Thankful Thursday | Ohhhh, it is DONE
This week, I am thankful:
that my terrible, horrible, no good, very-bad BSN class is DONE
I have submitted my very last assignments, and I never have to do another speck of work for that class again.
YAYYYYY!!!! I survived!
I am so very relieved to be done.
that despite the suffering, I got an A
In between the crash-outs, I did get good grades on my weekly projects.
Plus, my little group and I actually got a 20/20 on our final project, and the professor asked if she could use our presentation as a sample for future classes.
So, yay us!
that I don't have a night shift tonight
I worked overnight the last two nights and I am so happy that's over with.
I have ALL day shifts from now through January 10th. Woohoo!
The schedule that starts on January 11th has not been released yet, so I do not know my fate for those weeks. But for now, I am going to be grateful for a string of day shift weeks.
for the chance to leave things better than we found them
I was feeling a sense of dread about heading into my night shifts, and then I heard a song that reminded me of the "leave things better than you found them" idea.
So then I told myself, "Ok, these patients are at the hospital overnight, and they could really use a kind helping hand."
And then I felt slightly more motivated to go in and make a difference for them.
But I do still hate night shifts. 😉
for an almost-perfect pack of Skittles
I ate a little packet of Skittles last night, and it had almost none of the flavors I dislike.
Orange and lemon are forever the elite flavors, along with the lime.
Red and purple Skittles? I don't want them!
for a night shift buddy
My study buddy (now co-worker) Brittany has worked with me overnight the last two nights, and our patient assignments were right next to each other.
So, we had each other for company as we suffered through the overnight shifts we both hate, and that helped make it less miserable!
for the beauty of the cold season
I was going to say "winter" but I know it's still technically fall.
However, the scenes I am appreciating are very winter-ish.
I love a good morning walk filled with frosty scenery.
And it snowed while I was at work the other day! It felt so magical, watching the snowfall through the windows in my patients' rooms. It was so...December-y. 🙂
It made me smile to come home and see my cute little house covered in snow.
I am thankful for all your good things this week, especially that you successfully finished your terrible, horrible, no good class and that you have a month without night shifts. I know night shifts would be extremely difficult for me.
I am thankful that I have managed to do most of my holiday procuring without a lot of effort on my part.
I am thankful we put up our holiday tree up over the weekend. I love having it lit on these dark mornings and evenings. I enjoy seeing the ornaments we acquired over the years.
I am thankful for a relatively warmer day yesterday. I didn't need to bundle up so much to take a walk. It was even decent for walking in our neighborhood last night.
Congrats Kristen on completing your course - with such outstanding results too!
I absolutely love your frosty pictures!!
This week (and these weeks) are so hectic I just plod on from one day to the next. There are times like that and this is just such a time. There are only two things on my mind right now: thankful that it is almost weekend, and thankful that our adult kid still living at home made an offer on an apartment that was accepted. Moving out (in Spring next year) will be a life event for all parties, as husband and I will become empty nesters.
Beautiful frosty pictures! We had a big snowfall last week and it was my favorite type of snow, the kind that sticks to all the tree branches and makes the place look like Narnia (before Aslan's return).
This week I'm grateful that:
DS#2 and I both got As in our nurse aide training (including As on our professional evaluations, which I was most nervous about).
That I was able to find out exactly where I am on the nursing program wait list (#80) and when I can expect an invitation to the cohort if I apply for the accelerated academic admission track, which I did. I might be starting as soon as Spring 2027! Eek.
For a warm, cozy house as we head into a cold snap.
For a breather from classes.
That we finally got DS#2's car back and they did NOT charge more than the quoted $1000, thus upholding my faith in humanity and belief that in general people do what they say they will.
For the Commodore, who has become a bit of a celebrity in my friend group chat; apparently one of my friends was able to bribe her toddler into the car seat by promising to show her a picture of "the pretty kitty." 😀
That’s so funny because I would happily take your red and purple skittles. Red is my favorite, although I do like all the other colors, too now that green has been changed back to its proper lime flavor. I absolutely hated the green apple flavor, especially because it clashed with the other flavors. It was beyond foul. I would pick the apple ones out and throw them away.
We can share a bag happily. 😉
And YES about the stupid green apple change. LIME FOREVERRRRRR.
I’m thankful for:
1. Yesterday’s post and conversation here. It was so interesting to read everyone’s different thoughts, all expressed respectfully. I checked for new comments throughout the day—it was all so engaging!
2. The friendliness and straightforwardness of the plumber who replaced some pipes here yesterday. I so appreciate service people who are easy to talk to and ask questions of.
3. For my own growth over the years.
4. That my son-in-law and I are developing a comfortable, chatty relationship from the brief time we spend together every week when I pick up my granddaughter.
5. My aunt, who has invited my mother on several outings recently, including visiting my uncle. My mother is happiest spending time with family, and I’m so glad my aunt reached out to her.
