Thursday, September 5, 2013

Little Victories

Neighborhood soccer, 2013

Because major successes don't come every day, and because sometimes life can be frustrating, it's a good idea to celebrate little victories.

I haven't overeaten today. Yet.

I got new shoes! Cute sandals. I mean rully, rully cute.

The other day I was forced, forced, to restock Camelot & Vine at Vroman's, because they had sold out. Vroman's is Pasadena's largest independent bookstore, second only to Powell's in the western U.S. If you are the person who bought that last book, please don't tell me. I want to think it was purchased by someone I don't know.

(The above link is weird. Apparently someone has gathered web information about me and put it in a book. Good luck selling that, pal. That'll be your little victory.)

I'm not getting very far building my voice-over booth in the garage, but I did buy the carpet remnant for the floor.

John and I have been walking every night after it cools off. (Not in my new sandals.)

Boz is still here, and he still enjoys eating, pooing and neighborhood soccer.

There are more, but you get the idea. It's like counting your blessings. Once you start, you think of more.

What are your little victories?

32 comments:

John Sandel said...

I made a good poo.

Dina said...

What? You're saying a book about you is not worth $52? Who is this Jerold Angelus who turns out these things, anyway?
Congratulations on your real book having sold out already! and for all your little victories.
Me? I'm grateful that here in Israel we are able to celebrate this 4-day holiday weekend at the dinner table and in the synagogues and not in our bomb shelters, after all.
You post a sweet picture of sweet Boz. So it's OK to play in the street?

Book Dragon said...

oh John, what you said!

Kalei's Best Friend said...

TMI John!...Not gonna volunteer that one!...
How about just surviving this heat!?? that's a victory in itself!.

Book Dragon said...

I feel so good after my medical scare in July, that everyday I don't head to the gym for a full-out workout is a victory. I still need medical clearance.

Looks like it might be about 7 p.m. in the picture. Still light but starting to cool off. I've been heading out for a walk about 7:30 p.m.

Is it still a workout if I wear jeans and flip-flops instead of workout clothes?

LONDONLULU said...

Congratulations on the book news, Petrea - that's so fantastic! We were busier than expected since returning from England b/c of adopting a pooch - not sure that counts as a victory, but it does feel like a blessing! (I'm thinking of reading C&V aloud to her once I properly sort things out on my computer:) I love your Boz pic today, what a sweetie.

BaysideLife said...

The world through Boz's eyes. Nice perspective. I cleaned my linen closet/catch all black hole--really, it was a major victory.

Jean Spitzer said...

I cleared off the dining room table. But maybe that counts as a major, not minor, victory?

Petrea Burchard said...

Don't we all do that, JS? Then again, as we get older...

Dina, Happy new year! I'm glad you can celebrate peacefully in your new home. Somehow I feel you're safer in Meitar than in Jerusalem, but I don't know if that's the case.
Our street is quiet, and the parents watch on both sides as the kids play. They've learned to yell "CAR!" if they see one coming, and they race each other to the curb.

KBF, you got that right. I've covered my window but I can still feel the heat from it.

Book Dragon, blue jeans are like a sweat suit in this heat! That's a workout. And bless you, I'm glad you're doing better.

Lulu, adopting a dog is important. Especially when you first get her, you have to spend a lot of time training. Give her a kiss from Boz and me.

Bayside, that's what I'm talking about. Excellent victory.

You too, Jean, but we'd have to see the before picture to know if it's major or minor.



Bellis said...

John, please leave the room! Brilliant news about the book needing to be restocked at Vroman's. Slowly but surely it's building up momentum. And by the time it's a bestseller, you'll have the second book done.

I've been searching for an adorable lost terrier last night and this morning but no luck yet. But I did see people going up Echo Mountain at 11 pm to spend the night up there. Braver than I am when Bimbo the bear is in the area.

Pasadena Adjacent said...

Yesterday I cleaned baked on cat barfs under my bed, then polished the floor afterwards

Petrea Burchard said...

I just hope they took Bimbo some snacks, Bellis. It's hard for critters in the heat.

PA, I'd say your victories are first class.

Margaret said...

I'm so excited about your book. That is fabulous. Always tell us these successes. They are invigorating.

Petrea Burchard said...

Thank you for saying that, Margaret. I don't want to "advertise" too much on this blog, but I figure a little is okay. Mostly I don't tell you about the little failures; you can all be grateful for that.

