Midway through another week and there are lots of reasons to smile. First off, a package came in the mail yesterday from TB containing a CD of her Soul Gardening music mix, a package of bath salts—and many, many packets of ketchup (fancy, grade A ketchup I might add ). Thanks Teebs! I love the way the blogosphere creates a virtual neighborhood of people scattered all over the world.  (Hey Ash, we should get together for lunch in the Neverlands. I’ll bring the ketchup!)

And while we’re talking ketchup, let’s talk catch-up, as in the dreaded utility catch-up bill that’s the norm here in Belgium. When an American friend in a house identical to mine got a 3,000 euro ($4,000)  catch-up bill,  I cringed, not knowing what to expect when I received my own. Happily when our catch-bill arrived, it was only about 700 euros for the 9 months we’ve been in this house. Big sigh of relief. I’m glad I left my energy-glugging American appliances at home and that my husband, the resident “turn out the lights!” taskmaster, has never let up in his efforts to get us to conserve energy, despite my desire to illuminate our house like a Thomas Kinkade painting.

I finally went to have my eyes checked and discovered my prescription had kicked up several notches. I now have new glasses and a new outlook on life. (“I once was lost/but now am found/was blind/but now I see.”)

February. Day 22. I’m feeling so much better.