The all purpose happy feelings thread

[Rachel]

Just got two passes to the Bud Light balcony on Bourbon Street! Can't wait for Mardi Gras to start!

I'll be in NOLA next weekend for a convention...can't wait! Any recommendations for cool places to visit while we're there??

Haha I'm probably THE worst local when it comes to being a tour guide but there's plenty of awesomely fun things to do. Bourbon Street is obviously one if you're the party type. Food is a big thing so Tujagues is great local food or Acme Oyster House for a great seafood menu.
The cemeteries are always a sight to see because we're below sea level so they're all above ground. I think you can book tours for those and some even do a haunted cemetery tour.
During the day you can always walk the river walk from Canal Street all the way to Esplande and visit the French Market. There's also Jackson Square and the Cathedral where you can see the local artists and catch a carriage where they'll talk a bit the history of New Orleans.

So yeah, there's all the touristy things I do when someone comes to visit. That's just a few things to do in the Quarter. If you feel like taking a drive there's also stuff like swamp tours and air boat rides. There's always information booths on every corner as well with pamphlets and someone to talk to if you want something a bit more in depth.

Oh! And Mardi Gras season starts the 15th so grab a newspaper and catch a parade!

[JustSkipIt]

Our TV is out for delivery!

[Kessari]

Got a new laptop last week. Love it!!!!

[BeneathMyWillowTree]

Where do I begin? Since the first day of this new year I had decided to really make it more special and meaningful for me. To make it my own. Since day 1 lots of wonderful and meaningful things have been happening to and for me. Today is day 10 of this new journey. Someone who had so much meaning for me and was very special to me hurt me and broke my heart 3 years ago. I honestly never thought I would ever see her again much less hear from her again. She called me today and set everything right. I am over the moon. There aren't enough words to describe what I am feeling. She said so many wonderful things to me. I never knew she thought of me the way she did, the way she does. I gave her something long ago that she keeps in her office to this day. It reminds her of me.

I've always set out to leave my mark on people. No matter how long I am to be in one person's life, I dedicate the time I do have to plant my seed. She told me I accomplished that and it was an honor for her to know me. I still can't believe she said all this and more. Did I mention I was over the moon?

[EasierSaid]

New Shins album available for pre-order on iTunes. Oh, so, so, so happy.

[JustSkipIt]

I have a 4 day weekend in front of me and we have almost nothing on the to do list. I have a few runs scheduled. Asher's birthday is Tuesday so he'll go to math club and then we're going to see this cool show downtown and fun stuff.

[Boschi]

Just had a weird and very wonderfully cool day. Humor me. The description may strike some as a little much, but it was a happy day.

Vegetarians may want to abstain from this posting.

Had a couple friends over to the house and we processed 6 ducks that one friend had picked up at a farm that morning and assisted in the slaughter of. It took us 7 hours, but we plucked, prepped, butchered all. We had decided to try duck prosciutto, so salted and herbed the breasts for that, salted and herbed the legs/thighs in preparation of making confit, rendered the fat, made stock from the necks and carcasses, prepped the gizzards for frying tomorrow, and, best of all, sauteed the livers and ate them. Now I know folks don't like liver. But this was nothing like the mealy, weirdly "iron-y" liver you may be familiar with. This was satiny duck butter. These were free-range, organic ducks, but they were young and well fed and the liver approached foie gras. It was heaven. As a weird sort of "bonus", 4 of the six ducks were female and had half developed eggs inside - basically all yolk, no shell. We poached these in the stock and gave them a try - they were much richer and less watery than chicken eggs, especially store bought ones. Odd, don't get me wrong, but good. Then, just to top things off and push our cholesterol into the stratosphere, we made duck skin cracklings from the remaining fatty skin that hadn't rendered. So good. So rich.

Bread was also made, and homemade soup shared, and a chocolate souffle baked and consumed. There was much laughing and teaching/learning about cooking, butchery and many other topics.

Three cheers for weird and wonderful friends.

[CrazyTaraWitch]

My computer's fixed! Yay!!!!!!!!! Turned out it was a pretty simple fix, if you happen to have a computer geek as a facebook friend. I can haz netflix and facebook again!

In other happy news, I saw my mum today for the first time in a few weeks. She bought me lunch and we watched Doctor Who and Star Trek; it was awesome! And in a month I will be on my way to Gallifrey One. *And* despite my near-constant worry that I'll screw up the pre-dating stage with my crush seems to be going quite well, and I'm loving it She's awesome and for some crazy reason really likes me, which makes me feel like a giddy 15 year old.

