Thankful Friday | post-Christmas
I know, I know, we always do this on Thursday. But I forgot to publish this one yesterday, so we're just gonna do it today.
This week, I am thankful:
that we're on the slow trek to longer days
The days lengthen so slowly at first, but at least we are on the path to more daylight.
How slow are the gains? About 30 seconds a day right now, according to my weather app!
for the few plants that aren't dead
I appreciate the hardy ones that keep on truckin' even in freezing cold temperatures!
Also, I continue to be grateful that I am generally not miserable in cold weather. We've had some super chilly December weather recently, and this does not make me nearly as crabby as hot, humid weather does!
Honestly, I kinda like it when we have a stretch of cold weather because the ice provides a little variety.
that I was able to donate blood
I tend to run a bit anemic, so I am really delighted that my hemoglobin was high enough for me to donate blood. Yay!
I'll keep on eating iron-rich foods so that I can donate again in a few months. 🙂
that my hospital makes it so easy to donate blood
You can just walk in without an appointment and the whole process takes about 30 minutes. Easy peasy.
My blood is A+, which is not the most useful blood in the world (only A+ and AB+ patients can use it) but hey, at least I am able to help some patients.
Isn't it so cool that you can give someone something so essential from your body, and then your body just makes more? Amazing.
I think it's such a wonderful way to share your good health with someone who is in poor health.
(A side note: I know not everyone can donate blood. I'm not trying to make anyone feel bad by writing about this! We all have different ways we can make a difference in the world, and we don't all have to to all of them.)
for my toaster oven
I use my little Buy Nothing Group toaster oven all the time! It's so handy for a small household.
for my sidekick
I love my snuggly pal. 🙂
for the fun community here
I was thinking about the great superpower post suggestion idea Kristin-with-an-I had, and also about all the interesting responses from you guys.
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I know many of our regulars will be busy with holiday happenings, but if you are here and want to join me:
Thankful for restful days post-Christmas! They are much needed after the rush that is December.
Thankful that one of my teens now has a drivers license which has made all kinds of family logistics easier.
Thankful that my kids still have all 4 grandparents, they are healthy, and we can enjoy holidays together.
Thankful for the birth of Jesus and that I live in a country with freedom of religion.
@SK in Norway, tis rare these days for children to have a) any living grandparents or b) grandparents who live local. I had a set of great-grandparents for a while, my kids had two sets of great-grandparents plus two sets of grandparents, all local. Like me, they had a plethora of aunts/uncles/cousins and great/great-great aunts and uncles (some not local however).
I’m thankful for
- a wonderful Christmas Day with family
- modern technology which enabled us to “open presents” with our 2 adult children living in Australia
- ample annual leave so I can enjoy time with DD1 this week
- lots of leftovers and
- leisure time to read and watch streaming series ( currently enjoying Pachinko)
Merry Christmas Everyone!
I'm thankful ...
1) For having fun and meaningful Christmas with family.
2) For having my mother and sister in law stay and spend it with us.
3) For video chat, text and social media to stay connected with family long distances.
4) That my husband didn't get any worse with his sickness and was able to enjoy a bit of Christmas with us at home before heading to work.
6) That none of us got as sick as him except for our other 2 girls having a 24 hour bug and feeling better the next day.
7) For meaningful traditions and memories.
A sad week for me, where finding things to be grateful for has been hard but necessary. We were expecting a baby in July, but now we are not. And (because when it rains...) I also got food poisoning.
1. I am so, so grateful for my toddler. She's a reassuring presence, a big distraction, and so very sweet.
2. My mom has been very helpful.
3. Mr. B had been doing pretty much everything while I juggle appointments and resting.
4. Timing wise, it was very easy to take time off work.
@Meira@meirathebear,
Oh so sorry! There are no words. Hugs and blessings to you........♥
@Meira@meirathebear, I'm so sorry. Sending you love and light
@Meira@meirathebear, I'm so sorry to hear that 🙁 Sending a virtual hug
@Meira@meirathebear, I am so sorry for your loss! (hugs)
@Meira@meirathebear, I'm so sorry for your loss.
@Meira@meirathebear,
I am so sorry for the loss of your baby. Hugs from across the internet.
@Meira@meirathebear, Hugs to you Lady! Snuggle with that toddler as much as you can and give yourself grace to navigate all of the emotions. I am so very sorry for your loss.
@Meira@meirathebear, There are no words. Sending you virtual hugs and praying for your healing. A loss this time of year is so, so hard.
@Meira@meirathebear, I am so, so sorry to hear this. I wish you gentle passage through this difficult time.
@Meira@meirathebear, I am sorry for your loss. Sending love across the miles.
@Meira@meirathebear, ...but I admire your ability to find things to be thankful for, even in the midst of great loss. And I hope you're starting to feel physically better, at least, after both this and the food poisoning.
@Meira@meirathebear, what a sad, heartbreaking time for you and your family, Christmas or no Christmas. There is no way to sugar coat it or try and find any sort of ''silver lining'' because it's hideous and that's the long and the short of it. It is wonderful - obviously - that your family is rallying around and you're able to try and rest / be distracted by your toddler and have your mom / husband to help out when things are rough.
Onwards and upwards for a brighter 2025.
@Meira@meirathebear, I am so, so sorry for you loss. Such a hard thing. Gentle hugs for you.
@Meira@meirathebear, My heart reaches out to you across the miles. No words; just love for you and your dear family.
@Meira@meirathebear,
Thank you for sharing your heart. I am praying that God will hold you and your husband near during this very sad time.
@Meira@meirathebear, I'm so very sorry ♥
@Meira@meirathebear,
I’m so sorry! I lost a baby between my two girls. May your family all have healing and peace.
@Meira@meirathebear, my heart goes out to you and your family - I know this loss.
I am glad you have support and hope you feel the support of this community too.
@Meira@meirathebear,
Oh, I wish I was there to give you a big hug and cry with you. I am so sorry about your losing your baby. Sending my love to you and your family, and also saying a prayer for you all.
@Meira@meirathebear, So hard. Peace to you and your family as you navigate this unexpected journey. The FG community is sending lots of love!
@Meira@meirathebear,
I’m so sorry to hear this. I’m glad you have a sweet toddler to distract you and a loving family to care for you.
@Meira@meirathebear, I'm sad for you, thankful you have your family around, and impressed with your strength and good attitude. Rest well (between those appointments, ugh.)
@Meira@meirathebear, Oh honey I'm so sorry. 🙁 It's such a heartbreaking experience. Love on your toddler & grieve with your husband.
