Thankful Thursday | in which I jinx myself
This week, I am thankful:
that whatever bug I caught seems to be mild
You know last week, I was all, "I don't believe in jinxing, so I'm just gonna say I'm grateful I haven't been sick in so long!"
Well, guess what?
I GOT SICK THIS WEEK.
I still don't believe in jinxing but I do think this is a funny coincidence.
Regardless, whatever bug I caught has been relatively mild and has mostly just knocked me flat with exhaustion.
that I have a bunch of at-home school assignments this week
I am so grateful for the timing; I mainly had a bunch of online asynchronous work to do this week, so it's no problem for my sick self to stay at home and work in solitude.
And by the time clinical rolls around on Saturday, I think I will be feeling just fine.
for the delight of brighter evenings
I do not love the time switch, of course, but I do love the feeling of it not being dark at dinnertime!
(Lindsey from Alaska, I know you are probably cringing as you read this because you love the dark. Heh.)
for some lovely warm days this week
The weather has been warm and sunny and just delightful. I sat outside to eat my lunch the other day and just soaked in the early spring warmth.
that someone trimmed the trees blocking one of my paths
I've been climbing over and under two downed trees for quite some time now on the path by my gym and last time I was there, I was delighted to see that someone had cut the trees and removed them.
Sweet.
that Shelley is mostly fine
She has a small anal gland problem, which is treatable, thankfully! (You can read more about cat anal glands here if you want. Ha.)
Since she's getting up there in age, I am always feeling a little nervous that any problem she has might spell the end of her days. So, I am relieved this is a simple problem.
for the entertainment of a cat who is everywhere
You never quite know where Chiquita will turn up next.
But you can be fairly sure she will serve up her "I am better than everyone else." face.
that I have only 59 days left!!
It feels significant to be below that 60-day mark. I have less than two months left before my final exam.
I can hardly believe that the end is in sight. I'm really gonna make it!
I know it's not over once I graduate...I still have to pass the NCLEX, and then I also need to take online courses to get my BSN. But once I have my RN, the hardest, longest part of this journey is over.
that better financial times are in my future
I have been a full-time student for the last few years, and recently it has been sinking in that once I graduate, I can spend time working for pay instead of going to school. WILD!
I will still be busy, but I will get paid instead of having to pay.
And since my hospital will pay for my future BSN classes, I really will be in good shape financially.
When I think back to what life was like in my first semester of nursing school, I sort of shudder. I was adjusting to nursing school life, dealing with piles of paperwork for the divorce, hemorrhaging money in the direction of my lawyer, and constantly flirting with being broke.
But now...things have improved in so many ways! And I am so grateful.
I'm sorry you got sick! I'm also thankful Shelley is okay and that the evenings are getting lighter!
1. I'm thankful that my Danish classes are going well. My teacher said she was impressed by me!
2. I'm thankful that this week has been less stressful.
3. I'm thankful that I was able to go to the doctor yesterday. I was not so thankful that it was at eight in the morning, but I'm thankful that I got it out of the way. I'm also thankful that I didn't have to wait for the appointment!
4. I'm thankful that I seem to have broken my habit of buying soda. My dentist told me there was risk of decay, so I decided to cut down on sugary drinks, and I've gone two weeks without any.
5. Finally, I am thankful that I have access to such a great range of food and drink in general and that I can afford to eat well, when many cannot.
@Sophie in Denmark, We're impressed by you as well! How many different languages have you mastered now?
@Sophie in Denmark,
We watched the delightful PBS series, Seaside Hotel, set in Denmark and learned that, at that time (just before WWII), speaking Danish was a requirement for citizenship. Is that still the case?
Languages was my first degree and my first job was as a translator. I’ve always loved it. A little jealous of you!
@JDinNM, Danish is the language I'm closest to being fluent in. I studied French, German and a little Latin in school but have forgotten a lot of those!
@ErikaJS, yes, it is! Once my Danish is good enough I would love to work as a translator!
@Sophie in Denmark, I'm always amazed at how languages come back to me when I'm least trying/expecting it. Me too on French, German and Latin. Latin from the "old days" in the Catholic Church and years in parochial school. French from maternal great-grandparents who only spoke French, and then high school and college courses. German from Saturdays (!) in high school. Our music teacher was German (married to a Russian - they spoke German and Russian at home so their little children would learn it automatically), and she volunteered to teach German classes on Saturday mornings, and for some reason teen-aged me thought that would be a great way to spend Saturday mornings. And it was! And I still remember quite a bit.
@JDinNM, I love languages and linguistics in general! Often I find that if I try and say something in another language, Danish will come out, but I can still read French and German reasonably well. My school wasn't Catholic but we sang some old hymns in Latin once or twice a year. I love seeing the roots of English words in Latin (and in other non-English languages!)
@Sophie in Denmark, Now you're reminding me that in my Freshman year of College we had to read Beowulf in the original Old English and the Song of Roland (Chanson de Roland) in 11th Century French.
@Sophie in Denmark, and everyone,
In recent years, research scientists and medical docs have said that folks who speak 2 or more languages have lesser rates of dementia and Alzheimer's disease than people who know only one. It seems that different parts of your brain store the different languages, and when you use more of your brain, this helps your brain stay healthy. They put bilingual and multilingual under some MRIs and had them speak in different tongues, and saw that different parts of the brain were stimulated when they switched languages.
@ErikaJS,
My son wants to be a translator! He has a real affinity for languages, and has taught himself bits of Russian, Japanese, and Portuguese (not fluent by any means, at least, not yet. He does this in his spare time). He takes French at school, and is well on his way to becoming fluent.
@Sophie in Denmark,
I took 5 years of French (4 in high school, 1 in college), and I, too, love seeing similarities in words of all of the Romance languages. Even though I haven't learned Italian or Spanish, for example, I can *sometimes* get a sense of what a sentence is saying, or what is being spoken.
@Liz B., same here! And same with Germanic languages, I can usually read a little Dutch.
I too am thankful for lighter and warmer days. It felt wonderful to sit outside on Monday and Tuesday. It is great to be able to walk in daylight in the evening. I have had the front door open for a bit of solar heating and additional light when I am home in the afternoons.
I am thankful for continued good health. A few aches and pains as you age seems normal to me. As long as the pain is not constant I don't worry about it.
I am thankful for financial leeway. I know many live on the edge and I am thankful that we do not. Kristen, I think you have survived your hardest years and I'm glad you're almost to your next chapter.
I am thankful for this exercise.
Kristen, glad you aren’t horribly sick and glad that Shelly will be ok.
Thankful for:
We got to spend a few days with extended family who came to visit, and had an enjoyable time.
We have had some warm and sunny days and could have the house open.
Whatever set off my allergies is apparently done blooming, as I have been able to stop my allergy meds.
Was able to do a “big shop” and replenish our freezer after eating down for several weeks. And by shopping at a few different places, most things we bought were on sale/loss leaders.
I am thankful my kid will be moving to rooms with a better landlord. It is a temporary solution, but not short term temporary. The windows can open and there is a light in the bathroom, also cooking is allowed. There are strict rules on what conduct is and is not acceptable. I hope it will be a safe haven for the next year or so, and give peace of mind and energy to find an apartment for the years ahead.
@JNL,
So, I'm getting the impression that his previous rooms did not have windows that open, no light in the bathroom, and cooking was not allowed? and possibly lax rules on acceptable behavior? Yikes. His new place sounds much, much better.
@Liz B.,
That is right. I am so excited at the move!
Good morning Kristen, Just a quick note to say thank you. How you have navigated the last few years of your life... and still find the time to provide us with posts to enjoy...is simply inspiring:) I am grateful and I believe all us readers are better for having your blog in our lives. Thank you for sharing your wisdom, time and thoughts with us. Have a great day!
@Vicki Skonieczny, ABSOLUTELY!
Aww, thank you. I am honored to be a part of y'all's lives every day. 🙂
@Kristen,
I’ve been in and out of here long enough to be worried when it seemed that your home life was about to hit a major snag. So many women (especially moms who have taken time out from fully-time work outside the home) do not fare well in divorce. I know you struggled and worked VERY hard, but i should have known from the beginning that you are strong and a survivor and you would re-create an amazing life!
Thank you! I am so grateful to be where I am now. And I hope one day in the future to be able to help other moms who are in this precarious position.
I'm thankful that when I fell and hurt my foot this week that
- my husband was nearby to help
- my cat came up to me and sniffed my hair and face, making sure I was okay
- it was not broken , just bruised
- it is my break week, so I can take it easy and coddle myself
- when I laid down to rest after the incident, the same cat came right up next to me and slept for hours. He's my favorite nurse- whenever someone is sick, he's there. He's not a lap cat, so this really makes me feel special.
Enjoy the day, everyone!
I'm so sorry to hear you hurt your foot! I hope it's a quick mend.
@mbmom11, Even if it doesn't result in serious injury, a bad fall shakes you up mentally. I hope you're back to full-speed-ahead soon.
@mbmom11, wishing you a speedy recovery and your kitty’s therapeutic company.
@mbmom11,
You have to read the book, “We’ll prescribe you a cat” a quirky book translated from Japanese. It’s about the healing power of cats. It’s a treat.
@Joyce from Arkansas,
That sounds fun!
@mbmom11,
My beloved Punkins was my feline nurse after my knee replacement in November, 2023. He was there with me all day, every day. I truly think he hung in there until he knew I was reasonably mobile (we had to put him down almost a year ago....he was days away from complete kidney failure).
If jinxing worked, I guess we’d all be making statements about winning the lottery. (Can one “jinx” in a positive direction or is it always a downhill proposition?)
Today I am thankful for a flexible schedule—what a blessing to be able to work or not as I choose, and from home! Paint, draw, blog, edit, design a book, design a logo, weed, make yogurt or bread or hummus, clean house, run errands, package notecards, update website. . . sometimes it is difficult to decide what takes priority, but it is a HUGE blessing to have all these choices.
@Central Calif. Artist Jana,
I just love all of these choices for you. In any given situation, I always like it when I have options. Good for you to have designed your life this way.
@Central Calif. Artist Jana,
Goodness, you were up early, weren't you?
@JD, ugh, yes, woke up at 2:45, gave up at 4. Sigh. No apparent reason, so I got a lot of reading done in the cold and dark. It was 38° and raining, thinking it might turn to snow, so I skipped the morning walk by flashlight.
I'm thankful for you, Kristen, and for the community you've built here. I started reading this blog, I think, during the early days of the pandemic, and it was and is a bright spot in my day.
I'm very thankful that DS#1's job search had some good news this week. Too early to share, but it's looking up a bit. He is understandably (given his personality) not getting excited too soon. Now that his wound is completely closed, and he no longer needs a dressing (HUZZAH) he's thinking about taking up camping and more outdoors activities, as he talked about wanting to do when he was in the hospital!
I'm thankful for this Spring break week, and one Thursday that DS#2 and I do not have to leave in the wee hours to get to our morning chem lab.
I'm thankful that DS#4 was so proud to have made dinner the other night. Granted, just a large pot of mac and cheese, but he did it 99% on his own! (The heavy, hot pot was a little daunting to drain into the colander.)
I'm thankful the aquarium we're going to today does not yet have its new, big, octopus habitat open yet. I have a weird fear of cephalopods, and will be happy to not feel obligated to walk through a whole hall of them. Yikes.
@Karen A.,
I love the word cephalopod and hope to lay it one day on the Scrabble board.
Octopuses (octopi????) have an incredibly sophisticated brain. Perhaps that is less uncanny for animal carers that look after them and get to know them well.
@JNL,
So true about their intelligence!! DH and I are watching a nature series with a diver in Australia showing us exactly what they can do to make situations happen. It’s a Wow!
@Karen A., one of my favorite books in the last few years, Remarkably Bright Creatures, starred a Giant Pacific Octopus as a main character. It was a wonderful read for those who like fiction with a happy ending.
@Bee, Agree, Remarkably Bright Creatures was a pleasure to read. it is now being made into a movie. I hope they do not ruin it.
@JNL, I have no objection to intelligence in an animal. It's the tentacles that give me the creeps.
@Bee, I thought it was you who recommended this book - thank you! Count me as one of the many who enjoyed it (in fact my husband accidentally returned our personal copy to the library and when I went the same day to pick it back up, they couldn't find it at first - turned out one of the librarians had snagged it and was sitting in the back reading).