[JustSkipIt]

I took the day off work because MY SON IS 8 TODAY! Wow. I can't believe it.

Also, I posted on fb a request for 8 people to each donate $8 to my run for Team Livestrong and so far 2 people have donated - $8 and $64!

[BeneathMyWillowTree]

Like the Ice Cube song, "Today Was A Good Day". My BFF Jerry had a successful surgery. He's at home now being spoiled and taken care of by me. Plus I am making him laugh so it hurts him more. Hee! Hee! I ran into one of my other peeps at the hospital cos her dad was admitted. I took her and husband out to dinner. We had some laughs and great conversation. All my peoples are always kind and sweet to me. This week though it hasn't failed that everybody has been expressing their love for me. I am truly humbled by all of the beautiful and wonderful things people say to me. It means the world to me. Mad love to all y'all.

On the extra plus side thank you to the San Antonio Spurs for winning me some money today. That's right boy! I got my walk to the bank strut. Yeah boy!

[Rachel]

I'm happy that I don't live in Winnipeg right now. My girlfriend is telling me about it being -37 degrees with wind chill today. Yuck. I grew up 18 years in ice and snow and I don't miss that one bit. Here it is about 65 and sunny. I'm pulling out my fishing gear and going fishing tomorrow.

[Finey_McFine]

Hey Rachel!

Thanks for the info on NOLA. We had a great time:) We did all the touristy things...The French Qtr, Bourbon St, and LOVED Cafe Du Monde and the French Market. Great city!!

[Rachel]

Hey Rachel!

Thanks for the info on NOLA. We had a great time:) We did all the touristy things...The French Qtr, Bourbon St, and LOVED Cafe Du Monde and the French Market. Great city!!

Great! I'm glad you had a good time. There's always fun happening in The Big Easy, especially with Mardi Gras coming up. The best time to catch the festivities would be Feb. 17th through the 21st.

[Finey_McFine]

Great! I'm glad you had a good time. There's always fun happening in The Big Easy, especially with Mardi Gras coming up. The best time to catch the festivities would be Feb. 17th through the 21st.

We also have a full on Mardi Gras here in Houston, well down in Galveston that is. We plan on catching a parade or two this year. The last time we went my daughter caught some beads to the face and we haven't been back since, lol. Hopefully we won't have a repeat performance!

[Rachel]

We also have a full on Mardi Gras here in Houston, well down in Galveston that is. We plan on catching a parade or two this year. The last time we went my daughter caught some beads to the face and we haven't been back since, lol. Hopefully we won't have a repeat performance!

That happens quite often. When I got my balcony passes a few years ago, there was an incident where a drunk guy threw beads back up at us and hit some guys wife in the face. Well, lets just say that ended with some bloody noses and some police.

[CrazyTaraWitch]

I get to see my family tomorrow! I haven't seen my nephew and oldest sister since Christmas, my other sisters since a week or two before that. I'm really looking forward to seeing everyone, especially my nephew who I can hardly believe is over 6 months now, and with my brother just moving back a few days ago it'll be the first time we've all been together since my sister's wedding in September. Chances are we'll have "church" too, playing the songs that warm all our hearts; there's nothing religious about it, but I guess it's what church feels like to people who love it. It's home and family and all the best in life. We had church once or twice while my brother was away, but it just wasn't the same. Tomorrow, it will be right again.

[BeneathMyWillowTree]

I went to my first ever hockey game today. I bought some bomb ass seats, only 3 rows away from the ice. I took my boy George and had a blast. His team lost so I was stoked that my team won. I am buzzed as hell still so that is super good.

Thank you New England Patriots for winning me more money today. I am cleaning my homie Eric out. Mo money! Mo money! I wanted to see the Niners win today, but am kicking myself for not betting on the Giants. I had a feeling things would go their way. Nice to see the Niners this close again. Loved Joe Montana. I grew up watching that cat. I even have a video game called Joe Montana's Football for my Sega Genesis.

[BeMyDeputy]

I'm so totally in happy land.
I was able to sign up for research units instead of one of my classes. This is totally awesome because a) it means not having to drag my ass across San Diego those two days a week (it's about an hour each way including parking/walking to class), and instead I can just work in my lab. More time doing research=yay! and b) my boss isn't actually technically faculty at my school yet, and he won't be until at least next week, so I was worried that they wouldn't let me sign up for the units. But my faux adviser signed for them, and so it's all cool.

