today, i am thankful for

safe arrivals. i got to see joe & brandon briefly at the inn on the park. it feels almost surreal; seeing old friends in a completely new setting. brandon and i joked how i am now welcoming them to my 'hometown.'

friendly neighbours. (don't ask. i just feel like spelling british today) as i turned into my street a couple taking an evening stroll waved at me. it was a small and casual gesture, but it brought a smile to my face.

tamarind. it's always delightful to discover a common interest, taste or preference with a friend, especially after knowing him/her for a while. so after 9+ months of working with kathy, i found out this week that she loves mexican candy as much as i do, specifically ones that are coated with spicy tamarind. today we stopped by a carniceria on the corner of midvale & the beltline and bought a whole box of tamarind candy. yay for simple pleasures!

the mexican lady at the carniceria. she let me pay with debit even though our purchases didn't meet the $10 minimum ("only today, si?"). our subsequent conversation went something like this
me: gracias (for letting me charge only $8.something)
the lady, pointing at the pinatas: we have pinatas (why the pinatas? i have not a clue)
me: ah si, pinatas. oh! ella (pointing at kathy) cumpleano es en lunes (i know, my spanish sucks)
lady: no, no necesitas una pinata. necesitas un boy. un hombre.
me: ahhh bueno. no pinata. solamente un novio.
lady: si, un novio. feliz cumpleanos.

she reminded me of my mom, and that made my day.