Give Thanks

26 Things I'm Thankful for This November 26

(In no particular order)

1.  Soft t-shirts:  there's little better than coming home after a long day and feeling the instant comfort and security that comes along with these.  It's like letting out a breath I've been holding all day.  Favorites include Polo and Seaside tees.

2.  Massages:  I'm practically drooling when I leave, and my hair stands out like Medusa, but it's totally worth it.

3.  OPI nail polish:  they always have just the perfect shade, and it's always named something so perfect that I know I have to have it.

4.  Friends:  I have a theory that any situation in life can be referenced back to a Friends episode.  Try it; I swear by it.

5.  Movie quotes:  as I've said before, without movie quotes, my conversation would be cut by about 75%, I think, and, let's be honest, they're just funny.

6.  Flowers:  they're pretty; they smell good; and they make people smile.

7.  Walks down memory lane (and the peope who'll walk beside me):  sometimes there is nothing better than reveling in past idiocies and reliving past lives. 

8.  Cancelled classes:  enough said.

9.  Books:  meeting new people on every page, learning about foreign worlds, both real and imagined, and watching pictures come to life in your mind.  Plus, books smell good and sometimes have really cool histories, too.

10.  Sunsets:  God's presence often manifests itself in my life in the beauty of a sunset.  

11.  Lazy days:  a day with nothing on the docket is a rare treasure these days and one that should be cherished.  If only I had known in college how precious all those wasted lazy days would one day be...

12.  Family:  how could I not be thankful for the people who have been there since day one and will be there no matter what?

13.  Friends:  your friends may be awesome, I'll give you that, but my friends are so much more than I ever fathomed and so much more than I will ever deserve.  I thank God everyday for giving them to me.

14.  The perfect messy ponytail:  this hairstyle often elludes me, but, when I twist it just right, I have to admit, it makes me feel pretty cool (even though I'm hugely aware that it probably looks like just another rat's nest to other people...)

15.  Sharpie pens:  they really don't bleed through the paper!!  And they don't smear... and they have a really narrow point... 

16.  XM radio:  every once in a while, a song will come out of nowhere that I used to love but haven't heard in ages.  Also, I stay informed of new music, and they started playing Christmas music on November 18.

17.  Laughter:  obviously, if you know me at all, you know I love to laugh.  I also love to make people laugh, talk about things that make people laugh, laugh with other people, hear funny laughs, laugh at funny laughs and take laughing pictures.

18.  Movies:  who doesn't love the movies?? (besides you, KA...)  Seriously, though, movies are awesome, and, without movies, there'd be no movie quotes.  Duh.

19.  The perfect devotion:  I am so thankful when God gives me the exact words I need to hear in that exact minute.  My devotions are always wonderful, and my time with God is always stellar, but sometimes He just really hits a grand slam, and I am awed all over again.

20.  Facebook wall-to-wall:  these convos are funny... and often informative, too.  I don't know where the pre-2007 wall-to-wall went though, and I wish Mark Zuckerberg would find a way to bring back the things I said in 2006, as I'm sure they were hilarious.  [Insert sarcasm here.]    

21.  Silent setting on my cell phone:  sometimes I like to totally detach and curl up into my own world, and at those times I am thankful for silencio.

22.  Learning:  I am thankful I'm a dork.  No, seriously.  I like learning about new things and new people and new places and on and on and on.  I really do.  Seriously.  

23.  Still being able to go to school after losing my job:  (did I tell y'all I lost my job last Thursday?)  anyway, thankfully, I have some money saved so I will be able to keep going to school without working next semester if I can't find another job.  

24.  Nicknames:  y'all know you love nicknames, too.  They're immediately familiar, and I always think they're immediately friendly and fun.  Even when you're given a nickname you hate (like my elementary school nickname that refuses to die), you can't totally hate it because it's a term of endearment.  Also, they make it much easier to talk in code.

