Thankful

I'm back! I was in New York for the holiday visiting family and friends and staying in a home with the weakest wi-fi evah! So much for my plans to blog during my vacation.

Although it's not Thursday and Thanksgiving is behind us now, I'm feeling very thankful for the weekend that was so here's my last "Thankful" post for November.

1. I am thankful that my girls are such good travellers. The drive to and from NY was still awful but not nearly as bad as it would've been if they were fidgeting, complaining, or required regular pit stops.

2. I am thankful that, as my brother-in-law said, everyone who was around our table for Thanksgiving last year, was there again this year. Given the fragile state of my mother-in-law's health this is saying a lot. I only hope that I can say the same thing next year.

3. I am beyond thankful that my trip to NY included a lengthy visit with my grandparents. We enjoyed a lovely lunch together (Ny deli - yum!), my grandfather played games with my girls, and we all laughed a lot. It is truly a gift that my girls are able to enjoy the same kind of relationship with my grandparents that I have - and love hanging out with them.



4. As much as I enjoyed our trip, I am so thankful to be home again. I never sleep as well anywhere else.

Thankful Thursdays

It's Thankful Thursday again and I am indeed thankful because I'm off tomorrow. Yay! It would be really good if I was taking the day to relax and knit but it actually has a lot to do with the personal issues which are really nothing bad - just a bit more than my brain can process right now. Really, it's mostly good stuff.



So I am very thankful today and here are just a few reasons why.

1. A City with Green spaces - I love that I work in a city where there are parks all over the place. My building sits on the edge of a park and if I walk 2 or 3 blocks in any direction then I'll find another one.
2. The Fairfax County Park System - The park that Stinkette and I visited last Sunday is part of the system, as are the rec centers where my girls have gone to summer camp and some of the fields where they play ball. I was reminded on Sunday just how wonderful it is to have so many options for our free time and I really need to remember to take advantage of them.
3. Health Insurance - Don't worry, I'm not going political here. I'm just the mother of a girl with flat feet who was pleasantly surprised recently to get the final bill for her orthotics with a zero balance. Knowing how bad the bill could've been and how much pain my girl was in before she got them makes me really thankful. As we head into the season of coughs and colds it's nice to know that it's all covered.

Thankful Thursdays

Last week I saw Carole's Thankful Thursday post and, since I have quite a lot to be thankful for, I decided to join her.

1. Our veterans - I am thankful to each and every one of them for doing the hard stuff and keeping us all safe.


2. Report cards that inspire pride. - Yesterday was report card day. I was an awful student and spent way too many hours dreading the response to my grades. There aren't words to express how thankful I am that my girls consistantly bring home grades worth rewarding - and I do.


3. Gorgeous weather to enjoy the leaves as they change color. - It's been sunny and in the 60's here all week which is perfect for looking at the leaves. Not to hot and not too cold - just right!

Thankful Thursday - Thanksgiving Edition

Happy Thanksgiving to all my friends near and far.


Here are Bruce and the girls in line to get cider and apple pie from the best cider place on Long Island. We are very thankful that we got there before they ran out. My M-I-L would've had a cow if we hadn't.
Seriously though, there is a lot to be very thankful for today.

1. The relative good health of my friends and family. With a few exceptions we are all well enough to gather in various places for the celebratory feast and that's definitely something to be very thankful for.
2. That the effect of the financial downturn upon my family has been limited. Yes, Bruce is still out of work and I don't see that changing anythime soon but we're still ok and I hope that I can still say that a week, a month, a year from now. I think so.
3. My family. Today I'll see my grandparents and many other members of our family. That in and of itself is something that makes me very, very, thankful.

I hope that the day brings good food, god company, and lot' of laughter to you all.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Thankful Thursday - Feeling Happy

One week from today is Thanksgiving and for a change I will not be cooking for the holiday. We will be part of the great masses traveling the highways and byways for the holiday. The excitement of the upcoming holiday and another family event this weekend have me feeling very silly and happy and... thankful, today.

1. I am so thankful that I am NOT going to see the midninght showing of New Moon tonight. I had told DQ that I would take her if she didn't get a better offer but thankfully she did. She will be going, decked out in her Twilight t-shirt and her Eclipse socks, with a bunch of her giggly friends. I will be home knitting, packing and waiting for her to return. I will be very appreciative of the relative quiet and not having to pretend that the movie is high art.
2. On a related and more positive note, I am even more thankful that DQ was selected to be part of the cast on the Middle School Musical. They're doing Annie, a show she could sing in her sleep... in fact, she fell asleep to it every single night until about 4 years ago. We took no trip without the Annie CD. It would've been horrible trying to comfort her if she haddn't gotten in to any show but this one especially. I will be there with bells on and my new video recorder. Oh yes, I will definitely be That Parent and she didn't even get a lead.
3. Most of all I am thankful that this coming week will be filled with friends and family. We'll be on the road for most of it. I am so happy that we are all healthy and excited for our trips.

What are you thankful for?

Thankful Thursday Brought To You By The Letter "F"

A funny thing happened last weekend. I was driving Stinkette and her friends somewhere and idly listening to their conversation when suddenly it turned to my grandfather. Stink was proudly telling her buddies that her great grandfather should compete in driving competitions. In all fairness, he's as good a good driver as any in Queens, NY which is to say that he is impatient, knows all the sidestreets, and makes use of them to avoid traffic at all costs. What he isn't is a slowpoke and apparently my daughter has picked up on this.
Apparently she really wanted to press her point, or maybe her friends weren't geting it because the next thing I knew she was telling them about how young her Zaydie acts saying that he seems about 20 but really he's 90. Can you even imagine describing a 90 year old man as seeming like he's 20? It's had me smiling all week and it brings me to the first thing on my list for this Thankful Thursday:

1. I am thankful that my girls are getting to experience my grandparents the way I did - as vibrant, fun and interesting. It is truly a rare gift. Sure my grandfather doesn't climb trees or chase after the ice cream truck anymore but he sings and dances, tells silly stories, plays games, and keeps up with my girls just fine. It's nice to know they appreciate it.
2. I am also thankful for the internet. Go ahead and laugh but it's true. My evening knitting has slowed lately because I'm busy playing online Scrabble with my sister who lives hundreds of miles away. No matter where my siblings may find themselves, NY, Connecticut, Italy, Korea, or Indiana - the internet has kept us close. I see videos of my year old niece learning to climb and I hear my nephew wishing me happy birthday on the Monkey Mail.
3. My friends also make me feel thankful. Near and far they make me laugh and give me comfort. These days it seems like they're there wherever I go. The supermarket or on the street. Now they're there when I open my laptop at home too. Friends from High School and College and all kinds of places I've been.

So there it is, my list of 3 things I'm thankful for today. It all boils down to friends and family.

Thankful Thursdays

Thank goodness for friends with great ideas. Earlier this week Carole suggested that we post 3 things that we're thankful for each Thursday in November. Here are mine:

1. My girls - I love my daughters deeply and it makes me so happy to see the people they are becoming. They're developing their own interests and direction and, even though it means I see them less and less as they get busier and busier, it's all good. Really, really, good.
2. My husband - Bruce is a good guy. It's rough being unemployed but he's tring to keep his head up and stay positive.
3. Being employed - naturally it's great that one of us is enployed but it's even better that there have been positive changes and developments around my office lately. No details for obvious reasons but it's enough to say that I feel more positive about work-related things lately. These days that is absolutely something to be thankful for.

What are you thankful for today?