On the Bright Side

Life, these days, is a series of ups and downs, and I have come to realize I devote far too much time and attention to the downs and need to do some reallocating of resources. What’s that quote about holding a grudge? “Holding a grudge is letting someone live rent-free in your head”? Gross. Well, I wouldn’t say I’ve got a grudge, but I certainly do allow other people and their negativity to affect me much more strongly than I should. There are really wonderful, lovely things happening in my life right now, and I want to lavish my attention on those things, and ignore what deserves to be ignored, as much as I can.

So.

Our new office. A little while back, I mentioned that Jesse and I were combining our home offices again, making the room that was once my office + the guest room now the music room + guest room. (Sorry, guests, it’s not quite ready yet. But give us enough notice, and we’ll whip it into shape.) The move was fun. We listened to 80s and 90s music while we painted, and if you lived across the street from us and glanced our way, you might have seen me dancing like a fool while pushing a roller of pale green paint onto our walls. I also might have been singing at the top of my lungs.

At work, I also have a new office, and it’s lovely and large and has an expansive window that lets in plenty of sunlight and looks out onto a wooded area. I share this office with a fabulous person who is brilliant and good-hearted and generous and great fun to talk to. I am a lucky girl.

Speaking of work, I couldn’t be happier with my classes this semester. I have brilliant, brave students, and I just adore them all.

And people tell me it’s going to be fall soon. It always seems impossible that summer will end, but it must, and fairly soon. I am going to throw open all the windows and make my house smell like cinnamon.

I’ve also enjoyed cooking and baking lately. Yesterday I came home exhausted but had the energy to make a puff-pastry quiche (this recipe, minus ham, plus bacon), and it was delicious. Jesse called it a quiche-za, since it looked more like a pizza than a quiche. We didn’t eat until after 8:00 p.m., but that’s okay. The other day, I made some chocolate chip cookies that we’re still working our way through, and I have a feeling chances are good I’m going to make a bundt cake of some variety before too long. (My aunt gave us a bundt pan, just because. I’ve never made anything in a bundt pan. But I do like saying the word. And spelling it. It’s fun! Bundt!) Do you want to come over and eat at my place sometime soon?

Oh, and our good friends just had their second baby. I haven’t met him yet, but I got to stay with their three-year-old the morning of the big day, and it was wonderful to get to tell her–still a little sleepy-eyed and in her pajamas–that her baby brother had arrived.

Now it’s harder to pay attention to the negative people and events when there’s a new baby in the world, isn’t it? Ah, perspective.