Friday, March 30, 2007

Knees, Spring, My family

1. Although my knees have been giving me a really hard time lately, I am so very grateful to be walking around in this life. I am thankful for the two functioning knees that I am blessed to have!

2. Everyday a little more evidence of spring pops up. My front garden is abuzz with activity,and the flowers and plants are starting to poke through the surface. I truly am a different person when the sun is out longer and the flowers are up. I am so thankful for spring to be here!

3. I'm not neccessarily overly close with my family members, one reason being that we aren't geographically close. But I love them all and I think about them all the time. I am so lucky and blessed to have such a great family...

What are YOU thankful for?

(Tell me in your comments!)

Wednesday, March 28, 2007

Tomatoes on the vine, great music, the future

1. The other day the grocery store had tomatoes on the vine that were truly vine ripened (not hot-house vine ripened). I bought a few and ate one of those babies like it was an apple and it tasted like summer. I am so thankful for spring and summer to be on their way!

2. A friend of mine is a music guru and he makes mixed cd's for me all the time. One CD was of Nine Inch Nails, "Pretty Hate Machine". Now I dont' listen to this style of music now, but back in the day I LOVED this cd. I was listening to it in my car yesterday and singing along with every single word... and I was loving it! I mss the music of my youth, and I am so thankful that something so small like listening to an old cd can make me feel so great!

3. Again, I have such a blessed life - and I am soooooooo grateful for it!!!!


What are YOU thankful for?

(Tell me in your comments!)

Monday, March 26, 2007

Crocuses, online buddies, hubby's new job

1. In the town I work, it's an entirely different growing zone warmer than where I live. Therefore, the flowers all come up a few weeks sooner there, than at my house. Today I spied my first sign of spring: crocuses! I am thankful for the signs that remind me that spring is on its way!

2. One of my online buddies sent me an email stating that even breaking up 30 minutes of exercise a day into 2-3 parts is still effective. Her email prompted me to walk on the treadmill for 30 minutes. I am thankful for her email, and to have her to motivate me!

3. I want hubby to get a new job desperately. He is very unhappy with his job right now and he needs to change that. So, I've decided to just act as if he's gotten a new job, in hopes that being positive will make it happen even sooner! So therefore, I am so happy and grateful now that hubby has his new, incredible paying job that he loves! :)

What are YOU thankful for?

(Tell me in your comments!)

Sunday, March 25, 2007

Cats, my town, generous people

1. I have said it many times before, but I am so very thankful for my cats. They love me unconditionally and they are incredibly entertaining. I love them a ton...

2. I live in a pretty remote area of northern NJ that is really beautiful. It lacks a lot of things that other people may take for granted - like restaurants, malls, etc, but it also has things that many people don't see everyday at their home, like all the wildlife, the mountains, the lakes. There are times when I'm cursing under my breath about this town because I happen to live next door to some very undesirable people and I'm also in a flood zone (and yes, it does flood). But all in all, the beauty I'm surrounded by in this little town of mine really does change me for the good, and has been since the day I moved here. I am so greatful to be living in such a beautiful area of the state.

3. I was recently contacted by a woman who wanted two blogs made over. Knowing that I was not going to be doing anymore for a while, she generously offered me more money for her makeovers. A LOT more. I could never take what she was offering, and she refused to pay only $50 a blog, so I asked for $100 each and she agreed. Because of her, I have decided that my blogitty makeovers will now start at $75. Not only has she given me the confidence to ask for what I'm worth, but after checking a few sites out that offer blog makeovers, it seems I was a tad underpriced after all. I am so thankful for the generosity of people, and thankful that this woman had the ability to see how much time goes into doing a blog makeover. We need more people like her in the world :)

What are YOU thankful for?

(Tell me in your comments!)

