Thankful Thursday | full speed again
Before we get to thankful lists: you guys came up with so many great interview question ideas yesterday. Thank you!
I will sort through them and figure out what to incorporate in future Meet a Reader posts, and I think I might do some of them as stand-alone posts so that all of you can respond.
This week, I am thankful:
that my knee finally feels normal
It took about two weeks, but my knee feels regular again. Yay!
I am once again able to navigate stairs at high speed, and I can do a twisting motion again.
(I was taking stairs verrrrry slowly for a while there to let my knee have some rest.)
that I didn't have to go to PT for my knee
Of course I would have gone if it had seemed necessary (I am no stranger to PT), but I'm glad it didn't come to that. PT is really time-consuming!
for early morning sun on the way to school
The first few days after the time change are always a little rough. But I do enjoy that the sun is lower in the sky again on my drive to school; it's fun to be driving over the bridge while the sun rises above the water.
for bright evenings
I always love the time of year when we get to eat dinner in the daylight again!
for the fresh outdoor air
My window is open as I'm typing this post and my goodness, the outdoor air smells so nice.
for a morning class
It is a little bit annoying to have to leave the house so early, but to be done with a three-hour class before 11:00 is pretty awesome!
for my professor
I know I have put this into a Thankful Thursday list before, but it bears repeating: he is really good at what he does!
He's got lots of experience and he clearly puts a lot of effort into thinking about ways to help his students understand the material.
11/10 stars from me.
for a hang-out with my sister-in-law last night
We just drank tea and chatted at her house, and it was lovely. 🙂
that spring break is next week!
I love my class, and I am also happy that I get a week off.
Of course, I do have an exam right after spring break, so I will not take the week entirely off. But at least I'm not getting any new material assigned for a week!
for a fresh pair of contact lenses
I wear the kind that you change out once a month, and I am in the sweet spot of having just changed mine.
As the month goes on, they get a little less comfortable, but right now, my eyes are feeling gooooood.
for peeks of green
As I drive and walk around, I am noticing more and more tiny bits of green in the undergrowth of the woods.
Two weeks from tomorrow, it'll be April and that is a month when things really start to become green again.
I loved the snow, ice, and crisp winter air, but I am also looking forward to spring green.
I am thankful that I was able to spend yesterday in DC with my Midwest sister and her family. I took the train and it is such an easy experience. The weather was wonderful and we spent a lot of time at Arlington Cemetery and also saw other sites. I am thankful I'm physically able to get around for things like that. Also a shout out to sunblock and clothing/hats with SPF values.
I am thankful my BIL's cardiac cath procedure went well last week. They found no need for stents or surgery. Whew!
I am thankful for spring. The weather is wonderful, flower bulbs are open, there is more daylight. It's hard not to like spring.
I am thankful that a friend occasionally watches a four year old for a friend. I hang out with them sometimes and it is fun.
I am thankful for continued low Covid-19 numbers.
-I am also thankful for recovery, as I contracted Covid a few weeks ago and it was a little rougher than I expected from Omicron. My lungs are not feeling 100% yet, but so much better.
-I was visiting my old home in Maryland when fell ill. I'm thankful that I was able to extend the trip and visit with dear friends after my quarantine. Also thankful for these friends!
-As I returned from my trip, my mother had a medical emergency. I'm thankful that I was here to be able to help her, as well as for my siblings. I am not sure how much time we will have together and how long I will stay here, but I try to be thankful for the here and now.
-I am SO thankful for the increasing sun and warmer weather.
@Kristina,
I hope you feel 100% better soon. We had Omicorn hit our house and got really frustrated by how long the cough persisted . . . then one day it was finally gone.
@Rebekah in SoCal, Thank you! I've been finally able to exercise lightly, so feeling much better now.
I am thankful for my sweet granddaughters. I love the cuddles and smiles. Even cleaning the floor after making Easter bunny decorations was not such a chore.
I am thankful for shops that have green foods and meat again. The recent floods cause some shortages.
Sunshine and slightly cooler days mean autumn is coming.
Our tap water is tasting normal after the floods affected the water treatment plant. That's just wonderful.
My's sons last contract finished early. However, within a few days at home he has secured a contract to work on one of the islands on the Great Barrier Reef.
