Saturday, November 17, 2012

Thanksgiving Advent, Day 17

November 17:  I am thankful for that one particular painting at Dayton Art Institute.

It was years ago.  I don't remember the title.  I don't remember the artist.  What I do remember is being completely awestruck the first time I saw it.  I stood in front of this painting for at least 30 minutes, taking in every color, every detail, every brush stroke.  I won't bore you with trying to describe it, because I could never do it justice.

I went back to DAI several times, and each time I couldn't wait to get to "my painting" to stand and take it all in again.  Security once barked at me for getting too close.  One particular visit a few years ago, I worked my way all through the museum, and never found it.  Certain I overlooked it, I went back a few weeks later - but still nothing. Without warning, it was just gone.

I'm thankful that I ever found this painting in the first place.  I'm thankful to have such vivid memories of not just the painting, but the way it made me feel.  For as much as I loved it, my living room would have never been a suitable place for it.  It deserved to be in a museum so the world could love it as much as I did.
Friday, November 16, 2012

Thanksgiving Advent, Day 16

November 16: I'm thankful for rosemary.

I know that's an odd thing to be thankful for, but mmmmmm!  As a new low-carb/low-GI convert who loves the crap out of Italian food, rosemary is a life (read: sanity) saver.  I'm always adding a bit of rosemary to stuff.  Sometimes I open the jar just for a whiff.  When I'm not so concerned about the carbs, I mix a little into olive oil to dip bread in, I sprinkle it on potatoes pre-roasting, and I always (sorry, the boy!) add it to pasta sauce while it's heating.

Man.  I love rosemary.  HARD.


Thursday, November 15, 2012

Thanksgiving Advent, Days 13, 14 & 15

November 13:  I am thankful for coffee.

Hot, iced or blended.  Bold or deliciously flavored.  A splurge-worthy mocha or the free crap in the breakroom.  If you see me at 7:30 in the morning walking with an empty mug toward the breakroom, do us all a favor and don't talk to me until I'm walking back to my desk with a full mug. No coffee = no talky.



November 14:  I am thankful The Saving Graces by Patricia Gaffney

I do love to read, and I've read some truly fantastic books, but none quite like The Saving Graces.  Four best friends who go through everything together.  This is the book the book that made me realize the importance of girl friends, and the importance of every day of your life.  I've read it.  I've read it again.  And I've read it again... and again... and again.  I have given it as a gift to all the saving graces in my life, hoping they'll take as much from it as I did.


November 15:  I'm thankful for the internet.

The webbernets.  Faceypages.  Twitterspaces.  All of it!  Twenty years ago, could you even fathom the internet?  It's allowed me to reconnect with old friends, keep in touch with loved ones I don't get to see nearly enough, and it's also the home of fabulous gems such as this:


Monday, November 12, 2012

Thanksgiving Advent, Days 10, 11 & 12

November 10:  I am thankful for my friends.

I don't even know where to start.  I have such incredibly talented, kind, compassionate, hilarious friends who are absolutely gorgeous, inside and out.  I won't even begin to list them for fear of I'll leave someone out, but a GIANT hug to my best girl of 25 (YIKES!) years.  I couldn't be more proud to call Jess my best friend.



November 11:  I am thankful for music.

There's nothing that can turn a day around or make a mundane task not so sucky like good music.  Fruit Bats, Radiohead, Hugh Laurie, The Monkees, Homeland, Dean Martin - all in heavy rotation on my ipod.


November 12:  On that note, I'm thankful for my ipod!

Ohhhh, the playlists!  I have "sleepy time" for when I'm an insomniac.  I have party playlists.  I have playlists I've made for friends.  I even have a "shake yer ass" playlist for when I need to light a fire under my rear end.  And shuffle.  Let's not forget shuffle.  It's a beautiful thing!


Saturday, November 10, 2012

Thanksgiving Advent, Day 9

November 9:  I am thankful for my furbabies.

I love these lil guys.  I love the lap sitting, face snuggling, nap-time-having, can't get a moment's peace of my pets, and I miss the ones who are no longer with me.  These guys are my besties, and their love and trust knows know bounds.