Saturday, March 24, 2007

Blog pimping, Saturday, my health

1. I am so thankful for my ability to pimp blogs. I mean, I didn't know the first thing about HTML last June when I started my own blog, but because I have a curiosity to know how to do EVERYTHING, I can now edit a Blogger template (and others) with the precision of a plastic surgeon. I am so thankful to have the ability to figure stuff out. It's an amazing ability that I wouldn't trade for anything.

2. This morning when I woke up after a great night's sleep, my first thought was, "oh, I have to go to work". I was a little bummed, and then thought "well, whaddaya gonna do, right?". And as I layed there, it slowly occurred to me that no, I didn't have to go to work, because it was SATURDAY!!!! I am so thankful that it's the weekend and I have a day of rest and spending time with my hubby!

3. For the past week (since last Saturday) I've been sick with a nasty cold. Today it seems as though I'm all cleared up - and I am sooooo very grateful for that!

It's shaping up to be a gorgeous day here in northern NJ! I'm about to get dressed, grab my camera and my husband, and go see what the day brings! I suggest you do the same, wherever you are :)

What are YOU thankful for?

(Tell me in your comments!)

Thursday, March 22, 2007

Free weekend, spring, a world of infinite possibility

1. Hubby and I have a free weekend coming up. The rest of the weekends are jam packed with stuff to do, all the way through May! I thought I was supposed to have something going on this weekend too, but it turns out I don't, so I'll be soaking in every single minute of free time to get some things done and really enjoy being away from the computer. I am very grateful to ahve time for myself, to enjoy doing things I love...

2. Spring is here, and boy am I ready to start gardening! I'm telling you, it's an addiction for me. I already know I'm going to need some serious cash in a hurry to get everything bought and planted, so I'm going to go through a bunch of stuff to put on eBay this weekend! I am so thankful for my house and my yard, and the space to garden!

3. I am eternally grateful to finally understand that I live in a world of infinite possiblity, and that I can create any kind of life I choose!

What are YOU thankful for?

(Tell me in your comments!)

Wednesday, March 21, 2007

Hubby's health, Puff's Plus, My life

1. I know I mentioned Hubby's health before, btu he still hadn't returned to work til today. I'm thankful that he's feeling better, and hey, he lost 10 pounds in the process too! lol...

2. I have a really nasty cold right now and I'm blowing my nose every 3-4 minutes. I am forever grateful to the makers of Puffs plus tissues because without them, my nose would be a raw, bloody mess by now!

3. I just have the best life! I am so thankful for this wonderful life I have...It's amazing...

What are YOU thankful for?

(Tell me in your comments!)

Monday, March 19, 2007

Blog friends, the sun, coffee, and 1 bonus thanks

1. Today I wrote to one of my blog friends about a particular way I was feeling about a coworker. She was able to not only reassure me that I wasn't a bad person, but she gave me some insight as to how this person was behaving, and why they might behave that way - which is painfully obvious but still something I'd never thought about before. I am so grateful to have nonjudgemental friends who are able to give me insight into things in that manner. And even though we have not met face-to-face, I am thankful to have her as a friend!

2. The sun is shining full force, and I'm sure it will melt away some of the snow that fell on us Friday night, which is a good thing, because it all turned to ice and we didn't shovel a damn thing! I am thankful for the warmth of the sun on this cold winter day!

3. I am sooooooo thankful that the Dunkin Donuts by me has a large hazelnut coffee waiting for me to go snatch it up! :)

I have another one to add today: I am so eternally grateful that the car that was sliding sideways at us on Friday night didn't crash into us.

What are YOU thankful for?

(Tell me in your comments!)

Sunday, March 18, 2007

Hubby's health, good friends, fabric

1. Hubby came down with a NARSTY (that's right, narsty) 24 hour flu where he didn't know whether to puke in the bowl or sit on it. I was sick like that for a week, and then had the 24 hr version two weeks later, and it is living hell , believe me. I'm so glad that he ended up with the 1-day version instead of the week long horror of the other. I am thankful that Hubby is feeling so much better!