Lastly on Saturday when Will came home my eldest granddaughter was here. Neither knew the other would be here. They were both so excited and their faces were pure delight when they saw each other. It was a real Heathcliffe and Cathy moment as she threw herself at him.
As I was filling up our truck I mentioned to my husband how thankful I was that we could afford to fill our vehicle and not have to worry about paying for meds or food.
Happy that gas seems to be going down in our part of the country - Midwest.
Thankful for all my church family - sooo many good friends.
Thankful that a friends forced me into trying pickleball - fun & fellowship.
Thankful for both husband, daughters & their families being healthy.
I am thankful that I signed up for physical therapy. Ever since I was hospitalized with Covid 1.5 years ago, I've been weaker, with less stamina. I hope I can build back a bit. I've been putting it off but it's time.
I am thankful for how cute the kitten looks in the bow tie I made him from blue floral fabric.
I am thankful it's almost spring, my favorite season. There is a bird nearby who is exactly saying TWEET TWEET TWEET.
I am thankful yesterday horrendous whatever, allergies, seem to have dissipated. Ugh.
-strength I've gained from PT. It is utterly exhausting to work on weak joints and muscles, but my goodness, I'm so much stronger than I was, and I'm pretty confident it will help prevent reinjury.
-early morning cups of joe on my porch swing. I love brisk weather and we're getting a few minutes of it in the morning before the sun is fully up
-spring break falling directly after a time change. One week of irregularity rather than two. Well done, schools, for this timing.
-daffodils springing up all over the front garden bed. I am 100% confident some are coming up in places I didn't plant them, and I am puzzled how that happened, but who can argue against daffodils?
@Kaitlin, Some animal dug up the bulbs and then decided they didn't like it. Squirrels don't like daffs. Plus, they also spread.
@Rose, How interesting! It's a good thing squirrels don't like daffodils since we have a small army of squirrels that frequent our yard.
I am SO thankful that it's finally warming up here. We had what felt like a very long winter and I'm grateful to be WARM outside again! I'm thankful for potential new clients, for all of my current ones, and for sweet kitties who keep me company when I'm working. I'm also extremely thankful for a spouse who understands me so well and lets me vent when I need to. I hope you guys all have a great day!
I wear all month lenses too and my optician recommends I leave them out for a least a day a month so the surface of the eye can get oxygen from the air. Bit of a pain as I much prefer lenses to glasses, but thankful I can wear the all month lenses!
Do you sleep in yours? I never sleep in mine, but even so, I do have some days where I don't put my contacts in.
@Victoria, @Kristen I wear my monthlies for, yes I admit, two months. A slight loss in clarity as I approach the 60 day mark, but that's it regarding loss of perfoemance. I did ask 'for a friend' once, and there didn't seem to be any inherent harm in doing so- so I've continued. I do wear my eyeglasses from about 8pm- 8am, so there's that?
Yes, I love day 1 of fresh contacts. I wish I could have dailies but alas they don't manufacture them in my exceptionally high prescription. I'm grateful that I can at least have these, as my old rigid gas permeables were hard to wear with my eyes getting dryer in my 40s. And I'm endlessly grateful for modern optometry as being barely able to focus beyond my nose makes me no use to anyone.
Interestingly, I tried the dailies and I found them to be really uncomfortable. So, I went back to the monthlies.
Good morning! I too am thankful for thr mild weather we are in right now. In Michigan we call it fake spring. Haha
Besides the weather, I am thankful that our school district doesn't have a costly pay to play sports fee. My son has decided to try something new and the cost is minimal.
I am thankful that my husband supports me.
I am not thankful for my medical bills that are rolling in for the biopsy I had, but I AM thankful that the results were negative! And we met our yearly deductible already. Oh! And I am the owner of a sesame seed size bit of titanium. I know exactly how much I paid for it (explanation of benefits), and if the body part that carries it ever needs to come off, I will be asking for it!
Tonight I am going to see Reba in concert. My best friend and her husband bought me a ticket from his sister when she couldn't go. I was going to pay for it, but hello medical bills! I'm excited to spend the evening with her (and her mom).
Have a great day, everyone!
