the owl and the olive tree

When I was a tween and a teenager, we didn't have a lot of money. I don't mention this very much because I don't feel that we had sufficiently little money to complain about -- we had food, a place to live, and health insurance (via my dad's retirement package from the Army); when I grew -- which I did a lot as a teen, as did my brother, of course -- I could get new clothes, I had a warm coat in the winter, we had a car that ran. We were okay.

( More about money, poverty, and happiness below the cut )

I've been feeling quite low recently (nothing particularly wrong, just busy, stressed, a little sick, irritable, and having to deal with the dentist), and then I remembered this meme floating around, which I don't think I've done and which seemed a good productive way to cheer self up.

1. Post about something that made you happy today even if it's just a small thing.
2. Do this every day for a week without fail.
3. Tag 8 of your friends to do the same. (I don't do tagging. Tag yourself, if the spirit moves you; if not, don't.)

So what am I happy about?

* Went, for the first time, to a nifty ramen place in the International District -- Samurai Noodle. I tried their pork broth ramen (the standard comes with slices of pork, mushrooms, and green onions, as well as the requisite noodles and broth; jmpava got the add-on that adds bamboo, nori, and a seasoned egg), and it was exceptionally good.
* Then we went to Uwajimaya, where I got a new food to play with -- fresh sardines, which I've never cooked before. (I've only had the tinned kind.) They're curing downstairs, and hopefully will be tasty. I love trying new foods.
* In the interest of not making this entirely about food: The sky outside the window is very beautiful, all shades of blue and grey and faint lavender.
* My cats have been absolutely adorable and very friendly today.

What's made you happy today?