saffronhare

I got the letter “B” from

fionnabhar so here goes. If you’d like to play, just request a letter in a comment!

Ten Things Important to Me

Breakfast – Given the chance, I’d eat breakfast for every meal, most days. I don’t get very excited about cooking dinner, but give me a chance to prepare an elaborate brunch (another B word!) and I’m all over it.

Bedtime – Sleep is a nutrient. I defend my bedtime (these days, right around 11 p.m.) pretty ferociously. Nothing makes me sadder, faster, than a few nights of not enough sleep. If I could, I’d back bedtime up to about 10 p.m., but managing my own evening tasks after work and the kids’ bedtime rush just doesn’t happen any faster these days. Ah, well.

Bones – This TV series is something of a guilty pleasure for me. I enjoy the smartness, the catching of bad guys, the shoulders of David Boreanaz, the witty dialogue, and the balance of humor. Got the email from NetFlix that season 7 is available now for online/instant viewing! Booyah.

Booze – I’ve never been much of a drinker, but one of the silver linings from the Gall Bladder Adventures is the discovery that booze doesn’t bother my tummy at all. In fact, a high-fat dish will digest more comfortably if I sip on something alcoholic while eating. I am something of a pansy, though, and prefer my booze to be NUMMY rather than HARD.

Balls to the Wall – While it was saddening to learn (quite recently) that the origin of this phrase has nothing to do with testicles, I’m generally a big fan of the “go big or go home” philosophy. That’s not to say I require WINNING in order to have fun. Really, what I’m after is *commitment* rather than a half-assed effort. There are times when this particular preference gets in the way of enjoying a bit of dinking around with something. I’m workin’ on it.

Bunnies – Do I really need to say much about this?

Brambly Hedges – Aside from being a great hiding habitat for bunnies, brambles usually produce berries, which are super as part of a well-balanced and yummy breakfast. (Do you see the beautiful B-ness happening here?) When the ogham for Hawthorn (one of those brambly hedges) is pulled as an omen, it’s a reminder of the wisdom of not imposing my Will on a situation. Take the long way ‘round, the hedge says, or just wait a while until an opening becomes clear, because forcing a way through is going to hurt. Thankfully, I listen better to those reminders than I did, say, ten years ago.

Burbling – This is a new one for me. In my world, “burbling” is the word I use to describe when I just get happy and start telling people what I’m happy about. I didn’t used to do that, and the consequence was the folks thought I wasn’t happy or they didn’t know what made me happy. I’ve learned that the ACT of burbling serves to increase my overall sense of the happy as well, maybe because other people can share in the smiles or because I get to laugh at how ridiculously simple some of life’s greatest joys can be. Burbling about something always makes my day better. I’m kind of burbling here, with this meme.

Only two more to go, and I bet I’m forgetting so much! Let’s just say this list is more accurately described as “the first ten things I am thinking of that start with B and mean a lot to me.”

Beaches – I’m cheating here, because by “beach” I really mean “ocean.” I don’t care if I can sunbathe on it . . . I just really miss the salt water. After Hurricane Sandy and the last few storm-heavy winters in New England, the beaches I remember probably aren’t really there anymore. I know it’s the natural order of things, for shorelines to rearrange themselves (even without factoring in global warming), but it still makes me feel wistful.

Being Employed – Maybe it’s not a glamorous thing, but it sure is important in my life. I’m glad to have work to do that lets me contribute to the well-being of my family, and which makes me feel smart and useful. I don’t think I ever would have pictured myself here, doing this work, but it seems like a good place to be right now and I’m sure not going to take it for granted.