Fixing My Attitude - Okay. So, the rule of thumb is to never send an email angry. Oh you can write one angry, but it better be addressed to you, or better yet not even in your email program. Write it long hand or whatever it takes, so that when you're calmer, you can think about it more and deal appropriately later.

I'm beginning to think I shouldn't write journal entries when I'm upset.

It's only a few hours later, and I've made some peace with the file loss. I'll survive. I'll manage. I'll re-create the files I need to, and the photo losses are just file losses. I still have the memories. And in fact, the whole time I've been recovering this evening, I've had time to come up with a long list of blessings.

• I have computer skills, for which I'm thankful. I can deal with the problem and either recover the data or move on. I'm not intimidated by computers.
• I can build even better backup habits than I already have. I've learned a painful lesson, but it could have been so much worse.
• My car is packed for 12th Night already. I've packed Coffee Bar, and now I just need to put together garb. I even re-typed the Judging sheets for the Bard of Caid competition, and have them printed, assembled, and packed.
• I get to attend my first peerage meeting Sunday. I'm humbled and honored to be a part of this group.
• My laundry is done, my kitchen is clean, and my room is neat. I've been building better cleaning habits.
• I have steady employment. My car is running well, and the tank is full. I will have to tighten my belt for the tech purchases, but I was able to afford them.
• I had the car repair money already saved up. I didn't have to spend anything extra beyond my car savings for my car repairs. And I repeat: My car is running well and I'm exceedingly thankful for this.
• I am in good health. I'm not in the hospital, I'm not in a wheelchair, I'm not on an oxygen tank. My tongue isn't numb anymore, food tastes wonderful again, and most drinks taste okay. (I'm still iffy on diet sodas actually, but it's improving.)
• I've been taking multi-vitamins all week. I've been eating well and cooking at home. I've enjoyed the results, if I'm a litle bummed that I now have to carve out an extra hour per day to work in the kitchen.
• I managed to cook this evening, while packing coffee bar. And the food turned out *extremely* tasty. And it didn't bore me, and I even felt a little excited to tell you all about the meal. (details below)
• I have all of you for love and support. And I'm exceptionally thankful for you all.

And because some of you actually appreciate my cooking stories, here's today's adventure in the kitchen. Earlier in the week, I thawed the frozen "tofurkey with stuffing" that I'd bought on a whim on New Year's Day. I'm a sucker for pretty packaging, and the picture looked fantastic. The cooking instructions said to dice up potatoes and carrots, mix together a basting solution, and put this all in a tin-foil dish. I didn't have any potatoes or carrots, but I did have half an onion, one sweet potato, a bunch of white chard, and some rice. I diced half of the onion on hand (1/4 onion total, for those keeping count), and sauteed it with garlic. I diced the sweet potato, and packed this around the tofurkey in the foil-lined pan. Once the onions and garlic had carmelized a little bit, I whisked some soy sauce and some additional oil in the skillet, and poured it all over the tofurkey and raw sweet potato. Sealed the foil, bake for 350 for an hour plus (they said plus 15, I only used plus 5).

Once that was set to bake, I diced the other 1/4 onion, back into the pan with garlic, and chopped up the chard. When the onion was nicely carmelized, tossed the chard into the skillet, a small dash of water and soy sauce, lightly sauteed / steamed the chard, set aside. Pulled out a sauce pan, set the water to boil, measure out some basmati rice, simmer for 20 minutes.

Change the light bulb over the sink. Finish the dishes. Unpack all the Coffee Bar supplies from the cupboards, pack in the travel boxes, Twenty minutes have gone by, take the rice off the stove, fill 3 food boxes with rice and chard, fill 2 more boxes with remaining rice (for later). Pack the boxes in the car. The hour baking time has gone by, cook for 5-10 more minutes uncovered. Take out, slice into thirds, distribute in each of three meal boxes, dice up for easy eating later. Scoop the yams and onions, portioning in the three boxes. Nibble some of each of the foods, since dinner was 6 hours ago and was just crackers, roasted soy butter, and cherry preserves.

This one is a keeper. So delicious.

* * * * *

Today's Blessing That I'm Thankful For: Huge list above