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Good Sunday: A Blue Dog Bed

I bought Johnny a new dog bed and being a practical person bought the cheapest color: oatmeal.  The idea was to give him something to curl up in when I was typing at my desk since it’s hard to type with him on my lap, which is where he insists on being.  And then to get him used to it, I put it at the foot of my bed, where he adopted it instantly.  Which meant that when I move the oatmeal bed to the office/living room, he wouldn’t have anything to curl up in on the bed.  (Yes, he is spoiled rotten.). So I bought a smaller blue bed, and blue is his color, and it makes me happy every time I see him curled up in it.

It’s the little things, you know?

What little (or big) thing made you happy this week?

77 Responses

  1. Well, for one, this story makes me happy.

    We got a little rain, although not nearly as much as we need, and the sound and smell of it made me happy for the brief time it was happening. Even the distant rumbles of thunder were okay, mostly because they were distant. Also, our heat wave has mostly broken, which is nice.

    But the thing that made me the happiest was finally hitting my writing groove at the end of the magical cozy. I’d written out a LOT of detail in the synopsis when I had to write one up to be submitted with the partial manuscript, and it made writing go so quickly and easily this week. It reminded me of the way I used to be able to write, pre-long Covid. (It also reminded me of why I always used to have very detailed long outlines before I started seriously working on a book.) I’m almost done, and I’m going to come up short on the word count, but it was wonderful to sit down and write a thousand words or more in a day. Also, I should type “the end” sometime within the next couple of days, which makes me dance-around-the-living-room happy.

    1. Also, shhhhh…I shouldn’t really mention it because we’re still waiting on the official contract, but I sold the book. My first fiction sale since April 2020. That makes me beyond happy. Not one of the biggest publishers, but a legit mid-sized one. So quiet huzzah. I’ll be getting a contract for this book, and the one that follows, which I actually came up with an idea for when asked, which is another freaking miracle. So happy Sunday to me. (I’ve known for a few weeks, but have been waiting for things to be more settled before saying anything. Deets to follow, when I can.)

      7. Yay! Such good news! I’m so happy for you.

        And just a note for non-pubbed folks — the publishing industry is far more insane than you can imagine, so it’s not unusual that Deb’s been waiting a few weeks for the contract. That’s pretty standard in my experience. It’s all rush, rush, rush as you agree on terms and then everything’s mired in molasses (which is unfair to molasses; I love molasses) while the contract is being generated and changes negotiated.

          1. Yeah, I think I’ve blocked out how long it took for Kensington, because it was so traumatic! Thank goodness for an agent who could keep me calm during the process. That alone is worth her fee!

      11. That is such good news! And the fact that you came up with an idea for the second book means that the long dry spell for fiction writing may really be over.
        Congratulations!!!!

      18. How wonderful Deborah! Those moments or days when we get our zing back are the best!

  3. In other dog-related news, I taught Raven to roll over. For whatever reason, she loves doing party tricks, and it almost makes up for the fact thst after 3 and 1/2 years she still jumps on people with her 65 pound self.

    1. Having just relistened to Getting Rid of Bradley, my first question is whether she can do Dead Dog.

  4. I bought chocolate. I am the official enabler of all the chocolate addicts in Chez Gar. This particular batch is a bag of Almond Joys and a box containing full-size, individually wrapped SNICKERS, TWIX, 3 MUSKETEERS and MILKY WAY Milk Chocolate Bars. This ensures that the grandkinder visit the Owner’s Suite once or twice per day.

    The candy bars are suspended from the equivalent of clothespins around the top of a rolling cart. The Almond Joys are put in snack bags of three bars each and added to the cart. If I put them all out at once, the TWIX bars would go first, Almond Joys next.

    Since everything in the list is milk chocolate, my diet is not burdened. For personal consumption, I limit myself to dark chocolate.

    1. I also bought Pringles, the little snack-packs. At least one of the kinder really likes them, and I put six of them with the chocolate dangling on the cart.

      I also replenished my stock of Keurig Hot Chocolate & Coffee pods. Therein lies an error. The coffee pods are caffeine free. But I saw caramel cappacino pods… NOT caf-free. Oops. I’m planning to try one, but the other 11 pods may go to the aforementioned kinder.

