Things I love

I don't know if you know, but I spend a lot of time criticizing the world around me. Yep - it's true - I can't stand a lot of things and a lot of people, but... to offset all that negativity sometimes I can't help but think about all the things I just LOVE! So, here's a list (which may have to be continued later, as wakeful children might invade my typing-time).

Trader Joe's ... How do I love thee? Let me count the ways. I was just at Trader Joe's which is why it is top on my list today. I love that they have balloons for the kids, I love that they have coffee samples, I love their low prices, and I love the crazy luau atmosphere. Some of their products that I just adore are:

• Dark Chocolate Covered Pretzels (perfect in the evening while watching the boob-tube... I mean BOOB-TUBE since I usually spend at least an hour nursing Rose while watching tv at night)
• Frozen brown rice (4 minutes to tasty, healthy rice for dinner!)
• Chicken and Cheese Tamales (tried them for the first time last night, mmm mmm good!)
• California Style Complete Protein Bread (this stuff keeps you going! in more ways than one, if you catch my drift)
• Honey Bran Country Bread (under $2.00 and TASTY)
• Irish Breakfast Tea (just as good as Lyons tea... the tea I fell in love with in Ireland...)
• Organic Milk (cheaper than elsewhere)

Trader Joe's is just great.

Other things that I love include:

Sleeping babies
New York City
Rum Raisin Ice Cream (especially the way my mom serves it... on top of oatmeal!)
YouTube (because it keeps Eleanor occupied while I work on the computer)
Old Sesame Street clips (as can be found on You Tube)
Tea (a day without at least three cups of dark, strong black tea with a little bit of milk is really rough for me)
Toast (to go with the tea for breakfast)
Cooking big, spicy, yummy meals
Spring and Summer (Now that the weather is getting cold here I'm getting that sick-to-my-stomach-feeling that I get each Fall. I love the beauty of Fall - it is really wonderful to be in the car or in the house and to look out at the changing leaves, and the dramatic skies, but MAN, that cold air is just too much for me. Maybe it is because I grew up in Africa? One thing that doesn't help is that twice I have suffered awful morning sickness in the Fall. The smell of decomposing leaves outside, and the feeling of the heater turning on inside, still bring waves of nausea.)
The way Eleanor gets all lovey-dovey and says "I love mommy SOOOO much!"
The way Rose can't help grinning up at me when she nurses
Reality Television (oh yes, I can't help it. I like to pretend that it's the anthropologist in me... maybe it is... but I find it facinating! Highlights of my television world right now are The Bachelor, the Biggest Loser, and the Amazing Race. Believe me, I am not proud of this, I just can't help myself!!)
LOST (more television...)
The way that Cap can crack HIMSELF up and send himself into a fit of uncontrollable laughter!

Okay, I guess that's enough for now. But - to be sure - there is more to come.