bellevue with Andy & Mrs. Roth. Their chicken parm feeds me five times!

* watching The Blind Side again, I love that story!
* my mom having a great birthday

"Your personal philosophy is the greatest determining factor in how your life works out." -Unknown

I have gratitude today for...
* my quick visit with Jeffrey & James and catching up with Megan this morning
* spending the afternoon reading the newest issue of Food Network magazine on the deck while trying to fight off this cough/sore throat that has reappeared
* watching the Flyers game with Andy even though they lost 
*going up to The Princeton for the 3rd period of the game

"Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass, it’s learning to dance in the rain." -Unknown

I have gratitude today for...
* arriving safely in PA
* Viki picking me up from the airport
* getting to see Andy before he left for work this morning when I got home
* a nice relaxing evening with my favorite guy
* American Idol voters getting it right and putting Lee & Crystal into the finals!

"Always try to be a little kinder than is necessary." -James M. Barrie

I have gratitude today for...
* ABC.com having full episodes available for viewing, I was able to catch up on Grey's Anatomy and Private Practice this morning (both which made me cry.)
* finishing up my school work that was due this week
* taking a drive around PV with Craig even though I'm not feeling well again, it was nice to get out of the house. 
* reading Debbie's copy of Skinny Bitch---it is quite disturbing and really made me think about where our food comes from and how poorly animals are treated. My goal is to cut back on the amount of meat I eat significantly. 
* Flyers win game 2!
* the dinner Craig made for us and the time I had to talk with Deb tonight before I left
* Craig & Deb watching American Idol with me even though I know they thought it was torture
* Debbie driving me to the airport
* no delays at the airport 

"Do you want to be safe and good, or do you want to take a chance and be great?" -Jimmy Johnson

I have gratitude today for...
* going to Manhattan Beach with Craig. I've never been there to walk around before, it's very cute. 
* lunch at The Shade, best tomato soup I've ever had!
* seeing the man that caught a stingray on the pier throw it back, it was sad to see it flapping all over the place and I'm sure he was happy to return to the water
* Sainte Rocke for the Lakers game and talking with some nice people from Hermosa Beach. 
* Good laughs with Debbie & Craig about the Vuvuzela (ie: horrible buzzing sound on TV during soccer games) when we each downloaded the sound to our phone. 

"The price of anything is the amount of life you exchange for it." -Henry David Thoreau

I have gratitude today for...
* a relaxing morning considering I hardly slept
* meeting Frank's girlfriend Jess and spending some time with them on the beach
* walking into Sharkeez and finding Sam was there with Dennis!
* having an awesome afternoon with old (& new) friends. Margaritas, Shark Bowls, Salsa Bar, Flyers Game, Phillies Game, and lots of good laughs!
* Debbie & Craig meeting us at Sharkeez and Debbie wearing orange & black!
* Flyers win Game 1 6-0!!

* fajita dinner and a laid back evening with Craig, Debbie & Terry
* watching one of the 30 in 30 ESPN documentaries; I really enjoyed it and would like to see more of them.

"I’ve learned that even when you think you have no more to give, when a friend cries out to you you will find the strength to help." -Unknown

I have gratitude today for...
* waking up early and feeling good considering I was a "little" hungover yesterday from my night out with Katie
* organic California strawberries
* watching "The Road to Big Whiskey" with Maureen & Debbie, especially because Maureen had never seen it. 
* reading all of the Philly.com and BostonGlobe.com articles about Game 7 and the Flyers/Bruins series 
* spending a few hours with Maureen on the deck having lunch, talking and listening to music while Debbie was at class. 
* seeing Paul Lemire play @ The Lighthouse on Pier. It was nice to see some live music and he's one of Craig & Deb's favorites. He played lots of DMB covers including Nancies :-)
* wine & apps at Case de Willoughby
* another fantastic dinner at my favorite Hermosa Beach restaurant, Buona Vita. Great food, great service and Debbie's birthday!
* everyone being understanding when I had to go home because of my awful stomach pains that I get every so often and I (nor the doctors) know why. 

"You are the same today that you are going to be five years from now except for two things: the people with whom you associate and the books you read." –Charles Jones

I have gratitude today for...
* Melanie picking me up in Point Loma considering it was 45 minutes out of her way.
* being able to spend the drive from San Diego to LA catching up with an old friend. It was so much fun to learn about everything that's happened with her and to share what's been going on in my life as well. It was as if we saw each other yesterday. She has grown into an amazing wife and mom and I really enjoyed getting to know her again.

