Thankful Thursday | do I see a symphony in my future?
This week, I am thankful:
that I have a Sunday off of clinicals this coming weekend!
Due to a scheduling conflict, my professor can't be there, so we get a day off. We do have to make it up later, but hey, I'm gonna just be grateful for a weekend day off.
And this means...I can go to the symphony on Sunday afternoon if I so choose.
(We know I will so choose. 😉 )
that I got to see my aunt and uncle yesterday
Yesterday I went to visit the aunt and uncle that Lisey lived with during her time at aviation mechanic school, and it was lovely to catch up with them. 🙂
We looked through some old family photographs, and I chuckled at this one of my grandma and my great-uncle Reuben, mainly because my preschool-aged grandma was giving such side-eye!
My aunt gave me some of my grandma's things to pass on to Miss Fashion (because you know she is always down for receiving some vintage goodies.)
This is a win-win situation...my vintage-loving girl is happy, and my aunt is so happy to rehome things she doesn't want/need!
My aunt loves moose...this is her mailbox that I snapped on my way out. 🙂
for a sweet lady at Lisey's trade school
Lisey was interviewed for a kid's magazine that is shared in schools, and she asked if I could bring a copy to her trade school for Miss H, one of the women who works there. So I dropped it off yesterday on my way to visit my aunt and uncle. 🙂
Miss H always loves to hear about Lisey's adventures; Lisey is still kind of famous at her trade school because she managed to land a job in Hawaii straight out of school.
So, the magazine article will get displayed at school now. Yay! I hope Lisey continues to inspire other young women.
that the exam rate is slower this semester
Last semester, we had 8-week classes, which meant we had exams at a steady rate of every other week.
This semester, it's more like every three weeks, which feels positively luxurious. I have so much more time to prep for exams this way!
that the sun doesn't set until almost 6 pm now
We are getting super close to a 6 pm sunset now. Woohoo!
that at this very moment, Chiquita is not even trying to sit on my keyboard
That could change in about 30 seconds, so I gotta appreciate this moment by moment. 😉
that I have a day off today
I have no school today, no clinical, and no shifts at the hospital. Woohoo!
Obviously, I still have studying and homework to do, but I am grateful for a day to get caught up on that plus some other life stuff.
But first...I'm gonna go to the gym and also go for a walk. Then my brain will be ready to focus for the rest of the day. 🙂
I am thankful we are not getting several inches of snow. I am ready for winter to be over. I am grateful I am hearty enough to be outside every day but I will be happy to see winter in the rear view mirror this year.
I am thankful we did not lose electricity with the high winds Sunday into Monday. A lot of people did suffer that fate and I am grateful that the outages were not several days long.
I am thankful that a friend that recently started a full time in office job has been given permission to finish her work days at home. That improves her work life balance and allows her to walk her dog in the afternoon. We will be able to walk together soon.
@K D, every year I hate winter more and the fact that some people love it and prefer it to summer really makes me question how they think. 😛
@Battra92,
We hate sweating. lol. I can always put more clothes on, but unless skin becomes removable in the future, hot is just hot.
For me, the other problem is sun exposure. I'm pale, family has history of skin cancer, and I've yet to find a non-itchy annoying sunscreen that doesn't turn white and make me look like one of the 18th century French ladies.
@ms.b214@gmail.com, Same here. I'm so pale that once I got third-degree burns after a day at an amusement park; I'd covered everything with sunscreen except the back of my neck. Ugh.
@ms.b214@gmail.com, not sure you can find it easily but for your face, I highly recommend the SVR ‘blur’. It is not sticky at all, smells nice (not too strong) doesn’t make your face oily. I wear it every day. It’s Spf50.
Like you I hate the feeling of sunscreen, haven’t found any for the body that enjoy wearing.
As a female leader and educator, I LOVE LOVE LOVE Lisey's article. Yay for Lisey!
@MommaJo, I join you in cheers for the indomitable Lisey and her indomitable mother!
@MommaJo, I agree. How great to be an inspiration to other young girls!
Those unexpected days off are the best. Like snow days as a kid. Enjoy!
Thankfuls:
--That the small town I'm driving to today for a basketball game has a small market where I can get the most necessary groceries (milk and potatoes at this moment). This will save me 80 miles of extra driving to get to the bigger town.
--That I have a car I don't mind driving long distances in. It was always a drag to drive hours in our big old clunky 12-passenger van. It's great for some things, and I'm still glad we have it, but it's loud and shaky and only picks up some radio stations sometimes. I absolutely do not regret spending the money on my new/old Honda last year.
--For the end of basketball season this Saturday for my 7th grader. He likes it, but he's pretty tired and is looking forward to the slower pace of track season. Me too. There are a lot fewer track meets than there are basketball games, and the practices are just for the last hour of school, so he can take the regular bus home.
--For a better rest of the week for one child who had a hard day on Monday. His week improved, and thus, mine did, too. 🙂 You know that saying, "You're only as happy as your most unhappy child"? Truer words were never spoken.
--For my old L.L. Bean sweaters. They're the heavy all-cotton ragg sweaters, and I love them in the winter. I have two, purchased during those two-a-day sales they have that I used to check, and I have certainly gotten my twenty dollars out of them in the past decade.
@kristin @ going country, I love LLBean and have so many items from them that last and last and last.
@Central Calif. Artist Jana, I have an LL Bean fisherman’s knit chunky turtleneck that I bought in my mid 20’s. I’ll be 60 this summer. I wear it all the time & it still looks just fine. My daughter wants me to leave it to her in my will!!!