@JaeFi, Your #1: I wholeheartedly agree. This is the place I come to for inspiration on how to handle tricky topics with grace.
First, Kristen, congratulations on being DONE with the awful class and getting an A in it. Frankly, I was less worried about your getting the A than your possibly losing your mind! But neither happened. 🙂
Now, snow. Speaking for myself (and possibly for others in the Snow Belt), I'm well past the rhapsodizing stage and well into the stage of stoic endurance. We've got yet another lake effect snow warning till 7 am Friday.
But let me find gratitude where I can. First, I'm thankful that I don't have to go out in this weather. This is a privilege I formerly enjoyed as a telecommuter and now appreciate as a retiree. (And I went out and ran errands like a maniac on Tuesday so that I definitely wouldn't have to venture out.)
Second, as always, I'm thankful for the birds at my feeders. Right now, I've got so many cardinals out there it looks as if we're about to elect another Pope!
And finally, I'm thankful for plenty to do indoors and plenty of time to do it in.
@A. Marie, DS#3 often remarks that he can't believe he used to "love" snow. Of course, that was when he was younger and didn't have to contemplate driving in it to get to school, or work...he now views it as an aesthetically pleasing nuisance and safety hazard. 😉
And your second point made me laugh--the cardinals are certainly in full force around here as well, and they love to tease the Commodore, chattering right back at him through the window, because they know full well he can't get at them!
@Karen A., Betty has long since become blase about my birds, because she now knows full well she can't get at them!
I know, right? I was close to losing my marbles. Ha.
Yay for you! Glad that your terrible class is over!
Thankfuls:
~Cold weather with frosty mornings and the wherewithal to have a warm house.
~Christmas lights - The child in me loves looking at all the pretty lights. Several houses in our area have started putting large colorful balls of lights high up in the trees and that looks so festive.
~Time spent with family, especially our grands. Watching them mature and change is so fun. (And challenging at times!)
~The opportunity to be away for a few days last week to take a breath and relax a bit after a very summer/fall.
@Addy, A very busy summer/fall.
Yeah for No more class work for a little while! 🙂
While Yes the snow is pretty to look at, can we just move on to warmer weather already. I'm ready if this is what Winter is going to be like until March/April.
Thankful for our house & the furnace & gas wood stove that are keeping us warm !!! Not looking forward to single digit highs & below zero over nights predicted starting today.
Thankful that we are able to get snow shoveled every day that it has snowed, especially the wet heavy snow that becomes ice (which is most of what we have been getting).
Thankful for neighbor with snowblower that takes care of the sidewalk, a little less for us to shovel (though we do widen it out so normal width). And helping with driveways on the days we get 5+". 3 hours is better than 4+ hours of shoveling snow.
Thankful for rescue dogs who love going out into snow, even in the frigid temps.
Thankful for hot chocolate & warm fuzzy blankets. 🙂
Thankful I am able to have extra meds as my ear started hurting (sign of sinus infection & ear infection that I get easily especially in winter) so I was able to start getting into my system. Already improving. 🙂
Thankful for the sun.
Thankful that teen & I have had uncomfortable conversations about sexting as apparently there are some people/adults posing as teens & asking for photos that they then use to blackmail to get kids to commit suicide. I'm glad teen knows can come to me.
Thankful for Kristen and her blog where we can learn & share with each other.
Stay safe as we are having crazy weather throughout many areas.
1. I got my property tax bill and what a nice surprise: it is about 1/3 of the amount I had to pay last year. New state laws went into effect, lowering the tax rate. Including one that says people over age 65 will not be charged for school district taxes. Woo-hoo! (My grandma must be smiling down from Heaven because she complained -- hollered!-- for many, many years about that very fact! Her youngest child graduated in 1942, but she had to pay school property taxes until the 1990s, when they sold her house. She thought that was blatantly unfair.)
2. I made a car payment yesterday and, as usual, added some extra to the amount that was required. It won't be long until my car is all paid for. Probably all done before March 1.
3. Went to a new insurance agent and she got me a steal of a deal on car insurance.
4. I'm still making payments on my roof (I had a new metal roof installed this summer); by next fall, it, too, will be all paid for. I will then be debt-free. *Cue the Dave Ramsey Show sound effect of Mel Gibson yelling "Freeeedommmm!!!!"*
5. All of the above helps compensate for the fact that I'm not substitute teaching anymore. In other words, the Good Lord has taken good care of me financially (and in every other way). Bonus: I can sleep in on cold winter mornings -- instead of having to get up, get dressed, go out in the weather and drive in the dark to arrive at school by 7:20 a.m. Ahhh! Pure bliss!
@Fru-gal Lisa,
I hear you on the school taxes. I settled myself with it years ago because I realized that school taxes help to ensure that the education system has the resources they need to begin the training of FUTURE doctors, who I will definately need as I age. It puts it into persective.