We had a miscarriage before (youngest) teen & I wish that on no one. Sending you lots of virtual love & hugs today, tomorrow & in the weeks to come. <3
@Meira@meirathebear, I’m so very sorry for your loss.
@Meira@meirathebear, I'm so sorry for your loss. Grace and hugs to you.
@Meira@meirathebear,
I am so, so sorry for your loss. I am glad you are able to take the time you need to start the healing process. Hugs from Ohio.
@Meira@meirathebear, I'm so very sorry for your loss.
Ohhh, I am so very sorry to hear this, Meira. Sending my love to you along with all the other lovely people here.
@Meira@meirathebear, I am so very sorry.
@Meira@meirathebear, I am so very sorry to hear of your loss. I am glad you have support, in the form of Mr. B, your mom, and your toddler.
@Meira@meirathebear, My heart goes out to you. I am so sorry
@Meira@meirathebear,
I'm so very sorry. Hugs.
@Meira@meirathebear, so sorry and please give yourself permission to grieve this event.
@Meira@meirathebear, we're all different but grief has no set "end time".
@Meira@meirathebear, Sending you a very big hug. There are no words to say but please know you are being thought of. I’m grateful you have a little one to give you hugs too.
@Meira@meirathebear,
I am very sorry for your loss Meira. Wishing you and your family comfort.
@Meira@meirathebear, I am sorry for your loss
@Meira@meirathebear, I am virtually looking in your eyes and holding your hand while saying I'm so sorry.
@Meira@meirathebear, so very, very , sorry.
@Meira@meirathebear, Oh my dear I am so sorry to hear this. Please continue to feel free to share with us, OK?
@Meira@meirathebear, Miscarriage sucks, I am so sorry for your loss. Sending you strength and virtual hugs.
@Meira@meirathebear, I am so sorry for your loss. I'm thankful that you can find things to be thankful about. If this is your first miscarriage, I want to reassure you that you are not alone in your pain. So, so many people here (and everywhere) understand what you are going through.
@Meira@meirathebear,
I'm sorry for your loss.
Happy Holidays!
1. So very, very thankful for new shelter dog who I got 2 wks ago. He is a lab/shepherd mix & is such a cupcake. My 15 1/2 yr old dog died at the end of Oct & having a dog(s) is essential to my quality of life 2. It also took a solid 2 wks to get over another bout with Covid. Super thankful to be feeling better- a new dog & Covid the same week? I can’t recommend! 3. Holidays are different w/out my husband & my son & his wife came a couple weeks earlier (when I found out I had Covid. Again- I do not recommend!!), but my daughter & her partner & family friends came for dinner & games on Xmas eve & I went to 2 other friends’ homes on Xmas day 4. My home & Xmas lights 5. Winter- I could not love it more!!
@Diane, Congratulations on your new dog -- and thank you for adopting a shelter pup.
@Diane, good luck with your new pooch. enjoy enjoy enjoy
My brother is O- and has donated gallons of blood. He donates as often as he is allowed to.
@Tammy,
Tell your brother thanks for donating. I understand that O negatives' blood is often transfused to newborns and babies.
@Fru-gal Lisa, you are correct about the babies! I am grateful to be O- and CMV- and able to give at this time in my life (missed a lot of years with pregnancies and a travel deferral). The employees at my Red Cross location are very kind and it is nice to see them every couple of months. And I get to eat free Nutter Butters. 🙂
@Jan in GA, my late mother was from the south - she too liked Nutter Butters. My love of mayo and buttermilk come from her but I can live without Nutter Butters!
@Tammy, @Kristen;
I’m O- but can’t donate because I test positive for HepB (from a very early version of the vax, and not from actually suffering from the disease, thank ghu). Do you know if there are places I can donate anyway? Maybe research centers or something?
I’ve been a stereotypical Jew working Christmas week in a hospital, so I’m grateful for:
- colleagues and trainees who are kind and competent
- work that’s intellectually interesting, emotionally rewarding, and well paid
- some good patient outcomes, and the ability to provide some comfort and support to patients and families facing not-good outcomes
- my spouse and kids enjoying a visit to my in-laws while they’re off and I’m not
- having dinner with a friend last night (also grateful to her husband for handling dinner and bedtime with their kids so she and I could go out)
Oh, and my in-need-of-transfusions patients and I are very grateful for Kristen and all of the other blood donors!
@Katie, as a health care worker myself I am so grateful to Jewish and Muslim colleagues who are happy to take shifts on Christmas. Thank you for your service!!
I am so thankful to be home for Christmas!
I'm thankful that I got covid and food poisoning out of the way before going home, if I had to have it! I was fully recovered before travelling.
I'm thankful that the journey went well and I was able to help someone find their lost bag at the airport.
I'm thankful that I got to spend a great evening at the cinema and then going bowling with my best friend,
I'm thankful in general for a wonderful Christmas with my family and my sister's cute cat!
I'm thankful
--that the snow we got on Christmas Eve was light and fluffy and easier to shovel than the heavy, wet snow that was forecast.
--for a Christmas Day with family.
--for my neighbor's dog, a rescue, that has decided I'm not so scary after all.
--for a husband who still makes me laugh after all these years.
@Darlene, My Rescue Pup took a while to warm up to all the neighbors. Now she is the neighborhood Princess and receives treats nearly every time she goes out for a walk which is 2x a day, everyday.
@Darlene,
My dog, who is the biggest softie, has decided he must bark whenever someone approaches our front door. They don't even have to ring the doorbell! It's a mixed blessing. Someone who might want to break in might be deterred by his barking (which sounds very fierce), but would probably be licked to death if they decided to come in anyway. 🙂
@Liz B., Our big sissy of a Great Dane has a bark that could scare Hannibal Lector but would run in the other direction if someone actually broke in. (Unless he brought treats with him, then she would love all over him.)
Thankful for the rep at PNC who took the time to help us get their app to work. It was complicated.
For being able to see the grands over the holiday without having to travel.
For spending time with my whole family, my brothers picked up another brother who no longer drives so we were all there.
For my kids encouraging me to use the an App to track exercise. We all share our data.
For the very warm weather we are having & the 2 weeks we are closed at work. While I have not got one thing done on my list that is ok.
My dad was a member of the 1 gallon club. Every time there was a blood drive at work, he stepped up. I did it once and I donated my platelets. I don't think I'll be doing that for a while, but maybe I will schedule just to donate blood. It was very weird feeling the blood exit and come back again as they only took the platelets.
Very thankful that we treked to my sister-in-law's last weekend to enjoy a Christmas show and dinner. We had such a wonderful time together. We ended up at the afternoon show and had dinner afterwards, which was perfect because we didn't have to rush out after dinner for the show. We were able to sit and chat after dinner. It worked out perfectly. And then that we made it home safely.