Thursday, November 8, 2012

Thanksgiving Advent, Day 8

November 8:  I am thankful (oh so thankful!) for my nephew.

There are no words, you guys.  He gives great snuggles and sugars.  His smile just melts me.  He's a total hambone (and if you know my family, you know he comes by it honest).  He's also turning a year old in less than a month.  I wish time would slow down and he'd stay a baby longer, but I also can't wait to watch him grow up and see what he becomes.  This little guy makes my heart happy!   My favorite goofball pic (sorry about that 'drunk eye' thing kiddo, you can never deny your dna!):



Wednesday, November 7, 2012

Thanksgiving Advent, Days 6 & 7

November 6:  I'm thankful for my job.

Yes, folks - you heard that right.  I am THANKFUL for my job.  For the most part, I can be left to my own devices.  I have a fantastic team to work with.  I have job security.  When I leave the office at 5:00, work doesn't follow me home.  I have a steady paycheck and make seriously good money.  And there is no flair required. :)


November 7:  I'm thankful for Coke Zero.

Shut up.  I AM!  Diet Coke suuuuucks.  I'm also thankful for Sprite Zero.  And for Cherry Coke Zero.  And Vanilla Coke Zero.  Oh, also for being able to mix Vanilla and Cherry together.


Monday, November 5, 2012

Thanksgiving Advent, Day 5

I had a hard day today.  You know those days when you feel like the world just kicks you in the nuts and you feel like all your hard work goes unnoticed an unappreciated?  Yep, that was my day.  I was not in the mood to be all thankful up in this joint.  And that led me to this....

Day 5:  I'm thankful for my inner strength.

As my sister likes to say, I come from a long line of tough broads.  I have always, no matter the circumstances, been able to pick myself up by the bootstraps and keep on keepin' on.  I'm thankful for all the people in my life who have helped instill that in me.  And for the ones who tested it?  Look who's still standing, chumps!
Sunday, November 4, 2012

Thanksgiving Advent - Days 3 & 4

November 3 - I'm thankful for my mom and dad.

Mom and pops, Ma and Pa, Mamacita and Daddy-O.  I am incredibly blessed to have such understanding, supportive and kick-in-the-pants-giving parents.  Our family has been through some scary stuff, but we always come out stronger on the other side thanks to their strength.


November 4 - I'm thankful for my boy.

I'm thankful that as hard as I tried to run him off 4 years ago, he wouldn't take no for an answer.  I'm thankful for all the things he does for me.  I'm thankful I have someone to be a "team" with.  I'm thankful he makes me feel secure and settled.  I'm thankful he gets me.


Friday, November 2, 2012

Thanksgiving Advent Calendar, Day 2

November 2: I'm thankful for some downtime.

I've heard it all week from the folks I work with, "I'm so glad I don't have plans this weekend!"  Yep.   Me too, you guys.  It seems like such an inconsequential thing, but we forget how important a little time to relax can be.  October is always bat shit crazy for my boy and I.  The Halloween preparations start early in the month, we attend several parties, then have trick or treat night (my fave!).  Then it's just three weeks until the official start of an even crazier holiday season.  Running, shopping, wrapping, decorating, parties, drop-by guests.... all of it fantastic, but all of it exhausting.

So, yes.  I am thankful for a weekend "off."  And that weekend off starts now - I can hear my yoga pants calling my name.



Thursday, November 1, 2012

The Thanksgiving Advent Calendar

For the month of November, I'm going to take a very common idea and run with it.  Each day, I'll be blogging about something I am thankful for.  I've seen it done for years, but I finally saw it done right last year on my boy's favorite author's blog - John Scalzi's WHATEVER.

Today I'm getting a late start, but in no particular order, here goes:

November 1:  I'm thankful for my sister.  


She is my sister, my soul sister, my bestie, my fellow wine drinker, and let's be honest - my favorite Princess of Piss & Vinegar (ever been to her cuss-licious blog?).  Don't get me wrong, we have had our share of  *ahem* differences, but I can't imagine my life without her.

Vizz, I am more thankful for you than there are words in the universe.  Thanks for being there, helping me, sharing wine with me, and sharing secrets with me.  XOXOXO!


 

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