* Chipotle Mexican Grill
* Flyers win Game 7!!! What an amazing game, they came back from being down 3-0!!! Talking to Andy after the game was fun too, I missed being with him for these games. 
* a nice dinner on the deck @ Craig & Deb's and quality girl time with Debbie & Maureen. We spent the whole night talking and listening to music, it was perfect. 

"Life is like riding a bicycle. You don’t fall off unless you plan to stop peddling." -Claude Pepper

I have gratitude today for...
* the 4 mile walk I took around Shelter Island. Walking past the Best Western reminded me of Melissa & Chris's wedding in 2006 and what a fun Roth family vacation it was.
* Katie being able to come home and have lunch with me.
* the nice guy in the pizza shop down the street from Katie's apartment
* spending the afternoon at the beach, watching the sailboats and learning how to do new things with my phone.
* the book Three Cups of Tea
* the bar with an outside deck Katie and I went to in Pacific Beach for a pitcher and to watch the sunset.
* seeing the pier that we all went to in 2006, it brought back good memories of Mr. Roth for me.
* the Sweet Tea Vodka Slushie Katie treated me to :-), it was no joke!
* all of the great conversation Katie & I had, we've never really spent much time together just the two of us.
* the comical cover band we saw tonight that made us laugh hysterically tonight.
* listening to O.A.R.'s Any Time Now and finishing off the bottle of wine while we talked and laughed till 3am.

"When you find yourself stressed, ask yourself one question: Will this matter in 5 years from now? If yes, then do something about the situation. If no, then let it go.” -Catherine Pulsifer

I have gratitude today for...
* being able to get one of the photos of Vanessa & me printed at CVS and framing it to surprise her when she got home from work. 
* Vanessa being able to go out to lunch with me & Keith, and finding great pizza in CA!
* remaining safe on the train ride to Oceanside train station, just outside of San Diego. There was a severely intoxicated man on the train (in my car) that supposedly had just been released from prison and he threatened the conductor. It was pretty scary and I think we were all concerned that he might hurt someone, you never know. Although we were delayed and I missed my connecting train I am glad the conductors had the sense to hold the train until sheriffs could come to remove this person from the train. 
* Katie picking me up from Oceanside since I missed the last connecting train to San Diego. 
* Flyers winning Game 6 and talking to Andy right after they won!
* the great Italian restaurant Katie & I went to for dinner and for our waiter noticing I left my phone on the table 
* learning all about Katie's trip to Africa and looking at all of her pictures with her over a few glasses of wine. I want to go there so bad!

"I will prepare and some day my chance will come." -Abraham Lincoln

I have gratitude today for...
* Oh Those Donuts- I don't normally eat donuts but these were amazing!
* going to Newport Beach even though it was chilly and windy
* visiting Balboa Island and meeting the nice owner of Olive Oil & Beyond. He educated us about olive oils and vinegars and what happens to them when they become commercial grade (ie: what we buy in the grocery store.) It was very interesting---just another thing to think about when it comes to the question of what are we eating and where does it come from?
* taking the dogs to the park again
* the cute shirts I found at ROSS for $8.99 each, I underpacked for this trip
* going to Huntingdon Beach street festival with Vanessa. It was fun to see all of the vendors and the Toffee Cashews we bought there were incredible!
* Taco Tuesday @ Fred's Mexican Grill!

"Someone’s opinion of you does not have to become your reality." -Les Brown

I have gratitude today for...
* playing cornhole and drinking beers with Keith this afternoon on a beautiful sunny day
* taking the dogs to the park
* going to Laguna Beach with Vanessa and trying a new restaurant with her (Big Fish.) Great food, fair prices and an amazing view!
* remembering it's been 7 years since I graduated from WCU. It's hard to believe so much time has gone by.  
* Flyers win again!

"Imagination is more important than knowledge." -Albert Einstein

I have gratitude today for...
* being blessed with the best mom in the world. I wish I was able to be in two places today because I would have loved to spend the day with her in Philly at Kelly's house.
* getting a really good night's sleep last night
* the awesome hike Vanessa & I did today. It was gorgeous and not too hot.

    









  

















* all of the beautiful wild flowers we say during our adventure.

   
  












* experiencing my first In-N-Out Burger, it's all the rave in CA. I did think it was pretty good!

* honoring my Mom-Mom by making her eggplant parmesan with Vanessa for dinner on Mother's Day. I also made baked chicken parmesan and fresh bruschetta. It took a long time to make everything but it was soooo good!

