Thankful Thursday | sticky snow
This week, I am thankful:
that the snow stuck around for over a week!
Here in the Mid-Atlantic, it is common for fallen snow to disappear within a day or two.
But this time around, I got to enjoy a bright white world for over a week, and I am grateful!
During these days when the sun sets so early, it's a nice treat to at least have brilliant days. 🙂
And you know what I also love: ice.
that Chiquita is still loving her cat tower
She is near enough to me to be happy, but not so near that she is in the way of whatever work I'm trying to do at my desk.
I'm a fan!
for a week of relative quiet
This is the last week before school starts and there hasn't been a ton on my calendar. Sooo, I've been able to make good progress on all the work we got assigned to complete before the semester starts.
that I feel a little better about the upcoming math exam
We have our do-or-die math exam the second day of this semester (so next Wednesday for me), and as you know, this always stresses me out.
The math is not anything approaching calculus-level difficulty, but I cannot get more than two wrong out of twenty if I want to continue in the semester, and I have two minutes per question. So I have to be fast AND accurate, and I hate hate hate that the stakes are so high.
But I went to one of the prep sessions yesterday and got all of them right. And I worked through all the practice problems from last semester too.
So, I am feeling slightly better. But I will feel much better once this is behind me.
for our cats, always
Cutie-pies. 🙂
She was busy trying to open the cabinet doors last night while I was cooking dinner.
Unfortunately for her, it is difficult to do this when your hands are so round and fuzzy. 😉
that I'm able to squeeze in two work shifts
You know how I am required to do at least two work shifts in a pay period? Well, I'm working Friday and Sunday this week, right before school starts.
And this is early in the pay period, which means I don't have to feel obligated to do any more work shifts for the first few weeks of school. Yay!
I can get my feet under me and then schedule some work shifts.
that I do not have to work full-time at the hospital
One of my co-workers was like, "I am so surprised you can survive on two shifts a month!" and I was like, "Ohhhh my goodness, no no! I have another job!"
I am frugal, but even I could not survive on the pay from two work shifts a month. Ha.
I am very very grateful for my blogging job because it is way more flexible than a hospital job, and thus way more nursing-school-friendly.
that I am rich in ripe avocados right now
I bought three from Aldi when they were on sale. They were rock hard at the time, of course (that's how I like them because then they're not bruised) and they have all ripened up now.
I also have two ripe mangoes from Aldi, which makes me happy. Mangoes are another thing I usually buy rock hard, and then let them ripen at home.
So, both avocados and mangoes require patience. 😉
that blogging by the seat of my pants mostly works
Probably almost the whole time I've been blogging (over 16 years now), I have always felt like I should be more organized and have posts written out/planned out ahead of time.
But despite my best efforts, that never really happens. I'm usually writing posts the day of or the night before.
I was just thinking last night that I could probably just stop feeling some kind of "should" about this, given that I have successfully maintained a posting schedule here through a variety of busy life stages.
If it's working, it's working. 🙂
It's okay, Chiquita. We understand. Who among us has not felt the pain of a bad camera angle?
Thankfuls:
--That I don't have to work today, so I can do a number of things at home that need to be taken care of before our serious cold, wind, and snow descend on Saturday.
--That I was insistent on getting another truckload of wood before we strictly needed it. I would not want to be facing down this weather with a dwindling wood supply.
--That we found a wood yard relatively close so we can buy as much as we need when we need it. It is for sure way more expensive than my husband cutting our wood, but it is also way more reliable. We never had a consistent supply when he was doing it, and it stressed me out. He's more of a grasshopper than an ant.:-)
--For a surprisingly smooth and calm return to school for all of my children after our long break. I sometimes have some very reluctant scholars, and that can make things very unpleasant, especially in the mornings.
--That I have been sleeping better lately. Being awake for a few hours in the middle of the night is decidedly Not Fun, and it's a relief to sleep all night. Even if I do still wake up at like 4 a.m.
--For the ability to buy books. We don't live near libraries or use e-books, but our entire family reads a lot. Thank goodness for online used book sources and good shipping. It does mean we have, um, a lot (A LOT) of books, but that's fine. That's about the only kind of collecting I'm okay with.
