March Joy List update

March was disappointing or maybe I was disappointing. I tried and failed a lot of it. On to April! Maybe I won't flunk it.

1. Continue expanding my personal horizons

a. Listen to  "In This House On This Morning"completely through, uninterrupted. Done

    Listen to "la Boheme"  completely and uninterrupted. Nope

    Listen to "Peter and the Wolf", completely and uninterrupted Done

    Listen to   "Symphony No.3" by Mahler completely and uninterrupted Done

b. Read that blooming self help book I didn't read in February. I did not realize it is a 180 day step by step commitment. I am committed but obviously need some time to complete it.

c. Try a new to me beverage each week

Mr Q Cumber Sparkling Soda (Mildly sweet huge cuke taste and oddly refreshing)
Jalapeno Pineapple Margarita (Alcohol plus heat is a winner in my book)
Columbian Hot Chocolate (Cocoa, cinnamon, milk , and cheese?!?)
Bourbon Cola  (Meh_just flavored coke)

d. Make a new to me recipe each week

pecan bread
buffalo chicken nachos
chicken mango sausage

e. Try a different hair color. Tried silver for a few days. Yeah, NO!

f. Weekly read  a new to me magazine or one I never read even if I know about it. (doable thanks to DIL's Texture gift)

CNet
GQ
Popular Mechanics
Us

2.   Call My Beloved Sister on March 15. Pitch my voice down as low as possible  and say "Beware the Ides of March" (She hates March and particularly the Ides, so naturally I have been doing this to her for about 30 years)

Done! 

3.   Try something I have never done before. Nope

4.   Go to a movie by myself, popcorn optional Nope

5.   Go to a play or concert Nope We had tickets to see The Lion King but had seen it before. Son2 and GF2 had never seen it so we gave the tickets to them.

6.   Volunteer Didn't happen

7.   Have a birthday celebration for Mom

We had what we thought was a nice little party at my house, complete with festive decorations, a meal, cake, candles and gifts. We later found that My Beloved Sister and I laugh too much and it disrupts everyone's enjoyment and involvement. Oh well, we tried.

8.   Learn a new song on the piano Half-assed learned

9.  Give someone flowers. Done

10. Take food to someone having a hard time Done

11. Call a long neglected friend Tried but just once and she was not at home.

12. Send a thinking of you card simply because I am thinking of someone Done

13. Enjoy sitting in the sun and listening to the birds sing  Done. Mornings with a cup of coffee and birdsongs are the best

14. Watch young kids playing and listen to their giggles The kids in the neighborhood who are usually outside playing and laughing were sadly absent this month.

15. Invest some time looking at plants and planning the summer garden. Half assed this too

16. Create something weekly that is not food related I did this 2 times this month rather than weekly

17. Tell someone how important they are to my life. (No idea who ) Nope. I forgot about this one

18. Do something for someone expecting nothing in return. Anonymous is best. Done but it was not anonymous

19 During the days between whole30 (Yes I am doing it again but taking a 2 day break) bake bread. Done

20. Create time to just listen to TheHub (I am bad about not paying attention or multi tasking sometimes)

It is amazing how much more I hear  and process when I concentrate on really listening. I find we talk more and talk about varied topics when I am truly present.

21. Visit a small town near me and enjoy its uniqueness. Didn't happen

22.  Spend at least one weekend at the lake.

We had a great, lazy weekend at the lake the first weekend of March with Mom, Son2 and GF2.

We went again the 3rd weekend in March and had an equally good time.

23. Take Mom somewhere different (Maybe exploring the small town)

Took Mom to the lake for the weekend.

24. Take Mom out at night, she misses the lights. Done

25. Have an fire outside and roast marshmallows for s'mores. Nope, but it was a pollen thing rather than just not doing it.

26. FaceTime weekly with the most beautiful girl in my world.

Done to my total delight!

27. Binge watch something on a rainy day.  Done. Watched Requiem on Netflix. I tend to binge listen more than watch since I carry my tablet around the house and watch/listen as I do chores.

28. Have a St. Patrick's Day celebration

Had an unsuccessful one (Mom got sickish halfway though) but the food and decor was really nice

29. Have a small dinner party 

Mom's Birthday dinner for 7 ( we decided to have a full dinner with china, crystal and the works)

30. Try to start each day spirit filled. I am batting about 500 with this one. 

31. Be kinder than usual. Our world needs each of us to step up our kindness. I am pretty kind by nature but have been on alert to be kinder. I am practicing the think globally, act locally mentality. 

32. Keep a list of daily joys. They are out there but sometimes I forget to look for them. I was good at this the first half of the month but then fell off the wagon.

March's Unexpected Joys

1.  GF2's family welcomed a new baby into the world. Nothing is more joyous than that. He is so pretty!
2.  Went to the lake and saw the most incredible full moon tracking across the water.
3.  Went to the farm co-op near the lake place and bought seeds for the summer garden. Hope springs eternal.
4.  Listened to Frances McDormand's wonderful acceptance speech at the Academy Awards.
5  GF2 came by. She makes every day she is around me a better day.
6  Whole30 is over and 11 pounds are gone. 2 or 3 days off and I am repeating the cycle.
7. Forget to defrost anything for dinner, so we had a wonderful take out Thai dinner
8. GF2 came over (I really do love her)
9.  Got to see the rough take of a music video Son 3 scored.
10 Watched 3 Billboards. I thought it was supposed t be a dark comedy. Great acting but nothing funny about it.
11. FaceTime with granddaughter. She wanted to see TheHub sleeping in his chair, then yelled "WAKE UP" 3 times until he woke. She is the only one who can wake him from a nap and him be happy about it.
12. Birthday party for Mom! Lots of laughs (too many it turns out)
13. I was mad at the world and forgot to look for joy.
14. Went back to Bible study after a protracted absence.
15. Got to call My Beloved Sister this morning and do the "Beware the Idea of March" thing. Made me laugh
16-31 Lots of really joyous things happened but I forgot to post them so here is a brief synopsis of events tied to no specific dates.
Azaleas bloomed
Dogwoods bloomed
Wisteria bloomed and is gorgeous
Nice dinner conversations
Great news from Son3
Cousin's beautiful daughter is newly engaged
Great niece danced as young Anna in the ballet Frozen
The back yard was filled with cardinals.
Found new to me music by an incredible Cuban female vocalist
Had an excellent time at bookclub with friends.
Saw 2 more Oscar nominated movies (thanks Redbox)