I am thankful that everyone I know had a wonderful day on Wednesday. Seeing everyone's pictures on FB really brightened our day. I know of 2 people that got engaged over the holiday too. Our holiday is not over as our daughter's family is coming for the weekend. We're excited. And the weather is supposed to be pretty warm out.
I am thankful that we made the ham that was in our freezer and it tasted delicious. Now to chop all the ham off and make some soup and dinners. In WV they call it "soup beans" but in our family we follow the Senate Bean Soup recipe and it is basic and delicious. I will be making a lot of it!
Thankful that the hubs and I are on the same mindset for January and February when it comes to spending. We will be working on paying off our bills and not spending what we have. I'd really like to retire come 2026, so it's a must that the bills be paid and the savings increased.
@Maureen, I can't find anyone to take my ham bone. Everyone I have asked said don't want & I don't make or eat ham & pea soup. I'll keep in freezer & keep asking people.
@Regina, look up the recipe for Senate Bean soup. It's made with Navy beans, I believe, and very good.
My husband surprised me and had to go to the store, so I asked him to get me a bag of navy beans. He also brought home a bag of split peas. Oh I love me some pea soup! I will be making soup for days! LOL
@Maureen,
My in-laws, who were born and raised in Appalachian Kentucky, grew up eating "soup beans" and cornbread! As someone not native to this part of the US, I had never heard of soup beans before I met my husband. I make them without ham (because I don't really care for ham - yeah, I know, I know....) and it's delicious.
@Regina, Do you like bean soup? Here's an easy recipe: The night before you want the soup, rinse 1 lb. navy beans and soak in a 5 or 6 qt. pot with water to cover at least an inch deeper than the beans. In the morning, drain, rinse, and sort beans--throw out any that are bad looking. Put them in a crock pot with a ham bone, 6 cups chicken broth, 1 stalk chopped celery, 1 small carrot chopped, a few tablespoons chopped parsley, 1/2 teaspoon ground sage, 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano, and 1 bay leaf. Cook on low for 8 to 9 hours. Use tongs to remove bones. When cool enough, chop the ham you can pull off and return to soup. Throw out bones. Add salt and pepper to taste. Use an immersion blender to puree some of the soup and make it creamier, and add 1/2 cup light cream or half and half. Enjoy with crusty bread, and pass the Parmesan cheese. Makes about 3 quarts nutritious, delicious soup.
@Maureen, again late mother from the south and I just will not touch soup beans. Don't care how much my Yankee father loved them. I too don't consume ham - I can stomach a little Proscuitto in what my late MIL called "ham rolls".
@Regina, Wish you could send yours my way. I was away for both holidays and so no ham bones for me. :-<
@Maureen, We call them soup beans (I grew up in WV). So simple....navy beans, ham bone, chopped onion, water. We usually have simple homemade bread and butter with them.
Thankful for:
* the presents I ordered all arrived in time.
*the evening Mass we went to on Christmas Eve was just lovely. There were only a few lights on- for the altar and the musician, and some lighted trees, buy it felt cozy while reverent.
*a child who hasn't been in touch much did email for the holiday.
* we're dog-sitting my daughter's cocker spaniel, and he's a sweetie. And then he'll go home. I like dogs, but I'm really a cat person.
* I don't have to return any presents!!
Christmas was not nearly as hard as I imagined it would be, and for that I am most grateful! https://cannaryfamily.blogspot.com/2024/12/christmas-2024-in-brief.html
Also:
that I had time off from my job
that my home is comfortable and safe and full of love
that the weather has been so beautiful - cool and sunny
I am so looking forward to the New Year!
@Gina from The Cannary Family, Teddy is hilarious.
Christmas thankfuls:
--For lovely weather so far this Christmas break, so my kids can go outside to play all day. Better for them, and for me. 🙂
--That my son who had been sick before Christmas with a fever, etc. was feeling better on Christmas Day.
--That my other children were so good about not waking their still-recovering brother up at an unhealthy hour to open their presents. They agreed to get up at 6 a.m., open their stockings and their gifts to each other, and wait until we got home from church at 9 a.m. to do the rest of the presents with the whole family after their brother was awake. I was so impressed with how readily they agreed to this. Waiting to open presents is not easy when you're 7, 10, and 12.
--That our priest was able to join us for Christmas dinner. This was very last-minute, as I didn't realize he didn't have plans for the evening until we were talking to him after church in the morning. I told him if he wasn't completely exhausted after saying three Masses and attending another celebration in the afternoon, he was welcome to come for dinner. He did, and it was nice to have a guest. He's fun, and my kids love it when he comes, so it made it a little more celebratory.
--That my son confessed to me something he had done that he knew was wrong and had been bothering him, even though he was afraid to tell me. He will still have consequences because of his choices, but he said he felt better after telling me. It's hard for me to have deeply personal conversations with my children, because it's not how I was raised, but it's something I have consciously tried to do. This particular conversation came about because of a previous one I had initiated with him about a very uncomfortable topic for me, but it got him thinking about some things and made him realize he needed to stop what he was doing before it became a real problem. So I guess I need to keep making myself uncomfortable for their sakes.
--That I have made it 45 years (today is my birthday) of a very normal, mostly-boring life. I am healthy; I haven't suffered any great losses; I have a family that I love more than anything. I read recently a reflection that we should look for God not in the dramatic moments of our lives, but in the everyday of our lives I believe the exact wording was something like, "The life you didn't ask for, but were given." That is what I have. I wouldn't have even known to ask for this life when I was young, but here I am, and I am endlessly grateful for it.
@kristin @ going country, Happy Birthday! I enjoyed reading how your other kids were so thoughtful about their brother; it reminded me of how when we were growing up, the rule was we could get up as early as we wanted on Christmas Day, and look through our stockings (no unwrapping, but there were always some unwrapped things) until our parents woke up. One year I was in the hospital for appendicitis--I went to the ER on Christmas Eve--and my family postponed opening gifts until New Year's, when I was finally home.
@kristin @ going country,
Happy Birthday!!! May the year a head be full of joyful moments.
@kristin @ going country,
Look at you! When I read what you write, I hardly think it is boring! And it is a big thing to be raising kids to be responsible adults.
@kristin @ going country, I wish a very happy birthday to one of our most vital and interesting Commentariat members. And as @Chrissy said, there is absolutely nothing boring about your life!
@kristin @ going country,
Happy Birthday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
@kristin @ going country, Happy Birthday dear Kristin. Though I always look for your posts, today’s is especially moving. Congrats at being an awesome mom and good luck to your son.
@kristin @ going country, happy birthday! And thank you for all that you share with us. Your "mostly-boring life" is actually quite fascinating. 😎
@kristin @ going country, Happy Birthday to you! I hope that you have a wonderful day.
@kristin @ going country, Your kids are quite impressive wanting to wait until sick brother wakes up. I always let my kids do their stockings whenever they got up, which gave me about 20-30 minutes to try to wake up long before the sun. Then later everyone would fall asleep in the afternoon for short nap, except me. I was so glad when we hit around middle school age & got to sleep closer to normal wake up time.
@kristin @ going country, Happy birthday! And I'm so happy for you to have such fruitful mom moments this week.
@kristin @ going country, Happy Birthday!
Happy birthday, Kristin-with-an-I! I'm so glad you're here.
@kristin @ going country, Happy Birthday.
@kristin @ going country, Happy Birthday!
@kristin @ going country,
Hapoy birthday!
And your 5 is wonderful. I hope your kids will always feel safe to open up to you on what is worrying them.
(Kids raise us as much as we do them)
@kristin @ going country, happy birthday. all the best.
I am so grateful for those who donate blood. I needed a transfusion during my C section with DS#1, and DS#1 needed two transfusions during his recent hospital stays. I wish I could donate but low blood pressure and poor veins make me an absolute pain in the neck for it; since I am B+, my blood is not in very high demand, so I feel a little less guilty!
I am also thankful:
That we are all over the weird, weird infection 6 out of 7 of us got. We were all sick except DS#3--Clark even was sick! Very glad to be over that before our planned trip.
For a warmer weekend for trip prep and some outside activity. Also for potential open windows for Commodore Clark K Fluffin to have his "sniffums" time.
For a lovely, low-key Christmas. The boys mostly got fancy snacks in their stockings; they are all beyond the "plasticky toys and knick-nacks" phase. I gave DH some comfy socks made in the USA, and he gave me gift certificates: one good for three books of my choosing, one for a day to do whatever I want on our trip, and a week exempt of washing and drying dishes. He's good at thinking of those things! We took some food to a Little Free Pantry before going to Mass, played Dragonfire, and as is tradition, watched "Galaxy Quest" in the evening. Probably the best Christmas I've had in many years.
This was Clark's second Christmas (he had just come home in December last year) and he really understood the whole deal. Anytime he heard me wrapping stocking stuffers he was right there watching (and coveting the turkey jerky the boys were getting). Yes, he got a stocking, and understood perfectly which one was his and came running if we asked him he wanted to open something. I found made in the USA cat toys and thank goodness, he loves them. Score. Pets make Christmas more fun.
@Karen A., I'm glad your Christmas went so well. And of course Betty and I send our regards to the Commodore.
I am also happy the days are getting longer. My energy gets very low when the days are short and gray. I could never reside in the northern part of the country. I would have to go into hibernation.
I am thankful for many things today. I am grateful to have a refrigerator filled with holiday leftovers. I won’t need to cook for several days. Yay!!!
I am thankful that my husband helped me to clean up the kitchen after 2 days of cooking special meals and Christmas festivities. It was a bigger mess than usual. I had a bit of a stupid spell when I was in a rush cooking Christmas Day dinner. I opened the whipping cream and then shook the carton. This did not work out well. There was cream everywhere. I was really tired!
I am extraordinarily thankful that I had some good news on Christmas Eve. I had a biopsy done last week and it was confirmed that the abnormal cells in my breast were benign aka not cancerous! I was really scared and this was such a relief.
I am also thankful for my wonderful General Practitioner who called me Christmas Eve morning to give me the news even though his office was closed that day. He is one of the kindest, most compassionate, and one of the most positive people that I have ever met.
As always, I am thankful for my children and grandchildren. I love them with all my heart. They have my life richer and filled it with love.
Wishing you all the blessings of peace, good health, and prosperity. I am looking forward to the New Year.
@Bee, Celebrating with you for your good news on Christmas Eve. And blessings upon that doctor.
@Bee,
That is such good news! What a relief that is for you; now you can enjoy the holidays.
@Bee, I add my congratulations on both the good biopsy results and the thoughtful GP. I've had a biopsy done myself (and have a strong family history of breast cancer), so I can well imagine your relief.
@Bee, the cream! You were tired indeed. That is funny from a distance. 😎
@Bee, your hibernation comment made me laugh. 😉
It's actually been cloudy/overcast but with the snow on the ground it can actually be bright.
glad your biopsy was not bad news & glad you GP took time to call you immediately. The what if thoughts can really start to take a toll on you. Just knowing is such a relief. 🙂
@Bee, I'm so happy for you about the benign diagnosis!
BEE! I'm so happy for you about your biopsy results. Yay!!!
@Bee, Wow, that doc is a keeper! Great news!
@Bee,
Three huzzahs for the good news about your biopsy! And, umm, I've done the same thing with a half-and-half container. I think I found dried splatters for days afterward. Ha.
@Lindsey, keeper for sure - tis rare to find a good doc these days. Sending thanks to my uncles who vetted the doc that graciously accepted me as a new patient. New doc even put in "writing" my A1C is fantastic. Long live my (younger than me) liberation doctor.
@Bee,
Relieved to hear your good news. Take care!
@Bee, What wonderful blessed news! And a wonderful doctor who made the call. So much for you to celebrate! Congratulations!!
Thankful that my son enjoyed his Christmas. Also thankful that his list this year was very affordable.
Thankful that my aunt enjoyed her Christmas too. I am very aware that she may not see another holiday and so I try to make each one count for her and do special things that I know she loves.
Thankful for a restful day the day after Christmas.
Thankful for the birth of our Savior.
Thankful that family at drama at Christmas could be side barred long enough for us to enjoy each other on Christmas day.
My blood type is O-...... I wish I was strong enough to give blood, but I am sooooo afraid of needles, I almost pass out every time I need to have blood drawn....
Today I'm thankful for:
* Having had both my daughters with me for Christmas, and having a great Christmas overall
* Being gifted a book and a DVD boxset I really wanted
* Maintaining my weight loss this pass year (60 pounds). I'm now ready to tackle the next 40.
* Turning 44 soon, and being in good health
* My husband
@Isa, I used to be really scared/nervous also. But I was fortunate to have someone who would go with me & distract me & the ability to explain to nurse/phlebotomist my situation. There have been some failed attempts, there have been some ok times but over time (years) & wonderful butterfly needles I was able to get less nervous & more capable of giving blood.
Maybe you can just visit/observe a Blood drive (with someone who is donating). Just a thought, absolutely No pressure. You can only do what you are comfortable with. 🙂
very happy to have a family and a nice warm home, and for a festive period with just the right amount of festive socialising, but no serious travel or logistics to try and manage, and not too many places to be!