@Diane, I have flannel lined jeans I bought in 1983. Made in USA which will likely never happen again.
@Selena, LL Bean jeans.
I am thankful that I joined a cross fit class for people over 50. It is less intense than a regular cross fit class, but a little tough for an un-active person. I welcome the activity and it will help me in the long run when I go to retire. And I look forward to just trying the activities. I know eventually I will be able to do a lot more, tone my body and get healthy.
Even though it is cold again, I am thankful that we got less than an inch of snow last night. They were calling for 3-5 inches. And I am glad I am not in Central NY where they are being bombarded with snow (somewhere in the range of 200 inches of snow). I forgot who lives in that area from this group (I think Marie?), but I hope she and her neighbors are surviving.
Thankful that I made it through a difficult day yesterday. It was my friend's birthday and she died in May of last year. And surprise, her husband called me and we had a great talk. I know we both felt better. He is doing as well as can be expected, and joined a surviving spouses group, so I was happy to hear that. I always send cards, but so glad he reached out. Now I have his phone number, so next time I am visiting Iowa, I can give him a call and visit.
Thankful that the week is almost over. The week seems to be slow and draw out. Maybe because I have my vacation scheduled week after next and it seems to be taking forever to get here!
Thankful (and knock wood) I haven't gotten the flu bug going around. So many people are being hit hard by it. The MD's are saying it is not the flu and not covid, but a lot of people are really sick. I hope they all get better because it is not fun from what I hear.
@Maureen, yep, that's me in Central NY. But we haven't gotten hit nearly as hard as the folks in Buffalo and points west, and in Watertown and points north and east. We're not even in serious contention for the Golden Snowball award.
All the same, I'll be glad to see the back of this winter. It's been a hard one for many reasons.
@A. Marie, wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could spread that precipitation around the country? It seems that a hard winter on one side of the Mississippi is a mild one on the other side, and the reverse is also true. A little balance would be most welcomed!
I love the interview with Lisey! What magazine was that? I have a 10yo daughter and am wondering if she will come across the article.
Scholastic!
@Kristen,
I knew it was Scholastic, but which one? Which grade level? They publish several.
I will keep my eye out for it next time I sub in an English (?) class. (Or is it their science magazine???)
@Kristen, I was guessing Scholastic. My daughter didn’t recognize the article from school, but maybe we’ll get lucky and she will get a copy later.
@Fru-gal Lisa, I found the article online!
https://action.scholastic.com/issues/2024-25/110124/taking-flight.html?language=english#600L-700L
Enjoy your day off! I am glad you have a little adventure planned.
Along with K D, I'm grateful that we never lost power here during what for us was a three-day windstorm. (Granted, I do now have a back yard that looks like a giant game of pick-up sticks, but those will be future kindling.) And I too am grateful for increasing daylight, even if the end of winter in these parts is still a long way off.
I'm grateful to my next-door neighbor's other close friend (NDN's CF) for getting NDN to her first dental appointment in four years yesterday. It was stressful for all concerned, but that's still better than having NDN's teeth fall out.
I'm also grateful to CF for leaning on the folks at the PCP's office to arrange an at-home evaluation of NDN by a visiting nurse. CF and I hope that this will be the first step in arranging either in-home help or assisted living for NDN.
And as you can imagine, I'm grateful for CF herself. It's a LOT easier looking after NDN as a team than it would be for either of us solo.
@A. Marie, you are the Acronym Queen!
@Central Calif. Artist Jana, I mean you are the AQ.
@CCAJ, LOL! (In fact, the only thing in capitals in my original comment that is **not** an acronym is LOT!)
But seriously, folks, I've got a thankful P.S.: The mammogram I had yesterday showed nothing alarming. (I've developed an allergy to the word "normal," so I'm not using it, but that was the word the imaging center used.) With a family history of breast cancer as long as my arm, I never, ever take this for granted.
Woohoo! I'm so happy for you.
@Central Calif. Artist Jana, ha!
@A. Marie, Great news about your boobs!
@A. Marie, That's great!
@A. Marie, my youngest daughter had a brain scan as a teenager and instead of saying that the results were fine, the doctor told her that her brain was "unremarkable". Congratulations on the fine results of your mammogram.
Oh! I loved seeing the vintage jewelry! I have a few pieces from my mother and grandmother that I cherish.
1. This week I am thankful that we did not get snow, but is has been bitter cold. I hope the folks that have received a lot of snow are doing okay.
2. Glad I bought thermal underwear on sale last year. Waiting for the bus in this cold has been more bearable because of it.
3. The turkey we got on sale before last Thanksgiving. We celebrated with family last year, but bought a turkey to enjoy later as my husband loves roast turkey. We roasted it this weekend and had a mini Thanksgiving.
4. The sunshine this morning. It really brightens the apartment.
5. My friendly colleagues. I've said it before, but I'll say it again. It's a pleasure to work with nice people. I've worked with some rather unpleasant folks in other places and that is such a drag.
I love Lisey's advice! Shes very inspiring!
This week I am thankful that I got to go to Paris!
1. I am so thankful that I was able to visit the Louvre and some other amazing museums. I feel so fortunate that this incredible art is there to see and that I was able to go and see it. I especially enjoyed going to see the Monet and Van Gogh collections as they are two of my favourite artists. It was also exciting seeing the Mona Lisa!
2. The weather was very grey, which is a shame, but it mostly didn't rain and I was able to go to the top of the Eiffel Tower which I have always wanted to do! I had a glass of champagne at the top!
3. Similarly, I am thankful that I was able to go to the Notre Dame and the dome in the Sacre Coeur church. I almost went back down halfway up to the top of the dome because it was a lot of steps and very claustrophobic, but I knew the view would be worth it - and it was!
4. I love the film Amelie and found out that the cafe she works at in the film in a real place, so I got to go have coffee and a crepe there! It was amazing! The Sacre Coeur is also seen in the film.
5. Finally, I'm so thankful that I was able to take the trip in general. Everyone was so helpful and kind, the metro was reasonable and reliable and even though it was just for three days, I feel like I was away for longer. I hope to go back again!
@Sophie in Denmark, Sacre Coeur is my favorite church anywhere in the world. I can just sit there and feel relaxation seeping into my bones. Especially since they finished cleaning and restoring the windows about 15 years ago.
@WilliamB, I'm not religious but I love sitting in churches. The Notre Dame was very powerful!
@Sophie in Denmark,
How lovely to read your Parisian adventures!
I’m happy you had a good time in my city and most of all that the people you met were nice.
Parisians are famous for being rude, in my opinion it’s been slowly changing in the past few years and I’m glad that was your experience!
I haven’t been to Notre dame since it reopened but I did climb up the Sacré Coeur dome and it was great! Such a good view from the top.
Sorry about the weather, we’ve had some of the worst weather since I’ve been living here (16+ years). Records were broken in 2024 in terms of amounts of rain throughout the year, it’s been never ending and it continues all of January and some of February.
Do you have other little European trips planned in 2025?
@F from france, I'm so glad you enjoyed reading them! I have also heard that about Parisians but everyone I spoke to was very friendly (one person even helped me find a place I needed to get to when my maps stopped working on my phone!) I would like to go to Switzerland in May but that will depend on how much money I can save over March and April. And I will probably build in a trip back home to the UK 🙂
I am thankful that February is almost over - its maybe my least favorite month for all sorts of reasons, but mostly because it feels so blahhh. Thankful for a fun activity I have planned for myself today. And that its payday! Also for my mini crockpot which has some chicken in it right now - my future self will thank me for a hot meal later! Those jewelry treasures are fantastic - the leaf pin in particular. So elegant!
Go Lisey!!! That's so awesome.
That teaching my aikido friends how to make apple pie was such a hit. We spent 8+ hours together, I got to meet one person's partner and they loved learning as much as I loved teaching. One described it as like a vacation.
For a family brunch. My niece's parents were in town so we had a nice meal together.
For a surprise afternoon with my niece. When I learned her parents were leaving immediately after brunch, I invited her to come with me to a yarn store that's closing. She also took some of my yarn stash, in a color best described as what-was-I-thinking???
The yarn store and its owner were lovely. Such a pity that I discovered it just as it was closing. I bought yarn for a sweater and for a colorful scarf. But no more than that, I have a lot of yarn already.
@WilliamB, “I have a lot of yarn already” makes me laugh. Me too, and yet I still feel a bit envious that you have a yarn store nearby with a closing sale. (Maybe that’s the part that I find funny.)
One can always do with another skein of good quality yarn
*Raises hand* I'm a young woman inspired by Lisey!
I'm extra grateful to work from home this week, when it's cold and icy outside. I'm always grateful to work from home, I'm ambiverted and have sensory preferences, so this is my ideal set-up to still have a social life outside of work!
I'm grateful for recipe websites, I didn't grow up cooking but now I have so many resources to make food at home, often including videos. I made some simple Sally's Baking Addiction biscuits Sunday that have been great for breakfasts this week.
I'm grateful to be keeping busy with work this week. It's a busy season as we prepare to publish a new set of books later this year, but I'd rather be busy than sit idle honestly.
I'm looking forward to seeing my brother and sister and law this weekend, they are graciously hosting 🙂
@Andrea G / Midwest Andrea, I love Sally’s Baking Addiction recipes and have tried with success several over the years. I will look for that recipe.
@Jean C, it is the Homemade Biscuit one with buttermilk, truly delicious and only 6 ingredients!
This week I am especially grateful that my husband arrived home safely from a plane trip.
Can you link to Lisey’s interview? How inspiring she is!
I am thankful for the 3 inches of snow we got yesterday!
I am thankful that DH and I got to have a breakfast date before it started snowing yesterday. We have both been overwhelmed at work and need to be better about taking time for each other.
I am thankful that my boys always hang out with the neighbor girls when it snows- they used to be together all the time. They even had the most adorable secret club. But the girls are a little older (and, being girls, are way more mature) and they grew apart. But they get together for snowball fights and sledding anytime it snows.
I’m thankful that court was cancelled so I don’t have to drive an hour through this mess to get there this morning.
I’m thankful that my job requires me to constantly learn new things.
I also have another thankful thrift store story- my bff asked last minute to be her plus one for a black tie work party this past Saturday. I (obviously) went to the thrift store where a couple of ladies noticed me picking out sparkly dresses. They enthusiastically joined in the hunt, as did the very fashionable young lady behind the counter. I tried on every fancy dress in that store and came away with a very suitable long velvet gown for $6.
This link should work! https://action.scholastic.com/issues/2024-25/110124/taking-flight.html?language=english#600L-700L
@Kristen, That is so cool; thanks for sharing the article! The video at the bottom of that page of "A Day In the Life" of Lisey was really fun to watch too. I love her advice - ask for what you want - good in any field.
@Kristen,
Yes, the link worked.
That is a cool writeup! The kids should love it!
@Kristen, Thanks for sharing the link!
Go Lisey!!!!
I love Lisey's article - that's so awesome & no doubt inspiring for the students!
Funny story about one of those "early reader magazines" at elementary schools... A long time ago my husband took some fun pictures of one of our kids at the zoo and submitted them to a public website for stock photos (I think our son's face was turned away from the camera, so not a privacy issue). Fast forward a bit when that son was in elementary school, they got an early reader magazine with an article about zoos- and he told his class that the picture in the article was him! And it was! Lol.
Our big thankful for this week was surviving several days of no power at home with freezing temps outside (no heat, and no water either since we're on a well). Feeling very grateful for having electricity again!!
Have fun at the symphony this weekend, Kristen! Enjoy!!
I'm very grateful that Sunday and Monday's bad weather didn't result in our power going off. Given how strong the winds were I really thought it would. I'm also grateful for a warm coat and boots which makes shoveling a little easier.
I'm thankful for coffee. Despite my British heritage I like coffee more than tea.
And I'm thankful for the gift of some beautiful yarn which is going to make an equally beautiful linen stitch scarf. If anyone has any experience knitting the linen stitch I'd love to hear any tips you have to share.
Today I'm grateful:
* that I didn't get rid of ALL of my too-large winter clothes, though I'm tired of wearing the same two ratty long-sleeve tees this week. (It is COLD in SE Texas.)
* for a new-to-me car that has all of the bells and whistles and new safety features that saved me from a raging road rager this morning.
* to have wonderful assistants on my administrative team. I love working with them, even when we have to do year-end evaluations and I want to die from the awkwardness of giving feedback in person.
* to be healthy and thriving because I have access to life-saving medications.
- This week, I’m thankful that the power outage last Sunday lasted only half a day. Many in our area had no power for up to 3 days and it’s very cold this week. We do have a generator but the power came back in before we started it, as we waited for the heavy rains to slow down a bit first. We had a melange of weather! Looking for Spring. . .
- Also thankful that my longtime leg issue seems to be slowly resolving itself with exercise and good medical care. Ever so slowly, but still, grateful for any gains.
- Thankful that we have yoga today. DH, now retired, participate so I have no excuse to miss a class.
Thank you for consistently posting Thankful Thursday. It has become a nice moment in my week that reminds me to be grateful for all that I have. Life has been heavy for a while now, so often my comments are the practice more than the feeling of gratitude. For example, I will state how thankful I am for health insurance (and I truly am!) because I am really thinking about how stressful it is to manage care and the bills from the care. But today, in this moment, I am feeling, as well as practicing, gratitude. This week I am thankful . . .
-that my husband has an interview today for a really wonderful job opportunity. He would be fantastic at it too, so I have crossed all my fingers for him. It could mean big and exciting changes for our family.
-that I had a great experience interviewing for an opportunity on Monday. I left the interview in love with everything about the position except that it pays considerably less than another position for which I interviewed a couple of weeks ago. But if my husband gets his big job, it gives us more wiggle room for me to take a job with a lower salary.
-for the lovely snow day I enjoyed with the kids yesterday. I'm ready for them to go back to school, but I was able to get a bit of work done yesterday in time to take a long snow walk with the boys. Everything was so beautiful covered in snow. And the boys enjoyed it so much. Then we had pizza for dinner and watched Emperors New Groove. It really was a nice day.
-that our daughter's health insurance claims started to hit $0 yesterday. We started the year in the hospital with her and she and I are both dealing with significant health-related issues. I check our insurance website every day and keep a spreadsheet of claims for which I expect a bill. Then I can mark when they are paid and carefully monitor what's hitting when because we unfortunately do not have the cash right now to pay $6,000 worth of medical bills at once. I did a happy dance when we paid the deductible, which significantly lowered the claims. Now we have hit her out of pocket, which means all her stuff is free for the rest of the year now. And we are close to hitting our family out of pocket, which means everything is 100% covered.
-for a nice visit with Daddy on Tuesday. He is in assisted living with advanced dementia. I visit him every week, but usually these visits are difficult. He remembers me mostly, but he doesn't know where he is or why he is there. He is often agitated and weepy (although less so than he was before he started getting excellent care from this institution). He's given back so much. It is hard for me to witness. But Tuesday we sat out on the patio, and he smoked a couple of cigarettes, and it calmed him enough to have almost a normal conversation. The sun was warm and we thought that spring might actually come at some point soon.
@Amanda in VA, I know what you mean about the practice more than the feeling. Also about how awful insurance companies are. I'm sorry you're dealing with all of that and I hope you make it through this difficult time as quickly as possible.
Sometimes the practice brings a feeling along with it, sometimes not. And either way is ok. <3
@Amanda in VA, Emperor's New Groove is one of our family's favorite films! We quote from it all the time. I'm glad you had a good visit with your dad!
Beautiful brooches! Your vintage-lover will be thrilled.
How did your daughter find out about trade school? Our high school pushes college, and I think the only “trade” my kids heard about was the military. (I sure wouldn’t want them in the military now that the US is misbehaving!)
I’m thankful that it’s raining this week. Rain is good!
I’m thankful that my family are all heathy, physically and financially, and that none of us work for the federal government.