@kristin @ going country,
Our store sells little wooden signs. One says "It's not hoarding if it's books." LOL!
@Fru-gal Lisa, amen! My husband and son would agree with this. I just hope we never have to move again with the number of books we’ve acquired.
@Fru-gal Lisa, Love that!
@kristin @ going country, I've said it before and I'll continue to repeat it: BOOKS DON'T COUNT. (in frugality or excess or minimalism or simplicity—they are like celery or sparkling water—no caffeine, no artificial anything, no calories)
@Central Calif. Artist Jana, Yes to all the books. Plenty in-house and I consider my library to be an extension of my book shelves.
Snow! It makes winter bright. It makes everything quiet…at least at first. I love going out in fresh snow and letting the quiet calm me.
Thankfuls:
-vaccines. I have flu right now and I still feel pretty bad, but I’ve had it without a vaccine and I thought I was going to die. I’m thankful it’s not as terrible this time around.
-a comfy bed to rest in. And comfy pillows. And a comfy dog…who admittedly has been giving me a bit extra space.
-for increased energy following a series of iron infusions. I am finally able to think about things other than sleep!
-for good books that cultivate imagination and hopefulness. I love the beginning of the year because I read over many “favorite books of [previous year]” and craft a reading list that gets me through a few months.
@Kaitlin,
I hope your comfy bed/pillow/dog help you feel better! And good books, always the books. 🙂 I had the flu (Influenza A, to be exact) 2 years ago over Thanksgiving. I had my flu vaccine, but caught the flu anyway.....it was MISERABLE. Rest, drink plenty of fluids!
I thought of you and Chiquita yesterday when I was in a Goodwill and they had a cat tower for sale. It must be a trend!
I am thankful for the following:
1. That I'm adjusting to not having a puppy dog since my fur baby went over the rainbow bridge.
2. For my retail job, that I often seem to be helping and lifting the spirits of various customers. They come through the line looking glum but leave my register with smiles. That, in turn, makes me feel I'm making a good contribution to the community.
3. That we did not get any snow, ice or sleet during this last cold front, and that it was sunny and warm yesterday (at least for January)...although the forecast calls for Round 2 (another strong cold front) early next week.
4. The "super giant large print" Bible I got -- easier to read. Ditto, large print books.
5. For my incredibly knowledgeable coworker in the health supplement section: she recommended a cream to put on my rash, and at long last, it is drying up. I may even be able to wear capris and shorts this summer!
@Fru-gal Lisa, Your #2: An encounter with a rude, indifferent or nasty cashier can quickly ruin a day, while a friendly, kind helpful cashier is definitely a blessing! Rest assured, you're making a difference!
@Bobi, She makes me smile every time I read one of her posts! She makes a big difference here as well.
@Fru-gal Lisa,
Seeing you might be the brightest moments of your customer's day. Yay you for leaving them with a smile!
@Fru-gal Lisa, I imagine you to be just the kind of cashier I love to encounter. And have the kind of lil chat that sends me into my day smiling.
Thankful that
*I was able to sub at my son's school two days this week. I covered for the teacher who has had 10 of my kids. She is an amazing person, so I'm glad to help her out. And second graders are fun, if a tad squirrrely, and very enthusiastic. So fun! However, I'm glad I teach college students who generally stay in one place for class time.
*I'm going back to my real job today- I miss my routine. And I get to see a friend and her pets on my way in - win/win.
*this semester is a good one for my husband- the past 2 yrs have been very stressful for him, and this term he has time to exercise, sleep a little longer, and work with good colleagues. Makes everyone's life easier.
*Homeschooling boy has been mostly cooperative. And although he was one minute late to his HS class yesterday, he handled it. ( a few years ago, he would not have been able to walk into a class late due to his anxiety.)
*winter sunrises, with the dark branches in front. And the glorious full moon of a few days ago.
I was just thinking this morning that I am so glad the "holidays" are over. I love seeing my family and I enjoy some aspects of it, but also? Its stressful. Other things to be thankful for:
*my new car which has heated seats. The luxury!!
*Second son is moving tomorrow and forging ahead with his life. I will gain an extra room, and more space in the pantry and fridge. He will gain privacy and independence.
