It IS November...

In the theme of being thankful... here are some random things I've appreciated/ have been thankful for lately:

1. With the risk of sounding horribly superficial: being told nearly dayly (daily... for some reason I brainfarted when I typed it but I like the way it looks and am leaving it that way. And am starting a movement to change the spelling to dayly) that I look nice/ look like I've lost weight (I have)/ etc... I've worked hard to drop some pounds/inches and I like the fact that people are recognizing. It keeps me motivated to keep going.

2. My black raspberry scented candles... mmmm, I could eat my living room.

3. Family. Corny? Yes. But I don't have a very large family but growing up, Thanksgiving was always the time we got together. Though I didn't have a "father" growing up, I had my maternal grandpa and my uncle to look up to and to both of them, I am eternally grateful. It irritates me to no end that my mom wants to keep Thanksgiving "just the four of us (her, me, my bro, and Giz).

4. Puppies. A friend just got a new puppy yesterday and though I've only seen the pictures, she's adorable and I might steal her.

5. When I drove down to Rogersville for the football game and to have dinner with my old cooperating teacher from student teaching, I learned that the LR school district is frozen on their pay scale. Not only will they not get a raise, but they won't even get their step up. AND their career ladder (a different bonus kind of program for educators that some, but not all districts take advantage of) isn't even a guarantee this year. You have to do a lot of extra work to get the career ladder bonus... work they are doing even though the funding may not be there in the end to pay them. This is awful but makes me extremely thankful that I stayed put where I am... where we will get at least our step up if not a raise. (We don't participate in the career ladder program).

6. My health. Yeah... I had Influenza A and I sometimes have a leaky neck... but for the most part, I am a healthy individual when so many others have health issues they have little to no control over. When I think of what little consideration I give my body (what with the lack of exercise, over indulging, and lack of care), I can't help but be amazed that I don't have many problems. I should probably try harder to take better care of myself....

7. My lucky situation: I have a beautiful place to live that was kind of handed to me. A job that I mainly love... that was kind of handed to me (don't get me wrong... I had to apply and interview and there were others involved but it came at the perfect time). Fabulous landlords that take care of me (they call when they see my car in the driveway on school days and even attempted to fix the Cougarsaurus when it was dead one morning).

8. Friends that are as good as family. Despite distances, my true friends take the time to see me, call, text, e-mail, facebook, etc... to stay in touch. And I know I could turn to a number of them if I needed anything.

9. Clogging... If nothing else, I will be able to dance to Party in the USA when all is said and done.

10. Music. The sound of it. The stories behind it. The feelings it gives me. I almost said "the happiness it brings me" but that's not the only feeling it gives me. Sometimes it makes me sad, heartbroken, lovesick, frustrated, or angry. But I still love that it can evoke such strong emotions.

And last one for the evening:
11. Memories. I have such strong memories that I literally feel as if I am back in that time or place. It's true that most of the time, the memories make me wish for the past or wish that things hadn't changed so drastically. But at the same time, they make me thankful for the life I've had the pleasure of living, changes and all. Even the unpleasant memories are welcome because without the bad times, the good wouldn't seem so good.