2. Good friends are hard to come by, and that's why I'm so very thankful for my dear best friend Pam. When Hubby got sick first thing Saturday morning, we decided to stay out of the house as long as possible so as to give him his privacy (we only ahve one bathroom, and it's right off the livingroom). We were out until about 3:30pm, where we then decided to go straight upstairs to see of we could each grab a quick nap before heading out again. 4 hours later when she woke up (I wasn't able to sleep so I read), we headed out for dinner together. When we came back, Hubby was already feeing better, but we decided to retreat back upstairs to our little quarantined area. I brought my laptop up into the room she was staying in and we hung out all night, til I actually fell asleep at the foot of the bed while watching tv. She let me sleep for a while and she surfed the net while I snored...lol. I woke up a few hours later and wandered into my room down the hall. We got up early this morning and headed out for a day of shopping, trying to get out of the house again to leave Hubby alone to recoup. We went for breakfast and then shopped a whole bunch! Then I dropped her off at the train to go into Penn instead of driving her into the city like I normally do, and she was totally ok with that. It saved me SO much time by not driving in!!!! So I am SO INCREDIBLY GRATEFUL for my friend Pam, the one who always goes with the flow, never has a problem with anything, and is so laid back and so very understanding.... I am so blessed with such a great person as a best friend!!!

3. During our shopping trip, we stopped at The Rag Shop, a crafting store that has a fabric section (unlike giants Michael's and A.C. Moore, who have NO FABRIC AT ALL!!!! What a waste of a store then, right?). I bought some beautiful fabric to start a sewing project, and I ahve to say, I love the instant gratification that buying fabric gives me. I can automatically see the finished product in my hands, by only holding the fabric that I'll make it with. I am grateful for my creative talent, and my ability to see the beautiful finished project without even having done anything to it.

What are YOU thankful for?

(Tell me in your comments!)

Thursday, March 15, 2007

Too many days not here...

I can't even believe that I haven't posted since Monday. I have no idea where the week went, but it seems like I've been running around like a lunatic and yet getting nothing accomplished. But I feel REALLY guilty that I haven't been posting here - it's like I totally forgot! Ok, time to make up for it:

1. I am SO grateful that the warmer weather is upon us. I know we'll still have a few days here and there of bitter cold I'm sure, but this week has been so nice that I've been walking at a park close to work on my lunch hour. And, this morning it was so warm out that I had the sliding glass doors to my deck open and was listening to the birds sing and letting the fresh air in. I am so thankful for the warmer weather, spring is on its way!

2. I am incredibly grateful for my decision to go back on a diet. In the three days I've been on it, I've lost 5 lbs and I've also cooked a few meals for myself, which were just delicious! And better yet, I'm enjoying myself while doing it - BIZARRE! I am so thankful that I am motivated to lose all of this excess weight!

3. I am grateful that my best friend Pammy doesn't mind a dirty house - that is, MY dirty house. She's coming for the weekend and while I always try to get it in tip top shape before she comes for a visit, I always fall short due to time constraints. As long as I have her room clean and ready, she pretty much doesn't care about the piles of books and bags of yarn all over the place. She's good like that, and I'm so grateful that she doesn't care...lol.

What are YOU thankful for?

(Tell me in your comments!)

Monday, March 12, 2007

Advil Sinus & Headache, my body, random emails

1. I had a raging sinus headache lastnight that really wreaked havoc on my sleep. Not to mention that Hubby has a serious cold for which he cant' take anything for (due to other medications he takes), so he was snoring like a mother last night...lol. But I went to the pharmacy this morning and bought Advil Sinus Headache stuff and it totally cleared it all up. I guess I should ahve known that the "non-drowsy formula" would give me a buzz as well, but I wasn't thinking and got a large hazelnut coffee from Dunkin Donuts this morning anyway. By the time I sinished it, I could have painted an entire house in under 2 hours...lol... But I'm still thankful for a product that actually does what it says it will do!