Third son will assist and maybe catch the moving bug, too. Ha!
*I finished a snarky cross stitch and now I can pick up another craft and keep this ball rolling.
*I am picking up some jewelry repairs today and I'm glad to get those things back.
I am adopting a saying I read often on another blog - No Bad Days!
@Gina from The Cannary Family, re heated seats. Our (HB and I share a car) car has heated seats. My HB loves them, and always puts his on High. I am not a fan, for a very weird reason: I find that when I have my heated seat on (low), I find it too distracting for me as a driver, and as a driver I definitely do not want to be distracted while driving, so nope to that.
@Gina from The Cannary Family,
I loooooove my car's heated seats. It's actually my DH's car, but I drive it back and forth to work because it gets better gas mileage than my car (DH works from home, so has only occasional drives to meetings). Thankful for whoever dreamed this up, and the technology to make it happen. 🙂
@Gina from The Cannary Family, I use my heated seats all winter and summer, they make my back feel so good. On bad days, I talk my husband into doing an errand just so I can sit in them. My friend has some fancy car that has a control to heat the seats and also one to cool them. I have never been so hot in the summer that I would want to cool my buns while running errands...
Kristen, how long does it take a rock hard avocado to ripen? Do you just leave it on the counter until it’s ripe?
Thankful for:
The expected several inches of snow for our area last weekend ended up being a very light snow followed by some freezing rain. Not enough to break branches or knock the power out.
Last week I had my six week post surgery checkup, which went well and I “graduated” from PT. So excited to be able to do stairs and walk distances and just generally get around without knee pain! I didn’t know how bad I felt until now I don’t. Definitely worth the two replacement surgeries!
What looks to be another beautiful sunny day. It has been exceptionally cold since the first of December in our area, but sunny days make it much easier to handle.
We had some plumbing issues which my husband was able to fix without calling someone.
Good neighbors who look out for one another.
@Addy,
High five on your excellent recovery from your knee surgeries! I know what you mean. My recovery and rehab after my total knee was much longer than yours, but to be able to walk without pain? Priceless.
I’m also thankful for the snow. The past two years, we had almost no snow, so I’m enjoying all this extra snow time.
It’s been so cold here in the Midwest US. I’m very grateful to have a warm house for myself and my family
Cats are always something to be thankful for. Well, except when they chomp on our wired earbuds while we're trying to watch a chemistry video for class. *side eye to Clark, who has since realized his transgression and has been on his Best Behavior*
My thankfuls today:
--My mini-migraine that started on Monday is gone. Huzzah.
--DS#2 is taking Chemistry with me, and can help me with the technical issues with the lockdown browser and seems happy enough that we're taking the class together
--That everyone was super polite about my disastrous lentil burgers I made last night. The recipe sounded good, the seasonings were good, but once they were baked they were...bland and dry. Sigh. The quest for economical dinner foods that everyone likes continues. But I am thankful that they ate some and were polite about them. DS#1 said, "Well, they are a bit like....dry lentil soup." I'd rather just eat lentil soup.
--That Clark is, on balance, a lot calmer about us getting up in the morning. Switching his special treat (a Churu treat) to lunchtime seems to have helped immensely. He's now much more excited for lunch than breakfast. This morning he actually sat on my lap while I was waking up in bed and made biscuits while purring! He's not a purry cat in general.
@Karen A.,
My husband, son and I are on a lentil soup kick! I made a 3rd batch yesterday. I had been using orange lentils, this time I used green lentils (what TJ's had.) Hubby and I liked it as much as the other kind, son said he prefers the orange lentils.
Kristen, I'm glad you're enjoying your snow and ice. But as an already winter-weary Central New Yorker, the delights of snow are wearing thin for me--and I'm genuinely afraid of ice. (I'm at the age where you can break a hip from a bad fall on it.)
That said, here's what I *am* thankful for today:
There was enough clear sky this morning that I could see both a lovely sunrise in the east and the Wolf Moon setting in the west.
The Bestest Neighbors are safely back from London.
And, without going into great detail about it, I'm grateful to have the chance to do some relationship repair with a friend with whom I drifted out of touch a few years ago. (I was deeply offended by something one of her children did, and that caused me to avoid contact with her. But the opportunity to get back in touch presented itself yesterday, and I took it.)
@A. Marie, I agree with your wearing thin weather remark. 😉 Stay safe & warm as next week is expected to be worse this winter.
@Regina, yep, we're gonna be back in the deep freeze for much of next week. So I'm getting out and running errands tomorrow and Saturday, when we'll be enjoying a heat wave. (Highs in the 30s!)
@A. Marie,
My part of Ohio doesn't get nearly as much snow and winter weather as your area of NY does, but I'm tired of it already. Solidarity.
@A. Marie,
The moon has been something else!
@A. Marie, That lovely big, yellow moon was hanging just above the house as though you could reach out and touch it.
@A. Marie, I am not good at knowing how to normalize things once I get over being offended, so I congratulate you on taking the opportunity.
@A. Marie, you have Yak Traks? I'm rarely out in period but I find them immensely helpful schlepping through the yard when it is icy. I too hate ice. Heat wave for me too tomorrow and Saturday. Then the -20/-25 windchill hits. I'll have to remember to remind my seed guy we're doing our pick-up on Saturday, not MLK Day like last year - it was bitter cold then. But over the past 30 years, it has always been bitter cold on MLK Day. Like MLK, we persevere.
I’m thankful for:
-A warm house, as we’ve had very chilly weather lately. I’m especially grateful for our pellet stove, as it’s a much cheaper way to heat part of our house than our other options. And the heat just feels so warm coming from it!
-For my two children. They keep me soooo busy (they’re 3 and almost 1) but they are so much fun.
-Coffee! I don’t know that I could make it without a cup of coffee in the morning, it really makes my day.
-For people to do life with, particularly my family and my church family. I am so grateful to have sweet companionship.
-That it isn’t winter forever. Winter isn’t my favorite, but it makes me appreciate the other seasons even more!
@Hannah, you can't beat cast iron, no matter what you burn in it.
1. Up early with this sweet little rescue of mine. He doesn’t like going out alone. So, I was sitting on the porch bundled up with a hot cup of tea while he did his business. The quiet, pre-dawn atmosphere with the moon & clouds was gorgeously surreal
2. For the dog- my daughter moved across town this weekend & he is such a joyful comfort. He is sitting on the frozen driveway surveying his kingdom & looks like a lawn ornament. I wish you could see him!
3. After reading re: squeamishness yesterday, I am so grateful for DH’s life insurance. The longer I worked as an icu RN, the more squeamish I became. It would have been a huge liability but for getting a job in a recovery room for a cataract surgery center. There was no “goo.” And if the very rare pt started vomiting, a fellow nurse would take over that task. It was the weirdest disability ever!! And I’m so grateful that I don’t have to do it anymore
4. A warm house, cozy bed, candles, homemade soup
5. My local library. I am active in our Friends of the Library & have made some wonderful older friends. They have become my mentors & muses!
@Diane, My dog's Very First Thing in the Morning Ritual is a game of frisbee. It was 13 degrees out there this morning. She loved it. Me? Not so much. But the things we do for our pets....
Kristen, as always I love reading your blog. But this time I want to comment on something you mentioned a couple of weeks ago -- that you were reading Tia Levings' "A Well-Trained Wife." I am always up for a book recommendation, so I requested it from the library and, to my surprise, got the e-book in just a couple of days. I ended up reading it practically at one sitting yesterday. It is a hard read, but I was rooting for the author all the way. It was super-clear that without Levings' blog and the community it gave her, she and her children would not have survived her abusive marriage. If your experience was even one-tenth as harrowing as hers, my heart goes out to you with admiration for your own courage, tenacity, and present optimism. Kudos to you for doing the hard work and building a new, creative life. Oh, and you are going to be a fantastic nurse!
My thankfuls:
I had a seizure last week and chipped two teeth. Luckily the repairs aren't too complicated and can be done early next week.
I've developed an allergy to the blood sugar sensors I've been wearing for years and haven't been able to wear one for months, which is why I wasn't aware of the low that caused the seizure. But I did find a patch I can wear under the sensor which lets me keep one on for at least a few days at a time. If there are any other diabetics out there with other suggestions I'd love to hear them. I've already tried steroid spray and Tegaderm patches which were no help.