25.  Cardigans:  dress 'em up, dress 'em down.  You can truly take them anywhere, and, believe me, I do.  My wardrobe would be scant without them.

26.  Pajamas:  good, soft, comfortable pajamas are like a good book-- a safe, wonderful, cozy place to end the day.  Even the worst of days can end on a good note when you put on your favorite pajamas and crawl into bed.  Hmmm... that's actually sounding pretty tempting right about now...

What are y'all thankful for this Thanksgiving?

I'm thankful for you.  That's right... you.  Each of you.

I hope you've all had a wonderful holiday.

Love y'all.

      

Tale Untold

The following tale is fiction, and any names, characteristics or actions of the characters that resemble real people and events are purely coincidental.  We have struggled with whether to share this story, but, for some inexplicable reason, feel led to do so.
--Management

Once upon a time, there was a young woman.
For the sake of the story, we'll call this woman... Autumn.
Autumn spent her days fulfilling mindless tasks at work and broadening her mind in the world of higher education.  She had supportive friends and family and a plethora of hobbies to fill her time; she laughed often and had a vivid imagination.
Autumn loved her life, but something, or perhaps someone, was missing. 
Late one night, Autumn grew tired of being patient and decided to take matters into her own hands.
Autumn probably should have left well enough alone.
It had come to Autumn's attention that there were people who made their livings attempting to bring romantic harmony into the lives of frustrated singles (for a small fee, of course).  These people asked a plethora of questions and delivered possible suitors right to your inbox.  Autumn thought it all sounded too good to be true, but was intrigued, nonetheless.
"I think I shall try it," Autumn thought.  "It will be a kind of experiment.  It is possible I will wholly regret it or feel like an utter fool, but how bad could it be?"
So, Autumn logged on and set to work answering question after question.  She selected her favorite photo and completed her profile.  Autumn didn't want to admit it, but, in the back of her mind, she was the tiniest bit hopeful.  On the other hand, however, she feared what people would think of her if they knew what she was doing.
However, she thought maybe it really was "okay to look?"
Autumn probably should have left well enough alone.
For the first few days, Autumn was a bit maniacal, checking her inbox embarrassingly frequently.  However, the initial luster soon wore off and Autumn began to suspect herself hoodwinked.
Duped.  Ripped off.  Taken for a ride.
You see, Autumn was quickly underwhelmed with the "harmonious" findings that were presented to her.  She believed that perhaps this method of matchmaking might work for others, but, for her, it simply wasn't right.  Autumn just thought the whole thing would go differently.  From her standpoint, this equation just wasn't adding up.  The whole thing just seemed unnatural. 
Autumn thought it might have been best to leave well enough alone.
Autumn began to check back more infrequently, but she vowed to honor her 3-month contract and complete her "experiment."  She told only one person what she was doing, however, because her humiliation was growing stronger by the day.
That brings us to today, when Autumn has completed her 3-month experiment and has ended her contract.  She feels that there is probably something she has learned from this experience, but right now she's not sure what it is.
Oh, wait...  yes she does.  Autumn should have left well enough alone.
What was Autumn thinking with this ridiculous experiment of hers?
She is, admittedly, embarrassed, but felt (for some reason) led to share her story.  Perhaps it will cuase laughter or make your own plight seem bearable...
Autumn simply asks that, the next time you see her, you refrain from pointing, laughing, making jokes at her expense, or cocking your head to the side in pity. 
Oh, wait... that's right.
You don't actually know her.  She's fictional.
Yeah...
So...
The End.

