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1. Ibuprofen. When dull pain, stiffness and soreness still inhabit your body the day after playing sportsball, ibuprofen is your friend.

2. Berkley’s patience. My limp has been reduced to a hobble, which helps for walking dogs. However, my discomfort is not Berkley’s main concern first thing in the morning. His first concern is “I FINISHED PEEING, I NEED TO GET BACK IN THE HOUSE FOR FOOD! I LOVE FOOD!!!” And then he’ll sprint back to the house as fast as his little legs can carry him. But when I had trouble walking this morning, his sprint turned into a slower run. Because why strangle himself with his harness if I’m not going to move any faster?

3. Filtering Excel sheets. When I started this project, the numbers weren’t organized at all. I rearranged them, then started working… and then I realized I was looking at some items a second time. I rearranged the numbers again to find duplicate items (and there were a lot), then started copying answers. I changed the filtering back and now a majority of the spreadsheet is done. Yay for not doing the same problems over and over and over again!

4. Buying poop bags at Target. Because running out of them is a bad idea when you have two dogs that poop on a regular basis.

5. Buying potato wedges at Target. Because they’re yummy. They’re not pizza-level yummy, but still yummy.

6. Buying rotisserie chicken at Target. Good for dinner and then lunch. And potentially several lunches after that.

I’m back! One funeral and one wedding are in the books, so hopefully it’s back to the usual grind again.

1. The usual grind. There aren’t any joyful weddings, but there also aren’t any “celebrate a person’s life” gatherings because said person just died. It’s a time when things can feel neutral, but it also allows you to make your own happiness.

2. Funerals. I know, #1 kinda conflicts with this, but I’m grateful that I got to see a bunch of people there who I haven’t seen in… it’s been a very long time. It’s a sad reason to be there, but having a chance to talk with so many of them—even for a little bit—was really nice.

3. Weddings. An even better opportunity to see a bunch of people there who I haven’t seen in… well, the one yesterday was a friend’s son, so I only knew a few people, but for weddings in general, it’s a happier reason to visit with a lot of distant friends and relatives.

4. Ice. Today was my first soccer game in almost seven years and I didn’t used to feel the same tweaks, bumps and bruises. (Funny how not being in “soccer shape” can do that to a person…) I’ve always been a fast healer, but I’m still grateful for putting an ice pack on my knee to limit the achy soreness that rears its ugly head after the adrenaline wears off.

5. Adrenaline. I can take a lickin’ and keep on tickin’ for about ten minutes after the final whistle blows. That’s when I start feeling all gimpy. But even with my limping while walking the dog tonight, it was totally worth it.

1. Printing the wrong file. I felt sad and miserable when it happened, thinking I’d have to spend extra time at work to get it finished. Then I went back to my computer and realized that I’d printed the wrong file. What I thought could take over an hour ended up taking 15 minutes instead. Making a mistake is a bummer, but realizing what I’d done, understanding how much less work it’d be and feeling like a weight had just been lifted off my shoulders? Definitely grateful for that.

2. Getting out of work early. Not “playing hooky” early, just “I got here early, so I can leave early” early. I was planning to head straight into town for the epilepsy support group meeting, but I had enough time that I went home to take care of the dogs for about half an hour. And I’m sure their little doggy tummies and bladders were happy I did, too.

3. Dog food. See: happy doggy tummies.

4. The lawn next to the house. See: happy doggy bladders.

5. Having enough gas in the tank. Driving straight into town without having to stop for gas is good when I’m in a hurry. Because my time management skills are amazing.

1. Stretching. Sometimes it feels like some of my muscles are on the verge of cramping at bedtime, so it’s nice to have a way to prevent that from waking me up at night. Plus it’s been a long time since I could, but I can almost touch my toes with straight legs again.

2. Our comforter. Not really necessary at this time of year, but when it’s cold outside, it helps keep me warm at night.

3. Our Sleep Number bed. We have the same level of firmness, but it’s still nice to have the ability to change it if we wanted to. Plus it’s a king, which means it’s more than “almost big enough” for the four of us.

4. Our Flex Fit bed frame. We can lie in bed or sit up in bed or pick some position in the middle. What’s important is that I can sit in bed and have back support without involving any pillows.

5. Sleep. Good and good for you. I should try to get some now. G’night.

1. Cities Sports Connection. I know, I know—it’s only been a couple days since it was on my list of gratitudes, but it was only a couple days between registering for their fall league as a free agent and ending up on a soccer team, so there ya go. I’m grateful that I’ll get to play soccer again and I’m grateful that CSC is making it happen.

2. Playing soccer. See: above.

3. Sunflower seeds. A few weeks ago, we found a sale on sunflower seeds if we bought two 50-pound bags, sooooo… store one in the garage. The hole in the bag with seeds spilled out around it is how we confirmed that there was a mouse in the garage.

4. Fleet Farm. A store filled with all sorts of random products. If you’re looking for something out of the ordinary, odds are good you could find it there.

5. Mouse traps. Fleet Farm has those, too. And it only took one night to officially confirm that it does trap mice. In this case, by the head. I’m pretty sure the strength of the spring that snapped the trap shut meant it died quick and easy.

6. Dead mice. One down, how many more to go…