This Is Good Because . . .

I had kind of a rough day yesterday. . . lots of mishaps. It started as I was getting ready for Keynotes in the morning and went to put on my chocolate pearl earrings that I got in Hawaii last summer (remember, Blake and Shonna?) I dropped one of the earrings and it went, who knows where? I heard it hit, but didn't see it, and I have no idea where it went. I was in front of my jewelry armoir when it happened. I pulled all the furniture out, checked under the bed, Daddy's dresser. Not there. But I had to leave, so left the bedroom torn apart. When I got home, I resumed my search, but still nothing. I put the dinner on (crockpot chicken- it's really good- I'll have to post the recipe) and heated leftover chicken stir fry for my lunch. I took it in to the computer room to eat so I could check my email, etc. I had a few bites when the plate slipped and dumped the whole thing all over the floor, my lap, and the computer keyboard. So now I had a huge mess to clean up and no lunch to eat. I began picking rice kernels out of the keyboard and carpet, and scrubbed and cleaned. I had to teach all afternoon, and was now really hungry and frustrated. Wednesday is my long teaching day- 7 students- and by the end, I was starving. We had a delicious chicken dinner. In cleaning up, I wanted to save the chicken stock the recipe produces. So I poured the stock in a quart bag. The bag collapsed, sending delicious stock all over the counter, under the mixer and blender, down the crack between the stove and counter. Yuck! I cleaned it all up, but couldn't get down the crack, of course. Ken checked everywhere for my earring, too, putting on his headlamp, he got under the bed and dresser, but he couldn't find it either. It is just gone. I even sorted through the garbage nearby (that was fun- gooky stuff like used dental floss and cherry chocolate juice) but it wasn't in there. So, I decided I need to play Michelle's game of "this is good because" I don't know how she started this game, but since she was in high school, maybe junior high, she's done it. Whenever she suffered disappointments, frustrations, sadness, she would say, "But this is good because . . ." and give a reason why this bad thing is good. Now, it's not really a game anymore, but who she is. I'm trying to remember examples . . . some of them have been really funny. A recent example is her being nauseous and not feeling well with her pregnancy. She's struggled, but she says, "But it's good because my book says that means the baby is growing and it will probably be a viable pregnancy." I wish I could think of other examples. . .anyway, let's play: Spilling stir fry is good because . . . I need a new keyboard, anyway, so sticking keys will help us get one faster. Spilling chicken stock where it can't be cleaned will make the kitchen stink, and we'll want to remodel and I'll get my granite counter tops! Losing my earring is good because . . . hmmmmmm . . . I'm going to need some help on this one. Melli, anyone? Don't say because we'll have to go back to Hawaii to get a new one. I don't want a new one . . . I want that one. The day wasn't all bad, though. I was teaching a brand new student- my last one- when Ken got home and brought in a beautiful arrangement of flowers for me . . . "Because it's Wednesday"