Thankful Thursday | Ohh, it's fall, it's fall!

This week, I am thankful:

for fall weather!!

I am so freaking happy that the summer weather appears to be entirely in the rearview mirror. Yay!!! I really, really appreciate the less-sweaty existence that fall affords me.

that I work on a hospital unit with windows

Even on rainy days, I appreciate being able to see the outdoors.

And on sunny days, it's even better.

(Both photos taken in an empty patient room, just FYI!)

for mail-in/drop-off voting

I already filled out my ballot and dropped it off at one of the secure ballot boxes. No muss, no fuss, no standing in line, no worrying about how to vote if I am scheduled to work!

for the right to vote

As I filled out my ballot, I thought about how grateful I am that I have the right to vote. Women have not always had that right, of course, and I am grateful we do now.

(Not everyone is happy about this.)

for the sights the rain brought

We've had a pretty wet fall so far, which means there's some 10/10 moss out there right now.

And mushrooms are all over the place too.

These porcelain berries are invasive but beautiful, and they always remind me a little bit of those Easter candy robin eggs, with their little speckles.

for my fuel-efficient car and short commute

Considering how high gas prices are right now, I am very grateful for my high MPG (49.2 this week!) and also for my short commute.

It's a mere ten minutes from my driveway to my hospital's parking garage, and I feel so thankful that I live so near my job.

Also, a very nice thing about 12-hour shifts is that you never waste gas by sitting in traffic; you go to work before the morning rush hour, and by the time you get off at night, the evening rush hour is but a distant memory.

Also, also...since even full-time hospital nursing shifts aren't five days a week, you commute less overall. Win, win, win!

that I am done with my first eight-week class

It officially ends next week, but I worked ahead, and I have already submitted everything for that week. Yay!

Sooooo, I am almost halfway through the semester. I can do this. I'm gonna make it.

(I am not gonna lie, though: many times when I sit down to work on assignments, my first thought is, "I can't do this anymore!")

What are you thankful for this week?