Yesterday's happy thought: We had dinner with friends that we don't see very often last night. The food was good (I had some appetite) and the conversation was good. We even discussed politics without anyone getting at all snippy.

I admit the day's happy thoughts are still pretty thin. But here's one: Marie "reading" us the Big Dog, Little Dog Spanish book and explaining the pictures to us. Because parents need bedtime stories too.

*Last year's Lent--giving up artificial sweetners--not having gone so well in the end.