Fishy-Fishy (031/365)

Day 31 Happy: My little beta, Fishy-Fishy

It's hard to come up with a happy right now, although I had quite a few picked out earlier. I'm pretty sure my little beta fish is dying! He's been acting strange, sitting at the bottom of the bowl and not moving much for the last couple of weeks. Tonight, I had to change his water, and I think the stress of it might have been too much for him. He seems to be struggling to breathe, and laying on the bottom a lot, even turning on his side a couple of times. I don't know if he will make it through the night.

I know he's just a little fishy, but he's my friend. His bowl has sat on my nightstand for the past two and a half years. I always like to tell people that he's smarter than your average fish. He follows my finger around the bowl, wiggles faster when he hears the sound of my voice, and swims around like a mad man when I shake his food above the bowl.

He's made me happy for the past two years, so it is only appropriate that he's my happy today.

Fishy-Fishy

Update: I just googled "betta fish laying on side" and it turns out Fishy might not be dying after all! He might have a Swim Bladder Disorder (SBD) or he might be constipated, and he might get better! I have to put him on a fishy fast for the next 24 to 48 hours, start feeding him tiny meals twice a day instead of a bigger one once a day, and change up his food every once in a while. I'll keep you guys updated on his condition!

Update 7/1: I woke up this morning, and Fishy is still alive! 

Update 7/2: He's still swimming around, and looks a little better! He'll be done with his fishy fast tonight and I will be able to give him a little bit of food. He gave me quite the scare, and I'm still afraid that every time I look at his bowl, he's going to be floating at the top. So far, so good though.  

Friends! (017/365)

Day 17 Happy: Visiting friends

Our friend (one of Marc's groomsmen, and all around good guy), John, got a promotion and is moving to South Carolina. While we are very, very happy for him, we are also going to miss him terribly! Luckily, he had time today to meet us at the mall, where Marc and I made Bride and Groom Build-A-Bears:

Then he went to dinner with us, and came back to the house for dessert. I made my Gran's Chocolate Sheet Cake earlier in the day, and we ate some of that. My mom used to make the cake for me all the time on my birthday and it was my favorite growing up, but I haven't had it in years. It was delicious (see recipe below). Now we are going to watch Sherlock Holmes, which none of us have seen.

Good luck with your new job, John! We're going to miss you!

My Sherlock Holmes rating: 4 stars

Gran's Chocolate Sheet Cake: 
This recipe was written down for me by my Mom, and she got it from my grandmother on my Dad's side.

In a large bowl mix: 
2 cups all purpose flour
2 tsp cinnamon 
2 cups sugar
3/4 tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda 
(I also added a dash of 
cloves, which I think makes
any baked dish yummier.)

In sauce pan mix: 
2 sticks butter
4 tbls cocoa 
1 cup water
Bring to a boil and pour over
dry ingredients in bowl. 

Add:
 2 beaten eggs
1/2 cup buttermilk
1 tsp vanilla 

Blend well, pour in greased 
cookie sheet. Bake at 350 
about 20 minutes. 

Icing: 
In saucepan: 
Melt 1 stick butter
Add 4 tbls cocoa

Let cool 

Add 6 tbls buttermilk   
Add one (1 lb) box 
powdered sugar 
Beat well, pour over 
warm cake 
 

Crayola! (007/365)

Day 7 Happy: Crayola Bunny

Ladies and Gentlemen, I would like to introduce you to: Crayola Bunny...



Crayola is pretty much my best friend, and has been since my Aunt Jackie gave him to me for Easter many, many years ago. Whenever we moved, Crayola was there. When I didn't feel good, Crayola was always there to make me feel better. Most of all, when I was sad, Crayola was there to catch my tears.

I'm quite attached to him. When I lived at home, my mom used to try to convince me to wash him, saying he was "dingy" and "dirty." I knew that Crayola was getting a little long in the tooth (bunny joke) and I was terrified that he would fall apart in the washer. She would wait until I left for school and then wash him anyways. She still nags me about washing him whenever she comes to visit.

Lately, Crayola has been pretty near retirement. He is getting old, and falling apart despite my best efforts to keep him intact. I have reserved a special spot in our closet for him, away from dust and naughty kitties who would rip him to shreds. He's always ready when I need him, though, whether it is it catch tears, or cuddle when I'm not feeling well, like this weekend. More than 20 years later, and he can still make me feel better.

What makes you feel better when you're having a bad day?

Nice People (006/365)

Day 6 Happy: Nice People

I'm still sick. Disgustingly, horribly, achingly sick. And miserable.

Luckily, I'm surrounded by nice people. My co-worker Miranda, for example, who let me go home early from work after I toughed it out for almost 8 hours. And Frank, another co-worker, who agreed to go pick me up a caramel milkshake from Sonic (delicious, by the way) and, although I sent him with my debit card, paid for it.

Most of all, my wonderful fiancé, who has doted on me constantly since he got home from work. He always takes such good care of me when I don't feel well.

Being sick is never fun, but it is less terrible when there are people around who genuinely care about you.

(Serendipity) 004/365

Day 4 Happy: Getting to see friends unexpectedly

Today, like yesterday, I had several things to choose from for my happy! It was originally going to be "getting new books for a tiny amount of money." Our good friends Sarah, Taylor and Nick gave Marc and I a Barnes and Noble gift card for our birthday. Tonight after work, we went down and picked out 2 new books and ended up paying less than $2 out of pocket. I got Russell Brand's "My Booky Wook" (which I am DYING to start reading, but it will have to wait until homework is done. BLAH!) and Marc got the next book in his Dresden series.

However, an EVEN BIGGER HAPPY came around when I send Taylor a text telling her thank you for our gift card, she told me that she and Sarah were at the very bookstore we had just left! They must have arrived just as we were leaving. So, we swung back around and hung out with them, talking wedding plans (yay!) until the store closed. It was a very pleasant and unexpected surprise to get to hang out with them this evening.

Today wasn't perfect. I woke up feeling pretty terrible, with a sore throat and scratchy voice. Work was pretty lame, and it was one of my longest shifts of the week. I have a TON of homework to do before tomorrow, when I have a Criminal Justice exam. Normally, all of that would be pretty bothersome. However, finding my "happy" for the day makes me continuously look out for what is good and try to ignore the ick.

Bonus Happy: We just had a GIGANTIC storm, complete with pounding rain, ridiculous thunder and TONS of lightning.