      1. No sooner did I hit POST COMMENT than the kinder appeared, making the cart three Pringle-tubs lighter.

        Also, I’ve had my first sip of Caramel Cappacino. Not bad. I wonder if it comes in decaf.

  5. My girlfriends were suitably impressed by the quilting on my show quilt, and had wonderful ideas for how to finish it up, so that made me very happy. I’m also working my way through the new project I cut out last weekend – a very purple quilt, so that is fun.

    And the class I taught this past week was well received. I know that even though it was a lot of work, the trainees really appreciated all of the instruction, so that made me happy too.

    1. Ooh, a purple quilt! I love purple quilts! Looking forward to pictures when it’s far enough along to share.

  6. Despite more rain, and despite inching forward with the Aged Parents Estate Planning project (they started this before Dad got his pacemaker and it’s become clear that his low heart rate had a markedly deleterious cognitive effect, and the attorney they chose is a passive / reactive twat (I say that as someone whose business obligations begin with “diligent prosecution” i.e. being proactive with the client or the foreign associate so that things don’t get buried under an accretion of daily crap) who has made little apparent effort to counsel the parents about their stated goals), it’s been kind of a blue week and today is an uncharacteristically blue day.

    I’m hoping that this afternoon’s outing to the Flat Rock Playhouse will reset my mood. We are going to see “Footloose” (the musical) and I can’t imagine it will be anything but fun.

    Otherwise, this week’s primary pleasure has been watching the collection of books grow that I’ll be donating to a local education support organization. Dropping off the collection-to-date at the pickup point this morning.

  7. I was in London this last week and made sure I got tickets for “Operation Mincemeat” because of comments here. Thanks to everyone who commented. It was an amazing show and one of the best I’ve seen. I loved the way the actors switched roles and genders and the way they handled the pacing. It’s one of the very few shows where I wished I had one of those World Cup Quidditch replay devices so I could savour the language and the subtle interactions between characters. So happy everyone here put the show on my radar!

    1. Me! Me! That was me! And I encourage it for anyone going to NYC too. I just persuaded two sets of friends to go to NYC to see it.

      2. I saw it last year. I’ve been recommending it like crazy, my friend Ron was a little doubtful. He took his wife for their anniversary and wrote back that it was the best show I’ve ever seen. It’s coming to Los Angeles and I am definitely getting tickets and seeing it again.

    2. YAY! Another member of the Operation Mincemeat fan club! Such a great show! I’m going back up to NYC in a couple of weeks and we plan to go see it again.

  8. Work has been going well. Same as usual, but my bosses liked how I am dealing with some weird referrals we keep getting.

    My writing has been going well, too. I’m finally writing a novella about how two recurring characters in my paranormal series got together and I think I found the rhythm of it. I need to go back to the first part and add more pining.

  9. Dogs in dog beds are the epitome of cozy. Although those human-size dog beds look pretty cozy, too.

    Happy to have a clean house and clean sheets and a clear schedule today.

  10. Finally–FINALLY!!!–finishing up the story that’s been driving me crazy since January. There willbe dancing in the street when I send it to the anthology’s editor, Joshua Palmatier. The story is for the Zombies Need Brains (that’s the publishing house, not a content warning. Honest!) anthology WERE-2. My story is the fourth in a short story series about a new adult cat shifter and his college roommate, a were-opossum. And if I did it right, it will be as ridiculous as it sounds. I function as ZNB’s comic relief.

    1. Oh, that sounds like so much fun to write (and read)! I’m at the point in my writing career where all I care about is how much fun a story is to write.

    2. A were-opossum? I want to know when that comes out so I can buy it! I miss opossums in Arizona, but we have lizards and Mediterranean Geckos to compensate.

    3. Zombies Need Brains put out some great anthologies. I’ve bought a number of them. I didn’t realize you were in them. Will have to look at the books I have and see if I spot your name. Congrats on finishing up the story. Comic relief is the best.

  11. Happy that our spring show in Michigan is going well, despite less people making appointments than expected. Apparently it only takes a few good customers to have a success. Ironically we are busy enough with other things to not have time to drum up more people coming so extra glad it is going well.

