Yup...

For Day 27, I am grateful for Pope Francis. Even though I am no longer a practicing member of the church of my baptism, I really <3 this pope, and think he is exactly what both the Catholic church and the world need in a spiritual leader at this point in time.

Because of things like this:

And for this Thanksgiving Day, Day 28, I am thankful for food. That I have enough to eat, and that I can eat for enjoyment as well as nourishment. And for celebrations revolving around food...

Happy Thanksgiving!

30 Days of Thankfulness: Day 26

I am thankful for Grumpy Cat.

Now, there are a lot of cats on the internet, and a lot of memes, and a lot of cat memes. Why am I thankful for Grumpy Cat in particular?

Because

1) She (yes, Grumpy Cat aka Tarder Sauce is a she) affirms that I don't have to be happy all the time, that it's ok to feel grumpy, pissy, whatever.

and

2) She makes me laugh, so I don't get stuck in the grumpy moods for too long.

So thank you, Grumpy Cat, even though I know you would just scowl at me.

30 Days of Thankfulness: Day 25

I am thankful my parents and for their love and support. Even though my relationship with my mother is somewhat...fickle, I am grateful that I have her support even when she doesn't or can't always show it.

Catching Up...

I've been slacking a little on this whole 30 Days of Thankfulness thing. Going back to day 21...I wanted to talk about my thankfulness for my cousin Luc, and how he has shaped my perspective on the humanity and dignity of people with disabilities. Of course, I am thankful for all my extended family members, and I am wary of the dehumanizing aspect of limiting a person to their disability instead of recognizing their individuality. But there are certain specific things about Luc that I am thankful for.

Luc has Williams Syndrome, a chromosomal disorder that is like Downs Syndrome in terms of the resulting mild-to-moderate intellectual disabilities and physical symptoms, but much rarer and less well-known. With the challenges of Williams Syndrome are...some traits that still pose a challenge but also bring unique positives. For instance, people with Williams Syndrome tend to be exceptionally social, trusting, and empathetic. The trust can sometimes lead to a lack of appropriate boundaries, but there is something about the open way of relating to other people, without hangups or pretense, that I admire.

And Luc reminds me to look beyond labels, and for that I am thankful.

Moving on...good weekend; good times with good people. For day 22, I'm thankful that a friend had an extra ticket to the Washington Caps game. Not so thankful they lost (2-3), but it was a fun game.

From the really high seats at Verizon Center...

For Day 23, thankful for seeing Hunger Games: Catching Fire. Movie reviews are Ken's thing,  but I'll just say the movie was really good, better than the first movie and possibly better than even the book upon which it was based.

And for Day 24, I am thankful that I have shelter and heat in this wicked cold (cue New England accent) weather.  

30 Days of Thankfulness: Day 20

I am thankful for technology, the Internet, and social media, for without them, you wouldn't be reading this, now would you, dear reader? :)

Yes, there are drawbacks to our technology-addicted society, but I'm also thankful for the positives that technology brings to my life and relationships.

Like the ability to blog, and to connect through social media with both old acquaintances and close friends and family. 

I'm thankful for the easy ability to connect online with people regardless of geographically proximity.

I'm thankful for relationships that have been nurtured in part by social media/technology, and that it puts me in closer touch with family in other states that I rarely get to see.

Thank you, interwebs. 

More 30 Days of Thankfulness...

Day 18

I am thankful for the beautiful, unseasonably warm weather today. And for the beauty of nature in general, yada yada yada.

And a bonus Day 19 a little early:

I am thankful that I live where I do, in a state with so much natural beauty, especially in the form of water (bay and ocean), and I am thankful that my parents own a beach house for easy beach getaways. Yes, I heart the beach.

30 Days of Thankfulness, Day 17

I am thankful for the modern, middle-class conveniences I often take for granted: indoor plumbing, electricity, and especially, today, clean, hot water to soak my aching muscles in a good hot bath.

30 Days of Thankfulness, Days 15 & 16

I am thankful for my spiritual community at St. Johns Episcopal Church in Ellicott City, MD. Even though I'm no longer living in Ellicott City, I am thankful that I have a church that has been a spiritual home for me when I do manage to still attend. I'm thankful that I was "suckered into" ushering once a month, because, while I say suckered into it, I needed a push to be more involved and have the opportunity to serve. And I'm thankful for the people there who have accepted me in my not-so-regular attendance and for their love and prayers.

And for day 16, I am thankful for books and the written word.

30 Days of Thankfulness, Days 13 & 14

So I am at the age now where it seems all my friends and family are having babies. None of my own yet. It's not that my biological clock is ticking, but it's just....yeah, I dunno.