I was able to get the very expensive book I needed for an on-line course from the university library that allows me to borrow books as a former student.
My sweater shaver saved my favorite black sweater that accidentally ended up in the wrong load of laundry. (I can neither confirm or deny that I was not wearing my glasses while sorting the laundry.) This is where I learned about sweater shavers so thanks, Kristen!
@Darlene Too,
I'm so sorry! DH had a few seizures with low blood sugar, too, but ended up with a few cuts and bruises only, nothing like chipped teeth. What an escape you had!
My great-niece works for a company that makes various adhesive patches for diabetics. I'll contact her and ask if they have any solutions for your problem. She is also T-1, so she may have personal experience with this. DH, luckily, never did.
@Darlene Too,
I guess it would help to know if it's the sensor or the patch that comes with it and what brand.
@JD, I have a reaction to both the Libre 2 sensor and the Dexcom 7 sensor. The issue seems to be with the adhesive on the sensor itself. Oddly enough the Dexcom overpatch doesn't bother me.
Thank you!
@Darlene Too,
Okay, she works for Skin Grip and this is what they have:
Skin Defenders, a non-adhesive barrier that goes between the skin and the sensor for this problem. You would need to use an IV Prep Pad or Skin Tac to make your skin temporarily a bit sticky to help the sensor insert fine, then wear an overpatch with it to keep it on the full 10-14 days. The Skin Grips are reusable so you can use them several times.
skingrip.com, Skin Defender, and since she works for them, she has a financial interest in the company, for full disclosure. I have no financial interest or connections to them except that my great-niece works there and I'm fond of her :). You may also contact them with any questions.
(When she married, she wore a blue overpatch on her CGM on her arm as her "something blue.")
If you've already tried this and it doesn't work, then I don't have other suggestions, but goodness, it seems like Dexcom or Libre would carry such a thing. DH used a Dexcom 6 with no problem.
@JD, I haven't tried Skin Defender. Thank you for the information. At this point anything is worth a try. And thank you Kristen for this community that always seems to have suggestions for any dilemma.
@Darlene Too, there is a product called Skin Tac which is kind of a barrier wipes that can help the sensor stay on but also can act as a barrier if you're reacting to the adhesive. Good luck!
Thankful for my cats, for tea, for enough snow to go snowshoeing, for my son's safe return to college last weekend, and for time with my daughter before she returns to college.
I’m thankful that the sun came out yesterday! I’m not a huge sunshine fan, but it’s been gloomy where I live.
I’m thankful that I’ve started freezing mangos. They were on sale for $1 each recently. I slice them up, spread them out on a cookie sheet, freeze, and then put them in a ziplock. I use them in smoothies, or just get out a slice and eat it frozen. It’s like a sorbet popsicle.
I too am thankful for your blogging job! And if it ain’t broke….
I am thankful January is half over. Whew! Not my fave month.
This week, I'm thankful that I've FINALLY fully vested in my company's sign-on bonus!
A little background: in January 2024, I started a new job and received a decently sized sign-on bonus. (Think larger than $10K.) However, if I quit within the first year, I would have had to pay the entire thing back.
This company became more and more toxic as time went on. Seriously, the place is a mess. My team is cliquish and mean, no one in the department does anything right, and it's just ridiculous. I've worked in the field for 10 years now and this is the oddest place I've worked.
Anyway, I am finally in a position where I won't have to pay back this bonus because I've passed my one-year anniversary. Yay! Once we receive our yearly bonuses next month, I'm out of there!
@Natalie K., I guess that's why they offer sign-on bonuses but make you stay a year! Wishing you a Great Escape with your bonus safely tucked away.
@JDinNM, Actually sounds more like combat pay than a sign-on bonus....
@Natalie K., WHAT IS WRONG WITH PEOPLE? Don't they know that life is hard enough all by itself without adding in nasty immature behaviors? I'm so sorry you are going through this, congratulations on sticking it out, and better luck in your next place of employment. Maybe no one has told the truth about what a terrible work environment, so if you tell them on your way out the door, they can have the option to straighten up and fly right. Ugh. I am SO THANKFUL to be self-employed.
