Saturday: Learning to Dance in the Rain

I went to bed late, last night (or rather, early this morning), but woke up at 9:00 a.m. and went in time for the 10:00 a.m. car service appointment.  I was told that the car service might take 1 to 2 hours, but it was done in 45 minutes.  I sat in the waiting room, with another lady who was also waiting for her car.  I had taken my library book to read, but the TV was on and there was a show about the musical duo The Carpenters; the other lady started singing along and I joined her!  LOL!  Later, after she left and the show ended, I read the library book I had taken along with me.

On the way home, I put gas to the car.  My gardener friend was doing neighbor T's garden when I came home, so I chatted with him for a bit.

Later, in the afternoon, daughter and I went back to the mall to do more shopping!  I am having a really hard time finding gifts for my cousins' sons - one cousin's son is in his late 30s and a chef.  The other cousin's son is in his early 20s and a college student, but I don't know their interests, that well.

I bought two pairs of fleece lined leggings for myself (to wear under my pants at the office, because my legs feel cold).  I also found some other gifts for people I had already bought for and wanted to get them, as well, but the line at the check out was very long today and I was hungry, so I decided not to buy those gifts, after all.  Daughter and I had lunch in the mall food court (we treated ourselves to Japanese food), bought two small gifts, and left.

Daughter saw a journal with an inspiration quote on it:

"Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass, it's about learning to dance in the rain"

Daughter thought it was very appropriate for me and wanted to buy it; but it was one of the items we didn't buy because the check out line was so long and I was hungry.  But I am going to keep those words in mind and, henceforth, learn to dance in the rain!

On the way home, we went to the Armenian grocery store to buy cashews to make a cashew curry to take to cousin's on Monday (price has gone up to $8.99/lb!), semolina for the love cake daughter wants to make ($.79/lb. from the bulk bin), 2 packets of curry powder ($1.99 each), bananas ($.49/lb), and 2 lbs. ground beef ($3.29/lb), as daughter wanted me to make curry puffs for her.  When we were at the Armenian store, we met friend R, who was doing her grocery shopping (she too, was buying ingredients to make her love cake!)  So, we invited her to come home and have a cup of tea with us, which she did.  On the way home, I stopped at the dollar store and asked daughter to run in and buy more tissue paper for me, which she did while R and I waited in the car.  

After we came home, I made us tea and we sat and chatted for awhile.  Friend R had been daughter's Montessori teacher and has seen daughter grow up since she was 4 years old; daughter calls her, her second mother.  She's one of the friends who came to help me with the almsgiving preparations.

Around 6:30 p.m., daughter's friend came to pick her up as they were going to meet up with a couple of the other friends and go to dinner and karaoke.  I took R home, had leftover Japanese teriyaki chicken and rice for dinner, and did a load of dishes.  I put the cashews to soak overnight.  I'll cook it tomorrow.  Most probably, I'll do the gift bags tomorrow - it will be less tempting for Dancer, who likes to shred tissue paper!

Today, I am grateful for:

- Car was serviced and there were no problems with it

- Spending time with my daughter

- Meeting my friend at the grocery store

- Enjoying a cup of tea together

- Daughter had a fun evening out with friends (and is home safely now!)  

Tomorrow, I plan to:

- Cook the cashew curry

- Wrap/bag up gifts

- Help daughter make love cake

- Take gifts to neighbors

- Clean the litter box

- Do a load of laundry

How was your day?  What are your plans for Christmas Eve?  Are you the type of person who waits for the storm to pass or are you someone who dances in the rain?