The Half Full

Generally speaking, I’m the sort of person that runs on an even emotional keel. I don’t experience dramatic shifts in mood, which is probably a good thing. I think this is because I’m an optimist, and easily pleased (i.e. have low standards). So. I’d consider myself to be happy most of the time. Not maniacally happy. More of a content, laid-back sort of happy.

Over the past few weeks, though, good things have been happening, and I think maybe they’re causing increased levels of dopamine or serotonin or possibly crack-cocaine in my brain or something because I’ve been feeling relentlessly cheerful. Even more so than usual. Like the world is my oyster. Or, maybe there’s a conspiracy in my favor. I know that things will eventually settle back to normal so before they do I’m going to take the opportunity to relish them.

Here’s a list of what’s making me happy:

1. My aforementioned promotion. I’m officially a cog in the machine that is middle management, and my new desk has a sweet view of the parking lot. Some would say that the forest preserve located on the other side of the building is more picturesque, but not me. I prefer observing people and their related vehicular activities to nature. Maybe that’s why I like living in the city.

Also, the monetary perks that go along with it (the raise, stock options and bonus) are great, but besides that, in a cheesy sense, getting promoted is surprisingly validating. It’s really helped fuel my delusions of grandeur.

2. My new 40” Samsung LCD TV is arriving between noon and four tomorrow. I can’t decide. I’m either going to name it Telly Savalas, or Katticus (after this psychotic cat I once had that I was really attached to). I’m leaning towards Telly Savalas.

Telly Savalas will be replacing Limpy (my scuffed, ten year old 19” Orion TV with the blown speaker that my parents gave me as a high school graduation gift). Limpy will be temporarily relocated to an area adjacent to the garbage cans in my alley with a sign that says “I still work!” after which, he will hopefully be adopted by the mysterious people that troll Chicago’s yuppy-northside-neighborhood alleys looking for tossed furniture/electronics/miscellanea to load onto their already overburdened trucks. I’m assuming the stuff they take either stocks their weekend garage sales or ends up in some sort of a consumer goods heaven.

3. 60 degree temperatures. That’s right. Next Tuesday in Chicago, Tom Skilling is predicting that we’ll hit 60 degrees. I believe him.

4. I’ve inexplicably lost four pounds. You could say that it’s from not obtaining almost all of my nourishment from restaurants, and you’d likely be correct. The interesting thing, though, is that I haven’t been careful about what I’ve been eating. I’ve mostly been loading up on peanut butter sandwiches and salami sandwiches and grilled cheeses and candy and dressing laden salads for dinner. On Sunday I somehow got it into my head that those tiny fingerling potatoes roasted in olive oil with a little bit of salt would be good in a tossed salad loaded up with avocado, gorgonzola and tomatoes. Let’s just say I was right. It was like incorporating french fries into the salad to make it a little less salady.

I must eat smaller portions or something when I eat at home.

5. This hot marketing department guy at work somehow knows my name now. Instead of merely saying ‘hi’ when we pass each other in the hall like we usually do, he’s started saying ‘Hi Emily’. After three years, I still don’t know his name so for now I’m sticking with my standard ‘hello’. It feels like progress, though.

6. This (probably insane) man that rides my train has nicknamed me ‘ponytail girl.’— which is weird since I wasn’t wearing my hair in a ponytail the day he started calling me that. I love having a nickname, though, so I’m thinking maybe wearing ponytails will become my new thing. Also, he insists on shaking my hand every time he says it.

7. News headlines this week have been fantastic. Here’s a few that have really touched me:

Designer Vaginas

Shove It Up Your Ass!

Flaming Torch Used in Daylight Bank Heist

In order to make my obnoxious glee slightly more palatable to the outside world, I’ll try to provide you with a list of things that undermine said glee in tomorrow’s post.

To be continued…

-EEK