Joy, the long way and aroma

- Visiting with lovely people at Atlanta Union Mission. Their last newsletter featured a woman's story of overcoming drug addiction and her joy in life. It is a pleasure to meet her.

- Getting to take the drive down DeFoor Ferry Road twice in one day. Leafy trees, quiet street, beautiful older homes.

- Walking in an office with delightful aromas. I say to the receptionist that it smells like coffee and chocolate in there. She smiles and says that's exactly what it is.

Day that goes by quickly, unexpected and dust

- The kind of day I enjoy the most - lots of driving around and calling on my most fun clients.

- Unexpectedly winning a drawing for a $25 gasoline card and then using every penny of it when the low fuel light comes on in my car.

- Sitting with most of my favorite people at the Ash Wednesday service at church.

Hero, flying and fried green tomatoes

- A HERO truck operator pouring gasoline into a stranded car in the early morning. We are so fortunate to have HEROs aka the Highway Emergency Response Operators program. It is a freeway service patrol operated in metro Atlanta by the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT.) Their goal is to clear congestion, but they are still heroes to me.

- Driving behind a car with a large dog hanging out of the window enthusiastically barking at everyone and everything in sight. And wondering what goes through their heads while riding in a motorized vehicle and if it makes them feel as if they're flying.

- A great new restaurant discovery and a salad with the unusual ingredient of fried green tomato croutons. It had other good things, too, but this is what made me want it.

Fat Tuesday, the day after and experience

Mardi Gras by Bob Trammell

- Remembering the good time I had with five friends and thousands of new acquaintances several years ago at Mardi Gras in New Orleans. I never went back because it was easily the best time I ever had and there does not seem to be any possible way that could be duplicated. And those friends have scattered, two dropping out of sight, another moving to another state, one passed away and one is still my crazy friend Cary who I pick up with where we left off every time I see him.

- On Ash Wednesday, the revelers will wake up to a city with perfectly clean and strangely quiet streets. The ankle deep trash that is allowed to be dropped in the French Quarter during Mardi Gras will have been swept away by people hard at work during the night.

- On that Ash Wednesday, during the long drive back to Atlanta and just out of New Orleans, we had a flat tire on the van. Later, when Ed took it to be repaired, he was told it had a bullet in it. Just part of the New Orleans experience and no real surprise to any of us.

Lent, warmth and walking uprightly

- Walking the church grounds with a man and his son searching for the three holes in the ground that the Lenten crosses went into last year. Different friends coming by to offer suggestions, I finally leave them to it knowing it will be taken care of.

- Thinking of my mother every time I pull on my long black gloves. Ever practical, but loving stylish things, she chose these for me because I am fond of black and like gloves that disappear up into my coat sleeves.

- Quote for the day from my FrankinCovey calendar planner: "There is a transcendent power in example. We reform others unconsciously when we walk uprightly." --Annie-Sophie Swetchine.

Watching, admiring and appreciating

- Watching how my kitty handles a fresh bowl of water that has been set in its proper place. She slides it a bit with her paw so the water moves like gentle waves and then drinks.

- Admiring my neighbor for her intent in loading a trail bike in her car in 27 degree weather at 6:30am. Me: Are you going to ride that today? Her: I was, but can't fit it in!

- Appreciating an enthusiastic Friday welcome by pressman Eddie.

Resolve, smile and virtuous

- Leaning my forehead against the door of Tazza Coffee and Espresso Bar in sorrow when I see the note on the door saying they have closed due to the slow economy. And turning it into a good thing by resolving to only patronize independent coffee places from now on.

- Meeting a man who is so dour that I knock myself out trying to get him to smile and finally succeed after he tells me, "I watch way too much 'Law and Order.'" I respond by saying that I hear that two-note "dong-dong" sound they use on the show in my head whenever I think something catastrophic is about to happen.

- Feeling virtuous about going to exercise after work since I have been blowing it off all too often.