I like cold weather, always have, not a massive summer fan, though the longer days are nice to be sure. I'm grateful to have a spouse whose views around festive spending aligns very much with mine - there's very little debate around how much is too much / too little / just right, which is important when you have kids! We try and keep it pretty equitable without being too bean-counting, and try and maintain that Christmas is more for slightly more useful / practical / modest stuff and birthdays are for wishlist / bigger ticket stuff... spreads the cost and expectation a little! Not into mountains and mountains of tatty plastic or buying for buying's sake.
1) The lovely friends we've gathered, both over the years, and the ones we've made since moving here to the coast eight years ago. We spent last night in a beautiful coastal canyon, sipping wine and listening to a wonderful guitarist, all due to a last minute invite from a couple that falls into that later group.
2) The gobsmackingly gorgeous sunrise that occurred yesterday. Photos of it are all over our community Facebook page, making me doubly thankful that I made an effort to go outside and really take it in.
3) That my two granddaughters, plus Mom and Dad, will be flying in tomorrow for a week of coastal fun under what looks increasingly to be sunny, if slightly cool, skies. Anything but rain was hoped for, so I'm thrilled. I do outdoor fun with the girls so much better than indoor fun!
4) That I didn't give up after my first attempt at making a rosemary infused focaccia bread resulted in a hard loaf due to my yeast not activating properly. I was so frustrated- the fussiness of yeast is why I've stayed away from breadmaking most of my adult cooking years- but I gave it one more try, and this time it all came together beautifully, whew! Most of the focaccia went to a friend as a 'thank you,' but I'd made a small loaf for my DH and I to enjoy with some olive oil, and it was delicious!
5) That I've made it to Day Five in my latest attempt to quit sugar. The first couple of days are brutal, and when I'm most cognizant of how similar to a drug sugar can be for some of us. Once I reach Day Three, it gets immeasurably easier, and I can begin to relax, and enjoy watching others enjoy their sweets without any compulsions to do so myself.
@Tamara R, I am impressed with your #5. I don't expect to ever make peace with a life without sugar. 70% dark chocolate takes the edge off for me, and I'm just not willing to let that go. (Yet?)
@Central Calif. Artist Jana, I have an unhealthy relationship with sugar, in that once I start it’s hard to stop. That feeling is the reason I’ve come to understand that it’s best for me to step away from it altogether.
I’m not remotely overweight, so it’s not about the calories. It’s about the compulsion to ‘keep going.’ I don’t like feeling like that at all.
@Tamara R, kudos for the amazing willpower during this most sugary time of year, too!!!
@Tamara R, I get it! That compulsion is one of the many reasons I chose to abstain from alcohol. Currently I'm trying to get out of the pre-diabetic category, building in a greater buffer against type-2 diabetes, which runs in my family.
@Central Calif. Artist Jana, 90%/90%+ dark is even better, trust me. Sometimes a bit hard to find though.
I'm grateful that the week between Christmas and New Year's is a quiet time for me. I try to take a break and read more, walk more, and just relax.
I'm grateful that I enjoy cooking. We need to eat every day and I'm the chief cook. If I disliked the job it would be so much harder.
For books! And libraries, which are my chief source of new reading material. Such a huge blessing.
That we have a gorgeous state park 15 minutes from our house. We took the dogs there to walk yesterday. A park pass is part of our license tag fee every year.
I'm grateful that over the years I have learned to say no to things I really don't want to do. My tendency is to be a people pleaser and learning to put myself first sometimes was tough but has definitely improved my life without harming anyone else.
First, I'm thankful to have been so bountifully remembered by family and friends this Christmastide, in terms of both thoughtful gifts and invitations to social gatherings.
But part of me--the part that will always miss DH--is also thankful that Christmas is over. It hasn't been as hard to get through the season this year as it's been in years past, when first DH's decline and then his death were still raw wounds. But I've still had my tough moments. (And, @JD, I've been thinking of you in particular.)
Finally, among my many thankfulnesses for the Bestest Neighbors, I'm thankful for the four photos they gave me for Christmas that depict aspects of our shared lives. Three are of DH and me, and the fourth commemorates a moment that will forever live in hilarity: On our return over 30 years ago from a dinner out as a foursome, DH and I stopped off at the BNs' for a nightcap--only to discover that snowmelt from the infamous Blizzard of 1993 was flooding their basement. Being the helpful friend I am, I tucked my skirt into my pantyhose, donned a pair of Dr. BN's rubber boots, and seized a mop. Whereupon Ms. BN snuck off for her Polaroid and got a photo of me bending over with my skirt tucked into my pantyhose. Whereupon I chased her through the wet basement with the mop for the next 5 minutes, yelling, "You die!"
Anyway, I thought you'd all enjoy that story. And as Mr. Bennet says in P&P, "For what do we live, but to make sport for our neighbours, and laugh at them in our turn?"
@A. Marie,
I love the neighbor story!
I was thinking of you, too. Really, of all of us here who lost a parent, spouse, sibling, child, relative or friend this year. But you and I have a lot of parallels.
@A. Marie, thank you for the laugh. What a fun memory! Best of all, it was captured forever. BTW, that’s one of my favorite Mr. Bennett quote.
@A. Marie, ROTFL! Thanks for sharing!
@A. Marie, That is a great story!! And a perfect quote to go with it. 🙂
@A. Marie, I'm laughing so much. What a sight & picture to see. Honestly, I would expect nothing less than what you did. 🙂 Great neighbors are such a blessing.
@A. Marie, That's such a funny story! Thanks for sharing.
@A. Marie, I am only sorry I cannot see the photo!
@A. Marie,
That's a hilarious story! I knew panty hose had to be good for *somethimg*, and now I know. 🙂
@A. Marie,
LOL
@A. Marie, the rare intentionally tuck of a skirt into pantyhose - sually happens by accident!
Go O-negative blood types, lol (I am one 🙂 )
This week I am thankful:
* that my kids are all deep in the Legos stage of life. It's a fun toy that they all love and can all play together.
* that my husband has a couple of weeks off work right now. He's between careers and took time to rest in these 2 weeks before he starts his new one. After the intensity of his last job, it's so nice for him to have a break!!
* that people have been extremely kind to him (and our whole family) in the midst of this big transition. And that we can be real with people - we're so excited for what's ahead, but it's also sad to leave a place you've invested in for ten years. (Though we'll still be in the old workplace a lot for family stuff and I will still work there one day a week.)
* that this career change doesn't mean moving to a new place.