But I am thankful for my new little family members and extended circle of friends.

Especially, recently, for Caroline Elizabeth, born 09/10 to my cousin Lily:

And for Kirby Marc, born 11/09 to my friends Amelia and Chris.

And finally for my cousin Jenna's second child, to be born in April...

.....

And, to once again catch up to Day 14, I am thankful for coffee, and specifically, right now, for Wawa's any-size $1.99 lattes.

30 Days of Thankfulness, Day 12

Since I forgot about it yesterday for Veterans' Day, I note today that I am thankful for our nation's veterans, especially those in my family including my dad, aunt and uncle, and for current service men and women and the sacrifices they make. A special shoutout to my friend Lori who just joined the Army!

30 Days of Thankfulness, Days 10 & 11

Meh. I'm not really feeling thankful today.

But I am thankful...for sleep.

And for day 11, although I am not thankful for traffic, I am thankful for my car, and the mobility it affords me. 

30 Days of Thankfulness: Days 8 & 9

I'm so tired. 
  
But I'm thankful that my friend Athena once again invited me to her/her step-mother's timeshare in Massanutten, VA, and that I was able to do a short/overnight trip even though lack of money and time prevented me from staying longer. 

The above picture is from last year, but it's pretty much the same. The mountains are so pretty this time of year. 

And then I returned to hellish traffic as soon as I got into the greater-DC area. NOT something I'm thankful for. 

Ahem. Right. Back to our regularly scheduled gratitude exercise. 

To catch up to day 9, I am thankful for leisure time in general, and that I've been able to travel some, although not as much as I would like.

30 Days of Thankfulness Days 6 & 7, and a Little Venting

My knee is starting to bother me again. Don't know  what is going on, but this is after minor aches and pains for several months last year. Runner's knee perhaps? Though I'm not a runner. Pretty sure it' s nothing severe, and it went away on its own with stretching last year, so I'm hoping it will do the same again. 

That being said, I am thankful for my mostly sound body, and the things it can do. I'm thankful for being able to (attempt to) keep myself strong and fit in various  ways, like swimming, walking (but not running :P), yoga, and, currently, Zumba dance on Youtube. 

And to catch up to day 7, I am also thankful for my mind, and the many opportunities I've had to strengthen it: college and then graduate school, outside learning and reading... 

30 Days of Thankfulness: Day 5

I am thankful for music, because, in the words of Bob Marley, "one good thing about music, when it hits you, you feel no pain." 

A few of my favorite songs right now:

Jon Bon Jovi-Santa Fe

from my other favorite Jersey rocker, Bruce Springsteen - No Surrender 

 

Oasis - Don't Look Back in Anger: a '90s classic

 

 

30 Days of Thankfulness, Day 4

I am thankful for my cats.

Right now I live with 3 of them. One of them like to stage a takeover of my pillow when I'm trying to sleep. This has been happening pretty regularly lately. He also, as the picture shows, loves shoes and slippers.

One likes to sit on the window ledge until he falls asleep and falls off.

The third one keeps to himself more but can be playful and demanding of attention when he wants it. Typical cat.

They're all pretty crazy, but I love them. I've also had the opportunity to work as a cat sitter for a local pet care company. I guess that makes me a crazy cat lady, but I'm cool with that. They're such comforting and loving creatures in their own cat way, and for that I am thankful.

30 Days of Thankfulness: Day 3

Since I had a good time last night hanging out at Dave and Buster's with a friend who is getting ready to go off to Army Basic Training, I should note how thankful I am for the many good friends I have, old and new, from various walks of life. For those people who both share the laughter and fun times and provide support and comfort (and me them) in the hard times. For people who, even if I haven't seen them in months or years, can pick right back up with our relationship as if I see them everyday. For those who, as that great expression says, "know me and love me anyway."

30 Days of Thankfulness: Days 1 & 2

I admit to not being the most naturally "positive" person. While I have a lot to be thankful for, I more easily notice what's wrong than what's right. And without a conscious effort to break this pattern, I can get bogged down in negativity. So the "30 Days of Thankfulness" meme that goes around on Facebook this time of year seems like a good opportunity to remind myself of all the many things I do have to be thankful for.    

I'm already a day behind, so here's a two-fer. 

Day 1:

Since it was just Halloween, I am thankful for holidays. Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, I love all of them...except maybe Valentines Day. Holidays remind me that life should be celebrated, and for that I am thankful.

Day 2:

On a similar note, I am thankful for the seasons, and for living somewhere where I can experience all four seasons. I'm especially loving the fall leaves right now: