It's great to be back in the swing of life, despite the cold that has been hurting my head for the last three days. The last two days have been quite fruitful and wonderful. Here are some highlights:

• Met yesterday with a great lawyer who's passionate about serving small, local businesses. Will likely create a long-term relationship with the business alliance, and I'm thrilled by who he is. (I had to hide the tears welling up in my eyes when he was talking. And most people would think he's dull, or serious, or too quiet.)
  
• I got word yesterday that I was admitted to the non-profit leadership program I applied for. w00t! I'll be more connected with the area's non-profit community and get more training and development, as well as a mentor/coach. You should have seen my happy dance.
  
• I've gotten some great feedback from people in my tribe who have actually looked at my web site and asked some great questions about where I stand on certain issues. It gives me a little confidence that who I am and what I believe in may actually resonate with others in the community. I'll know early next month if I will be the new legislator for the district.
  
• I was inspired while traveling in British Columbia to use my tea pots more. So this afternoon, I threw a tea party. Yay to the fabulous women in my life who attended - Anne, Adrienne, Eva and Glenda. It was fun to dress up like a velvet gypsy, and serve homemade scones and battenberg cake (with blue instead of pink squares) Very much looking forward to the next tea party. (and yay for A, who helped in constructing the yummy cake and who made a great appearance for the last part of the evening)
  
• Speaking of baked things, I received an amazing kitchenaid mixer for christmas from A's mom, Loree. It was a completely decadent and unnecessary gift, and something I have always wanted. I am amazed by the capacity of this thing - it's the professional series, so it's about twice the size of the traditional kitchenaids. So far, I've made gingerbread men, banana-chocolate chip bread, chocolate chip cookies, scones and battenberg cake. Looking forward to perfecting the pie crust recipe for the pie shop I will open one day (when I have more time for things ??)
  
• And speaking of cooking, Glenda received a cuisinart food processor from Schuler for the holidays, and I used it for the first time tonight. There's a yummy vegetable/lentil soup brewing on the stove right now. I have never had access to so many amazing kitchen appliances, and am quite ... awed. The cuisinart chopped / sliced the veggies I needed in a fraction of the time it would have taken by hand. Of course, that seems to be part of the point, but I've always been suspicious that kitchen appliances would really take more time and energy to use than they're worth. Perhaps that isn't true with all of them.
  
  
• Other random good things are afoot - my time with A has been very loving lately. We had a great trip, and I'm extremely grateful for him in my life. Our house has been scheming about awesome landscaping and greywater recycling plans. The road trip was refreshing and filled with lots of nurturing connections with loving and generous people. It was so nice to come home, and to have it filled with people like Mike and Glenda. And to spend a little time with J, who is so supportive and loving.
  

I can't believe how good my life is.