@Fru-gal Lisa, every so often someone in my area floats a proposal to raise property taxes to help our local school, and I have noticed it is the people who rent who push the proposal the loudest, “FOR THE CHILDREN”.
@Fru-gal Lisa, We had a neighbor who once opined that as homeschoolers, our family shouldn't have to pay school taxes: "In fact, they should pay you!" he added. I said, no thank you, then they really would be able to tell me what to teach!
@Central Calif. Artist Jana,
You hit on what my grandma got the angriest about: renters who had lots of children theoretically paid zero school tax, while she got slammed.
However, renters do pay indirectly because landlords must set the rent amount high enough to cover all their expenses. Which includes property tax on the rental unit(s).
And landlords do not have homeowner exemptions (discounted amounts) on their rental units.
@Central Calif. Artist Jana, People who rent pay property taxes; it's just not a separately itemized part of their rent payment. I assure you, landlords pass it along to their tenants, however it may be "disguised".
@JDinNM, Can confirm. When our city raised property taxes here, our landlord contacted us and regretfully said he had to raise the rent to compensate for that. Because we love where we live and the rent was very reasonable to start with, we were okay with that.
Congratulations on finishing your class! I noticed that you wrote that you "got" an A. You earned that A. May seem like a small thing, although to me 'earned' is much more powerful than 'got'.
I'm thankful for the birds who visit our backyard and for being able to snowshoe across the street from our house.
Yay for you! Enjoy your break over Christmas.
Thankfuls:
--For the opportunity to wear my biggest, sparkliest earrings last week at the FFA fundraiser. When I worked at the school, I wore my fanciest and most Christmas-y earrings all through December. But now that I'm not at the school, I don't have much opportunity to wear earrings that dangle three inches down. The younger kids love the big gaudy earrings though, and they were commented upon at the fundraiser. 🙂
--For my friend who still works at the school and dosed my son with Dayquil so he could get through the fundraiser despite his sinus infection. We ran out of Dayquil the day before, and it's not like I can just run out to CVS (90 miles away). I texted my friend and she had some and brought it for him the next day. I do not generally approve of drugging oneself up to force oneself to work, but this was a particular case where he really needed to be there.
--For antibiotics. We took him to the doctor the next day and he was given antibiotics. I had wanted to wait to see if the infection would resolve on its own because he had antibiotics a few months ago for an ear infection, but when it didn't go away, I was very happy to have the option for them.
--For the easiest day of subbing ever on Tuesday. The teacher didn't have to leave until 9:30 a.m., so she was there to teach her math lesson. The rest of the day was just diagnostic testing on their individual computers, catching up on missing assignments, and an ugly sweater project that they all liked. These are 4th and 5th graders, so pretty self-reliant. They also had an hour and a half combined of P.E. and STEAM with other teachers this day, which gave me lots of time to finish my book. ("Lanterns on the Levee," which I mostly enjoyed and was very thought-provoking.)
--That I am not subbing again this semester, and am still not working, which makes the extremely busy month of December much more bearable for me. It still feels too busy, but I don't feel so exhausted.
@kristin @ going country,
I'm sure you already know this, but pls. make sure your DS finishes ALL the antibiotics even though he'll start feeling well before he runs out of the medicine. Otherwise, it'll have a rebound effect and the illness will come roaring back -- and be antibiotic resistant. I'm sure it's a temptation to save some pills (or liquid) for next time, esp. since the drug store is 90 miles away, but pls. don't!
@Fru-gal Lisa, No worries. He finished them all up like a good boy. 🙂
I love red skittles!
Huge congrats on getting through the class and the A! I hope you do something to celebrate!
My thankfuls:
1. I went to the dentist yesterday. The bad news is that I have to get a mouthguard for sleeping but the good news is that I reversed some damage from the previous visit by flossing more frequently.
2. I have to write a paper for a course at work. It's due in February but I know I'll be busier then. I have a light week this week so I got a first draft written. Future me is thankful!
3. I went to beautiful carol service.
4. I wrapped all my Christmas presents, except for the few I ordered/ will buy in England. Future me is also thankful for that!
5. I had a cold but lovely swim in the sea after work yesterday:)
@Sophie in Denmark,
I've worn a mouthguard for sleeping for 30+ years, and it was fairly easy to get used to. I found that I actually sleep better when I wear it faithfully every night. (At first, I wasn't so good about wearing it every night). A word to the wise: if you have a dog (or dogs), keep it where they can't get to it. Our Golden, Sunny (RIP) started chewing mine up before I got it away from him. IYKYK.
@Liz B., Thanks for the tip! I don't have any dogs but I might get a cat next year.
Beautiful photos! Yay! for the class!
Life is really chaos right now. It just is. That's why I need to do this exercise today. So this week I'm thankful:
*that I didn't accidentally drive onto the runway yesterday when I was picking up my son at the airport. I had to go behind a gate, but I hadn't been to the flight school by car (one of those side by side things from a different point at the airport) and didn't have a clue where to go from there. I didn't notice the sign my son said was obvious. 🙁 I drove around a bit , but I decided to stop at the door labeled Martin's Potato Roll to ask questions because I didn't want to cause a scene. The flight school owner just happened to be there and happily led me to the school.
*for my face therapy session yesterday.
*for being able to reschedule said session a couple hours earlier so I could get home in time to hear my daughter play piano at church (she played last week, but I couldn't be there). For traffic being just right for me to get to my appointment on time after picking up the son at the airport.
*for in-laws who will understand and help with the chaos this weekend. It's a birthday party/confirmation/kitchen renovation kind of weekend, and I will need help to figure out the food thing for company with maybe no functioning kitchen.
*that my boys are coming home tomorrow.
@Jody S., yay for the boys coming home! Enjoy your time with them!
@Jody S., that face therapy goes on and on. . . are you reaping any benefits?
@Jody S., That's quite a weekend. Good luck.
@Central Calif. Artist Jana, Absolutely. They are tiny, but they are mostly functional sorts of things. I'm working toward training my muscles NOT to work when they're not supposed to. I open my mouth, and my eye closes some. I don't want that to happen. And other similar things. And with all that extra working, my muscles get TIRED and stiff. Sometimes by evening, when I want to sit down and read a book or do something with my family, my face gives up, and I just need to go to bed early to rest it.
I have, however, lengthened the time between visits. I'm once every 6 weeks now. It's neat how I'm learning more and more how my muscles work. I'm able to figure out some things on my own. It seems like the more I learn, the more I learn 🙂
I'm thankful for all the nurses that are making my hospital experiences so much better. Three nurses yesterday all remembered me and greeted me and held space when things were hard. They tended to me with true generosity of spirit and kindness.
And, while I was sitting in the infusion center, my kid reached out saying she was sick! I'm so grateful to my mom squad of friends who jumped in to help when I sent out a text saying that I couldn't get to my kid to help her. Homemade food was delivered to her at her dorm, meds were picked up for her, and I received a debrief of another mom's assessment of how she was faring!
I grateful for learning about the Reiki Five Truths! They've really helped my headspace when I started to spiral 🙂
I thankful to my parents for coming to help me today AND for generously gifting us tickets to go see Wicked on Broadway as a Christmas present 🙂
(And, while there were no night nurses needed for me yesterday, when I did have to stay in the hospital for man overnights, I sure was grateful at how caring they were even though it was dark outside and, I'm sure, they desperately wanted to be asleep. So a big thanks to you for pulling those shifts with a thankful mindset. I can't imagine doing those shifts so I'm so grateful to you for doing them even when they aren't your favorite.)
@Renee, I'm sorry you've spent so much time in the hospital recently, and I wish you better health and happy holidays.
@Renee, I'm so glad that you have such a great mom squad of friends to help you!
Aww, I'm so sorry you had to be in the hospital, but I'm so glad you got kind care!
Woohoo for your class being finished!! Well done!
I had a doozy of a class this fall, too, so rejoicing with you! I already know the spring brings another tough one for me, but after, that hopefully a little lighter...
YAY for you, Kristen! Great job earning an A in that awful class!
I enjoy frost too and I love the name for that spiky type...hoarfrost. It's an odd-sounding word but I love saying it.
I also love orange candies. I am still most seriously displeased that SweeTARTS don't have the orange flavor in most of their items anymore. (The types that do are my least favorite type.) I have written to them to no avail...
This week I am thankful for:
1. The earlier sunsets. I know some people grumble about them but it makes it easier for me to wind down and fall asleep on time when it gets darker earlier.
2. My warm coat, hat, scarf, and gloves. I never take those things for granted.
3. Aquaphor ointment. It's the dry season and my hands are like sandpaper without it.
4. A good cup of tea. This frequently makes my list, but I truly appreciate one.
5. The kind bus driver on my commute home the other day. We was especially polite and helpful to everyone.
Kristen, your frosty photos are fabulous!
This week I am especially grateful for all things heat: a 2-year old heating system, the funds to keep it at 70 degrees during the day, a thrifted fleece throw that I use every morning as the house heats up, a neck gaiter from Buy Nothing, and a cotton bag of old dried beans that I heat up and place on my lap under my blankie. Oh, and heated car seats, too!
Hooray for the end of the class from heck! You did it, and now you can RELAX.
Thanksgivings:
1. Once again, I'm thankful for a safe flight (D.C., this time) for my daughter.
2. I'm thankful that with all the flying she does, she has enough miles built up to purchase a trip allllll the way across the country for her and her daughter, there and back, to visit my daughter's BFF and BFF's husband, who recently relocated to Washington state. My granddaughter has always called her mom's BFF "aunt" and is very happy to go see her again.