    I have a foot massage scheduled for later today which is enough to make any day a good one 😃

  12. Yay for blue and oatmeal dog beds.

    My happy this week included going to see The Sheep Detectives with a couple of friends. Loved the movie! It made me laugh and cry.

    Another happy was an email from my agent saying another UK publisher wanted to see the story I got my rights back on. So far, there was one no because they’d just bought something similar, one still deciding and now this new request. Trying not to get my hopes up.

    1. I liked The Sheep Detectives too. It’s really hard to sell stories that have already been published. Keeping my fingers crossed for you!

  13. I mentioned it last week, but it’s still making me happy, so I’m going with it for this week too, especially since it matches the blue/bedding theme: it’s been too hot for actual quiltmaking, but I’m daydreaming about my next just-for-me project, in summery teals and turquoises.

    I usually wait until the quilt is done before purchasing the backing, but this time it’s the inspiration for the whole quilt: https://www.hancocks-paducah.com/windham-fabrics-ocean-life-leslie-trimbach-for-whistler-studios-blue-crabs-mist/ And if you put “Stella 3423” into the search box there, you’ll see the background fabric for the front — the pale turquoise version).

    I already knew I wanted to make myself a summertime quilt in teals and turquoises (I have a significant stash in those colors), and then I fell in love with the seashell and crab fabrics. Now I have to figure out the actual pattern, and that’s so much fun!

    1. I need to get back to quilting! I’m looking at those fabrics and thinking I have bins of great stuff already and at least 2 half finished tops.

      I’m not great at sewing, but it’s extremely satisfying to put the colors and patterns together.

      Really missing having Hancock’s (, now there’s an oldie!) and Joann’s nearby.

    2. Gin, I love the blue crabs and teal/turquoise is a favorite color for me, too.

  14. A big good thing is that Philadelphia voted to ban horse drawn carriages.❤️🐴
    I’m hoping New York City’s Council will vote to ban horse drawn carriages too. Another horse collapsed and died on the street in New York during a heat advisory.

  15. Cat Sebastian’s new Star Shipped on sale on Kobo today only for $1.99! Great addition to my bookshelf! I am in Canada….not sure if available in all countries.

  16. Lots of little happies in the garden this week – garlic is developing scapes (almost a month early); peas are flowering and beans have sprouted. I have planted or given friends numerous tomato plants and the rest are labelled and sorted to new homes. After a week of heat and rain, we’re heading into a cooler week with some rain. My plants like to be watered from the sky more than a drip hose.

    DS and I went to see Josh Johnson last night – I think an Argher turned me onto him. Found out after several months of watching JJ’s YouTube that DS was a fan so we got tickets to new show. JJ’s a delight and had made an effort to find a Can story to use in the Can stops (airline pilot flew a Can commercial airline for almost 30 yrs and after he retired, it was discovered he didn’t have a pilot license). DS and I both enjoyed ourselves.

    DH and I went to an open air show and bought a painting for our upper hallway. We’d been looking for several months and this was an easy way to see lots of art in a short time and talk to the artists. I also bought hand made plant pots and a few Christmas presents for friends (I don’t enjoy shopping for a specific gifts for someone so picking them up when I see them works for me).

    1. Um. That may have been me too if it started with the Young Thug trial?
      The airline story is terrifying!

  17. I’m having some stained glass panels made for some cupboard doors. I’m very happy with the design and glass choices. A few of the glass pieces will be antique, from a local glass studio that closed in 1928. I’m happy to have a little bit of local history added to the house.

  18. My Happy/Good is that three of the folding bookshelves are unfolded and full of books. My son is coming over today to bring more bins of books in from the garage. He will put together the turquoise glider for the entryway, too. I sometimes have to wait for my ride to appear, and that will be a good place to sit. It’s behind a cast iron grill, so it won’t be too hot. All the books I intended to sell are gone, so the inside entryway is fairly clear, now. Moving right along, here!

    Also Good is the Kennedy Center is just the Kennedy Center, again, and the Park Service is ordered to restore the plaques that were changed. I hope all the evil orange one’s redos are gone, soon.