I’m thankful that I have no big purchases on the horizon and can drop out of the economy to a big extent.
We take turns with my husband’s siblings, cooking dinners for his parents, who are in their 90s. I’m thankful that they are still with us, and I’m thankful that I manage to keep my mouth zipped when they have deplorable news shows playing while we cook. I’m not going to change the mind of a nonagenarian! (Bless their hearts.)
Well, her boss at Valvoline suggested she look into aviation mechanic school, so she researched to find one nearby that she could attend. 🙂
@Kristen, that’s a great boss!
@Ann on the farm,
Don't know where you are located but pls. check out Texas State Technical Colleges. One location is in my hometown. They have all kinds of amazing programs from laser technology to auto and RV repair, and it is state-run so you're guaranteed they won't be fly-by-night ripoff place. Their degrees are valid!
Almost forgot: lovely for Lisey to have the article and the chance to inspire other women to join her field or other typically male fields! She is very talented and also just beautiful, no matter what color hair she is sporting haha.
And such fun to see your aunt and uncle again.
I'm slowwwwwly climbing out of the sickness hole that I've been in for almost 2 weeks now. Thankful for that, as I'm getting really tired of this. Thankful that so far my government-employee husband still has a job. For feeling well enough to go snowshoeing yesterday. For living in an era where we have tissues and don't have to rely on handkerchiefs (my dad always kept a handkerchief on him, and I remember my mom pressing the laundered ones up with an iron). And for the tulips my husband got me for Valentine's day--they are still going strong and are cheerful to look at.
I'm so glad you are on the mend!
I love the vintage jewelry - it reminds me of some of my grandma's jewelry. And the moose mailbox is adorable.
I also love Lisey's interview! That's so cool.
Today I'm thankful for a warm house, especially during this cold snap. I'm also thankful that this is probably the last really cold week we will have this winter.
I'm thankful for the birds I can see in my backyard. I participated in the Great Backyard Bird Count last weekend, but for some reason I saw very few birds then. Since it ended, though, I have seen a few unusual-for-my-yard visitors to the feeder, including a Tufted Titmouse and a Red-bellied Woodpecker. I've never seen a woodpecker actually eating from the feeder before. Maybe it's having a hard time finding food in this weather.
@Elizabeth M, on my two days of participating in the Great Backyard Bird Count, I had many visits from my regulars, including both downy and red-bellied woodpeckers. A great way to get more woodpeckers to visit is to put out a suet feeder. The woodies love suet.
And on the first day, I had a quick, low, and fast visit from what I think was a sharp-shinned hawk. There's a female Cooper's hawk I see four or five times a winter, but this one was a lot smaller than a Cooper's, and even faster. I reported it to the GBBC with appropriate caution about the identity. (And I'm a hawk fan, so I don't have a problem with them visiting the feeders. In fact, they can have all the pigeons and starlings they want.)
- I'm thankful that both DH and I were able to work from home yesterday. We only got 1.5" of snow, but it was still nice to not have to get out into the cold.
- I'm thankful that I was able to get some party decoration for grandson's first birthday at Party City while everything was 80 - 90% off.
- I'm thankful my new car has heated steering wheel and heated seats. Was very nice this morning when it was 15 degrees and snowing when I left for work.
- I'm thankful I have found a book series that I am enjoying reading. Is it fine literature, absolutely not, but still fun to read.
- I'm thankful that I can take off work tomorrow to clean, decorate and prep food for grandson's first birthday party.
Love the vintage jewelry!
Thankful:
-We were able to make a quick trip to Hilton Head to see some family who are down from Michigan. Loved spending time with them in one of our favorite places.
-Weather was pleasant (for winter) and we could sit outside in the sun while the kids played at the park.
-Made it home safely before the snow started here.
-Watching the snow yesterday afternoon and this morning. So pretty! We rarely get snow, so it’s time to sit with hot cocoa and watch it come down.
- I know not all families get along so well, and I am so happy that many in our extended family enjoy spending time together.
I'm thankful we did get some snow -- it's been a very dry winter.
That I'm going to the symphony Sunday with three friends.
That my handy husband did a brake job on my car.
That we live in such a walkable, friendly neighborhood.
That my mother taught me to sew many years ago.
I almost forgot -- this is a friendly reminder if you're in the United States to regularly check your state's Unclaimed Funds website. Every state has one, run by the State Comptroller's office. Also check the site for any states you have lived in in the past.
I was checking the Texas site for my deceased in-laws. My husband has the same name as his late father and I found two checks from our old electric co-op. We haven't lived in Texas in over 25 years but were able to file a claim for the $127 due to us. It was approved and we should get a check in a couple of weeks. We also found money owed a niece and a nephew and alerted them to this.
@Cindi, that's a great reminder. I found a friend's deceased mother's name on our state's list last year and they recovered $3,500!
Thankful that we have not gotten anymore snow, the rain finally let up and even though the days ahead will be cold, the sun will be out. I am desperate for Spring, green grass, flowers, birds, and gardening! Winter be gone 🙂
Thankful for the two most devoted Boxer pups that ever were. They are my shadow, the best snugglers and they both take care of their Mama. When I was down with the flu they literally would not leave my side and huddled around me and over me when I was shaking with high fevers.
Thankful for my son. He is 9 and I am really loving watching him grow, learn new things, and become his own little man. He is pure joy and that is not lost on me.