@Central Calif. Artist Jana, and I'm even more thankful to be retired. I wish @Natalie K. well on her way out the door.
@JDinNM, Thanks! And yes, it sometimes felt like combat pay, LOL...
@Central Calif. Artist Jana, Thank you for your kind words! The worst thing about it is my manager spearheads all of the cliquishness and nastiness. I cannot WAIT to be done with her. Only one more month (I plan to quit after Presidents' Day) and then I'll be doing contract work and building my own CPA firm. I'm excited to join the ranks to the self-employed!
Which reminds me: if anyone reading this comment section needs an accountant... you know where to find me. 🙂 I don't mind answering simple questions here or by email (if Kristen connects us via email—back when I used WordPress, the blog owner could see everyone's email addresses on the back end).
And Kristen, if I remember correctly, you had to file an extension last year. If you want to make the leap, I don't make my clients file extensions (unless they want to, of course!).
@Natalie K., Well, this is exciting! Build your own business and you can set the standards of professionalism and office etiquette. Wishing you the very best!
@Natalie K., is your CPA license state specific?
* I'm six weeks post-surgery, and while I'm not 100% yet, I'm thankful to be able to walk unassisted with only minor pain.
* I'm thankful we are off on Monday for MLK holiday
* I'm thankful the leak detection company did not find a leak under the house slab and the leak is on the city side of the meter.
* I'm thankful DH has officially applied for disability at work. Once he gets approved, I think our quality of life will improve.
* I'm thankful for a warm house, as our weather was chilly last week and looks to be even colder next week.
Thankful my Aldi doesn't have coyotes! 😉
https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/coyote-pulled-from-grocery-store-refrigerator-humboldt-park/
@Bobi,
I saw that video. It was wild, ha, literally.
@Bobi, those in Chicago should not be surprised by a coyote. They are smart animals and adapt well. Their litter size is determined by resources. My husband has seen then look both ways before crossing the road. Scary part is when they lose their fear of humans. I'm rural and we have *a lot* of them. And I hope they deem raccoons as prey as we have too many of them too. Some farmers have donkeys out with their cattle for protection. And why my previous outdoor cats were inside at night.
I'm thankful that adjusting our Sleep Number mattress to a firmer setting on my side has relieved almost all of my hip pain. Such a simple solution. I stumbled upon this after sleeping on a firmer mattress at last week's retreat and realizing for the first time in a long time my hip didn't hurt.
That I have a couple of days free this week to sew.
For the friends I have been going on retreat with for 14 years.
For an introverted personality that makes it easy for me to enjoy staying home. I have a dear friend who is very much an extrovert and she struggles with this.
For the abundant wildlife in our area. It's always a thrill to see a fox or elk -- and last weekend I saw a moose.
There is a rumor we could get snow next week. It's unlikely, but not impossible! We've had it a few times before.
I'm thankful:
1. For the opportunity to help with a party for kids living at a community youth center. Many were homeless or were in terrible situations, and all are at high risk for trafficking. I am so grateful that I stepped out of my comfort zone (I'm an introvert, after all) and followed through with staying for the party instead of just dropping off food. Some of these kids were the ages of two of my grandkids - 8 and 10.
2. For my teen granddaughter agreeing to stay with my dogs when I go visit my sister next month. She's finally old enough that her parents - her dad was the main holdout - are okay with that. My dogs adore her, so this will really make them happy, too.
3. For finally finding a cotton topped mattress pad that isn't waterproof, fits a full bed and didn't cost an arm and a leg. Waterproof rattles and makes me hot and I sure don't need that in Florida. I had a hard time finding one but finally found one online. I ordered one but they sent me two for the price of one, and told me to keep the second one at no charge when I called.
4. Because, while I probably won't get to enjoy the quiet peace of a snowy day - although I might! - I have enjoyed the cold, sunny days we've had recently, when I can watch both dogs curl up contentedly in the sunshine, raise their noses to the breeze and blink sleepily until they finally give up, put their heads down and go to sleep. It just speaks peace, safety and calm to me.
5. For the pretty journal my daughter gave me. It has an embroidered cloth cover and such nice paper that accepts my fountain pen quite well.