  20. I am thrilled that Johnny has now a choice of beds. And that the blue one on your desk.
    My friend Alexis is staying here. Her dog Tokyo has his own Instagram account. Loves to explore this house. https://www.instagram.com/reel/DYvBZley2h3/?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==

    Tokyo is the best dress dog I’ve ever seen.
    My happiness is that I found a story that I started a long time ago. It’s a chapter book with three chapters so far the magic wall, godmother’s on strike and Cinderella‘s ugly daughter and I have ideas for more. I read it over and it’s fun. I will. be happy to work on it.
    Oh, I was almost on Jimmy Kimmel again. This one was a nun and it got canceled because the Knicks won on Saturday, thus ending the series. Apparently, apparently both the San Antonio Spurs and the New York Knicks had packs of fanatical nun fans. I’m not sorry I didn’t get the job because I’m really happy about the Knicks winning.
    Next!

  22. My big happies are that DH got a good offer from her publisher for her second book —more than double her first advance. And that I got protective services to understand that in her parents divorce a million dollars was set aside for the daughter’s care and we can give them all the bank accounts so they can try to freeze it so the mom can’t spend it on lawyers trying to get daughter back or on herself.
    Also my garden is looking much more colorful than I ever thought it would when I had my hip replacement in December.

    Small good things include that the new electric car finally arrived and has a million gadgets and DH is enjoying learning them. (I will not so I’m letting him go first.) We got the 20 yo car that was held together by duct tape repaired and given to an immigrant couple that badly needed it.
    We had a nice time at the Nats game today with friends we haven’t seen in ages. And this week we are going to be avoiding house guest by watching the Nats, the World Cup, and at some point Max Scherzer.
    Also summer foods. Today is cold sorrel soup, chicken with rhubarb red onion and mint, and corn. Tomorrow is scape pesto pasta.

  24. My happy is – my GLP1 is working & the food thoughts that once plagued me are now silent. I don’t have a lot of appetite so I have to choose what I eat carefully. So far no side effects.
    I read the big book of Alcholics Anonymous years ago & it made the point – half measures availed us nothing – & my thought was – here is this tool in front of me (GLP1) & if I don’t try it then that is me committing half measures.

    I know people have a lot of opinions about this medication but I don’t want to hear them from people hear please. I have researched endlessly, am working with my doctor & I made a choice.

    2. Good luck, Judy. I think setting a strong intention is really powerful – it’ll lead you to the right healing path for you.

      1. Thanks Jane. So far so good. I created a list of ‘acting as if statements’.
        I am a successful weight loss story now – is one.

  25. Happy you have a pup who loves beds. My Pixie was trained to stay off the furniture. She won’t even use a dog bed. It does seem to bother me more than her.

    Wrapped up the meetings and medical appointments and now have 2 weeks that are pretty clear.

  26. My friend gave me a spa voucher for my birthday and I was determined this time not let the voucher expire (which is what usually happens), so booked a 90 min massage only six weeks later 😀

    Massage is always a blissful indulgence, and I had a lovely dinner with a friend afterwards so double-win.

  27. My sister is in town from NYC and wanted to see a play because her friends are in it. It was “Always…Patsy Cline” starring Liz Hidester at the American Blues Theater. It was a wonderful production and I am totally in awe of how this woman was able to talk and sing almost nonstop for 2 hours with 9 costume changes. And she also sings opera. I’d love to say that it has inspired me to start singing again, but I’m not sure I even have the confidence to do it in the shower after hearing that. But it was lots of fun just having a treat with my sisters.

    1. “People may say I can’t sing, but no one can ever say I didn’t sing.”
      ― Florence Foster Jenkins.
      So sing at home if it makes you happy

  29. This is sort of an important little thing. I have been spending huge amounts of time on election choices and I am very troubled by a misleading election flyer that supported some of the candidates I was going to vote for looking like an official party sample ballot. So last night late I wrote two and I already had thoughtful responses when I woke up. That speaks well to their potential responsiveness as electeds. Going to write some of the others as well.

About the Author

Jennifer Crusie is the New York Times, USA Today, and Publisher’s Weekly bestselling author and co-author of twenty-three novels, one book of literary criticism, miscellaneous articles, essays, novellas, and short stories, and the editor of three essay anthologies. She lives in a cottage in Pennsylvania, where she often stares at the ceiling and counts her blessings.

Find out more about Jenny’s published works by visiting JennyCrusie.com

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