Under Pressure

Y'all, I am freaking out.
It's the point in the semester where I have a whole helluva lot seemingly insurmountable mountain of schoolwork to finish and only two-and-a-half short weeks to do it in.
Yikes... bikes.
I have papers to write, presentations to prepare, books to read, interviews to conduct, research to do, and proposals to compile.  Not to mention my regularly scheduled assigned readings and quizzes added to working and going to class.  All you people who are still in school kinow what I'm saying, right?  It's multi-tasking and time management to the max, sacrificing sleep and running around like a madwoman.  It's ugly, I tell you.  Ugly.
Yep, this is the point where I officially start to lose it. 
(Yet, here I sit spinning my wheels blogging like I've got all the time in the world.  Shocker, right?)
(Not to mention that it's made worse because all I want to do is lay on my couch and watch Christmas movies, taking breaks only to belt out listen to Christmas music.) 
On the flip side, however, two-and-a-half more weeks and the semester will be over!  Let me just pause for a minute and let that marinate.
Two. and. a. half. weeks.
Thank. the. Lord.
I don't know why, but this semester has been pure torture since week one.  I hate saying that, but it's true.  My classes have been brutal and not some of my favorites, and it's just seemed to be a tough few months.  The weekends have been some of my greatest, but, in looking back, my moods have been on a roller coaster ride since August.  And not a tame, Rock'n'Roller coaster-type coaster, either.  This has been one wild ride.
I know the next few weeks are going to be miserable insane, but I'm looking forward to docking this rollercoaster and having some true life chill time.
In the meantime, keep me in your thoughts and prayers, and give the students in your lives a break.  They'll probably be ill-tempered, unshowered, sleep-deprived, impatient, emotional, eating everything in sight, selfish and getting worse as December looms nearer (or maybe that's just me?).  Know that it will soon pass and they'll be back to their merry, showered, well-rested selves before you can say bah-humbug.  For all my fellow monsters students out there, know that we're all embarking on this the miserable journey known as finals together.
It probably won't be pretty, but we'll make it through.  I'm sure of it.
Meanwhile, I'll leave you with a few pics from another fun weekend.  Even though the action on the field was rather embarrassing, a good time was, as always, had by all.

Time of the Season

Top 10 Reasons Why (If You Ask Me) Christmastime is Officially... HERE
10.  Christmas commercials have started to pop up all over the TV.  My early favorites:  the classic Wal-Mart Carol of the Bells commercial and the new Hallmark ornament commercial.
9.  Starting tomorrow, ABC Family will be showing a Christmas movie for what I understand to be almost every day until, well, Christmas.
8.  I went to Wal-Mart yesterday the "2009 Official Toy Guide" was thrust into my face before I could even get in the door.
7.  The mall sign is advertising when Santa will be arriving.
6.  Stores are playing Christmas music.
5.  I went to the holiday open houses in Columbus this weekend, which is always one of my favorite activities to kick off the holiday season.
4.  Only now does sipping on hot chocolate start to feel right.
3.  My house is totally decorated for Christmas (and has been since last Monday), and the first thing I do every day when I get home is twinkle light this place up.  I also went to see A Christmas Carol yesterday, and it was a straight shot into the Christmas season if I've ever seen one.
2.  The weather is just pleading for sweaters and scarves and all sorts of cool-weather attire.
1.  Even my iPod knows it's Christmas, for it is shuffling far more holiday tunes my way than it did before last week.  See, even the machines know, and you know you can't fight the machines.
So, what are you thinking?  Is it Christmastime in  your life, or do you think I'm a holiday-crazed freak totally jumping the gun??

Beauty of the Sea

Bdbdbdbdbdbdbdbdbdbdbdbdbdbdbdbdbdbdb.........(drumroll. duh.)

Here they are...

Beach pictures.

If you can't tell by the week-long hype, I'm pretty proud of these.  To tell the truth, I'm just glad to have concrete proof of how beatiful my time at the beach was.  I've been to the beach more times than I can count in my life, this same beach, in fact.

Never have I ever seen it look like this.

While this is a chunk of pictures, the majority are on Facebook, so please check them out there.  In the meantime, sit back and relax... smell the salt in the breeze and hear the waves crash on the sand.

It's gooby, I know... but just go with it.