3. I'm thankful that - so far, anyway - the gifts I've ordered online have been showing up on time at my door.
4. I'm thankful that my 11-year-old granddaughter told me recently that there hasn't been a book I've given her so far that she didn't enjoy. I hope I can keep up the winning streak. She also appreciates the old copies of out of print books that I hunt down and give her, instead of turning up her nose because they aren't new. She takes good care of them.
5. A simple, fun one - I'm thankful for the Chick-fil-A mini sandwiches that a co-worker brought in for all of us.
@JD, see if you can find a copy of Daddy Long Legs by Jean Webster for your granddaughter. It is such an outstanding story!
@Central Calif. Artist Jana and @JD, as long as we're talking about Jean Webster, let's also mention Just Patty--a collection of Webster's stories about a naughty but nice boarding school girl at the turn of the last century. It's my personal favorite.
@Central Calif. Artist Jana, I have a copy of "Dear Enemy," which I have always loved.
@Central Calif. Artist Jana,
(and A. Marie and Kristin@ going country)
I actually have Daddy-Long-Legs and Dear Enemy myself, so when she gets itching for a new read, I can see if she likes those. I first read them from my aunt's book collection as a youngster, and as an adult I knew I wanted my own copies.
I have not read Just Patty. Now I'll have to find that one!
Years ago I started collecting my favorite childhood/young adult reads just so I could re-read them and my kids could read them, so I have quite a few she can borrow.
Did anyone else here read Beautiful Joe (Saunders) or Ride Like an Indian (Larom)?
I got amused by the title "Brainfuse" on your list because it sounds like the whole course attempted to do just that! Thank goodness that's done.
Any year it snows before Dec. 21 in the South is a year in which winter has officially arrived early.
@Ruby, you mean that "our" town has already gotten snow?? I'm gobsmacked. Snow days in my youth there were few and far between, and as kids, we savored each and every one of them. I still fondly remember the big snow of January 1966, when a full 6 inches fell on our fair metropolitan area. The city and county school systems were separate at that time; the city schools got 3 days off, and the county schools were off for a week. (In my present hometown, of course, they'd regard calling off school for a mere 6 inches as cause for ROFL.)
@A. Marie, we have had one day of visible snow that did not last and it spit snow twice since then when the polar vortex dropped in. So much for that warmer, not so wet winter that was forecast.
Kristen! Your frosty pictures! Gorgeous!
I don't care that it's not technically winter. We have been in the bullseye for snow--I think I heard that my area has had 36 inches of snow thus far--that counts as "winter" to me. Wow! Related to that, I am grateful that my body can handle the shoveling. Yesterday was particularly challenging--about 4 inches of "heart attack" snow--that doesn't sound like much, but the snow was sooooo water-saturated that it took me an hour to shovel our driveway (normally a 20-30 minute job for that amount of the white stuff). Whew.
Related to snow--I've been snowshoeing twice, once with a friend, thus far this season. Very thankful to do my favorite snow-related activity.
Thankful for my husband, who uncomplainingly does all.the.things. For all the pretty Christmas lights out right now.
Finally, the big one. Last Saturday was my mandatory work weekend day. I've been practicing for almost 38 years (I hit my 25 year anniversary at my job this month, which is when weekends become optional). Hooray!!!!! I'm grateful for my job, but I'm to the stage in life where I would like more freedom with my weekend scheduling.
@Kris, Congratulations on 25 years in one place! Quite the accomplishment these days!
Grateful for:
* My hospitalized daughter (mental health issues) is at least having a couple good days in between the bad ones. And I get to take her out for a couple hours tonight
* Having been able to work yesterday and today again, despite not feeling 100% (nausea) (no sick days = no pay if not working)
* That my 2nd daughter is healthy mentally and physically, and generally happy.
* Hubby
* A comfy king size bed
@Isa, I hope your daughter's good days increase and that your second daughter remains well. I'm glad you were able to go out!
@Isa, I hope your daughter continues to have more good days ahead. Our son has been hospitalized with mental health issues, so I understand how taxing that is for everyone.
@Isa, Thinking of you at this time with hope.
@Isa, I hope this hospital stay is helpful for your daughter. And that you find peace in the midst of the turmoil.
@Isa, I join the others in good wishes for you and your family, especially your hospitalized daughter.
@Isa,
Praying for peace for your family and complete healing for your daughter - well, for all of you, really. It affects the entire family when someone you love is hurting.
@Sophie in Denmark, thank you
I believe I can speak for us all when I say..... HALLELUJAH and CONGRATULATIONS!!! So happy for you
For sunshine on snow.
For my heated mattress pad -- it's luxurious to slip into a warm bed at night.
For hot showers.
For my two dogs, who always make me smile.
For audiobooks.
* Always, always so very thankful for my husband. He is my best friend.
* For the amazingly beautiful sunset I got to see last night.
* For my children, that they are grown and living independent lives, and still want to spend time with us!
* For my fur babies, that provide so much joy and love.
