Sweet little things that happened within the past few hours:

• Woke up early (and on my own; so much better than the BUZZ BUZZ I'M IN YOUR BRAIN KILLING YOUR CELLS BUZZ BUZZ of the alarm). I love not having to rush in the mornings, but as a night person it's a rare occasion that I don't sleep in until the last possible second and have to hurry out the door.

• Got pretty much the best 'good morning' texts in the history of its kind:
  

  (Doesn't ring a bell? Please, allow me.)

• Listened to the Dodgers game in bed for a bit. Can't praise the MLB iPhone app enough.
• Had enough time to run downstairs to grab yummy tea goodness.
• Ran into super nice cute man downstairs who proceeded to buy my yummy tea goodness. Yes, this did make it taste better.
• Rocked out The Kills and Peaches (going to see her next month!) while getting ready for work.
• Headed off to work for the last time until Monday.
• Confirmed some weekend plans with friends which may or may not leave me standing come said Monday. (They involve skateboarding. And beers. AND ME. Enough said.)
• On the way to work/at work, kept up with the Dodgers game as they barely beat out the Phillies, almost but not quite making up for letting (former Dodgers player!) Werth steal THREE bases in ONE inning in an earlier game. Which, I can't lie, was pretty damn amusing.

Yes, sometimes it really is the 'little things' that make all the difference. Even (and especially) in light of the BIG HUGE things which kinda suck.

Like the fact that I miss my brother. Even more, I miss how my family used to be. (I'm aware that this makes me sound like a selfish asshole. Nothing new there, though.)

I remain constantly thrown by how very different and damaged my family is now. It's been over two years. It's not getting any better.

I really thought it would.

But I'm still grateful for the little things.