My ridiculously good day

I'm taking my blog back for a second to just say how thankful I am for so many beautiful things in my life. I just had an incredibly amazing three hours.

This thankful train started when I found THA PERFECT DRESS at the local consignment shop. I was feeling iffy about my book signing tomorrow, nervous that I hadn't done enough, that no one would show up, all of that. I originally left the house to get wine (long story), but then remembered that I had 200 flyers to pick up at Fed-Ex around 730. Since it was 530, I opted to go into Old Town Alexandria, as I had not yet chosen an outfit.

I am not a shopper unless forced. The last time I bought clothes, it was in Destin at the outlet mall, and because I realized my boobs were too big for all my shirts (#bustygirlproblems). As someone trying to scrimp and save all her pennies for when she may not have a monthly paycheck, buying clothes always seemed like a luxury that I rarely afforded. So under the auspices of, "I need to look cute and professional tomorrow," I set out to Current Boutique, my favorite shop in all of old town.

I actually found a really adorable "Sunshine"-type dress, but when I put it on, I didn't feel it. Y'all ladies know what I'm talking about. So I tried on another one, a navy lace dress with long sleeves and was like.

"Oooh."

And of course *looks around blog* navy being one of my signature brand colors, I was like, welp - that's it then. So I go up to the cashier and was like, "Do y'all have any belts?" She said they did, and they were in the back.

My initial response was, "Nah, I think I'll pass. I don't think you'd have a lime green belt."

Her, "Are you sure? We have all kinds of things back there."

Me, "Eh, let me look. BRB."

And wouldn't you know it, first damn belt was lime-ass green.

So that put me in a good mood, so much so that I meandered through more shops to see what inspired me for tomorrow. So I'm meandering down the street, spending a few moments in Anthropologie (sigh), and come out and my stomach is all, "Yo, bitch - feed me."

So I look up and my favorite Asian place has a new item on the menu - Drunken Noodle.

Now, for those of you who don't know, that is my all time favorite, cannot-go-wrong meal. So I was like, "Aw yiss."

Food purchased, it was time to go pick up my flyers. I meander on over to Fedex and find parking right out front, go in, and even though I was an hour early, they had them all printed and ready for me. Because hell yeah. I even picked up some brand new signin' pens for tomorrow!

I'm walking out and thinking that I'm gonna pass on the wine, as I don't want to make another stop, when I pass by a sundries place. Filled with wine.

Not even kidding, folks.

Then on the way home, I got an email about one of the comic-cons on my tour, basically offering me everything I wanted to do - author signing, reading, panels. Like I'm some sort of real, honest-to-Leveman's-Vortex author.

I mean, what?!

It was at this point that I began to feel totally unworthy of all this goodness. I've been feeling so damned negative lately that I feel there's a deficit. Negativity is supposed to breed negativity, right? So why am I reaping nothing but good things?

On the way home, I started counting my blessings, one by one. I sent a text to my mommy telling her how much I loved her. I thanked the universe for the people who bought my book, and who would buy my book over the next year. I thanked the universe for putting me in contact with Books and Other Found Things, and for them allowing me to do my very first event at their store.

I thanked the universe for Renee and Erin and Heather and Christine, and everyone who's been retweeting me and sharing my stuff. I thanked the universe for the 116% spike in traffic to my blog this week.

I thanked the universe for the 6% visit-to-purchase rate for #TalklikeapirateDay

I thanked the universe for Valerie, whom I didn't even have to ask to help me at Pensacon next year - it was assumed she would be there.

I thanked the universe for my dogs, Zoe and Mr. Biscuit, who even though the former bothers me at inopportune times and the latter kicks me at night, are my precious babies and I love them dearly.

Finally, I thank the universe for allow me all of the heartaches and troubles to get to this point, and I thanked myself to being open to receiving the gifts bestowed upon me.

Namaste.

(Now to crack open that bottle of wine....)