Monday, err, Tuesday Five Countdown

This weekend and yesterday were so busy that I did not get to do this countdown or any of the other blog posts I've got floating in my head.  But it's my countdown so if I want to post it on Tuesday, I shall do so.

Five Things I'm Grateful For

1. My mom had knee replacement surgery yesterday and everything went perfectly.  She's in a lot of pain today, but that's to be expected.  I'm just glad the surgery went well.

2. My student loan check came last Monday so I was able to pay off some creditors, pay the rent, and make sure we're all caught up on bills.  It won't last forever, but it's a tremendous help right now.

3. The hubby was away Sunday night and all day Monday and the dogs were actually good the whole time (read: no "accidents" in the house).  This constitutes a minor miracle and I was incredibly grateful for their behavior.

4. Nate. Being home alone overnight with Nate and the dogs was hard, but it helped having Nate there.  He's small company, but he's the best company.

5. I love having friends who have known me for years and can laugh with me at how different I am now from how I was ten years ago.

Four Things I Can't Stop Thinking About

1. Job hunting.  The hubby needs a FT job and that's a tall order these days.  I just keep looking, looking, looking for him.

2. Tonight's dinner.  I'm making The Pioneer Woman's Beef Stew with Beer and Paprika, but minus the beer.  I'm so in the mood to cook something yummy.

3. Pants.  Stacy and Clinton (you know, What Not To Wear) actually said something on their show last week about pants held together at the waist with a safety pin and how terrible that is.  Probably 3/4 of my work pants are held together with safety pins at the waist (AND need a belt AND are saggy in the butt).  I need new pants.

4. Cooking.  I feel like I'm between cooking phases; I've mastered following recipes and even adapting them a little to my own preferences and experimental wants, but I cannot think abstractly about what to make for dinner or look at a store full of really good ingredients and think about what I could put together without still missing a component.

Three Things I Want To Accomplish This Week

1. Write and post the three blog posts I have on my mind that I want to do.

2. Finish my damn homework.  I'm going to do poorly in my classes at this point.

3. Buy pants.

Two Things I Am Working To Be Positive About

1. Job hunting.  I know a few people who have been out of work for years.  YEARS.  The idea of the hubby being out of work for years makes my heart lurch with nervousness.

2. The dogs.  They were so good yesterday and now today they're bad again - and Oreo is being bad now, too, not just Buster.  It's a major inconvenience.

One Random Thing

1. I went to Trader Joe's to pick up bread to go with tonight's stew and saw they have this:

As I am currently obsessed with all things mint-flavored, I was super psyched to try it.  It's only okay, but I think that's because I was hoping it would taste like a liquid stick of gum and it's much milder than that.  Also, I think it would be better cold (I'm drinking it room temperature).  I bought two so I'll stick the second one in the fridge and see how it goes.

Did you do a Monday Five?  Let me know :)  (Or do a Tuesday or, heck, even a Wednesday Five if you want!  Live boldly!)  ;)