@Lisa,
Hahaha! Yes, I am enjoying Michigan's fake spring right now, too. Back to coats tomorrow. 😉
@Lisa, I am intrigued about your sesame seed titanium. I KNOW I have a whole lot more in my new hip, and as a Canadian my costs for the surgery were essentially a big fat Zero.
I am so sorry you are having bills rolling in, however they likely are a bit easier to pay if your results were negative? what a relief.
My retirement benefit plan (that suddenly became available after I realized I could get a teachers pension for teaching for 2 years, 35 years ago) has been so delightful to have; finally, first time in my life, I get meds for no cost (after a $200 original deductible) and $1000 toward physio/massage. plus dental at 80% paid by them, and things like orthotics plus a pittance toward glasses. I read that plan carefully each year and intend to use up the massage dollars every year.
Glad friends are taking you to a show. Enjoy!
@ecoteri, here is the UK it is similar. We have to pay for optometry and usually for dental. Because I officially have a "complex prescription" I do get free eye tests (usually £50) and I also get a voucher from the government. It's currently £14 a year which buys exactly half of a monthly contact lens! Luckily my husband happens to get private health insurance with his work, which gives me £400, as I just had to pay £419 this week to update the lenses in my glasses. Luckily I could also pay £60 to have the current frames re-glazed which is better than new ones.
I am thankful that our electricity came back on at 6:30 am. Just in time for getting ready in the morning and working from home and allowing me to keep the furnace repair appointment today.
I am thankful for the fireplace in our new house. I love the cheerful look of the fireplace but I love having a heat source while the furnace has been out.
I am thankful for our many friends who stopped by to help us clean, organize and unpack after our mid-week move. (The previous owners had big indoor dogs and there was clay on the baseboards and three feet up the walls.)
I am thankful for the home depot gift card from the Bible study ladies which will help us make a few changes/repairs to the new house.
I am thankful for a friend who stayed with me while the movers where in the house and fixed our front door without being asked.
I am also thankful for Daylight Savings Time. I look forward to the bonus sunshine after work and a chance for longer walks or just time to sit in the sun.
I am thankful that our kitchen project - installation of new countertops, painting of the cabinets should be completed this week and I will finally be able to unpack my kitchen. This means that we will be rid of stacks of boxes and I could not be more excited!!!
I am thankful that I found gasoline for $3.69/gallon yesterday and blissfully filled my tank up. The fact that this price seems like a delightful bargain is not lost on me.
I am thankful that our dog seems to be adjusting quite well to our new home. She gets a bit anxious when we move and there are boxes and since she is my second child I am glad to see her settling in after just over a week.
I am thankful for our chest freezer and pantry space. This gives me the ability to stock up when there are sales and that helps us to feed our family well despite ever increasing prices.
I am thankful for my husband's new job. He is far less stressed than he was, better paid, has had multiple weekend days off with family without having to request them, and when he is off he isn't being called to come to work or asked to stop by and fix problems. What a blessing.
Happy Thursday All!
I'm thankful for the melting snow and signs of spring: pileated woodpeckers are back, so much more sunlight in the evening, warmer temps and with that, less cost in heating.
I'm thankful that we can pay our bills and don't worry about money at the end of the month.
I spent 4 days with my sister after her surgery and I stopped in to do a nurse check on my cousin after his wife called all worried (he's not in the best of health). I waited at my brother's house while my van was in the shop and I was able to host a baby shower for my DIL. I say all this to say, it's SO good to be back home in Maine. I have missed all these "normal" things for years and I am LOVING being back.
As frustrating/stressful as my nursing job is for me at times (sorry Kristen!), I am grateful that I have a profession that allows me to find a job and earn a good salary very easily. I worked a 2 week job at a National Guard camp last summer that paid $7800 plus room/board and and I just found out I'll probably get the job again this summer. Such a blessing.
Happy St. Patrick's Day, everyone!
That ds1 is getting ready to move into his first apt with some college friends and while we can't be there to help, I have plenty of things I can send him that he won't have to buy.
Fixed a $855 insurance error yesterday and should 0 after everything is filed.
That dh and I are on the same page with our financial goals, as litt!e as they ard.
For the gift card dh's insurance sent us to use for OTC meds. Its only $25 A month, but it all adds up.
The weather here in NC is beautiful and my favorite trees, the tulip poplar, is blooming all over town. Puts a smile on my face every time.