@Lindsey, et al,
I loved that book! Right now, I'm reading The Soul of an Octopus by Sy Montgomery, which is non-fiction book about octopuses. It's so interesting! I had no idea how intelligent they are.
@Suz, I have been influenced by the Commentariat and have put this book on my holds list. I don't mind reading *about* cephalopods, I just prefer not to encounter the real thing in life.
This week I'm thankful for...
#1 - The constant presence of my cat, Oliver. He is a real mood-lifter on my down days.
#2 - The warmer weather. It is a huge relief to be able to go outside and not have my nose hairs immediately freeze!
#3 - That my parents are getting better from being sick. I had taken my Mom to the emergency room last week while she was sick with the flu. She is significantly better now!
#4 - Cheap books on Ebay and Thriftbooks. There's a bunch of books I have been wanting, and finding them online for less than $5 each was an awesome find and such a boost!
Congratulations, Kristen, on being in a much better place now (in several ways) than you were during your first semester.
And on a lighter note, I know all I ever want to know about feline anal glands, thankyouverymuch. Our late cat Dizzy not only had an overactive pair, but could deploy them defensively: Whenever one of us would pick him up when he didn't want to be held, he would "stinky-butt" us. Good thing he (a) usually loved to be held and (b) was charming in every other respect.
Now, my thankfuls:
I'm thankful that NDN is slowly getting used to the idea of having hired help. I spent part of yesterday making sure that all went well with her and her latest home care aide, and for the most part, it did. With frequent pep talks from me and her CF (plus the fact that my broken rib demonstrates that even I am not Wonder Woman), I think and hope that we can make this work.
I'm also thankful that the cavalry’s coming for me too: My own eventual DPOA/executor’s oldest son is on spring break from college this week and is coming over tomorrow to haul fallen branches out of my back yard and help with other yard cleanup. I’ll be paying him $20/hr., which will be well worth it. (And since he's a sophomore majoring in forestry at a college in the Adirondacks, I plan to ask him for advice about my dying maple tree in the back yard.)
I'm so glad you are dutifully hiring yard help since you have a broken rib. What a good patient you are. 🙂
@A. Marie,
So glad you have help with the garden! How is convalescence going?
@A. Marie,
That's how to do it! We don't get ANY brownie points in the afterlife for refusing to take it easy when injured.
I hope you feel better soon Kristen.
- I'm thankful DD and grandson stopped by yesterday after work for a visit. I always want to see our kids on their birthday, even now that they are adults.
- I'm thankful that I am going to lunch with a friend I haven't seen in quite a while.
- I'm thankful for the light traffic on my commute this week since it's spring break for most of our local school systems.
- I'm thankful for the warm sunny weather we've had this week.
- I'm thankful daylight-saving time has given us more sunlight in the evenings.
I'm sorry you got sick, Kristen, but at least it was a good week for that to happen.
1. I'm thankful that I'm counting the months to retirement. This has been a long time coming.
2. I hate the time change, I hate going back to getting up and getting ready for work in the black dark and leaving in the dark, when standard time had been finally letting me get up near daylight, BUT, I will choose to be thankful that I have a little more light to get home in.
3. I'm thankful for my daughter's uneventful flight to Arizona.
4. I'm thankful that I was outside when one of my neighbor's biggest trees near his pond gave up the ghost and fell over on a clear, still day. Poor neighbor, he is still cleaning up after the hurricanes and here is one more tree to deal with, but it was an awe-inspiring, if somewhat sad, thing to witness.
5. And finally, I'm thankful for another granddaughter's birthday on Tuesday, her 11th. She is the oldest of the four sibling grandkids. She's dryly funny, smart, a natural athlete who prefers reading books to athletics and a new "tween", so changing rapidly, but she's a dear and handles the pressure of having to be the first at everything like a champ.
@JD, I love the way you always describe your grandchildren to us in such specific and complimentary terms. I get the feeling you are the biggest cheerleader for them, which is such a great thing to be as a grandmother. Life goal for me. In the future. 🙂
@kristin @ going country,
Thank you! I love them and my kids so much. I strongly suspect you will be a fantastic grandmother when that day comes. Do you realize how often you compliment your kids here? It's a wonderful habit you have.
@JD and @kristin @ going country, I'm glad that there are parents and grandparents out there like you. I had zero aptitude for parenthood and probably saved potential offspring from years of therapy--but I'm in awe of those of you (like the two of you and my JASNA BFF) who are doing it so well.
@A. Marie, I’m a life member of JASNA—are we speaking of the Austen org? If so, hello, sister!
Haha yes, A. Marie is our resident Austen expert and JASNA member!
@Julia, I too am a proud Life Member of JASNA. I've also given three presentations at JASNA Annual General Meetings, and continue to serve on the executive committee of my regional group. Hello there, Sister in Jane--and thanks also to Kristen for the shout-out!
@Julia, I'm a member of JASNA too! Have gone to the last 2 annual meetings, and had a great time. I even met A. Marie in Cleveland!
@Laurel A, I remember meeting you in Cleveland and am so glad I did. And let's party like it's 1775 at JA's 250th birthday AGM in Baltimore this fall!
Maybe you really will have a "wheee, Imma spend money!" period when you're working a well-paying job? It's like winning the lottery: What will you do with your windfall? 🙂
Thankfuls:
--For nice weather so far this week that allowed me to get outside and do some spring pick-up (baling string is my nemesis) and plant some peas. It would have been a looong week by myself sitting inside listening to the wind blow otherwise.
--For the time to go to one of the daily Masses in the next village over. They're not actually daily, but rather on the two days a week I work, so I usually can't make it. I got to one this week, though, and it was really nice. I'm usually so involved at my own church actually participating in the Mass--taking care of the church, reading, bringing up the gifts with my daughter--that I never get to just sit and be at Mass. But I did at that one. Peace.
--That nothing catastrophic has happened while my family has been gone (so far). There have been no tornados, wildfires, dead or injured sheep, coyote sightings, escaped horses . . . all these things have happened in the past when my husband has been gone, so I appreciate any trip he takes that doesn't involve an emergency I'm dealing with solo.
--For a husband who is willing to drive hundreds of miles with four kids to see all of our family. This trip involved a lot of logistics and isn't really going to be relaxing at all, but he was game to do it so they could see their cousins/aunts and uncles/grandparents.
--For the time to myself to do just what I want to do (a lot of reading, movies, and cleaning).
--But especially, for my husband and children. Time by myself always reminds me that my life is immeasurably better with them in it, and I am blessed beyond belief that these five people are with me.
I know, right? I will have my blogging income and my nursing income, no school bills, and no lawyer bills. What a lovely combo!!
@Kristen, Sounds like that might be a nice time to treat yourself to the perfect car for your circumstances, you mentioned a Civic? I loved ours when we had it.So sporty but practical!
I, as the Kristen-with-an-E, am considering a Civic once I graduate!
@kristin @ going country, (*whispers quietly so Kristen's jinx doesn't hear* - and please, also no snakes till Kristin's husband/kids come back so that they can shoot them and she doesn't have to...)
@Suz,
I had a couple of great great aunts that were called pistol packing wild women of the prairie. It was a colorful reference everyone liked to make at family reunions until my uncle set us straight. He enjoyed the time he spent with them as a young child and said they weren’t wild just very congenial and the only reason they wore holsters and guns over their skirts and petticoats is that New Mexico snakes need shooting.
1. My little granddaughter has to wear an eyepatch six hours a day towards overcoming “lazy eye.” Her eye dr says her weak eye IS strengthening. This is a long haul and we are all so thankful.
2. Almost two weeks ago I had a cataract removed from one eye and next week the other eye will be fixed. This in-between time has been wearying because my eyes are now so different and no glasses and or eyepatch solutions fix this. I guess I’m thankful to understand what my grandkid and so many other people on earth are dealing with, that’s not seen by us with competent vision.
3. I am very thankful for the awesome, loud, high-in-the-sky squawking of Sandhill cranes migrating north again.
4. I am thankful I get to live in a city neighborhood rich with people of different incomes, ages, races, languages, and music. When it warmed enough to crack some windows open - there was the laughter of little kids on the sidewalks and music on the other side of our back fence!
5. I’m thankful I get to eat a sliced apple sprinkled with turmeric every day. It makes me laugh when people are aghast at the thought. Works for me - and I even like having yellow fingers half the morning.
@Mary Beth, 13 years ago i had cataract surgery. had been wearing glasses since i was two and a half. now i only need sunglasses outside and reading glasses of course. i waited six weeks between the first and second surgeries. so two weeks is a blessing. luckily i didn't return to work until both eyes were done. good luck and enjoy the result.
@Mary Beth, kudos to your granddaughter’s parents for following medical advice to strengthen her lazy eye! I wore an eye patch at age four and I was very unhappy (and likely noncompliant) about it at the time. But it was very successful and has benefitted me for six decades.
@Anita Isaac, Thanks!
@Aunita Isaac,
Good for you! After a lifetime of wearing strong glasses all day, my husband had cataract surgery last year and opted to be able to see both near and far. (Medicare will pay for one option and you have to choose. You can pay extra to get lenses that will take care of both distance and close up vision.) It's been life changing for him and he's so glad he did it.
@Book Club Elaine, are we twins? I wore an eye patch at age 5 and it has benefitted me for six decades!
@Book Club Elaine —did your mama draw an eye on yours??
@Central Calif. Artist Jana, my son had surgery at age 1 to correct severely crossed eyes and the doc over-corrected one of his eyes. He wore a patch from age 2 to 8, for varying amounts of time, and came out of it with perfect vision. I used to put a patch on his teddy bear's eye and we decorated the patches with stickers.
He developed quite a line in sarcastic comebacks when people rudely asked if he'd lost his eye when they saw the patch. I thought I'd wet myself laughing the time he slapped his hand to his face and loudly said, "Oh, my Gawd, I've lost my eye! Quick, help me look for!" to a nosy old lady. 😀
I would have fallen over laughing too!
@Ruby, That gave me a full minute of laughter!
@Mary Beth ,my pleasure
@Ruby, i would have wet my pants. no almost. your son is so smart with a wicked sense of humor. good for hiim.
Feel better! Lots of bad germs out there this winter.
Thankful for sunshine and warmer days. I love winter, but by March, I'm over it (but living in Michigan, I know that winter isn't necessarily over with us). For getting to go on a hike with a friend earlier this week. For spending time with my sister. For my son's safe travels to/from New Orleans, which included him driving back to college in the upper peninsula from Detroit after a very long day. I don't normally get nervous about him traveling, but I knew he was likely tired, and driving after dark when you are tired isn't the best scenario. For my daughter having a good time on her university's band trip to Florida. For a faithful God in a very unnerving time in our lives.
So many cats! I am compelled to express my thanks for my dog who, after a rambunctious round of frisbee, is now sleeping in my lap. Thankfully....
I found you a couple years back,thankful for a positive, cheerful place,I'm mostly a lurker,simply because my life is pretty boring,I'm a widow,I live in senior housing with my 2 kitty babies and pretty much fill my days with some TV and reading,a lifelong bookworm I am.
Totally impressed of how you managed your life goals after your divorce,I made a mess of things the first couple of years after hubby died,pretty much all straightened out now.
Say hi to the kitties from Bella and Buddy and keep up the great job!
I am so glad that you were able to straighten things out after your divorce; it can be a rough thing to recover from.
Give your kitties a kiss for me!
@Pat, the first couple of years after a loss can be a confusing time. Hopefully you’ve given yourself grace with that time. I’m glad that things have straightened out.
@Pat, I just edited a book for Julie Martella, who has several books and a website called Navigating Widowhood. You get a pass for making a mess of things because those first couple of years are pretty dang awful. (Been through it with a sister and a close friend.)
Without knowing how long you have been on this path, perhaps you can find something encouraging on her site. (Also @JD, @A.Marie, and others I don’t recall at the moment.)Here is the link to her site: https://navigatingwidowhood.com/
@Pat, glad you're here and that you commented. I'm a widow too, and am deeply sorry for your loss. I'll keep an eye out for your name when I'm reading the comments each day.
@Pat, hello from another member of the FG Widows' Club. In my case, it was sort of slow-motion widowhood because my DH had Alzheimer's for over a decade--so I had plenty of time to mess things up. But, still, I've more or less moved on to a calm after the prolonged storm, and I hope you can say the same.
@Pat, my dog is named buddy he came with that name. would llove to know what you are reading that you love.
1) Thankful that my hours at work MIGHT change, this 730 pm to 415 am is getting OLD.
2) Thankful for my 18+ year old cat who just keeps hanging in there (not so grateful that he insists on sleeping on my head)
3) Grateful for no more problems with my 16 year old car (had to have the starter replaced)
4) grateful for rain instead of snow
5) very very grateful for excellent health insurance through #1 LOL
You are SO close! Well done, you!
Things I'm grateful for:
1) Our generator. Our power has been out since yesterday, and having a few creature comforts (being able to charge our phones, etc), power a lamp, etc, has been a game changer. DH bought this generator from a coworker for $300, & it's been so helpful so far!
2) That we have a gas stove. I am able to light the stove manually & boil water for tea. Given that it's about 50 degrees in the house, this is a gift!
3) That we have enough money to order takeout for dinner, without it being a huge financial strain. I could have boiled water for noodles or something last night, but we threw money at the problem & enjoyed delicious Greek food, with enough leftover for today.
4) That we live in a time in society where having power is a normal thing, and being without it is unusual and short lived (mostly). It's something I rarely think about, so I'm especially reminded of what a gift it is to be able to control the temperature of your house, make coffee on demand (!), charge things, and have light.
5) I had a great interview yesterday (despite losing power in the last few minutes), I was able to save our patio umbrellas from the pool (barely), DH is super handy & had the generator all set up, we were coming off of a warm spell which means our house wasn't as cold as it could have been, etc..
I am grateful that people like yourself continue to blog and share the ups and downs, and provide a great attitude to start my day with..I grab my coffee and I have 3-4 blogs I follow— so many of my favorites have quit blogging! 🙁
I am also thankful for YOU that your school days towards that RN are down to so few days/weeks.. you are so close to that finish line!! Once you are out there working, the BSN will be done at your own pace and you already know how to study!! A PAYCHECK is gonna be sooo cool.
I am also thankful I found an excellent surgeon to perform my hip replacement which came about as a total shock to my mostly healthy 71 year old self this year. A small problem progressed rapidly and here I am!! YIKES! IN a couple of months I should be able to hike again, kayak and get back on a bicycle, but laying low for now..surgery is April 22.
Thankful for.. .ALL OF THIS LIFE.. do blessed by love and friendships.
It is interesting how the blogging world was so full years ago, and now a lot of people have moved on. I'm still over here typing away with no plans to quit, though.
@Kristen, I think many content creators have moved on to TikTok & the like. But, I prefer writing so much more for content creation. No one needs to see me in a TikTok video! I also prefer reading vs consuming videos, so I hope people continue to blog.
@Kristen, me too. But I only have tens of followers and no income. I consider it a healthy addiction, an habit of accountability, and just doggone fun. Writing keeps me from talking too much in real life. (I hope)
@Madeline, good luck with your surgery. may you have a speedy and full recovery.
@Kristen, thank g-d for that. (no plans to quit) when you first told us you were going to nursing school i couldn't imagine that you would continue to blog. am so grateful you have. soon you will be FGRN. how cool is that? when i tried to write that lower case all sorts of letters were added.
so sorry you are ill. it happens that way that the universe kicks your butt just as you say something it great something awful happens. hubby is very sick. three times in ER last week. they sent him to their uptown hospital where he was kept for a few days. he has surgery next tues.
my friend jane whom i met volunteering at hospice, she is a reitred hospice nurse and rushed over many times to assist us. jane lives four blocks away. the hospital where she retired from is about to close at the end of the month but she went over there to ER told them she was a retired nurse and asked for some stuff. the nurse there said she wanted to do something nice for someone that day and gave her what she asked for.
am grateful for you kristen, love the cat photos. especially the shelley ones. glad shelley is on the mend. hubby's twin has a tumor in the salivary gland. his twin who takes care of their mom is going to memorial sloan kettering hospital on fri to see a doc there. their mom is in remission from leukemia.
one twin going to NYC for treatment from westchester and my hubby is going to westchester from nyc for treatment.
this other horrible thing could only happen in NYC. applying to high school is a complex process that is a nightmare. i got an email inviting us to tour bard high school. never heard of the place before. we went. he was invited to take the test, to interview. the interviewer told him he would be a great addition to the school. and then they didn't offer him placement there.
he got an offer to a school without out lunch, and he has to wear a uniform and none of his friends are going there. but he was the only one going to his current school from his elementary. he didn't get into a specialized school either. his self esteem really took a hit. he will be okay but i feel terrible for him.
@Anita Isaac, wow, this sounds as if it was a really tough week for you and yours. I wish all of you the best, especially your ill hubby.
@Anita Isaac,
I hope next week will bring you better news. All the best-
@A. Marie, thank you so much. and you are so wrong you would have made a great mother.
@JNL, thank you so much.
@Anita Isaac, I'm sorry you're having this very rough time! I hope your husband's issues are quickly cleared up with the surgery next week, and that your son finds that this new school is even better than the others.
As always I'm thankful for my neighbor's cats. They're friendly, entertaining and very "talkative." I'm not thankful that I have to go back to physiotherapy but I am very grateful that I was able to get an appointment at the hospital close to me.
I'm also thankful for this community. In the past few weeks I've found a better way to knit socks for myself--brioche stitch rules! And learned a way to keep my CGM on for more than a couple of days. Underpatches also rule!
Thanks, Kristen, for this practice in particular. It’s both a delight to read everyone's thankfulness—so uplifting!—and also important. Thanks to you, taking the time each week for posting, I now do this every night before falling asleep. It’s a wonderful way to fall asleep!
Oh, I love that you do this every night. Wonderful.
Hi Kristen,
I’ve only been following you for a year or so but so look forward to your posts every day. Can’t tell you how many times I get a chuckle out of them. I can remember studying the Amy Dacyzyn’s books when my kids were young to try to save money. Some of her ideas though are a little too out there. When I saw your kitty had an anal gland issue I shuddered. My 8 pound dog had an anal cyst about 6 months ago and that was pretty awful so I get your relief when it’s something treatable.
I’ll keep reading and rooting for A’s on the rest of your exams! Thanks for a the fun, bright spot in my mornings!
Best,
Joan
Aww, I'm so glad my writing cheers your mornings. Yay!