2. I walked for 17 minutes today on my lunch hour. I haven't walked for exercise in months, and I couldn't only do 17 minutes because my herniated disc in my lower back was killing me (it was hurting over the weekend too). But I am so grateful for a body that can walk at all!!!

3. Today I got a random email from an online friend I met a year ago, who hasn't been in touch since before the holidays. I have been thinking about her weekly since our last communication, hoping all things with her were well. She is a really sweet gal and I really love chatting with her, and today out of the blue, got a really nice email from her. I am thankful that those who I would liek to stay in touch with do eventually email me, because then I don't have to email them and feel like I'm bothering them. I am thankful that my email buddy wrote to me, and that all in her life is going well!

What are YOU thankful for?

(Tell me in your comments!)

Friday, March 9, 2007

Friday, Friday, Friday!

1. It's Friday...

2. It's Friday...

3. IT'S FRIDAY!!!!!!!! Can you tell I'm totally psyched and thankful that it's FRIDAY??????

What are YOU thankful for?

(Tell me in your comments!)

Thursday, March 8, 2007

Birds, Sleep, the smell of Spring

1. Birds. Since I was about 18, I have had a slight fascination with birds. However I never had a house to put out a bird feeder or anything until 3 years ago, and one of the first things I did when we got our house was put up some feeders. Then, when I was planting window boxes that hang on the deck railing, I planted flowers that would attract hummingbirds. Next, when I was creating the new gardens aroudn the base of the deck, I focused on perennials that were butterfly and hummngbird friendly. Now, in only three years, I have gotten anywhere from 1 to 5 hummngbirds at a time feeding from the plants and nectar feeders, and I have had tons and tons of birds come to visit my yard. Besides hummingbirds, the most memorable birds in my backyard to date was a Baltimore Oriole last season, and in the past month alone, I've had a Northern Flicker (which is stunning to see the canary yellow underside of its wings) and a hawk. I regularly have Cardinals, Blue Jays, woodpeckers of all kinds, black capped chickadees, the tufted titmouse, dark-eyed Junco's, and different types of warblers and sparrows. I love to sit with a cup of coffee and stare at them for a half hour or more. it's great meditation, Or, in the summer, I can sit outside and watch the hummingbirds drink from their feeder or the plants, and when they see me sitting there watching them, they will literally fly up to me, a foot or so from my face, to check me out. I am so grateful that I have a yard to garden n and a deck to plant container gardens in, to attract my fine feathered friends!

2. Sleep. I am usually not a very good sleeper and will wake up many times a night. Lately, for the past few weeks, I have been sleeping like a log! I even get 7-8 hours of sleep and wake up still tired, ready for more. Coming from a girl who used to only get 4-5 hours and be wide awake in the morning despite the lack of sleep, this is a miracle. I am thankful to be getting such good rest!

3. Spring. Even in the cold, I can smell spring on it's way. I can't describe the smell, and I'm sure some of you know what I'm talking about, but I smell it every year, even in a foot of snow. It's on its way and I am so grateful for that!

What are YOU grateful for?

(Tell me in your comments!)

Tuesday, March 6, 2007

Keeping the faith, not working til 12, Google

1. I am so grateful that I have the ability to stand my ground when I am confronted with miserable, negative people who exist for no other reason than to shit all over anything that makes anyone happy. I have dismissed many people from my life who were routinely negative because they do nothing but bring me down. I have also run into bloggers who seem to have the same personality that these miserable and depressed people in my life had, and I have done my best to not communicate with them, as they are energy sucking. I am really glad that I have learned that it's not my job to convince anyone of anything, because I'd be exhausted as they are, with their trying to convince me that life sucks and all things suck and all people suck. I am not like that, I feel sorry for these people, and I move on in my happy world. I am grateful that I no longer let these people in my life!

2. While it sucks to get home so late, right now I'm thanful I don't have to leave the house until 11am...lol...

3. Google is our youngest cat. He is always getting into things he shouldn't, but he is just so damn cute and funy that sometimes I can just look at him and laugh. I'm grateful that we have him!