@Jennifer, We lived in NC for 16 years, and there is truly nothing better than Spring in Carolina! Such a beautiful time of year.
I'm thankful for:
*weather that is so lovely.
*enough leftovers to feed everybody for lunch.
*my kids' sense of humor.
*peppermint toothpaste.
*plenty of books to read.
*my son's interest in beekeeping.
I am thankful for warmer weather, for an exceptionally quiet week at work, that my husband wasn't hurt in a minor accident with his car this week (although we need to find that invisible-to-us target on his car and remove it, as the car gets hit by someone or something every couple of years), for the 14 yummy meals leftover at work that I rescued for my lunches, and that our middle dog, who is an older girl with a heart condition, came through anesthesia for dental work in great shape.
I just cannot be thankful for DST. I get up, get dressed and go to work in the black dark most of the year because of DST, and now it might be permanent. I just wanted standard time. I will take what I can get, though, if it means we stop changing our clocks!
1. I'm thankful that we got my husband moved back to his ALF on Monday, although it took all day, and we are still sorting out the meds ordered by the hospital and rehab doctors as opposed to the meds his primary care doctor at the VA orders.
2. I'm thankful that the Assisted Living Facility took him back, because right now, he doesn't actually qualify for their level of care anymore, as he still needs too much care following his recent surgery. They agreed to let him stay 30 days and if he improves with more physical therapy, he can continue to stay. If not, we have to find a nursing home for him. As terrible as it is to have that hanging over our heads, there is the hope that he can stay.
3. I'm thankful that my bosses provided a catered meal for us today so we could sit in the conference room and eat while we (they) watched basketball.
4. I'm thankful that I stumbled across a dairy/egg/wheat flour/cocoa/soy- free "chocolate" cookie recipe that I actually like.
5. I'm thankful for the increase of birds in the yard, although it makes the bird seed go faster. The goldfinches are moving through and it's fun to watch their spring molt reveal those brilliant yellow males.
@JD, I'm glad that your DH's ALF took him back even for a trial period; under the circumstances you describe, a lot of facilities would have punted him over to skilled nursing right away. As it is, my caregiver-to-caregiver advice is to start checking out skilled nursing facilities in your area, sooner rather than later. By the time I started looking for institutional care for my DH, I learned that he was already too far along for an ALF and would need skilled nursing. May the Force be with you both.
@JD, I am with you on disliking DST. My brain has not been right in a week. I need morning sunlight or I'm a zombie. But if we get spared having to changed, I'll suck it up and deal.
My mom had to abruptly leave the Alzheimer's unit of her assisted living home when she lost the ability to walk after a fall. Her family doctor was an angel in a white coat and helped me quickly get her into a nursing home right up the road.
@A. Marie,
The kids and I have decided to do that, because while we are hopeful, I think his days at the ALF are numbered anyway.
I need that Force - thanks!
@Ruby,
I wake up best to light, even if it's very early light. I can even wake up without an alarm if light is breaking. I do much worse on DST, but... I'll deal, if we get it full-time.
@JD, I'm with you! I definitely function better with early daylight..
Thankful for springlike weather yesterday and today. Where I live in Michigan, we probably won't see consistent spring weather until mid-May, so these little glimpses are nice.
Once I figure out my new phone, I'm sure I'll be thankful for it. 😉 I dislike the learning curve but my old one was too glitchy to put up with any longer.
Thankful the covid numbers are down for a variety of reasons, but specifically because I felt like it was safe enough to join a gym again. The gym has a month-to-month membership so I can drop it if things look scary again.
Thankful for the neighbor cats. There's not a day that goes by that we don't see them doing something entertaining in our back yard. And yes, I'm easily entertained.
Thankful that my son could snag a ride back to college with a friend, saving my husband a 10-hour round trip drive. I was happy to pay his friend lots of gas money!!
Thankful Thursday from my seven-year-old:
"Today I am thankful for pillows for pillow fights, green clothes so I don't get pinched, and my stuffed shark, Karl."
@Becca, so sweet and funny!
Thankful:
1. that my brother, who was estranged from us for about 25 years, is back in regular contact and gainfully employed and off drugs.
2. for my sister-in-law, who stood by him all during the troubled years. They really seem to be in a good place in their relationship, and my brother has spent the last few years trying to make amends to her for the hell he put her through.
