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.

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!

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.

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.

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!

Do you want the good news, or the bad news?

The bad news..... I still haven't gotten back on the exercise wagon.  It's been a month.  A month!!!  Circumstances beyond my control have had me back and forth to Springfield several nights.  When I wasn't in Springfield, I was running errands and playing catch-up in the Gem City.  And then the cool weather descended.  Don't get me wrong, I looooove autumn.  So hard!  My lungs, on the other hand, have a hard time adjusting to the cooler temps.  Then!  Oh yes, then, I got a fabulous illness - I have done nothing but wheeze and cough for two weeks.  As a matter of fact, still going strong with the wheezing and coughing.

But the good news?  I can't wait!  I can't wait to for my lungs to feel normal.  I can't wait to not be exhausted.  I can't wait to get down to my exercise room again and get on it!!

I don't have any cute pictures or anything to add to this, I'll share a video from one of my top five.... possible top ONE.... favorite band.  Enjoy (super foxy, le sigh!) Eric Johnson.  Pay no attention to the hair.  He really IS foxy.

Fruit Bats - You're Too Weird

Catching Up With Runaway Wagons

Eau dear.

I've fallen off the wagon.  Not just fallen off the wagon.... fallen, skinned my knees, broke a hip, lost a tooth, and cried like a little girl.

Here are a few very large wagons that have left me in the dust lately:

• Eating healthy (the fact that we have a kitchen full of leftover party food doesn't help)
• Exercising
• Blogging
• Feeling sassy (due to all of the above)

I started this little bloggity blog to catalog all my successes, wins, thoughts, fails (including those of the epic variety) to help me through times like this when my motivation has gone by the wayside.  So I have used it as intended today -  I went back and reread my entries, and remembered how well my pants fit.  How much more energy I had.  How much self-confidence I had.  How proud of myself I was. 

Why wait until tomorrow to get back in the swing of things?  Right now sounds like as good a time as any, right?  

Here's hoping my next blog will be me shouting from the rooftops that I am back on track.