What are YOU thankful for?

(Tell me in your comments!)

Monday, March 5, 2007

A thought...

I am always trying to think of new thngs to be thankful for, as if I can't repeat anything I've ever mentioned again. I don't know why I do that, just do. So I am going to concentrate on giving repeat thanks for certain things I've already given thanks for. It doesn't make me less appreciative of the things I've yet to mention, but I am jsut so grateful for some of the things I've already listed, I want to say them over and over...

1. Hubby. It is a miracle that I should have you in my life. Out of all the people that I would probably have ended up with, I'm sooooooo eternally grateful that it was you who crossed my path, and I'm thankful that I know a good thing when I see it!

2. Myself. I am so thankful to be the person that I am today, with my beliefs and my thoughts and my brain. There was a time in my life, a long time ago, when I didn't even know how I would survive. I can't even believe that I was ever there, because the person I am today doesn't even recognize anything less than gorgeous and beautiful abundance and joy in my life. I am so grateful to myself for believing in myself enough to know that life does NOT have to be one long line of "messed up shit that happened to me that makes me less worthy of everything the planet has to offer". I am not that person any longer, and how I am so very grateful for the eyes to see that after all this time. I am so wonderful and fabulous! And I thank the universe for making me see it!

3. My home. Be it ever so humble there's no place like home. And honor my home in all it's beauty and warmth, and I am ever so thankful to have it.... I simply love my house!

What are YOU thankful for?

(Tell me in your comments!)

Saturday, March 3, 2007

Time with my man, cats, clamming up

1. I am thrilled that Hubby and I are going to spend some time together outside of the house this weekend! I am soooo tired of those weekends where we don't get out of our pj's and just sit on the couch all day. I know it sounds like heaven to some, but when that's all you ever do all weekend long, even THAT can get old. So I am thankful that we will be getting out and about at least one day this weekend.

2. My 4 cats never cease to entertain. And just when you think you want to strangle one for doing something they shouldn't be, they look up and you and meow, looking to be held, and you melt. I assume that's how parenthood will go as well...lol! I am thankful for my sweet sweet kitties!

3. It has taken me years to realize this, but sometimes there are things that, while they should normally be shared with your loved ones, would only be told to every other living being on the planet that they know because they don't know how to keep their yaps shut. I am thankful that, while painful that I can't share normal things, I have learned to keep certain things to myself so as not to have my information broadcast to the known free world. I am thanful that I am not upset by the fact that I just can't share certain things with people. This would have hurt me years ago, but now I'm greatful for the strength it takes to keep certain things to myself.

What are YOU thankful for?

(Tell me in your comments!)

Thursday, March 1, 2007

Hubby, beer, one more day

For some reason today I'm finding it hard to find things to be eagerly and enthusiastically thankful about. I have a ton of things, but nothing is jumping out at me at the moment.

1. Hubby. I have a tendency to bottle things up and then unload them all at once. It's not that I don't try to discuss these things when they arise, it's just that they aren't really met with any great enthusiasm, so I hold back on the discussion, trying to convince myself that "it doesn't really matter anyway...". What happens then is that it really DOES matter and it sits and festers into a nice frothy boil that must eventually explode. I am thankful that when I "explode", hubby doesn't get defensive and he understands that I'm just very passionate about what I'm talking about. I do wish he'd have more to say during these times, but I'll jsut stop and be thankful for his understanding that I'm not attacking him...

2. Beer. Anyone who ever said "having a beer won't help in this situation" never had a beer when they were really, really stressed out! lol! Sometimes I walk away from a situation (mainly a person that I can't control how they are talking to me because they are a client) and after having one tall, cold, icy tap beer (Bass Ale of course), it makes it all better for the next time I have to deal with them :)

3. One more day til Friday. Need I say more???

What are YOU thankful for?

(Tell me in your comments!)