* For a milder than normal start to the cold months. I haven't had to shovel my walks yet this year!
This week I am thankful for:
• How beautiful everything looks after the snowstorm that went through our area this week. Fresh show is just a sight to behold!
• Snowy roads aren’t ideal for driving, but the tracks that are left in the roads have been a helpful visual for my new driver. He is trying to get a feel of where he is in his lane (currently a curb hugger) but the tracks have helped him stay in the middle of the lane.
• My company hosted our annual soup and salad lunch after our end of the year staff meeting. I’m a tradition loving person and this tradition is another one I love.
• My three hour commute home during this week’s snowstorm was made easier by a really good audio book!
• The dogs are doing a better job of letting me sleep at night. There was a stretch where they wanted to go out multiple times between 2 and 4 am no matter if we took them out before bed but now with the snow they are more interested in sleeping through the night.
• 24 hour Christmas songs on the radio!
Those frosty fotos/phrosty photos are terrific!
Thankfuls
1. a new friend to walk with
2. several days to work at my warm home and studio instead of driving down to work on the current mural project in the cold and damp
3. the sense and strength to make a good decision to only work on the mural on the days the building (library) is open because THOSE HON-YOCKS WILL NOT GIVE ME A KEY SO I HAVE TO WALK 3-4 BLOCKS TO A PACKING HOUSE TO USE THE FACILITIES. Ahem. Excuse me for shouting. If I can only work one day a week because of their inexplicable decision, then they can wait another two months for the mural to be finished. So there.
4. husband at home is keeping the wood stove going in these cold damp days
5. Mom’s Car (I wonder when I’ll think of it as mine, and I still miss my ’96 5-speed) is a very comfortable ride with heated seats, a super-fast defroster, and the power to pass when needed.
@Central Calif. Artist Jana,
I'm in agreement. They can wait on their mural, by golly.
Kristen, your frosty photos are so beautiful!
This week I am thankful:
- that a group of ladies I have known for over 30 years are getting together for dinner tonight. Nothing beats in person visiting.
- that our young grandson enjoys coming to visit at Nana and Papa's house. He has asked every day this week to come to our house when our daughter picks him up from daycare.
- that our son finished his semester and passed all his classes
- for all the holiday lights brightening up the neighborhood
- that the wasps in my office are flying slowly and staying to themselves. Also thankful that building maintenance will come, again, to try to get rid of all the wasps.
Today I am watching the neighbor's 3 oldest girls as they have wicked coughs and mom and dad are both working. We bundled up and did our outside chores, well I did chores and they sat in the office snuggled up on the '80's Chevy blazer back seat that is our "office couch". They sipped on hot apple cider and I did chores. The other day I hosted a salt dough gingerbread house/ornament crafty day. I used old cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger and cloves in the dough that I pick up for free at estate sales. The smells were heavenly as they baked.
We'll do the same today for the kids and they will have something to take home.
Thankful that the atmospheric river was 1/2 the strength as forecasted. We did not experience high winds. Unfortunately all the bad weather went to Washington State.
So happy for you, Kristen, finishing the no good class with a hard earned A! You can do anything!
Beautiful pictures, Kristen! Where we live, there is seldom frost so I am thankful you shared them with us.
Yaay! It’s done. Not since Alexander have I been glad to see a no-good, horrible experience come to an end. And you got an A! That is so to your credit.
Now, please tell us that there’s no way you could have that instructor again…?
I’m thankful for my family, especially at this time of the year. So busy, and therefore grateful to have a DH who pitches in at every level and also calms me down in moments of overload. Also, very grateful to have two DSs who have good jobs after achieving honors in college. And, they are launched, with lovely families-and pets!-and homes of their own.
After yesterday's discussion I was prompted to be grateful for these things in the people I love dearly.
Finally, grateful for this blog, always. Thanks, Kristen.
Oh my goodness, that didn't even occur to me. I hope she ONLY teaches this class. Ha.
Thankful for:
1. A cozy house. It is 37 below zero at our house this morning and we are warm and safe.
2. That there is no wind. When the raw temps are this low, any wind makes things brutal.
3. A garage, which means we don't have to plug in our car to keep the oil liquid. Plus, while the garage is not heated, the furnace is located there so things stay at about freezing even at these temperatures and it is much more pleasant to get into your car.
4. A friend who doesn't make cookies for gifts, she makes lasagnas. Last night she dropped off a 9 x 13 pan of a lasagna packed with sausage and cheese. I'd MU.CH rather get a lasagna that feeds us for three days
5. the husband. Always the husband.
The opposite of you, I hate going in on a day shift. So thankful God gave all different preferences! Days filled with doctors, families, meals, procedures, therapies, and less per hour pay? I'll take my "let's get um into bed," higher shift diff nights, any day of the week. It's also far easier for me to stay up all night than to have to get up 5 am to get ready (even though I'm an early riser--I like quiet mornings). I'm so thankful that most people prefer days and that as a per diem employee, I rarely have to go in for anything in the daylight hours. I'm so happy for you as you learn the ropes. It is a fulfilling career, for certain.