And then, when I was adding my research hours and dropping my virology class (which, though cool, isn't particularly useful to me), I checked my grades for last semester. And I got a 4.0.

Fuck yeah.

Oh, and also I wrote like 600 words yesterday and finally came up with a title for my next story and am starting challenges tomorrow.

w00t!

[JustSkipIt]

My BIL just donated $25 more to my run for Team Livestrong. I was surprised because he donated $50 in the Fall and said that would be all her could swing. So it was a very pleasant surprise. Plus my sister's family is all coming to watch and cheer.

[CrazyTaraWitch]

In 13 days I will almost be to LA for my first ever Gallifrey One, the biggest Doctor Who convention in the U.S.! Then after the Con finishes 3 days later, I'm headed to the city near where my crush lives, and we will go on a date-- the first proper date of my life! Then I'll stick around for a couple more days and hopefully see her again (assuming the date goes well), maybe camp a night or two as well, before heading to San Francisco for a couple days then flying home. I am very very excited!! Plus, AIRPLANES! I absolutely love flying, and by the time I leave for my trip it will have been a year and a half since I've been on a plane. It may be hell on my bank account, but travel is so very good for my mental and emotional health.

[Babbles4Twillow]

My ex fiance had her daughter today. I was there with her through it all. I fell even more in love the first moment I saw her. Healthy baby, and a full head of hair. The daughter of my heart is so precious! Welcoming Amethyst Jade to this world.

[CrazyTaraWitch]

Tonight my roommate and I are getting a TV stand for our new TV, which means once I get one of those HDMI thingies I can watch whatever I want on a big screen! (Well big compared to my laptop, anyway.) Tomorrow I get to see my nephew, plus some other family but my nephew's always the focal point, cause he's basically the best thing ever. I have a potential interview next Monday or Tuesday, which though I know very little about the position as of yet is exciting, cause I am so very ready for a new job. Best of all, in just over 6 days I'm heading of to California for a 9 day trip that will include my first Doctor Who convention and a date with my crush. Life is exciting!!

[JustSkipIt]

Asher finished reading HP1 and we just watched it together! It is great seeing him so excited about it.

[Laragh]

My copy of How To Be Death just arrived and I'm about to start the first leg of my trip to New York I thank the universe for it's teasingly cruel but wonderful timing.

[BeMyDeputy]

Just got home from the How to Be Death signing.

She remembers who I am.

Happy dance!

[CrazyTaraWitch]

Confusing though things are, texting with my crush never fails to be wonderful. I talked to her today, and though it doesn't fix things it definitely counts as good in my book Add to it that I got to hang out with my mum today, and that she bought us pizza and root beer floats and we watched Torchwood, and that I just spent a couple hours having a very silly conversation about Doctor Who with some of my online friends, and it's been quite a good day.

[BeneathMyWillowTree]

I'm on a new exercise regimen. Between that and my proper dieting I've been feeling really great. What I'm super stoked about is that I'm starting to feel and see the results. I have a long way to go, but I love what's happening now. I have 6 months to put in the work. I am eager to cos I wanna drop it like it's hot later.

[JustSkipIt]

Ordered take-out for dinner. Actually ordered delivery because when I asked how much they said $2. Yay!

[CrazyTaraWitch]

I theoretically have a new job; failed to get ahold of the director today to find out details, and it will only be part time at least at first, but I'm excited to be done nannying.
I'm finally starting to bond a little with my new roommate; it's really nice when one or both of my roomies joins me when I put on Doctor Who, Buffy, or Torchwood I like having a little socialization in my home life. My roommate and I have been friends since before I moved in, but her girlfriend, who recently moved in, wasn't someone I connected to at first, and I worried that her living here would detract from the fun of living with my roommie, but it's really good so far. It's so nice to live with a mature, stable couple that doesn't fight for a change.
Things are going slow but good with my crush; now that we've gotten some shit out in the open and talked about stuff, things seem to be back on track.

I still have a lot to sort out, like is very up in the air and extremely confusing right now, but all in all I'm happy. I may not know where my life is going, but right in this moment it's pretty good.

[JustSkipIt]

I entered something wrong on my taxes. Now I think I entered it right so instead of owing $460, I think I'm getting back $1125!