Thankful for helping hands that make my days easier in any possible way. Whether it my Mom throwing in a load of laundry or watching a movie with my son so I can take a nap - I am grateful for small pockets of time that I can find to take care of myself so that I can continually pour into others. What a blessing.
This last one may be controversial but I am sharing anyway. I have a lady coming tomorrow to clean my house. Her rate is more than reasonable but I of course realize this is an expense I could avoid. The issue here for me is the time and energy that this task takes that I could spend elsewhere. Having someone check this off of my to do list allows me to take my son to soccer practice, cook healthy meals for my family from scratch, garden, volunteer with my church pouring into others, get to the chiropractor & the gym - these are invaluable things when one is caring for a cognitively challenged elderly person, raising a 9 yr old, working full time and trying not to die doing it. So yes, I am extremely grateful for this lady who is blessing me beyond measure by cleaning my home every two weeks.
@Angie, having a housecleaner is not controversial! Your sanity and time are valuable. Paying a housecleaner is a wonderful use of your financial resources and a win-win for both of you. Anyone who may judge you for a personal financial decision can take a hike.
@Angie, I don't think it's controversial either. I'm good at tidy and organized but hate cleaning. I've hired cleaners or services ever since I first had $50 to spare (small apt, quite a few years ago).
Money is a tool not a final goal.
@Angie, As someone who paid part of her way in college by being a cleaning lady, I was thankful to be self-employed and able to set my own hours and not work for people who were obnoxious. Perhaps your cleaning lady feels the same way I did.
Now old myself, I have a woman come in every week for two hours to do what I cannot/will not and I am so very thankful that for a decade she has made my life much easier.
@Angie, I had a cleaning lady who came weekly for a couple of years. It was money well spent. It made it so that I could do other things. It's all about balance!
@Angie, I'll give up a lot of things before I'll give up my housecleaning crew. Having them come in every three weeks is all I can afford, but they still do all the heavy stuff that I can't/don't do any more.
@WilliamB, 'Money is a tool not a final goal' is the best description I've read in a long time!
I'm so glad to see that you get an extra day to somewhat relax and rest!
I'm thankful ...
1) To have it return to normalcy after my mother and sister in law left. There was a lot of negative energy when they stayed with us. I really hope they find the rest they need while in Phoenix, AR visiting family.
2) For a good relationship with my husband and our girls. I like that we love and try to understand one another. Also, that we try to communicate and work to solve problems.
3) That it's getting warmer. High today is 10 degrees F. The following days will be in the 30s and 40s! I'm excited since it hopefully means the negative temps are behind us. At least, for now.
4) Blue skies and bright sunlight since that means Spring is coming!
5) That God hears and answer prayers! Prayed for healing, reconciliation and the strength to resist temptations.
Thankful for pain relief . I have had an ongoing bad hip issue, need a replacement.No Over the counter meds have helped and I have 8 more weeks till surgery.Doc gave me a Naproxen script, bigger dose than OTC and it worked !FINALLY got a good night’s sleep! Thankful.So thankful. Will be careful ,it is a strong med.. only need it for short term.
Thankful for a loving spouse who helps me , supports me and makes me feel like a million bucks even on my rough days!
Thankful for “old” friends.Am having a birthday coffee date with neighbor/friend I have known for 40 years!!! So many memories to share!
Thankful I am basically healthy and my hip surgery should go easily.
Up till one year ago I had ZERO health issues! And then the hip arthritis reared its ugly head.where did di it come from???Who knows.Thankful for good surgeons and modern medicine!
Thankful for beautiful sunrise and sunset.Every single day.How aweseome.Life on Earth is a miracle!
Congrats on Lisey magazine debut. What a great thing!
Thankful also for a preplanned day off because teen has out of town (future) college stuff to do & I got to go also.
Thankful have written Senior year list of things have to do before Spring Break & then end of year items. I don't remember this much stuff needed to be done for older kids/siblings when Seniors in high school.
Thankful for our house & the heat! I'm ready for first fake Spring anytime now. 😉 Michigan winter this year has gotten back to my childhood memories of winter (lots of snow) combined with Polar Vortex/Artic wind that I'm just ready for a change now.
Thankful for teen practicing cooking skills more often & getting back to choosing medium to low hard skill dishes for dinner.
Thankful my Aunt decided to give me her huge hanging Tiffany lamp (was not up in house during hurricanes) that she can not use in new place. She tried looking for buyers (that have stores) but was unsuccessful. She is able to keep & use the matching tabletop Tiffany lamps, which she is thrilled about because she got (super cheap) when former neighbors who sold their second house in Florida.
Thankful my dad is adjusting (& accepting) he can't do some things he previously used to while still keeping his sense of humor. Though his medical treatment may be adjusted/changed as some of the treatment dates might be moved out further due to scheduling. One day at a time.
Thankful for Kristen & her blog site which gives us the opportunity to learn & share with each other. 🙂
Have a great weekend.
Love that magazine spread! Hmmm....it looks familiar...is it one of the Scholastic publications? If so, kids in classrooms all over the nation will see Lisey working on those planes!!! What a fantastic, and very pretty, role model she is!!!! A real-life, modern day Rosie the Riveter! How cool is that?
My thankfuls:
1. No frozen pipes in this record-cold weather.
2. Was able to get out and work yesterday. No sleet! No frozen roadways!
3. My pastor got together some of the men at church to help me move the heavy furniture tomorrow. So I won't have to pay a moving crew. And at long last, I'm getting new flooring so I can use my front room again!!! Woo-hoo! Can't wait to fix it all up!!!
