Samira

when The Muse strikes, you may find that she’ll rapidly corner a good portion of your world. should you find yourself so lucky, know this: she runs a tight ship. The Muse mediates her world through work and play, discipline and fun, boisterous humility and active listening. The Muse will be your enabler, your partner in crime, and she will kick your sorry ass out of bed the next day. and you’ll like it. after she drinks you under the table again, listen to her. you may learn something. The Muse is logic tempered with heart, and heart tempered with logic: she will call bullshit and love you all the same. perhaps even The Muse does not know that it is this, more than even her other gifts–that cracks the core of me, that make me grateful to call her my friend.

Carnen teaches and nurtures through gentle persistence:

it is how she mends my body;
it is how she builds my trust;
it is how she calms my heart.

thank you for your patient ways, your generous ear,
and your steadfast presence.

in the story of my life, time and time again,
you are the trope for healing:

and i am so grateful for our journey together.

at this exact moment i am grateful for:

• a good night’s rest last night, which helped me kick ass today
• finishing up my 2007 taxes
• staying on track with building my new savings account, putting away 20% of my earnings each paycheck
• my job, my colleagues & the growth we’re experiencing
• kelly, who just plain rocks my socks off–she’s such a wonderful friend
• my relationship with todd, from which i continue to grow and learn
• todd, who continues to crack me open with his tiniest of gestures
• my colleague chris, who left the company last friday after 6 1/2 years–
  his absence this week really crystallized for me how important it is to love your job:
  over the past 4 years i’ve spent more time with some of my colleagues than with my family
  and even some friends. we spend a large percentage of lives at work.
  please do something you enjoy!
• my cat. she is perfect.
• mateo, for knowing where (and when)  to find me.
• belen, for reaching out & being so wonderfully up front and open in her communications
  (whether it concerns beer & pizza, or deep and personal matters)
• luscious (no particular reason. she just makes me happy)

i know there’s more, but this is a good start.

sam

In reflecting on my nice weekend i just had,
i am grateful for:

* getting silly with everyone after pearl’s alley on friday.
* todd and lucho, for taking me to see the monarchs, even though they had already departed.
* a drive home without traffic (small pleasures, i know)
* seeing Luscious and Weazie perform their final “Wait Until Dark” at the Altarena on saturday.
* margaritas with Luscious and crew after the play.
* todd & mateo picking me up for a day of frolicking on the beach.
* spending some sam-time on the beach.
* collecting a few beautiful rocks.
* sharing my fried chicken sandwich with everyone (i am grateful for bakesale betty)
* seeing lucho, jeffrey and shama (<3), hunny and joe
* seeing luscious and dave (so happy to see them!)
* spending time with tracy and frank
* spending time with todd this weekend & feeling really thankful for where we are right now
* having a tear-inducing, stomach-wrenching giggle-fit for at least 3 miles on highway 9
* tracy’s incredibly touching email last night
* movies & kittens & snuggles with todd yesterday
* having a good talk with my boss today, after leaving work feeling unsupported on friday.

a lot to be grateful for & that feels nice.

today i am grateful for:

• recognizing that it is important to articulate my gratitude.
• seeing Lisa absolutely shine on opening night in an incredible play.
• going for margaritas with Luscious and David after the play.
• having a 3 day weekend after a relentless work week but, much more importantly: Martin Luther King
• 2 gigs coming up next week.
• a heartfelt email from Todd.
• seeing Todd tomorrow.
• my friendship with Kelly.
• my beautiful kitten.
• purple lipstick.
• finally replacing one of my most treasured records, which i lost in 2003 at a party in Austin playing a 12 hour 2×4 set (Thanks, Addictech!)