Ms M said...

Such good victories from Boz's and your point of view.

Great news that your book is selling well1

John Sandel said...

My comment was supposed to have quotes around it, as if Boz spoke. Blogger needs an update or something ...

Petrea Burchard said...

Thank you, Ms M.

I get you, JS. Coming from Boz it's a different story.

dive said...

Waking up to find a picture of Boz on my screen is a nice little victory in itself.

Anonymous said...

Boz has nothing but good sides.

Petrea Burchard said...

I feel the same way, Dive.

Karin, Boz is getting more sides from lack of exercise. It's hard on the hot days. In the evenings he would be happy to go on and on, at the rate of one block per hour, with intermittent naps.

TheChieftess said...

WooHoo!!! Another step closer to best seller status!!! You go girl!!!

As for successes...what could be more exciting than finally catching up to the rest of the world, technologically speaking? We just got hooked up to Digital 395!!! Yep! That means I can actually watch a YouTube download without the spinning wheel!!! When we bought our house up here we moved into an area with limited bandwidth...they over sold the bandwidth in town. Plus I had to pay extra for a business account to just get 6mbps...which only happened occasionally!!! When the hordes of tourists are up here, I was lucky to get 1mbps!!! Now we have 15mbps!!! WooHoo!!! Call me crazy but I feel like we just won the lottery!!!

Bellis said...

I wonder how to tell how many mbps we get, Chieftess? I've a feeling Charter doesn't always provide us with the speed that we pay for. At times during the day pages take so long to load that I have time to get a snack from the fridge. (Boz isn't the only one getting tubby.)

Petrea Burchard said...

Chieftess I'm thrilled. I don't know how you've handled a photo blog without it!

Bellis, there are websites that will tell you what your speeds are. I think you can google it.

TheChieftess said...

Bellis...try: http://www.speedtest.net/ That's what I used. During the week after Christmas, we averaged less than 1mbps...I complained and got a month or two for free. I started keeping a log and found that more often than not, we were at 1 or 2mbps...the type of bandwidth and the numbers of subscribers influence the speed dramatically...

TheChieftess said...

Petrea...upload speed is apparently different than download speed...and since our tourists mostly used the internet for movies and checking their email...the upload speed wasn't affected as much!!!

Trish said...

certainly a victory to see Boz surveying all that he lords over! Can't stop loling over your potential hourlong block walk with naps!

Chieftess---woooohoooo!

John...uhm...yeah.

Dina--similar victory here, though without the fear of needing to celebrate the chag in a shelter.

We have beat the heat with minimal melting and no A/C, survived necessary grocery shopping yesterday without going postal on people who apparently left the house without a brain and got a skittish kitten to eat from a cup in my hand.

More exciting is restocking at Vroman's!!!! The last purchase was not me-am due for a trip to LA but not in this heat!!!

Petrea Burchard said...

I get it, Chieftess. Whew! That makes it possible.

Thanks, Trish! Four Pasadena-area stores carry it now (Vroman's, Flintridge Bookstore, Webster's and the Pasadena Museum of History store), plus you can always get it online. It makes a nice gift!

Katie said...

Such a sweet photo of Boz. And great news about your restocking C&V as well as your cute new sandals! And speaking of books I really liked your review of Olive Kitteridge (written by an alum of my alma mater I'm proud to say). I too wasn't taken with it at first, but got into the groove and ultimately thought it was a very read and touching book. As far as my little victories, I successfully upgraded to a new operating system on my iMac without breaking anything.

Petrea Burchard said...

Superb victory, Katie! Now I want to try it.

Susan Campisi said...

These are really great little victories. Congrats! I just love that Boz watches neighborhood soccer.

My biggest little victory, which is actually pretty big, is that Tommy and Louise can hang out in the living room together without fighting. I'm thrilled.

Petrea Burchard said...

Boz is more a spectator than a player, Susan, but that's his choice.

You, now, have a huge victory! Life just improved for you about a thousand percent, I imagine. Your patience is rewarded and those two beautiful dogs are closer to becoming friends.

Susan Campisi said...

Thanks for the kind comment, Petrea. Sorry so belated. Yes, life is easier these days. It's not perfectly harmonious (Tommy still terrorizes the cats), but it's much better.