1. Really good feedback on my manuscript.
2. I've been given a deadline (Sept 30). That will help spur me to finish.
3. Fantastic night out with all my new writer friends.

Still in France

Therefore I have ALL the reasons to be grateful! But if you want specifics:

1. Really great conversations with my fellow writers.
2. Motivation to keep going with my own projects.
3. So much good food and wine!

Post-Travel Edition

I've been away because I traveled for 24 hours straight to get to my writing retreat/workshop in France. Which makes my list very easy because:

1. Writing retreat in France
2. Writing retreat in France
3. Writing retreat in France

Seriously, though, this is a beautiful place (Chateau-du-Loir) and my fellow writers are wonderful. I've been here less than 48 hours and just love it. The environs, the people . . . Great food, fresh air, support from my peers. What's not to love?

1. New hair and nail colors. Yay! I feel so pretty!
2. New purse. (The zipper on my old one broke this past weekend. Yay! An excuse to shop!)
3. Feeling productive. Got lots of things done today.

1. Special edition of The Furthest Station by Ben Aaronovitch. Autographed and numbered!
2. New tote bag. It has a Weeping Angel on it.
3. Nice and understanding people after my car decided I was trying to steal it. (Long story.)

1. Really good chat with my dad for Father's Day.
2. Cars 3.
3. Nice dinner out with the in-laws.

1. Genentech Gives Back. While the bands weren't as great this year (IMHO), we still had a fun day.
2. Kids behaved really well most of the day.
3. Cheesesteak.

Wow. The day is just beginning and I already have two good things to report!

1. A new review for my Sherlock Holmes stories. Made my day!
2. And I've had a short fairy tale accepted to an anthology that will come out this fall.

Let's see what #3 will be . . .

ETA: 3. Remembered to go buy something for Father's Day—and did it, even though I didn't feel like it.

1. Fun time with my writing group. My last meeting with them for a couple weeks. *sob* I really will miss them. I so look forward to hanging out each week.
2. New shirt!
3. New lightbulbs in my office, too. So much brighter in there. Love it.

1. Enjoying a really good book called The Fifth Petal. It's set in Salem, Massachusetts, and though I don't miss Massachusetts at all, it does bring home vivid memories. I always enjoyed Salem. Anyway, sitting outside and reading is one of my favorite summer activities.
2. Good chat with a friend. She's the only one of my friends that I actually enjoy being on the phone with. I'm not a phone person, but this friendship supersedes that.
3. Orthodontist visit was short and sweet. All good. Don't have to go back until September.

1. Got a little more writing done. Even when it's only a little, every bit of progress makes me feel good.
2. Able to sit outside and read for a little while.
3. Watching the cats play with the new treat ball I bought them. You put treats in and they have to bat the ball around to get the treats to fall out. They're smart and figured it out pretty quick, but I still love watching them.

1. Readers asking for Changers 2. Eep! It's always flattering when I hear from readers that they want more and are excited about my work. Also puts the pressure on me to get the work done, and I need that motivation. Which leads me to:
2. Getting more writing done on Changers 2!
3. Starting the summer routine with the kids. Will take time to get them used to it, but I like having a schedule.

1. Nice lunch out with the family.
2. Afternoon nap.
3. Fresh pineapple and sweet grapes.

1. Wonder Woman.
2. Good time with my writing group.
3. My daughter declaring, "Batman is kind of harsh" after seeing a Justice League trailer.

1. Garbage disposal is fixed. We'd gone about a week without it. You never realize how much you use or depend on something until you no longer have it.
2. I indulged in some cute new t-shirts.
3. Had a good day in terms of book sales.
4. Nice dinner out with the family (as per our end-of-school tradition), followed by ice cream.

1. Getting to watch my youngest walk the "red carpet" and receive a Superstar award as he promotes from first to second grade.
2. Listening to my daughter perform her poem at her class' Beatnik Millennials Café. And watching her hug all her friends before saying goodbye for the summer.
3. Good final report cards for all three of the kids! We went for a special lunch after school, too. I'm so proud of all of them, and so grateful for three such wonderful children!

1. Even I had fun at the kids' field trip to the swimming pool, despite not getting to swim myself (the parents don't). Nice chats with fellow parents.
2. Also got the kids signed up for the first session of swimming lessons for the summer.
3. Finished notes on the first of five pieces I need to read and critique for the workshop in France. Only a couple weeks away now!

1. Dental cleaning over and done with for another six months.
2. Traffic not terrible coming home from the podiatrist. I should get my custom orthotics just in time to leave for France.
3. Yummy Thai food for dinner.
4. Tiny House Hunters.

1. Watching my oldest son process as he graduates from elementary to middle school.
2. Lunch out with a friend.
3. I've been asked to be Historian at the middle school PTA next year. Between that and co-chairing the yearbook at the elementary school, I will be very involved in the kids' worlds. While it sounds exhausting, I'm actually really happy about it. And it will force me to be more disciplined about my writing, too, and with my time in general.

Weekend Edition

Very busy weekend full of good things.

1. Son's little league season is over. Really, finally over. And there was a party at the bowling alley. And we all went and bowled.
2. Bay Area Book Festival. I was nervous to go, but I sucked it up and did anyway. And I'm glad. While there were minor drawbacks, I mostly enjoyed it. Great weather. Interesting fellow authors at neighboring tables. In the end, it was all good.

I know that's only two things, but there are good things inside good things here.

Busy week ahead . . .

1. Really good Vietnamese food for lunch.
2. Scrivener. As soon as I figure out how to use it (the tutorial is crazy), I think I'm gonna love it.
3. Warm enough for shorts again.

1. Super cute pics and video of my kids at the hoe down, courtesy of one of the school photographers.
2. Also super cute pics and video of my youngest at today's field trip to the zoo. I would have liked to have gone, too, but... broken foot.
3. Really fun time at my writing group. A visiting writer even drew a picture of one of my characters for me!

That's Seladion. From an old piece I'm thinking of reworking. Thanks, @LizaStar_ !

In short, a day of super cute pictures!