"Learn how to be happy with what you have while you pursue all that you want." -Jim Rohn

I have gratitude today for...
* being smart enough to set my cell phone alarm as a backup because I didn't set the iDock correctly and probably would have overslept and/or missed my flight.
* discovering the Jason Mraz album Tonight Not Again/Live at Eagles Ballroom, and listening to Jack Dillman & Josh Popejoy's albums as well. All music I haven't listened to in a while and I really enjoyed it.
* O's 10th Anniversary issue
* my quick layover in Phoenix, I was starting to feel sick from being on the plane again :-(
* arriving safely to CA!
* the great day with my cousin Vanessa. We went to a lacrosse game for the team Keith coaches, then to a cozy bar for a drink and home to their adorable house in Costa Mesa. We had a bunch off apps from Trader Joe's for dinner, drank a few beers and talked and talked and talked.
* getting to pretend their doggies are my doggies for a few days, I love them!
* the fun bike ride to the bar all dressed up

"You cannot plough a field by turning it over in your mind." -Unknown

I have gratitude today for...
* scheduling a last minute massage at the National Massage School. My lower back has been bothering me and it was just what I needed before the long flight to CA tomorrow.
* my visit with Jeffrey this afternoon. It was short, but I'm glad I got to see him before my trip.
* being told I'll probably be able to student teach in the fall
* getting out of class early
* getting home to see the end of the Flyers game--they win in overtime!

"You cannot climb a mountain if you will not risk a fall." -Rick Beneteau

I have gratitude today for...
* the beautiful weather we ended up having today, I thought it was going to rain. 
* Roy Halliday pitching another awesome game and being at the ballpark to witness it. The Phillies win again!
* getting to spend another day with Adrienne---we never see each other this much. 

* the good laughs we got from watching the Marriage Ref, I know it's not too popular but it makes me laugh every time!

"A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort." -Herm Albright

I have gratitude today for...
* having time to watch American Idol before I had to leave for my observation day at a local HS
* the incredible teacher I've been observing and how supportive she's been of me. 
* the "Mexican Fiesta" dinner I made Andy & me to celebrate Cindo de Mayo. I made chicken & beef fajitas, tacos and fresh pico de gallo. 
* the Phillies winning since the Flyers lost again :-(

"If we're growing, we're always going to be out of our comfort zone." -John Maxwell

I have gratitude today for...
* only hitting a little bit of traffic on my way to NJ after dropping Viki & Gooch off at the airport
* having lunch at Little Szechuan with Dad. We used to go there all the time when we were little and it was fun to go back. It's been under the same ownership for 25 years & the owners recognized me today. I probably haven't been there in 10 years.
* my nice visit with Chrissy this afternoon. I got to see the baby's room!
* having an hour to spend with Mom before I had to leave their house.
* being able to go with Kerry and her bridesmaids to look for bridesmaids dresses. After trying on several, I really like the one we ended up with for me!

* the awesome Phillies win tonight in extra innings!

"The ornament of a house is the friends who frequent it." –Ralph Waldo Emerson

I have gratitude today for...
* getting our bathroom and bedroom at the shore cleaned
* the nice conversation with the librarian at the Avalon library about "Precious"
* finally getting back on the elliptical!
* checking out the show GLEE, I really enjoyed watching it while I exercised today.
* choosing to attend the area Tastefully Simple meeting tonight. It motivated me to focus more and to ask people to have parties.
* getting home safely from the meeting, there was something wrong with my ride's car.

"Whatever you are, be a good one." –Abraham Lincoln

I have gratitude today for...
* getting another cleaning job with awesome pay for this summer in Avalon!
* Andy buying Crispix cereal. It reminds me of when Kelly & I were little, I haven't had it in years. 
* the 3eb CD I got today from the library that included explanations from Stephen Jenkins on all of the songs. 
* spending some time reading outside on the deck. I'm so excited that it's almost summertime!
* watching the movie Precious. It is astonishing to me that people really live their lives in such hell like in this movie, and it made me feel very grateful for my incredible loving and supportive family. 
* an awesome filet mignon dinner. 
* all of the fun new music I got from the library for my iPod. 

"It is never too late to give up our prejudices." –Henry David Thoreau

I have gratitude today for...
* waking up without a hangover this morning.
* an easy drive to and from AC, I had to bring Adrienne to her car and was worried there would be a ton of traffic on the way back to Avalon
* this beautiful day!
* watching a fun and exciting Flyers game with Andy, even though they lost :-(
* our visit from Baby Mikayla! It was so great to meet her. 

* that my ears seem to be healing, I basically re-pierced my left ear last weekend because I really wanted to wear earrings to the wedding.
* a yummy grilled chicken marsala dinner, I was starving!
* the Phillies 10-0 win over the Mets today. 
* the Dear John soundtrack, I love it!
* a night out with Andy @ the Ocean Drive in Sea Isle City to see Mr. Greengenes. We only had one beer and enjoyed the priceless people watching. We definitely had some good laughs.