4. I subbed on my birthday and therefore did not have to spend the day alone. (What could be any better than being with middle school kids? No, I'm serious!) Then, one of the sixth graders said I looked like I am 25 y.o. (I should've immediately gotten her a nurse's pass for an eye exam! LOL! Because I am 70.) And I got a bunch of cards, one of which said "don't think of it as 70, think of it as seven perfect tens." Which I am doing!
5. I tallied up my W-2s and 1099s (tax forms). The pensions and the 2 jobs allowed me to make as much as I did at my last year at the local paper, a pretty good living, and just slightly less than my last full year of teaching. Therefore, this coming year is going to be fantastic provided they don't cut my SS and/or Medicare. (Although I'm pretty healthy.) So I will be able to fix up my house some instead of just "camping out."
Oooh, you are good! It IS a Scholastic magazine.
@Kristen,
They are easy to recognize due to the flashy, kid-appealing layout style. Plus we've used them for years and years down here in the local schools.
@Fru-gal Lisa,
I am so happy for all of the good news for you! Look forward to hearing about the newly-recovered room decorating. Especially glad that the church people helped you out.
I am thankful that we were able to fly home from our visit with our daughter with no bad weather or other delays. That is not a given anymore! Also, we made our very tight connection in Philadelphia, phew!
I am thankful for a friend who plowed the 8” of snow we had while we were gone, so we could get into our driveway when we got home.
Kudos to the DOT, who came today to clear a huge icy mess at the end of the driveway this morning, as the culvert froze up, the water had nowhere to go and froze in a big messy pile. They did a fine job of cleaning it up and treating the area with calcium chloride.
Always, always, thankful that I married this guy 45 years ago, and he takes care of all the “heavy” around here! He is out on his snowshoes, making paths to the maple trees, which he will soon tap and then maple season will keep him busy for weeks! I’m so glad he found this hobby, and we love sharing the fruits of his labor with family, neighbors and friends.
Thankful for our mail lady, we had our mail held while away, and she delivered it right to the door. I need to make her a batch of cookies for always being so good to us. She will receive a bottle of syrup, too.
Thankful for our daughter. She is such a good mom and she is so watchful over us, making sure we are always comfortable in her home, and that we have everything need for travel, and checks in often. We are not that old, or frail or forgetful, but she is so sweet and kind. Our sons are good in other ways, but there is nothing like a daughter, in my opinion.
Enjoy your day off, Kristen!
Thankfuls
For regular garbage collection, it cannot be praised enough
For warm relations with my elder sibling, the more so since relations with the younger are strained (and have been for decades)
For fun trips with our kids, by their initiative and by ours
For quickly finding the humans of a petite stray kitty that wandered into our garden when it was freezing. Animal ambulance to the rescue!
For more energy as spring is coming closer.
Go lisey!!! That looks like Highlights magazine! That’s amazing!!
Kristen, I’m wondering when and how your love of the symphony began. I realize you’re a pianist. Are those two things related? Thanks
I am thankful that two snowy days here have been the light, fluffy stuff that does not cause trouble. It will be dangerously cold tonight, though. We thin-blooded Southerners are not cut out for this.
@Ruby, I still fondly recall the "blizzard" of 1966 in your neck of the woods, when we got 6" of snow in the city. The city schools were out for 3 days, and the county schools were out for a week. (The city and county schools were separate systems then.)
Since then, of course, I've moved to Yankeeland and grown thicker hide. But I do realize that y'all aren't used to this sort of thing (and that your local governments don't have the equipment to deal with it). Stay warm and safe.
@A. Marie, I was in second grade in north Georgia when we had that storm. Almost forgot about that. It was always fun to miss school for snow. I am very glad to be retired for this interminable winter and can just stay home.
Thankful for:
1. My volunteering at the food bank. The atmosphere is so darn nice, it is a good antidote for what is going on in the world.
2. That is it getting warmer. As much as I like winter, February is the worst month because we gain about 7 minutes of daylight each day and when you look out the window you expect it to be warm (ish). If I am going to be plagued by incessant daylight, at least make it warmer.
3. Iron transfusions. I was pushed into it by my cardiologist who saw me and was alarmed at how pale I was, even before getting the blood test results (which really alarmed him, into not just iron but a blood transfusion). I started them in January and yesterday I realized I actually was not as profoundly tired as I have been for months and months. I thought it was just part of my illness, not anemia. Actually, I thought I was starting to slowly die, but apparently not, at least not from anemia.
4. My electric wheelchair is fixed. I don't use it all the time, but when I need it, I really need it.
5. The husband, always the husband. I so wish I believed that there is an afterlife and I could be with him for eternity.
@Lindsey, re: your #5: I don't believe in a conventional afterlife. But I do believe that somewhere, somehow, on some astral plane, in some form or other, DH and I will meet again. I hope the same for you and the husband.
Can't wait to read Lisey's interview! I think the entire Commentariat is proud of her and the life she's building.
Today I'm thankful:
That the roads were clear today. We only got about an inch and by the time we were coming back from chem lab, most of the main roads were all clear.
That this is maybe the last cold snap of the season. The forecast is calling for forty degree temps next week, which will feel delightful!
For a cozy warm house and a cheerful teakettle with which to make numerous cups of tea. For the means to afford my favorite teas!
For a son who is not embarrassed to be his mom's chem lab partner. I'm sure there many young men who would blanch at the thought, or be worried what the other students would think...he said he doesn't care one bit and we work pretty well together.
