Writtenwyrdd : Happiness 101

Helen Ginger gave me the Happy 101 Award. I am not sure what motivated the lady to choose moi, but I appreciate the thought and will gladly play along.

The rules are that I have to tell ten things that make me happy and then choose five other people for the award. So far as I'm concerned, anyone can play and I therefore INVITE any and all of you to play along. No awarding here, because that would be playing favorites and on this one I really want to know more about everybody. Hence the ambivalence/clever gamesmanship.

Ten things that make me happy (in no particular order):

Family and friends. I may be one of those complete loners who want/need to be along 99% of the time, but I really need my friends when I decide to poke my hole out from my shell. And that includes my blog/online friends. Several of you have become really good friends over the past few years, even if we haven't met in person yet.
The internet. What would we do without the internet??????? I adore the internet! I may not be able to trust all that's on wikipedia, but you can find anything to buy, know, do or whatever on the internet. You can enlighten yourself, amuse yourself, whatever makes you happy. And you can meet some really awesome people there!
Modern medicine. Yes, the little things like aspirin, tylenol, antibiotics, modern anesthesia...but also how doctors can save shattered arms with halo casts, endoscopic surgery, drugs that treat a plethora of diseases and painful conditions so quality of life can continue at a reasonable level. Without modern medicine I'd be unable to do my current job because of arthritis and muscle spasms. I'd be miserable with constant migraines. And I'd be over 90 pounds heavier.
Writing. Of course writing makes me happy, even when I grumble.
Reading. Goes along with the writing. Besides, without the reading there wouldn't be the writing.
Pets. Our two cats and the Pug are such lovely additions to our life. I think that life without pets is just sad. Of course, I should be voted Most Likely To End Up Single and Alone With Many, Many Cats Lady...
Seasons. I agree that cold can be hard on the old body, but the wheel of the seasons, turning, is a needful reminder how life goes on. I feel we humans, who have overcontrolled our world and become so disconnected from the rhythms of life, need to have reminders that we aren't the biggest thing on this planet: the planet is. And seasons are a wonderful reminder, as you have to shape your life around them, not the other way 'round.
Cheese. Never met a cheese I didn't like. Need I say more?
Steak. Especially every steak I ever ate in the state of Texas. Mmmmmmm! Very rare, of course, and preferably char grilled.
Travel. I love traveling. I confess that road trips are my favorite. Taking photographs during long walks in strange places is my second favorite type of travel. And after the Nile cruise, I think I'm a really big fan of cruises.
And I have to add this one: Coffee. Coffee, coffee, coffee. Never enough coffee.