3. for finally getting a good mattress. I have wasted money on several brands and finally found one that does not leave me crippled up every morning.
4. for the can of Jordon almonds that I had hidden away during the height of Christmas candy overload and had forgotten about until I moved some towels in the linen closet yesterday.
5. for the husband, always the husband.
@Lindsey, so glad for all of yours, especially your #1 and #2. Items like those two don't grow on trees. Best wishes to them both, and of course to you and your excellent DH.
Thankful for
Meeting an old dear friend for lunch. It had been 2 years and her husband died. I was so glad to take her to lunch.
She’s frugal like me, I gave her all my leftovers which she took home for dinner.
It was so nice out today I left my desk numerous times to walk around our building at work.
Hubs is feeling better AND made dinner. He took the dogs to the park and they are tired.
I had time to read part of a book last night because the dogs were tired and didn’t need walked.
I'm thankful for...
My sprouting tomatoes and peppers. They always bring such joy to us all!
A few days of really nice weather. We grilled, ate dinner on the back deck, played outside, I dried and folded laundry out in the sun, and it's been lovely.
Friends. I've gotten to talk with quite a few friends this week and it's so nice to have more than just one or two friends! I feel truly blessed.
The current stage of my kiddos. I feel like this year is a "sweet spot." My oldest is in school, which is such a good thing for her. My younger two are good buddies and love being home together, but they're also getting more independent and we can do more things. I love the baby years a lot, but this year is such a great mix for everyone that it's gotta rank as one of the best, too!
Thankful for
* Having finally found a therapist that specializes in ASD (for my child with ASD )
* A job where I can choose my days off (casual work/on-call)
* A paid-off house
* That my mother, 70, is still fully autonomous
* A pantry, fridge and freezers full of food
Mega thankful for : just learned yesterday that I am eligible for a scholarship that will cover all my college costs for 3 years!! (In Quebec, Canada, which equates to 15 000$), and even maybe the first year of my Masters degree.
@Isa, oh congratulations on the scholarship! What a huge relief for you and so exciting. As for your 70 year old mom - I have a 92 year old mom who runs circles around me! totally autonomous and full of vitality.
I am thankful that my local Hospice is putting on Advanced Care Planning zoom sessions and that I found the courage to sign up. 2 sessions, 2 hours long, 2 weeks apart. I just did session #1, and boy it is forcing me to consider all kinds of conversations to have with my adult kids. Who is the best kid to make decisions (all agree on the eldest) and who is the runner up (all agree on the youngest). Do I want to be buried or cremated, what happens if I am in a coma, what kind of medical interventions do I want, where do I want to spend my final days/hours? do I have a power of attorney? is it enduring (if I lose my marbles, will the POA still be valid? some aren't). Do I have a will? (yes) Where is it? ( I have now told all three kids) What about organ donation? (I am registered). Tough conversations and so important. more to come in two weeks, so grateful that Hospice offers this. I just lost a dear friend and this is the impetus for me to make some more adulting steps.
I am thankful that the local dog groomer was able to trim my Skye's nails at no stress for Skye, and at about $25 including a good tip. I had a Vet appointment for over $250 to get her totally sedated as she gets so anxious, but I talked to the groomer and they were willing to try. I left the building, and Skye relaxed (well, treats were involved) and all is great!
I am thankful that there were layer chicks when I went to pick up my meat birds. Layers are hard to come by so I got 20 - and now I am thankful for the cheeping in my kitchen.
This morning I received very good news about a health issue. I am super grateful to science and the health care pros in my system, and the Universe. Thank you.
Yay!!!! I am so happy for you.
**That I am not going to have surgery (at least right now). Dr. wants to try PT first and I am more than willing!
**My husband unfortunately will have to have surgery but it will be done robotically so his recovery time shouldn't be too long or rough. Thankful for good health insurance.
**4 out of 5 of us living in our home caught Covid but we all made it through with fairly minimal symptoms.
**For the fact that my husband's job gives him a vehicle to drive and a gas card. With gas being so high, it's a God-send not to have to pay for him to drive too, from and all around for his job. He's a carpenter so he's always on the road. And I only work 7 miles from home, so I don't use much gas.
**For the 20 cent drop in gas prices within the last few days.