I’m not dead yet! I just accidentally took a break from writing down my daily joys last week. You know why? I was feeling happy all week for the first time in quite a long time. Lots was going well, so I let myself relax and enjoy it.

Day 37, September 12th: I had pear potato soup. Wow. Amazing. Now I’m on a hunt for the recipe. Maybe, just maybe, it’s this one.

Day 38, September 13th: A work friend said that I’ve been really optimistic recently. She was surprised and so was I. The joys might be working.

Day 39, September 14th: I got to see an early screening of the new TV show Pan Am. Almost, could be, might be just as good as Mad Men. Can’t wait for more!

Day 40, September 15th: I had a breakthrough with the novel chapter I was working on. I finally remembered one of the techniques I was taught in my master’s program and used it. Hallelujah, the old dog is remembering to do the new tricks!

Day 41, September 16th: I ate dessert as my dinner—mango sticky rice. I had a bowl of wanton soup, too, but it wasn’t the main event. Mmm.

Day 42, September 17th: My husband and I sat down to do our finances and discovered if we just sold one of our cars it would pay for my husband’s monthly school loan payment. Phew. It took three hours of crunching numbers but we’re actually going to be okay. More than okay. We’re going to be pretty good and my husband is going to get fit riding a bike to work instead. Bonus!

Day 43, September 18th: I decided to take $2000 out of the money I’d saved to buy my grandpa’s cabin and go on a vacation. We wanted to go to Costa Rica for our honeymoon and our travel adviser talked us out of it. I think it’s finally time to take a second honeymoon.