* for traditions. I was thinking yesterday about how much of our Christmas is tradition-based. The foods we eat Christmas night are based on foods my in-laws eat every Christmas Eve and it all points back to how the Lord provided for them almost 40 years ago. We have gone to my brother's church in Lansing for Christmas Eve for my entire adult life. I make the same cake and punch that my grandma made at Christmas when she was alive. We've put up a tent in our living room and had a "campout" Christmas night for the last 7ish years. I love the history of so much that we've done this week.
- Even though I am not completely resting during this period. I am glad work is slowly gearing up.
- I am thankful for the relationship I have with my siblings. We lost my mom 2 years ago and I am so glad we are mature and have experienced our family issues together.
- I am glad for finishing my end of year preparations.
- I am ready for an extended no spend month. I use these to be creative and reduce stress.
My blood type was determined by a lab to have both positive and negative factors so that when typed, I have literally shown up as negative one time and positive another. I had to take the injection after giving birth the first time because I typed as negative and my baby was positive . The second prenatal bloodwork showed me as positive so we had to get a lab involved. This + or - thing has happened to me several times.
Anyway. Here are my thanksgivings:
1. For a holiday that went smoothly with only a couple of sad moments so far.
2. For the wonderful Christmas dinner my daughter and son-in-law made. It was fancy, generous and delicious. Both of them are good cooks, as is my other daughter.
3. For the love and thoughtfulness put into presents I received.
4. For being able to be there to share the holiday with kids and grandkids. I know for some, getting together at holidays is physically or logistically impossible. Or emotionally impossible.
5. Finally, for being put in the right place at the right time to help an elderly man whose ride to Walmart didn’t come round back to the door to pick him up for a while. He was waiting with his groceries in the parking lot, looking for her, dismayed. He had her phone number on a card but no cell phone, so I tried calling but it wouldn’t go through any time I tried. As we talked and waited, about 20 or 30 minutes, the woman showed up. I suspect she had fallen asleep in the parking lot or had been on her phone. She seemed okay , not sketchy. He had told me she was his neighbor and gave him rides regularly. As I left, he thanked me for waiting and helping him and reached out and squeezed my hand. I wondered when was the last time that old man with stroke-slurred speech, halting walk and disfigured face from cancer had experienced human contact from a stranger. Everyone else was walking around him when I first saw him. I thank God that my experience with DH, who could look scruffy and be loud or temperamental in public his last few years, taught me to look at people with empathy and the thought that this is a person, not an oddity.
@JD, your story about the elderly man at Walmart has moved me to tears. Blessings on you for your compassion. And, yet again, I'm reminded of the John Prine song "Hello in There." We all need to say "Hello in there" more often.
@JD,
I’m so happy to hear that you had a merry Christmas. Your daughters sound like wonderful people. I’m sure that the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.
I’m also glad that you were there to offer a bit of reassurance and kindness to someone who needed it. Kindness is underrated. Being kind is the one thing that all of us can do to make the world a better place.
@JD, My heart hurts for that elderly man; blessings on you for stepping up and helping him. And I'm so happy that in the midst of your loss you've had many happy family moments this Christmas.
@JD, you were an angel to that man. What a touching story.
@JD, Thanks for making me cry with the old gentleman story. It reminds me of a time when a friend was telling me about her weekly massages, and I said I was amazed at her spending that much every week. I can still remember her words: "You have someone who touches you all the time. I have to pay someone to touch me." You did a wonderful thing for that man.
@JD,
I'm so glad you had a wonderful Christmas. Having good cooks in the family - I'm blessed to have many in mine - is always a joy.
Your story about the elderly man made me smile....as a gray haired older woman, I now all too well how we tend to be ignored....add on this gentleman's physical issues (and perhaps scruffy appearance), and it's not hard to see why most people would prefer to avoid him or just "not see him".
You likely made his day, week, and month!
Working in a hospital has made me much more aware of the power of touch. I remember many years ago, I held the hand of a patient who was HIV positive (I think he was telling me an emotional story, and was getting choked up), and he thanked me for doing so. It struck me then that a lot of people were likely terrified to even casually touch this man. We all need to realize there's a person in there - they are not their disease/ailment/surgically changed body.
My closest niece and I spent a big part of Christmas Day together. I had thought about streaming a movie to watch together and when I was perusing availability, she said it wasn't necessary to spend much time looking, she was enjoying our conversation.
I am thankful that one of her presents was "eyelid tape." I had looked at it as an option until I have something more permanent done, but just had not ordered it yet.
I am thankful I got the laundry done yesterday. I had to push myself to do it. It was very quiet at the laundromat.
I am thankful I can still work. I was asked to work Saturday (tomorrow) night for the nurse that works opposite of me as she and her family are celebrating their Christmas that night. She is so good to work for me when I need off, I said yes. It's been a long time since I've worked three nights, off one, work two more. (Another reason to get the laundry done.)
I am thankful for my workplace. We have a reputation as being "very homelike and friendly."
I am thankful for my dog. I am also one of those people that needs the companionship. She seems to do very well while I am at work. I will say that she occasionally howls at me when I get home as if to say, "Where have you been?"
On that blood donation thing, I'm told that when men and women who don't have periods regularly give blood, it reduces their chance of having heart attacks. Which could be caused by having too much iron buildup in their systems.
This December I am grateful for:
1. The cancer has not come back. Last checkup was good!
2. The friends who host a Christmas get-together (no gifts) every Dec. 25 so we don't have to be alone. Earlier this year, she also came to be with me when I took my dog to the vet the final time -- now that's a good friend! Going above and beyond the call of duty...
3. Getting to participate in this commentariat community. I feel a sense of belonging even though I have never met any of you, my friends.
4. Having a paid-for house.
5. Retirement pensions and 2 PT jobs and being on Medicare.
@Fru-gal Lisa,
We have a hereditary condition in our family, Hemachromatosis, which causes the body to build up too much iron. It affects more than the heart by the way. However I have never heard of non-hemachromatosis sufferers needing to give blood to reduce their iron.
1. Thank you for that great blood type chart! Is O- considered the "universal donor"? I think that is me; I forgot because my iron is never quite high enough to donate.
2. Thank you for this blog—your photos (today especially wow!), your kindness, your useful info and helpful encouragement, your teaching by example, and for keeping things civil.
3. Thankful for today's rain.
4. Thankful for electricity.
5. Thankful for money to grocery shop and a pick-'em-up truck to haul it all in today as I head down the hill to Winco for the first time since November 5. (Trying to view this somewhat odious day of being away from home and multiple stops and traffic in the rain with gratitude.)
6. So very thankful for friends who ask me if I need anything when they go shopping so that I can postpone my trips to the last possible moment.