@JD, Would you mind sharing the brand or website for the mattress pad? I actually need a king but I've returned several and given away one after discovering they are waterproof and didn't say so. I agree about the heat and rattles!
@Bobi,
(looking it up)
It was a Sealy Luxury Cotton Soft Top High Loft Fill Fitted Mattress Pad. You have to really, really check those labels, don't you? And I found it at Walmart online, not in the stores.
@JD, Thanks! Already ordered one.
Thankful I have no math exams coming up! I actually taught my own high school calculus class when I was a senior. I went to parochial school and the nun who was supposed to teach that class was also the principal, and calculus was scheduled first thing in the morning. She told me she had too much administrative stuff to do in the morning so I should teach the class myself. Okey dokey! Pretty sure I got an A in that class, but I don’t remember a darn thing about calculus all these years later. French I remember. Calculus? Not so much.
@JDinNM, Also, Chiquita reminds me to be thankful for opposable thumbs. No problem opening the kitchen cabinets!
@JDinNM, I too have zero memory of what I learned in my high school math classes--even though I won math awards three years running. This is probably because I hated math from the get-go and loved my English and languages classes.
I met my Waterloo in pre-calculus, when I realized I could no longer fake it on verbal memory alone. (Even so, I was still highest in my class, even though I had only an 81 average. Thank goodness that dear Mr. Phillips, may he rest in peace, curved the grades.)
I am so thankful that The Social Securities Fairness Act is now law. 290,000 teachers in California ( 83% of them women) could not receive their spouse's Social Security benefits if widowed. For years I have resented this. Why single out teachers? I realize that there will be a need to reform social security by why single out 3% of the population to do so?
I was overwhelmed yesterday with the magnitude of it. Not just for me. My beloved younger sister has taught for 24 years and is desperate for a change. But she was literally held captive in the job. If she left now at 50, she would been penalized by CalSTRS, she would be penalized in a new private industry job through the Windfal Provisions Act AND she would be left without widow benefits. Now she has choices. Thank God. This means students will be less likely to suffer burned-out teachers and people in industry will be able to enter teaching with new energy in a second career.
Finally, I now can go teach littles classroom music in private schools without being punished by social security.
Wow. Game changer.
"Chiquita would like you to know she is not as fat as she looks here. It’s just a bad angle." - That's what I like to tell myself too! Haha
I'm thankful:
- For a new-to-us car that gets way better gas mileage than our van. Thankful to have 2 vehicles now.
- Safety on the drive home from buying said vehicle...I had to drive in Dallas and am so glad that's behind me!
- My kids
- My house
- A good night's sleep
This week I am so grateful for:
- The friendly neighbors around our Airbnb
- The sound of cows from a nearby farm
- The sound of the train off in the distance
- The sound of nothing
- The relaxed pace and ease of our days while we're away from the responsibilities of home
- Self-employment (except for the tax part. . . sigh.)
- A good accountant
- Sunshine (still green so not considered a drought, but please, God, send more precip!)
- A good neighbor who has a great tree-trimming service working on our extensive property today (1.3 acres)
- A husband who noticed it is time for tree work, is able to make the decisions about which trees, and is healthy enough to help drag the brush
I'm thankful that snow and ice do not last forever. Personally I am already over winter. When you live in a place where it's not unheard of to have six months of the year with chances of snow, you kind of lose your zest for it.
Otherwise the thing I'm very thankful for is that a volunteer for a group my daughter is in let me know that she felt safe enough to open up about losing her brother and stuff so it's nice that she has a safe area with friends.
@Battra92, I'm so glad to hear about that kind volunteer. And I hope you feel you have a safe area with friends here, too.
I'm thankful this week for all of the first responders, volunteers, and basically everyone who is helping the Southern California fire effort in their own ways.
On a personal level, I'm thankful for the kiddos, hubby, and the support of great friends and family! I know that's general, but it's my heart this week. Take care all!
This week I am not working Friday.
I got a dining room set off the buy nothing page for my daughter. The owner put the table in my car and delivered the chairs to my house. My son-in-law came over and picked it all up.
I was able to give a friend support and help her (and her husband who has beginning dementia) when they were stranded.