I’m so happy you are on the sunnier side of life.
I'm in Texas visiting my family. I usually only see them every year or so. This time it was only 9 months. What a joy!
Good health after a 2.5 year long breast cancer journey.
Beautiful weather.
Two wonderful neighbors spending time with Lucy the cat, while I am away.
I'm feeling super grateful today for life.
1. I am thankful that the hospice service visiting my Aunt each week see's the same symptoms/issues that I do and increased her meds, delivered a hospital bed, defended me when she attacked me after being told she had to move downstairs, and are in general angels in human skin. I am so very blessed to have them alongside me in this journey.
2. I am thankful that a 4 day respite with just my son is only 6 days away. YES I am counting every minute.
3. I am thankful that after only two months of employment , my husband was invited to apply for a promotion. This would be huge blessing for my family allowing us to sell his car so we wouldn't have that payment or the insurance that goes along with it any longer. Plus he would get an increase in pay, increased bonus potential and even better hours than he has now with NO weekend work. Please send all prayers and good vibes!!!
4. For provision that allowed our patio to be installed after two years of waiting.
5. For my husband and my son and our dogs and our home and small glimpses that the Lord allows me reminding me that I am living in the days that I prayed for for years on end. And reminders that this is only a season and it will pass.
@Angie, good vibes coming your way for your husband's promo!
@Angie, I'm very glad that you were able to get hospice in for your aunt. And I hope you get some much-needed rest during your 4-day respite.
You have not been ignored until a cat does it. I want to Praise the Lord for all the work he is doing in my life. Things are turning around any life is getting better
I have rarely posted but this exercise is a good prompt.
I’m thankful for this blog and Kristen. It’s so easy to get spun around by our country’s situation but I find these posts help to center me.
Our 12 year old pup is struggling to adapt to her new routine. She’s recently diagnosed with diabetes and we haven’t gotten her stabilized yet. So grateful for the old fashioned family practice veterinary that we use. The costs are quite reasonable and they make the weekly checkups doable.
Another thankful… that pup’s glands” were taken care of at her recent visit.
I’m grateful for my neurosurgeon who took the care to rule out any systemic disease before my last spinal fusion. Five surgeries in total so far.
Another grateful for my surgeon… because of one of his referrals I was diagnosed with hypermobility/EhlersDanlos. My husband and weighed with recognition and relief as I had long suspected that I have it based on my family history and symptoms. Calls for some life style changes and PT for life. It also will help if my sons need a diagnosis in the to have a family member already diagnosed.
I was thinking today about how the pandemic started about five years ago, and how many people said they appreciated the quiet normalcy of coming here. And now in these very uncertain political times, my blog is serving the same purpose.
I'm glad to be a little respite from the storms out there.
Also: we have EDS in our family!
@Kristen, hello to your bendy family members! I hope that they are on the mild side.
Yes, we are all on the milder end of things thankfully!
@Kristen, I think all times are very uncertain politically but there are many more and much louder microphones these days than when I was a kid, or even when I was your age. It takes very deliberate action to avoid hearing about all those things over which we have zero control—that stuff which creates the T-shirt “Sad, Afraid, Overwhelmed." (Not really a T shirt, but @Tiana thought it ought to be, along with “In a State of Perpetual Culinary Confusion"!)
I’m thankful we’re retired. My husband is a retired federal employee and I’m so glad we do not have to go through with current employees are going through. It must be awful. I’m thankful we got our taxes filed. I dread that every year and now it’s out of my hair. I’m thankful my retirement account hasn’t taken much of a hit over these last few weeks with all the turmoil in the stock market. Since I’m not drawing from it, I’ll have time to make up the losses that I’ve had.
So very excited for you, as a fellow nurse I remember it well. One day you will be retired like me. lol
I do have to say this on your walks I hope you have something to protect your self if something or someone undesirable cones across your path. Stay safe out there. Love and hugs
I don't feel like being very thankful today. The husband has bladder cancer and is having surgery tomorrow. He had a terrible bout with cancer in his late 20s, almost two years, five surgeries, what seemed like endless chemo. He has already said at his age he is not going to "have chemo, puke for three years and then die." And since I catastrophize as a way of handling things, practicing how to survive the worst without falling apart, everything seems pretty bleak today. I am thankful that his doctor noticed a weird test result and sent him for more tests with a specialist. I am thankful we have excellent health insurance that picks up what Medicare does not. That's about it.
Ohhh, Lindsey. I am so sorry to hear this and I am hoping with everything in me that the surgery will fix him up. Sending you guys all the love.
@Lindsey, so sorry. sending you prayers, hugs and love. and hoping you get the best result possible.
@Lindsey, Ugh. 🙁
@Lindsey, I'm so sorry he has to go through this, and you too. I'm praying for excellent results tomorrow.
@Lindsey, sending you lots of positive thinking & light during this very difficult time. Hoping for the best for your husband & your family.
@Lindsey, I'm so sorry 🙁
@Lindsey, I hope all is going to be well with him and you, too. Sending you a gentle virtual hug.
@Lindsey, I am thinking of you both and hope that surgery is a success. May you feel the support and virtual hugs from this community as you journey through this challenge.
@Lindsey, oh, gosh, I'm so sorry to hear this. Sending much love to you, the husband, and the dogs from Central NY to Alaska.
@Lindsey, adding my love and support to that of the other commenters. I have always enjoyed reading your thankful for "The husband. Always the husband." May all good things come his way and yours.
@Lindsey, I am sending you my best love in this horrific situation. You have uplifted us with your posts so many times. I wish I could do the same for you. Doctors have amazing resources and I beg the Universe to have them all at your doctor's disposal.
We don't know each other in real life, but I still can't help being happy for you to have come so far. The best is yet to come!
This week I am grateful:
-That our lease is executed and our agent is on the way over with our first check. We bought a commercial space a year ago, then renovated it, then decided that our business did not actually need a space. Sigh. Realizing that you are going down the wrong path and then changing course is financially and emotionally exhausting. But after a lot of discussion, my husband and I decided not to sell, but instead to rent. It took us a couple of months to find a tenant we liked at the price we needed. And here were are. We have a lot of work ahead of us to move our business back home and sell the office furniture we have accumulated over many years of having an in-person office. But we know this is the right next step for our family's future.
