Thursday Thirteen

Small things that make a day better:

1. I enjoy watching the deer outside. They move like shadows, quick yet unhurried. One minute, I'm looking at an empty yard and the next, there are three does standing there munching on acorns. They are like ghosts that come in daylight.

2. I really like to hear a good song from the 1970s. Alexa knows this, and when she plays "songs you like," they frequently start out with something from Fleetwood Mac. But there are many others that I don't hear so much that can stop me in my tracks. Band on the Run by Paul McCartney & Wings, for example. Or American Pie, by Don McLean. Those are great songs.

3. Another thing that brings me pleasure is finding a book that makes me forget to look at the clock. This doesn't happen as often as I'd like anymore, because I seem to always be worried about making sure I get the laundry out of the dryer while it's hot or whatever, but I do enjoy a good read.

4. One of my guilty pleasures is having a little chocolate. I like the taste and texture of chocolate, especially milk chocolate. I know I'm probably one good Hershey bar from a heart attack, but that's a risk I'll have to take.

5. Another way to make my day better is to pick up my guitar. Sometimes I don't even have to get through a whole song. I sit and play scales, or make runs, or just fiddle with chord progressions, and something in my back eases.

6. This is good for a quick pick-me-up: drinking a good glass of ice-cold water. I mostly only drink water these days, but I like it cold and straight out of the fridge.

7. Turning on my little heater in my office often helps me feel better. I tend to be cold and while I know the heater isn't great for the electric bill, it sure does make it easier to type if my fingers are not freezing.

8. I also appreciate the change of seasons. We're near peak time for the leaves, I think, and while this year isn't looking very bright because of the drought, there are some oranges and yellows peeking through. 

9. I also like to find an interesting animal on the game camera, like a bear, fox, or coyote. The other week when there was a bear on the camera, I squealed with delight.

10. That reminds me that taking a great photo of the moon or a spider's web with that certain slant of light one only finds in October is another way to brighten up an otherwise mundane day.

11. I like it when I have nothing on my calendar for the day. That means I can stay home, or go out, do laundry (or not). It's never downtime, I don't have much of that, but it's nice not to be on a schedule.

12. When the phone rings and it's a friend, my whole face lights up. I enjoy talking to the people who know me best, hearing from them, learning what's going on in their world. 

13. Last, but not least, occasionally I level up in a video game. This is almost always unexpected because I don't watch for it, especially in my city-building game, so when it suddenly goes "Ta Da" and gives me a reward, it's always a joyful little moment. I accomplished nothing of importance, but then again, I did move forward. Yay me!

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Thursday Thirteen is played by lots of people; there is a list here if you want to read other Thursday Thirteens and/or play along. I've been playing for a while, and this is my 982nd time to do a list of 13 on a Thursday. Or so sayth the Blogger counter, anyway.