What the Pho?

My friend RW took me out for Pho. It was.... interesting. I'm not sure I liked it. I did enjoy the experience, though. It's fun to try new things and go to new places. I thrive when I take on even the smallest adventure. I wish that this wasn't so, because it also means that I am so dreadfully bored by everyday tasks and surroundings. I have to continuously search for excitement or brightness in the mundane, otherwise I fall into fatigue and then that is like bordering on something akin to sadness. It isn't sadness, though, it's just.... blah. :)

I don't take kindly to blah. It makes me unpleasant to be around. It makes me feel unpleasant to myself, even. And so I work to find beauty and tiny thrills in everyday life. I'm not always successful. This is a very long off-season.

Today I missed someone very, very badly. I've heard the phrase so often, "human beings need loving touch." I believe this is true, and we have, of course, scientific proof to back it up. The experiment originally conducted in the early 1920s didn't begin with humans, it began with rats, but eventually the theory proved true in humans, too. I can personally attest to it, can't you?

I haven't had a really good hug in far too long. I've had some hugs here and there, but a really good hug, the kind that lasts and lasts and connects two people, yeah, it's been awhile. I'm not so much of a touchy-feely person by nature. I'm not the person who is comfortable hugging everyone and their mother (um, or my own mother, actually). I don't typically touch a person on the arm as we speak, or play with the hair of my girlfriends. But there are key people who I love to hug and receive hugs from.

My daughters
Nieces and nephews
Brother and sisters
Dad
Grandpa
Em
Best friend.

I got a hug from Erin last night - thank you, baby girl. Was hugged tightly by Toria the day she left for Hawaii - bless your heart. Brother and sister hugs have been rare but treasured, Dad was hugged on Christmas eve, Grandpa and Em were last hugged the second week of November and will be hugged again in just a few days. Best friend: It's been 25 days and will be 41 more. That is rather difficult to digest. Actually, I hate the truth of that.

But.... here are 5 things that I am thankful for today:
5) I finished my book - Juliet, Naked by Nick Hornby, one of my favorite authors.
4) My business cards are ready to pick up - and they look GORGEOUS!
3) I discovered free online courses in a subject I am truly interested in
2) I have an exceptional cheerleader (outside of my own mind, but I've got one of those, too) constantly encouraging me

And the No. 1 thing I'm thankful for today: This Video

It always makes me smile!!