-That I have closure (and 18 months still left on my postdoc). In the fall I applied to 100 jobs. ONE HUNDRED. From that I got four interviews. And then I got 0 offers. It hurts. Especially the most recent rejection, which would have been fantastic in every way. But now I can move forward. I have some applications out in a new batch. And in the meantime we will have health insurance and a salary that pays the mortgage at least for the next little bit.
-That our taxes are done. Our taxes are complicated. Two LLCs and various grants and things. Every year going into tax season I literally could not tell you what our income actually was for the previous year within $25,000. And I never have any idea how much tax we will owe or get back until we get everything back from our accountant. This season has been particularly nail biting because we've had emergency expense after emergency expense for a while now, and we are just about out of cash. Luckily, we are getting more back than we are paying.
-For a few bright spots in our daughter's journey. Our daughter is special needs, the extent of which we have only come to understand slowly over the past five years of evaluations and tests. Friday she took a battery of tests, and we now have a laundry list of diagnoses. It's hard. You have to mourn your own expectations for a child's future when you grapple with a permanent disability. No college stories. No wedding where her dad walks her down the aisle. No daughter with a daughter of her own. The results were not at all unexpected, which helps with the processing if not the pain. We are grateful to know the extent of what we have because it means we can be the best support for her. And we found a summer camp for special needs children that will allow her to swim and enjoy all the same aspects of summer camp as normal children.
-For *almost* finishing my full book draft. In academia you spend about a decade researching and reading before you finish a dissertation. Then it takes several years for you to figure out what you really wanted to say and turn it into a book. My deadline is tomorrow to get a full first draft of the entire 250 pages to my editor. I have done all the hardest parts of rewriting and rewriting again my introduction and conclusion and editing the chapters that I am using from my dissertation. Now I just have to finish one section in a new chapter. And I am this close. Let me stop writing on the internet and go work on that now. 😉
Sending you love on the special needs challenge. It is so hard to grieve a future that is not going to look like what you thought it would, and that is true no matter the reason for the shift.
My taxes are complicated too but I just got back my corporate return from my CPA this week (woohoo!) so now I can work on my personal return.
@Amanda in VA, so sorry but one door closes and another opens. good luck. sending you prayers and hugs. one hundred wow. my husband was so nervous defending his dissertation and the guy said we are passing you because we know you know your stuff you are just nervous. that was from the University of Pennsylvania. many moons ago.
@Amanda in VA, as a fellow job searcher, commiseration on how difficult the process is. You've got this!
@Amanda in VA, although our situations are very different, I do have some firsthand knowledge of what it's like when dreams for the future get closed off. I wish you and your family strength and comfort as you deal with this.
@Amanda in VA, my heart is heavy reading your comments. I'm sorry for all of the tough things you're dealing with. I am rooting for you across the miles.
The count down begins & I can relate. 🙂 Countdown to graduation.
Thankful my body is adjusting more quickly from daylight savings than I expected.
Thankful today is Thankful Thursday because TODAY (especially) I REALLY NEED TO REMEMBER WHAT I'M THANKFUL FOR
Thankful that my Credit Union (longtime employees) that know me are very understanding & very helpful when there are issues. And occasionally my issue is an unknown issue for the Credit Union.
Thankful that the weather has been more Springtime & less winter.
Thankful for the Sunshine!
Thankful I stay on top of helping my Aunt with everything going on around her house. Even the professionals are not as honest & forthcoming as they should be. Which in turn showed some things we did not know what happening (listed for sale by realtor online). She accepted offer to buy from person, but did not list for sale.
Thankful my dad is so worried for & helpful with my Aunt, going out of his way to get things done even with his not good health.
Thankful that teen has stepped up helping at home with chores since I'm busy at work.
Thankful rescue dogs SOOO HAPPY to see us. 🙂 They really are just grateful & loving.
Thankful for Kristen & her blog where we can learn & share with each other.
Have a great weekend. <3
Today I'm thankful:
*that my husband finally has a day off today. He's had days "off" recently...Last week on his two days off, we traveled to and from his grandmother's funeral. Very relaxing. (More than 12 hours total of driving and at least 6 hours of funeral-related stuff.) He was sick on the last days off, I think. But today he is spending time doing things, things which will still be done tomorrow. As a pastor, things are never "done." It's always another sermon or two each week, planning, visiting; absolutely nothing is ever finished. So, at the end of the day today, antlers will be on our living room wall, and he will be able to look at them every day and think, "That is done."
*that my husband and son are smoking brisket for supper. I am super-excited about this.
*for warmer weather. I was able to walk outside TWICE this week.
*for time I was able to spend with a friend yesterday.
*that I've found somebody who will take some of my rags (currently t-shirts with holes--tomorrow I will cut them up). I have too many for my household.
*that I have children who have organizational skills that I lack. (Don't get me wrong: I can organize some things (essays, time), but I cannot look at a physical mess and know where to begin.)
@Jody S., I tease my pastor brother-in-law that he only works one day a week. That is SO NOT TRUE! Things are never “done”.
@Central Calif. Artist Jana, Many pastors only have one day off, but frequently (almost always) he gets more calls and people needing him on his days off. How do you say no when there is a need?
Hooray Kristin, the end of nursing school is in sight. I'm so thankful for your wonderful blog and the community you created here.
I am thankful that my older friend listened to her body and went to the emergency room when her 103 F fever would not break. Kidney stones, and some heart problems were discovered. Thankfully, she is on the road to recovery.
Thankful for beautiful daffodils. They are such happy flowers. I cut and shared some with my terrific neighbor as well as my friend in the hospital.
For a beautiful day to turn over the soil in my little raised bed garden. I planted a 3 lettuce and 3 spinach "starts". If I harvest 3 times before hot weather, they will have paid for themselves. Fingers crossed the bunnies don't dig under my IKEA basket protectors.
Thankful my husband and I do our best to read "Our Daily Bread" and pray together, over the phone, when he is traveling for work. It helps us stay connected.
Thankful for a good commute to my doctor appointment yesterday. It's Spring Break, and my appointment was early, so no terrible blood pressure reading brought on by crazy drivers.
I hope everyone has a wonderful week.
Pls. feel better STAT, Kristen, and get some rest. You've been burning the candle at both ends for a long time now; maybe this is your body telling you that you need some R&R.
