Tonight I went to the bookstore.  Decided to look around and spend some quiet time.  It's been awhile since I have been to the bookstore and it was always a favorite place for Taylor and me.  I have never been overwelmed by books. In fact, just the opposite; I collect books, especially antique and family books.

Tonight was different. I was looking for a certain book but wasn't sure what or what section. I wandered the aisles, taking my time to examine the shelves.  There were so many topics that interested me; so many subjects I wanted to learn more about or refresh my memory. Or was I looking for something familiar?  I am still not sure what I was looking for.  I opted to buy another edition of Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill.  I have given all my copies away and needed another.  I bought a book about T. Boone Pickens so I could learn more about him. 

Anyway, what I decided to write about tonight is things that make me happy and thankful. They will be in no particular order; just what comes to mind.  I will try to tune out Sponge Bob Square Pants, coming from the other room. I thought they were going to watch the Discovery Channels DVD on the moon. Oh well.  Here goes my happy and thankful list.  And please post your favorite and thankful things!  I want to hear yours.

• My family
• My childrens' laughter
• Making people smile
• Freshly mopped kitchen floors with Pinesol
• Hot and long baths
• The feel of freshly laundered cotton against skin
• The sound of my 20 year old cat purring
• The sound of my children snorring in their beds
• My telephone ringing and caller ID showing it's someone I like and respect
• Fall/Autumn
• Tulips blooming
• Sipping fine tequila, chilled
• Dining with friends al fresco in easy clothes around a simply decorated table with candles, fine wine, grilled lamb chops with rosemary, roasted potatoes and greens.  Followed by dessert, cigars and port.  Picture a Ralph Lauren advertisement, lol
• Horseback riding; either Western or English in the country away from civilization
• Eggs benedict on the terrace or patio with the newspaper, pot of coffee and the one I love. No words, just eating, reading and enjoying the morning
• A good steak at the Texas Club in Ruidoso or a Kobe or Pedmontese cut on my grill from my friends at Arrowhead Speciality Meats
• A cold Ale
• Fruit tarts or cheesecake
• Black and white brownies
• Motivational people
• Optimistic people
• Thoughts of my mother and father, back when....
• Travelling with Taylor
• Taking the boys to Disneyland or Disneyworld
• Memories of Mexico, every single trip and moment
• Vanilla
• Freshly painted toenails
• Smell of cut grass
• Snow days
• Good hair days
• My family treasures
• Precious metals against my skin
• The feel of real pearls sliding between my lips
• Soft jazz on the patio with a glass of chardonnay
• Overlooking the rim of the Grand Canyon
• Hiking in Sedonna
• Driving through Balmorhea and Ft. Davis
• Golfing anywhere, including beautiful courses to pasture golf with someone special
• My children's paintings from elementary school
• All my children tucked in to bed
• Me tucked in to bed
• Emails from old friends
• Pocket money in my pockets
• Thoughts of going to Ireland and Spain
• Fitting in to my skinny jeans
• New York City
• Philadelphia
• Washington DC (in that order)
• Santa Fe, New Mexico; shopping, eatting, hiking, galleries, skiing
• Driving through the Flint Hills in Kansas
• The Pitt State Gorilla logo
• Tony Gonzalez
• Planet Earth from space
• Colonel Frank and Susan Borman (my heroes and lucky enough to call friends)
• Listening to Mr. Borman tell me about how Earth looked when he flew around the moon and saw Earth while looking at a pendant he had made for Susan with diamonds encrusting one half of the pendant; all while watching a college basketball game (This made me want to call them, so I just left a message)
• Tailgating at Arrowhead or Pitt State
• Volleyball, especially New Mexico State University when they beat Hawaii and Franklin High in El Paso, coached by the legendary coaches Jane McCutcheon and Flo Valdez
• Jack playing when his brother isn't around to bully him
• Taylor's hair, it is so beautiful
• Staying at my sister's and brother's house (really brother in law, but he's more my bro)
• Molly the Dog (sister's dog)
• Rocketships
• Private planes
• Performances in The Midland Theatre, downtown Kansas City