@Tricia, I am right with you re: staying up all night vs. get up at 5 am. Well I *can* get up at 5 am to work but only because I work from home. I used to work 3rd shift and just loved it.
@Selena, yes! Cheers to a fellow night owl!
I'm thankful that you're done with that class, too!
p.s. I didn't ever have time to compose a response, but I finished reading yesterday's comments this morning, and the discussion was very interesting.
I can't believe I swept right past the Alexander reference in the post title. High fives there!
Oh man, I must have accidentally said something clever bc I don’t know what the reference is. Ha.
Kristen,
Check out Alexander and The Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day.
I am thankful for my cozy little home/rental that I've been in for about 30 years. My Landlords happen to be my best friends and though they live miles away are quite precious to me. The rent is very low. In that vein, I'm thankful to have freshened up the look in different parts of the house. I have a large plant corner with a plant light in the living room. For the bathroom, I bought a new shower curtain that is beautiful and put green glassware in the window giving a pseudo stained glass affect in view from my recliner.
I am thankful for the warm days we've had. I, personally have trouble wanting to get out in the snow and cold.
I am thankful to have attended a Christmas Party for our Master Gardener Club. Good food, good conversation and the white elephant grab bag is always a hoot.
I am thankful for my "adopted" church family. The older teenagers, are attentive to any needs I might have (It's hard for me to ask). They are sometimes in town with fresh milk even on non-church days and check on me.
I am thankful for home delivery. I need to rein in on eBay, but it is nice to receive needed and wanted items w/o getting out. Saves on impulse buys, too.
Thankful for this sweet blog and the Commentariat.
First, congratulations on not only getting through the hated course, but getting an A. You go, Kristen.
Second, thank you for recognizing that nighttime is tough for patients and that is often the time when people feel the most forlorn and disheartened by what is going on with them physically. Nights are tough on patients and when you bring your good nature to help, when your intention is to make it better, all patients benefit.
I am thankful for the kindness of a woman who leads our group on Thriving. She said "Anyone who needs to talk, I'm here." and I took her up on it as I am having a tough time with some challenging health issues, including a torn something or other in my upper arm. It is problematic because I use my arms to push up from my bed, from my wheelchair and in the bathroom (Every hour 24/7 due to overactive bladder) and it is hard enough but now it is just excruciating.
She is an extraordinary active listener, supplier of good ideas and resources. As I thanked her, I said: I have never felt so heard, so seen and so understood. She is someone who inspires when I need inspiration to keep going (Her horror that she has used to create a life of service to others: Her daughter was murdered right in front of her by her daughter's boyfriend. Whenever I start getting O me, o, my, I think of her and say: You can get over this. Think of what A. got over. )
I am thankful for my home health aide, because she is just so on top of things and because she does so much to improve my quality of life. Bless her a thousand times over.
I am thankful that my apartment building is well maintained. In the middle of super cold weather and howling winds, we had heat. Lots.
I am thankful for our super and his assistant. They are just the nicest folks and they do their jobs really well. We are so lucky to have them. We had a couple of years with an individual who was less than professional and the whole building suffered as a result.
I am grateful for things that happen out of the blue. Our family has a fragmented history with many not knowing each other over the years (with no malice or ill will; it's a lot of stepfamilies and no opportunities to bond) . This includes an adult nephew. I started, by accident, following him on Instagram. He messaged "Is that you, Aunt X?" I messaged back and we have begun to talk after 40 years! (Haven't seen him or had contact since his christening.) Now I am looking forward to learning who he and his daughter are and finding our similarities (because there are some things that are vastly different and could be problematic down the road).
A lovely gift out of the blue.
I am grateful for finding a new person to cut my hair in my apartment. Aside from her technical expertise, she is a lovely person. Very considerate. I was lucky in that I asked a neighbor if she knew of anyone and VOILA!, Kathy appeared. She travels to NYC from VA once a month (the rest of her time she is a full time caretaker for her brother.)
@Irena,
I had a problem with an overactive bladder. Saw a (male) doctor who prescribed medication, which didn't work. Made the decision to see another doctor (a woman doctor whose specialty is uro-gynocology). She understood what I was going through, and recommended Botox, which once in the bladder is supposed to work for 6-12 months. I had the procedure done 14 months ago, and it's still working, though it may be time to start thinking about having it done again. I am on Medicare with a supplemental insurance (BC/BS), and the whole thing was paid for by insurance(s).
This is my first post, and not the subject I thought I'd start posting with, but if the information can help yo, then I'm glad to mention it.
The photos of the frost outlining the leaves and branches is breath-taking!
I'm thankful for:
*This weekly gratitude reminder and reading the many thoughtful, upbeat, cheery comments.