That my best friend's husband made it through his second hip replacement surgery. (He's not that old..he had a congenital condition that made his hip joints not round, so the cartilage wore out early.) Despite some complications, he made it through and is doing great.
How proud you must be of Lisey on so many levels! I'm proud of her and don't even know her. 🙂
1. Thankful that the sun was fully shining when I got up this morning. I even shed my light jacket during my walk. After lots of rain this month, the sun is a welcome sight.
2. We are fostering a 5-week-old puppy with a broken leg (we think Mama dog stepped on him - he's one of 12 pups) for the rescue where we adopted our Maple dog. Maple passed away last month at the tender age of 6 (cancer) and we have been heartbroken. The little pup is adding so much joy (but not sleep) to our lives, and who are we kidding, we are going to adopt him. It's been nice seeing my 3 teens smile and care for him.
3. I am grateful for a flexible job. I work in corporate sales from home, but I see clients both virtually and in person. I've been sick this week and had to rearrange a few meetings. Thankful for understanding clients and technology that allows me to pivot to virtual visits when need be.
4. Very thankful for the frugal community here and over at Katy's blog (NCA). Community, both online and in-person, is so very important.
5. With the spring-like feelings (fake spring), I've started my tomato plants. Looking forward to April when I can put them in the ground.
It's been a really crummy week and having a bit of a pity party for myself, but I'm going to do this to try to change my focus.
1. I happened upon a tax form that had accidentally gone into the recycling pile and it will give us a much bigger tax refund than originally calculated.
2. My husband has been quite sick for 9 days with a wicked cold but is finally on the mend.
3. I don't seem to have gotten whatever it is he has. (I would have been sick by now, right?)
4. I got to spend Sunday afternoon with my son and his girlfriend. I thought a migraine was going to stop me, but my meds worked and we got to hang out.
5. I've had two screening medical appointments in the past week that were both all clear.
I am thankful for fleece-lined tights and pants. They make being outside in this frigid codl bearable. Even more, I am thankful for the sunshine and the later sunset!
I'm glad that my husband doesn't mind leftovers and isn't a picky eater. We were recently with some friends and it amazes me that people will throw away good food because they hate leftovers (and can't manage to cook just what they'll eat- have an apple after if you're hungry!)
I'm thankful for the library! It's saved me oodles of money, I can print things there, and I love chatting with the librarians!
That is so cool that Lisey was profiled in a magazine! I hope girls/young women are inspired by her example. Actually, I am older and I am inspired, too!
Today I am thankful for a short work week. Monday was the holiday and Friday I have off for annual leave.
I am thankful to be feeling calmer and more myself lately after months of being on-edge.
I am thankful for a weather forecast in the high 60s the weekend! Just last week it was pelting down ice and snow.
I am thankful to find the Oxo cookie presses for $9.97 at Costco. I am not sure if this was Costco's original price or a post-holiday mark down, but everywhere else they are $20-$30. I had been wanting one so I snatched it up!
Most of all, I am thankful for the mistakes I make, that make me prove to myself who I am.
I am thankful my cat's thyroid medicine appears to be helping. Fingers crossed!
I am thankful I found an additional in-person Bible study!
I am thankful the big snow did NOT visit our house!
I love the end of the article-- always ask for what you want! Go, Lisey!
Can you share the whole article?
was wondering if you were going to give us a peek of your aunt and uncle and lisey. you are so blessed to have such a wonderful family. am grateful to have 3 books in my home by lian dollan that i got from my library 4 blocks from my apt. someone at the commentariat recommended her and i am on the second book. such a great read.
glad my kids are off from school for a week. last night kids and i went to the louis armstrong muusical on broadway. a few years ago, we visited his house in queens. and i actually saw him in person when my yeshiva (jewish school) took us to see hello dolly on broadway. it had pearl baily. cab calloway and armstrong. hubby stayed home to be with our 3 year old cockapoo buddy who is not good when he is alone too long. he is pretty good for short spurts with the radio on.
one year for my birthday my folks took me to maurice chevalier at 76. am a big fan of his too. never wanted to act or sing on broadway but i love seeing others do it. am so grateful to have had these experiences.
and the biggest thankful is that we have tickets to see the white house. i have wanted to see it since i was a little girl. am a huge fan of jackie o. have her sunglasses and an essie nail polish (hard to get) jackie oh my. tried to visit in 2020 just as the world shut down. we had to get a refund for our hotel andour train ticket. i never heard from my then congressional rep about the white house. grateful this year that my rep is very responsive.
my parents were invited to the clinton white house and i really wanted to go with them but stepmother was not on board. and when my dad was invited to frankfurt by the german govt i was not allowed by them to go then either. ah, but all water under the bridge.
enjoy the concert and your lbd. you have come so far and worked so hard. you deserve some r and r.
This week I'm thankful:
* that I got to go to work today! And I got to work with my friend Sidney. She's a delight and we love working together, though we don't get to do it often.
* that my daughter's birthday party went well and, I know I mentioned this last week, but I'm so glad she has kind friends! They were a delight to be with and it warms my momma heart so much!
* that I made a bunch of freezer meals earlier this year.
* for fun colored pens.
I'm late to the party, but I just wanted to chime in and say "yay, Lisey!"
Thankful and grateful for financial security.
For a financial institution or casino to go under, there has to be grossly incompetent management (or fraud/theft). Keep that in mind as time goes by.