Today I am thankful for my oldest son who turns 12 today. He is an endless source of amusement and joy for me and my husband. I am also thankful for his little brother who has selflessly delighted in prepping things for his birthday all week.
- Thankful to have focused on eating more veggies through 4 Christmas meals.
- Thankful to have spent time with both my aging parents: Dad is 93 and mom is 89. I am 61 and the only one of my friend group to have both parents around.
- Thankful to have to cuddle time with Littles. Great neices and nephews. I miss littles.
Happy Holidays!
I hope everyone is making it through. 😉
Thankful for an uneventful Christmas eve & day. Teen slept until noon & we did stockings & few friends/family gifts that had. Teen already got new tires for Christmas earlier that I paid for. Rescue dogs enjoyed their new toys & I enjoyed spending the day with them.
Thankful my Aunt spent Christmas day with her friend who lives close to her new apartment. Usual family get together did not happen & traffic too crazy (snow birds & vacationers) for her to drive 2+ hours to my dad. Now if she can get rested & not get sick.
Thankful got to face time/video call with my dad. His chemo is going ok & he is already tired & can't make it through day without nap. He's disappointed we weren't able to come for holiday break but glad to talk & see us.
Thankful for a white Christmas eve & some Christmas day. Today the snow is completely gone & 40*. Predicted rain until New Year then back to snow & colder. The winter rollercoaster continues.
Thankful got teen Winter Senior Pictures done while had snow (& cold low teens) for some pretty pictures. I have to say the silly pictures were some of my favorite & was happy with the turnout. Now, check another (partial) thing off Senior year list. 🙂
Thankful for the down time to be able to get a few things done at home & relax with teen & rescue dogs before tax season starts. Will get my new office set up soon & get ready for tax season to begin.
** Anyone with HSA, use up before end of year. Get those new glasses, medications refilled & over the counter free necessities that are allowed on your plan.
** Anyone who bought/sold a house keep those sell/closing paperwork. If you did both (buy & sell) you need closing paperwork for each house.
** Anyone who got a new furnace/AC, windows & insulation put in, solar panels keep those receipts for tax credits.
** Anyone with college don't forget your textbook receipts, lab materials & items necessary to do the class (welding helmet $500, stethoscope, scrubs) are education credits. Many colleges should have your 1098T available online in your/student college portal/email, otherwise in mail in January.
** Roth/IRA contributions for 2024 can be made up until April 2025. So if you can add more it may benefit you on your taxes if you have not maxed out contributions. Ask your Tax Professional where you can decrease your taxes in this area.
And ALWAYS Thankful for Kristen & everyone here in the commemorative. Thank you sharing all of your knowledge with all of us. Sharing is Caring is what I used to tell my kindergarteners (when I taught) & there is a lot of caring here on Kristen's site. Thank you. 🙂 It is truly a pleasure to read what each of you share.
Have a great weekend!
@Regina, not HSA, likely FSA or HRA perhaps?. HSA is not a use-it-or-lose-it. And some employers allow you to file for FSA reimbursement thru early months of the next year. And some can roll over - my companies allows up to $500 to rollover (was higher during Covid).
I’m thankful my cough is getting better, I’ve been able to sleep the past two nights in a row, and am starting to feel closer to normal. My family and I were all sick over Christmas with a terrible cough and I will be happy when everyone is back to 100%.
I missed my last two allergy shot appointments due to this illness, and today I was glad to get my injections. It’s not often I feel so happy to get jabbed with four needles! 🙂
Oh nononono. Friday is always food day.
I almost added alligator to my animal encounters but I ran away !!!
I’ve had a lot of good food but nothing compares to the vat of broiled crab claws in butter and garlic and some really good coleslaw. “Happy Place”
I'm one of the ones who can't donate blood. Which is too bad because I am O- so anyone could use my blood. My husband is A+ which means our blood is incompatible so we were only able to have one child. I miscarried the second before we figured that out. Too bad RhoGAM was not common when our daughter was born. But, our daughter is lovely and I am so glad to have her.
I'm grateful for this list and commentariat. You guys come up with great comments and questions - although I'm sad that I had poor connectivity when the terrific superpowers question came up. Seems moot to answer it now.
@WilliamB, I really want to know your superpower!!!!
@WilliamB, aw, heck, it's never too late. Spill the beans!
@WilliamB, inquiring minds NEED to know!
@WilliamB, OK, then. I realize I think I have a bunch.
1. Organizing, both physical and Getting S/h/*/$/Stuff Done. If there’s an opposite to executive function disorder, I have it. I’m not OCD, I’m just usually highly organized. In my home, everything (well, almost everything) has a place and everything is usually in its place. I can find anything in my kitchen blindfolded. Paperwork is more of a challenge but I usually do pretty well. I can usually remember what needs to be done and the sub-steps to get it done, without a list. Actual schedule is written down on a calendar, just in case.
2. Stamina and Being Tough. I don’t mean in physical activity (sadly), I mean in focusing and keeping moving forward. This helps with Getting Stuff Done, it also helps with doing a lot during the day on a trip, or being effective at work when there’s a ton to do. I don’t feel that I’m tops at this but over time, I’ve come to realize that I have more of this than many.
3. Problem Solving. Whether you need figuring out a more efficient procedure, or ways around a problem, or gaming a system to get the outcome you want, I’m your person. Sometimes it literally just pops into my head willy-nilly, other times it comes from thinking hard about the problem.
4. Negotiating, including Enlarging the Pie and also Standing My Ground. I’ve talked before about how I negotiate. I’m better at finding ways for everyone to be better off (Pareto Efficiencies, for the economically-trained) but I can wrestle for a bigger piece of the pie as well. I’m also good at being politely persistent and not accept “no” for an answer from, say, customer service. Or sometimes not-so-politely, if circumstances warrant it.
5. Tetrising. I can organize, make efficient, and tetris stuff into space very effectively. For example, graduating from college I sold some bulky stuff to another student. Her car was packed when she came to buy; by the time I was done she had the bulky stuff and more free space in her car than when she showed up. This was an unexpected downside when I moved: I had far more stuff than I realized.
There’s also plenty of things I’m not good at. Tops of my list are:
1. Not Being Judgmental. The best I’ve managed over time is learning not to say it; the judgmental voice is still in the back of my head.
2. Validating, and in particular realizing when I should be listening and validating rather than problem-solving.
3. Being positive. One reason I’m good a problem-solving is I’m good at anticipating problems. This doesn’t always lead to optimism.
4. Being patient. I’ll probably be working on this one till the day I die.
Thanks for listening and thanks to Kristin for posing the question
@WilliamB,
It is never too late!
