310/365 Grinning fool.

It's the Friday afternoon ritual. My girl is in her acting class, and I grade papers, plan lessons, and diddle on the nets in the San Marco Starbucks down the street. And today I'm smiling in Starbucks. I'm smiling over an email from my baby sister whose son loved the birthday gelt we gave him. He spent it at the book fair, and he's reading voraciously. I'm smiling about a hubby who is alive, well, and just as lovably annoying as ever. I'm smiling about a girl who seems to be making the adjustment to high school better these days. I'm smiling about a job that's fun, if a little daunting. I'm smiling because tomorrow I have a voice lesson where I think we may plan for me to learn repertoire for competitions and auditions. Busy but balancing, I can smile over my espresso.

247/365 OMG Wifi In Flight

In spite of the ridiculously early wake-up (2:30 AM), I am so psyched for this weekend. My guy and our girl sit across the aisle from me. She's on Myspace, he's watching HBO comedy while psychologically steering the plane from his window seat. I'm revved up for Sunday morning, the Disneyland half marathon, walking in celebration of the extended warranty on the hubby. Even more exciting is the prospect of visiting family and friends in SoCal, starting with a Buca di Beppo feast with JS, RD, DA, and her beau, R. We'll see cousins and great aunts, with my girl spending a night with her cool cousin DG in Santa Monica. Monday is a long day home, but it is capped off with Ev's first Oklahoma rehearsal. He's back onstage with a gun, a song, and a whole symphony orchestra. An exciting three days ahead!

196/365 Walking, walking, Fantasticks, and Family

More hoofing it about today. I wish I had a pedometer, because I think we walked for at least 4 hours each day here in NY. After readying our luggage and leaving it with the bellman we hit the streets. We walked up sixth towards the park with a stop at FAO Schwarz. Lunch in the park included some great entertainment, 4 young guys playing Dixieland. The tree canopy was perfect, our bench seats gave us great view, and we people-watched and toe-tapped as we munched our Sabrett's and knishes. Then we were off to the Jerry Orbach Theater for the Fantasticks. Great performances in this intimate space. Our evening brought it all home with family and a Queens diner experience. The great-great aunt, still sassy at 8o years plus, the second and third cousins, with the giggling and the silliness, and the piles of food were really the icing on a great New York trip, but the road calls. On our way to Virginia for more family, fun, and undoubtedly more food.

123/365 Ordinary, Extraordinary Sunday

More than 1/3 into my project 365, and I'm trying to make a conscious effort to snap a picture each day. Sometimes I have an epiphany, and I can come up with a photo to match. Sometimes I have a decent picture, and I needn't say too much. Today I have had neither, and it's after 7 PM. The only picture I snapped was the family loading the small trunk of the convertible with our loot after a Costco run. We love to ride with the sun and the wind. The cool, aloof, teenage daughter actually pitched in with the schlepping, and then did a great job practicing piano and voice, making for a pleasant afternoon. The recovered husband and I undertook a 16 mile bike ride this morning, definitely adding to the "pinch-me-I-live-here" feeling we've had lately. We worked diligently to memorize our scripts as we sat in the shade of the bottle brush trees beside the pool. A little grill action for dinner, and the Starbucks Espresso Roast is grinding as I write this. No epiphany. No great photo. Just a day filled with many blessings.

60/365 Good Times and Good Timing

This afternoon we had the last visit with my "snowbird" in-laws. They have been in Florida since the first week of January, staying in their part-time condo. Our visits are full of laughs, political debates, good food and games. Their timing couldn't have been better. These past 2 months they have been an emotional safety net during some very difficult times. How wonderful it is to have parents willing to listen and support us, and share their wisdom. They love our daughter unconditionally and want nothing but the best for us. Really, how can I stick with the "why me mentality?" By the measure of family and friends, I am the richest woman alive.