Glad Shelly is OK, and enjoyed the photos of both the kitties (and your nature photos, too). I would love to have those real hardwood floors that show up in Chiquita's pictures. My "luxury" vinyl plank is wood look, but it looks nothing like your nice flooring!
1. I am thankful to have gotten over the flu. It only lasted 3 or 4 days instead of many weeks.
2. For 30-cent cans of soda pop in the store breakroom. They set the vending machine so that all we pay for is the basic cost per can, and not the markup.
3. For good workmen: my flooring has been installed and I can use the front rooms again; the 3-inch thick layer of leaves in the front yard are all picked up and hauled away.
4. Sunshine and mild weather.
5. That my cataract surgery was done on Monday and the following Wednesday so I didn't stumble around for a week. And that my vision is so much better.
I do love the floors here; it is so nice to have non-carpeted floors in a rental. Feels more sanitary!
Thankful that my hubby is going out to the local brewery to meet his high school friend and to play Scrabble. I need some ME time.
I’m thankful I’m almost to the maintenance phase of my allergy shots. I’ve been a pin cushion for months, getting three shots twice a week. I’m also extremely thankful we met our deductible before I started so most of the costs are covered. Without insurance, the cost would have already surpassed 30k! Hopefully, I will notice a big difference by the time spring is in full bloom.
My puppy is going to turn 1 this month and we are delighted he’s starting to calm down. I think his teenage years are almost over because he’s starting to listen to me again. His equivalent of the middle school years was torture.
I’ve always been thankful for my husband’s job and health insurance, but have been feeling especially grateful lately.
My little airport offers a 30 minute flight to a big city airport. I’m working on my severe plane phobia and am happy to have this mini-flight to make this step more manageable. I want to build back up to my previous normal self so I can travel again.
Yes, those allergy shots are so intense at first! I'm glad you're almost through.
This week I am thankful…
• It is warm enough to open the windows and air out the house. There are still little pockets of snow in the woods but the air is lovely and just warm enough.
• For a teenage son who is actively asks for hugs – I never let go first.
• For how much fun my son and husband have together.
• That physical therapy is working and I have a plan going forward.
• For good books, I end every night reading a chapter or two.
• For a snuggly pup.
I'm grateful for Susan Sarandon. Thank God for the people who show up! I hope you feel better soon.
Please tell us more about the hospital paying for you to get your BSN. That is amazing!
It's actually pretty common! Many hospitals have a tuition reimbursement program for their nurses to get their BSN. I will happily accept the help!
@Kristen, That is wonderful! Daughter number 2 is finishing up her BSN at USC in Columbia. She wants to work for a while and then work on her NP. I wonder if the hospitals are eager to help out with that degree as well…. Daughter number four is looking to follow a similar path as you, LPN to RN to BSN. Thank you so much for sharing about your classes and career! Congratulations on being at the finish line!
When you mentioned about not being sick, I uttered the same thing for myself. I am not superstitious, either...but I do not use the Q word on night shift when it is uneventful. I made plans for the weekend, to start today. I went to bed with a sore throat, woke up with a sore throat and general malaise, and was either freezing or too hot. Canceled all weekend plans. Well, at least for today. They can be modified a bit. I can still do the Master Gardener thing on Saturday if I'm up to it. But kenneling Molly and motel reservations were canceled. I am thankful that I worked out the scenario of "not going" and all of the possibilities with that choice and was adaptable. There was a time when making a change in "set" plans would send me in a tail spin.
Thankful that the motel came to an agreement for full cancelation. The lady reminded me that I would be charged for the first night at least d/t late cancelation. I said, "Okay, but that decision would play a part in choosing to stay with them in the future. And that I did not choose to become sick."
Thankful that yesterday I was able to drop off some craft items and a few kitchen things at the Salvation Army Thrift Store. It is a slow but gratifying thing to get rid of stuff.
Thankful that in the progress of purging, I am getting some little things accomplished.
Thankful, I was able to go through the yard and pick up some limbs and trash and rearrange outdoor furniture to look more pleasing to the eye. Early bulbs and Lenten roses are peaking through. They are so joyful.
You've handled so many things at once while being in school, and I bet it will feel so good to get paid for something finally! So close!
I am thankful for:
- People who pursue the art of conversation. It is a skill I'd like to get better at. Someone who is good at conversation always leaves me feeling better.
- The perfect little glass teacups my mother in law sent me. Bonus thankful that they made it across the world without breaking.
- The art on my walls. My husband has a much better intuitive sense with art than I do. If it were up to me everything would be blank because I never feel like it's worth spending money on. Most of our wall art is from travel and brings back wonderful memories.
- My free (to me) subscription to Mango languages that has helped me become at least survival-level in Japanese.
- Being a contractor with the flexibility/power to say no to something when I need to attend to things in my personal life.
I’m excited for you as you look towards your future and financial wellness! You do and are going to make a wonderful contribution to the world.
I have noticed a similar thing, that I will feel particularly and noticeably healthy, even euphoric, and then a couple days later get sick. It has happened frequently enough that I think it must be part of the initial immune response to attack. I watch out for it now!
I am thankful for:
Being a valuable voice in my local community.
Having hit midlife, and feeling that I’m no longer too idealistic for the complexities of the world, and it’s OK if I say what I’m thinking out loud.
That accomplishing a big goal takes 15 minutes at a time, and it’s never impossible if you work at it in little chunks.
That as a stomach bug has swept through our family this week, we have great plumbing, a washing machine and dryer, and easy access to cleaning supplies.
That's is our favorite pancake/waffle mix! I do add vanilla extract or almond extract and often enjoy them with bluerries!
Three healthy, happy children (oh wait! they're adults 🙂
One retired, happy and happily occupied husband
Three crazy cats! The one year old brothers were chasing furiously all last evening so we all slept GREAT!!! Thank goodness for exhaustion 🙂
Hi all
I'm thankful for the warm weather
I'm in New York City and I have an affordable apartment. I have a wife who still loves me after 42 years.
Here’s a little tip: when you start working as a nurse, you NEVER say anything about wanting it to be/ it being a QUIET shift. You can’t even spell it. Believe me, the moment you accidentally say it, it’s the last thing from quiet!!
I see your 59 days. I got 45 days until I retire! Excited!
Oooh you are even closer than me!