1. enthusiasm in my babysitting charge
2. being at home
3. hydration
4. the pleasure of talking about my day
5. new coloring books

Last night, I impressed my father-in-law by showing him how to play minesweeper, and then doing so at my (admittedly rather rapid) rate. Good trick, right?

I didn't write about my senior sermon, and I'll try and do that later (it's a thing that deserves marking, even if I don't know quite what to say), but- today, we had a session on piyyut and music, for the class I'm taking on piyyut. And somehow, for all that I didn't grow up on That much classical hazzanut, so much of it felt So familiar, and rather nostalgic. Certainly, I grew up in a shul with an organ, and that was nostalgic. And between the yiddish music and the old Israeli folk dance stuff, there was further connections, but still. It was a fascinating experience, both musically and emotionally. It needs further parsing, but I don't quite know where to begin to really get into it.

1. winning something in a raffle, for the first time ever
2. the guys at YCT, for listening to me practice my senior sermon- and especially for H and his chevrusa, who gave me specific, helpful feedback
3. my babysitting charge, who was well-behaved in complicated circumstances (family visitors), and still got his homework done without me going mad trying to enforce it
4. shabbos guests of the most delightful variety
5. laundry machines that are free when I am ready to do laundry

1. friends who forgive (and reschedule) when work runs Way late
2. my Talmud teacher, who invited us to his Purim seudah (we're hosting one already- but still, how sweet was that?)
3. admiration of my kippot- always a little thrill
4. love and connection from my parents and my in-laws
5. being able to fit homework and preparation into little bits of time in between other obligations

Now, as long as I don't have to actually come up with a creative Purim costume, all should generally work out, I think.

1. time to relax
2. new books by authors I like
3. babies
4. crochet patterns
5. variety

1. the kid actually focused and was well behaved for his whole Hebrew lesson today
2. a nice, encouraging conversation with a teacher from last semester
3. crochet
4. walking
5. running into friends unexpectedly

1. Surprising myself by having fun at a party (a l'hayim for some friends' engagement)
2. being trusted to listen
3. quiet alone time- both really alone, and alone with H
4. finding meditative practices
5. shabbos

1. Supportive teachers (several noted I was dressed up, and came over and asked about my interview- it felt really good and supportive. I wish there were some way to connect first year students up to the "network" more quickly, so they don't feel totally isolated and "cold" in their first years at JTS. I felt it, and I've seen and heard from current newer students that they have the same experience.
2. The NYC public transit system
3. seeing my rabbi at school (to coordinate and bring up the question of who's leyning maftir- I'm leyning the parsha, but someone else will take maftir. How convenient, since I'm just a smidge behind where I really Wanted to be. I'll be fine- but I'll do a better job if I don't have the extra maftir too.)
4. Appreciation of my handiwork (I made a kippah for a classmate, gave it to her today, and she appreciated it. I should have taken a picture- it was a new "concept" for me, but I'm doing one with a similar design now, and I'll photograph that one. I'm thinking about actually using my ravelry account a little more, and since kippot are what I mostly make...)
5. the success of the fine old practice of "if it doesn't work, hit it", at least in the short-term.

1. brainstorming with friends
2. smiles
3. being given respect and credit
4. snuggles
5. crocheting and other while-listening projects