@WilliamB,
These are excellent and very useful qualities, wherever you find yourself in life!
@WilliamB, we're practically identical twins! Except I'm good at being positive and patient.
@MB in MN, Oh, can you come and teach me, please? I really need it to help someone in my life.
@WilliamB, it seems that another one of your superpowers is knowing yourself. What an interesting list—wish you lived near me!
I'm thankful for a fun and relaxed Christmas with family, for time to rest and watch Christmas movies, read books, and drink hot cocoa, and for this sunny day after a series of cloudy and rainy ones.
I am kinda grateful the holidays are now in the rear view mirror.It was fun.But I tried to do too much in too little time,felt a little stressed, tired, and I wrote myself a note about what to do and not do next holidays season, printed it up and clipped it into my day planner (yes I keep a paper dayplanner.. the note is in November to remind me ….ahead of time…
I am thankful for a refrig full of holiday leftovers so I can take a cooking break for a couple of days.
I am grateful a friend is being kind to me this week.. won’t go into details but I needed it..
I am grateful for happy blogs like this one that even in the rough times put an optimistic and kind spin on things, like I try to do.
I am grateful for days getting longer. I don’t ike winter,even the smidgen we get in Arizona.. I am a S.Cali/Arizona desert rat.Love me some summer and swimming pool times.
@Madeline, my paper day planner is my paper calendar & clip or put notes on also. When the tear ends I put my paper calendar into my taxes paperwork to reference (for anything) if needed later. I do use digital calendar but everything goes onto paper calendar also.
My family, my faith in Christ and my dog!! My list is vast but these three are priceless.
When I was in nursing schhol I had trouble comprehending the “negative” and “positive” stuff..especially the RH negative info. in relation to childbirth and rhogam shots.I never devled too deeply in,figuring, oh well,you can’t grasp EVERYTHING in nursing.. and DON’T YOU KNOW IT.. about 5 years later,teaching a LAMAZE class, a scientist husband ASKED ME detailed questions about how RH Negative/rhogam work..and wanted a detailed answer.I had to tell him what I could and then let him know it was something that I had to re reserch and review order to give him JUST the right answers..at the next class.
OF COURSE! EMBARRASSMENT! You bet I studied up on RH NEGATIVE.(But of course, no one ever asked again!)
I'm done grading! I teach academic writing (writing up research) at the undergraduate level and grading/evaluating/responding is super involved. But now I only need to write up a couple of recommendation letters and then I can REST! So thankful.
Where do you live with all those pretty ice pictures?
I'm in the middle of the east coast. 🙂 So here we sometimes have ice, sometimes not. I appreciate when we do because it's more interesting than drab brown!
- time with family
- flexible work schedules so we have time off
- old friends
Happy holidays, all! Christmas is the first of the 12 days of Christmas. I am thankful for a quiet Christmas this year, with just a few lovely gifts and no traveling. We went to our parents' for many years, a huge expensive hassle, but they are all gone now.
(2) Thankful to be home for Christmas, our home, even if I didn't do much decorating.
(3) Thankful DH agreed to feed the neighbors' cats during their travels.
(4) Thankful for the wonderful music at church.
(5) Thankful for our formerly stray cat, who purrs and cuddles so well.
My thankfuls this week are for my communities of family and friendship, and I feel this blog to be one of them.
I have been giving some thought to next year. As the word to inspire me next year I have chosen the verb and noun buoy(ancy). They express my heartfelt wish to feel secure and give security in the waves around us at the present time.
We have some family and friends gatherings in the coming days and perhaps I can't comment. Wishing you all already every blessing for 2025!
First off...a late "Merry Christmas!" To those of you who celebrate!
I am thankful.this week for...
1. My entire family was together yesterday for our Christmas gathering! ALL of us. For the first time since my dad passed away 5 years ago! It was so nice to be together, and we got some family photos!
2. Several of the cousins came a few days early. We enjoy interacting with them as young adults and its one of the best feelings, seeing them enjoying each other's company!
3. That our bodies can heal! We've all been under the weather, but each day brings improvement and a return to good health.
4. For some time off work. It's not super easy for me to take off work over the holidays, but I was able to schedule a day off long ahead of time this year. To be able to sleep in without an alarm is like heaven to me! I normally start work at 6:30 am.
5. That my husband insists on going for walks often! I tend to drag my feet when I'm warm and cozy, but I rarely regret going! Getting outside in the fresh air is so beneficial for not only my physical but mental health too!
Happy weekend everyone! I'm thankful:
-That my multiple appointments yesterday all worked out. One office even squeezed me in during the morning, which saved me an additional hour on the road in the afternoon!
-That my first mammogram experience was fine. And wow, the hospital where I went has the whole thing set up like a spa...chocolates, infused water with oranges, etc. So I let myself feel like a queen while I was waiting lol.
-That I got to spend a couple hours in my new classroom with no interruptions and just got to think and arrange stuff.
-For a day off today and to get to work on my home to-do list.
-For a busy week with lots of visits. I also like a lot of white space in my life, and I haven't had much of that during this winter break. But at least I have so many people who care about me and want to spend time with me!
@Heather Mar, come the day they screen males for testicular and penile cancer using the same method as "mammograms", I'll give it 5 seconds of thought and continue my hard pass. Glad your test went fine but those who chose to submit to this testing that have dense breast tissue, have to roll the dice re: will their insurance cover the additional testing or can they pay out of pocket? Except for maybe a test for venereal disease, males get to skate. Perhaps their delicate nature is the reason why lol..
Kristen is right that not everyone can donate blood, so many reasons folks can get excluded, so its important for those that can donate to do so. I'm O negative, husband is O positive, and we do double red donations 3 times a year (the maximum allowed). Double reds don't take much more time than a regular donation after you factor in the screening and waiting around after, and you give every 16 weeks instead of 8.
I first donated in college just for a chance to win concert tickets, and then they called me to make an appointment to come back in as I was eligible. As a broke young person with no extra money to donate to charity, I figured blood donation was a way to give back that didn't cost me anything, and I got free tshirts and snacks out of it, too!
Oh, that is such a good point; it's a way to make a non-monetary charitable donation. I like that!
@Kristen, that it is. And do tell my why my recent not many labs got billed as $4371.00??? Those without insurance are screwed, pure and simple. However no one should pay until his/her insurance company adjudicates the bill.
Thank you for the blood compatibility chart. I always wondered who gets my B+. I just reached 3 gallons of donations and I feel pretty good about that. Especially because I have the same hemoglobin issue you have. Be sure to drink extra water and eat cookies while you make new blood!
Wow, 3 gallons is amazing. Good work!