*Good health care for the complications that increasing age bestows.
*Lengthy, lets-just-catch-up/no bad news phone calls from both my sisters this week.
*Soul-warming fires in the fireplace at night.
* Retirement - I have no idea how I ever had the time or inclination to work for decades.
*Retirement income - well, that's a no-brainer and I sure couldn't enjoy my previous thankful without it.
I'm so glad that the class H-E-double toothpicks is over Kristen. May the rest of your BS classes be informative, useful, and have no time wasters.
This week I am thankful for:
- My husband's sweet offer for me to come to his Christmas parties at work since I don't have any working remotely.
- The fact that I thought I made a big, scary, seemingly-contentious decision about something at work this week, and the only reaction I got was a thumbs up emoji.
- Living in an Asian country where Christmas is not heavily emphasized out in town. I know for many it would feel like something is missing, but it's honestly been nice to not have the pressure for a few years. Especially since work is also relentless for me this time of year.
- That being said, I do love the sweet, tinkly Christmas music the convenience stores play this time of year. In fact, I am glad to play Christmas music all month and have it feel "in place".
- On the theme of music, I'm so happy it exists. I usually wake up with a song in my head. This week, while watching the Slack messages fly, Jack Johnson's "Inaudible Melodies" came to mind and helped me not get caught in the vortex of crazy.
I feel a profound sense of relief that you have finished that class!
ME TOO.
Kristen, I don’t know if this will help; however, when I’ve had overnight hospital stays the night nurses have been my saving grace. They know they’re waking me up, but they try to be quick and quiet about it, they don’t mind midnight strolls down the hall, and they will sometimes sit and chat. The day nurses are wonderful as well, but things seem more chaotic and they don’t seem to have the same amount of time to just sit and be with a patient.
I’m thankful…
…to be up on a hill and away from any streams, so flooding is not going to affect me, personally. However, it’s close by and I’m praying for those who have been affected. Years ago I lived in the Skagit Valley and that doesn’t look good at all! It’s a narrow valley.
… for a helpful, virtual visit with my PCP. I’m feeling much better.
… for Christmas decorations/lights that make our home feel less dark and dreary.
… for my faith.
… for friendships, old and new.
Aww, I'm so glad they took the time to make you feel cared for.
I’m thankful for your thoughts on the positive reframing from of lifestyle budgets — I’m finding it to be a lot more fun to ask what can be done with the resources at hand!
I’m starting graduate school in a couple of weeks and I’m so thankful for the scholarship I received that’s making it possible to attend. And I want to thank my past self for all the downsizing and saving, and for the job that I currently have… it’s all making it possible that I can afford to pay the difference.
Thanks to coupons and holiday matches, I was able to make larger financial donations this holiday season! I love supporting local causes and it feels great when savings helps you give more.
Yay for a scholarship!! Woohoo!
This is a good time for a thankful list because I. Am. Mopey.
So, I'm thankful for:
* Coworkers and a boss that I really enjoy.
* Yesterday's snow day.
* That I finally got to watch Home Alone with my kids (their first time!) And that they loved it. It's one of my all- time favorite movies.
* My husband's calming presence.
* A friend to do things with on snow days and regular days.
* My Charlie Brown Christmas hoodie... it makes me happy!
@Ruth T,
Thinking of gratitudes can definitely help with mopey moods. I am with you. Lately I have been the same. One of my daughters noticed and came to help me do some decorating, etc and helped cheer me up. I'm a fairly new empty nester, so that was part of it. I'm slowly emerging from my slump. Wishing the same for you 😉
Oooh, I am thankful for the incredible beauty of your photo right below the heading "for the beauty of the cold season!" It is just magnificent!
There's so much interesting stuff growing on that tree, right? I love to look at all of it!
Agreed on the perfect Skittles!
Celebrating with you that you're done with that class!!!!!!!
I was in the hospital multiple stays for multiple nights last year. I specifically remember 3 different night shift nurses who were notably good at working at night. The way they moved quietly, like gently but they were still alert, was comforting. If I felt like chatting, we chatted. If I was tired, they offered a quick explanation for their presence with caring energy. One of them was from NYC and I live in the mountains. We had some nice interactions and interesting conversations that I will always remember. So thank you for your service, and I agree that night shifts (for me personally) are TERRIBLE!
I'm thankful for unexpected days off from work thanks to SNOW!
And that a student got his driver's license today so was late to school. His classmates cheered for him when he came in. Then another girl asked to share something positive. Then we had an impromptu session of a few things they wanted to share/celebrate. Some truly big personal wins and joy. A beautiful moment!
Congratulations on finishing the no good horrible class - I am celebrating with you!
You are a really good photographer!
-I'm grateful for my AM walks outside (I feel so bad-ass doing them in the cold season, and I genuinely enjoy them, even though is IS harder to get that initial motivation when it's 15°) and also my cat. She is a light in my life.