My varied group of friends (old friends from when the kids were in school and new friends and my new work friends) I have made in my retirement years.
The moon has been beautiful this week.
am thankful for you. thankful for chiquita and shelley photos. my m-i-l is still alive. that hubby has a job. he was let go but they let him retire and since april he has a job that was only supposed to last 3 months. we are truly blessed.
it's not that i hate snow and ice but i'm afraid i will fall. have already fallen many moons ago, trying to catch a bus so i could go swimming at my gym before work. broke my ankle. my son noah loves snow. as does my daughter zoe. klutz that i am i hate it but please don't feel sorry for me.
To your comment about snow. We are in the northeast and should be getting the snow
but where I live more to the coast, the snow can be questionable. The weather pattern seems to be going straight across the country and out to the ocean.
Two years ago I bought snowshoes to use on our weekly hikes. From that day forward, there has not been enough snow here to use them.
I am thankful that you are still blogging and hoping that you continue once you are a nurse. This blog is the only one I have stuck with and read every time. If you stop I will feel as if I lost contact with a lot of friends.
Hoping, Kristen, you will pass the dreaded math test with flying colors.
Thankful for above freezing weather today so I can get out and about to do laundry and especially wash the car. I have travelled some distance twice this past week and it is very road salty.
Thankful my cousin and I were able to be with my bachelor uncle for his final hours. It was bittersweet.
And then thankful my cousin and brother was able to find his final wishes in an envelope in his home. I cannot stress enough (and this is the pot calling the kettle black) how important it is to have necessary items such as POA, living will in place. There are some other things too: a will, car-TOD, preplanned funeral arrangements, financial affairs at least all together that make things simpler especially when you're grieving.
Secondary to the above, I am thankful I got to spend time with my cousin. (I have a slough of them, my uncle was the youngest of eight and he was the only one without children.) The time made us love each other and our respective family roles even more.
Totally off this train of thought, I am thankful for seed catalogues. I have not been able to look at any of them, but the thought of spring coming is a balm to the soul, literally and figuratively speaking.
@Chrissy, I'm so sorry about your uncle. And at the risk of sounding like a broken record (for those of us old enough to remember what a broken record sounded like), I second your reminder about getting end-of-life paperwork in place. There isn't a better or kinder thing any one of us can do for those who will have to clean up after us.
@Chrissy, So sorry for your loss.
I agree about the preparation for end of life, at any age. I guess I've experienced a lot of death to think (in detail) about this (in my 50s) & know mostly what it entails & priority of things. A Marie is right about nothing being kinder than end of life paperwork in place.
May your family remember the good memories.
@Chrissy,
You are so right about having all of those end-of-life things in place. My in law's did that, and it made things so much easier. DH and I will be taking care of all of that this year. I am determined it will happen this year.
@Chrissy, I am sorry about your uncle.
@A. Marie, or as I call it, the mom-is-dead folder.
Thankful:
▪︎ That it's supposed to get to 40 degrees tomorrow. I'm looking forward to the snow melting so I can walk outside again!
▪︎ That our rural town has a great medical center and they always have day-of appointments and that our pharmacy fills things so quickly.
▪︎ For podcasts, which I love to listen to while doing household chores
▪︎ Thick wool socks
▪︎ That my neighbors no longer light up their outside Christmas tree at night. Living rurally, there isn't any light polution so I have basic window coverings. The Christmas tree is huge and gorgeous and so, so bright and flashed right in my bedroom.
I am thankful for you! Your authenticity! Your interest posts! Your help with navigating the hills of. Life!
@Maryanne Cage,
Sorry! I was in a hurry and didn’t proof my posts!
I see some Nora influence in your recent posts! A cat tree and kitty nail clippers! 😉
I’ve been trying to eat more yogurt. I’m not going to make it at home so, so far Fage is my favorite tub of yogurt. I like all the big tubs, 0%, 2%, and 5%. I just add fruit or for dip, herbs and spices or use it like sour cream. I don’t like any of their fruit at the side containers. I’ve always loved some of the Oui yogurts. Strawberry, peach, chocolate raspberry, lemon, all favorites. I’ve tried the Häagen-Dazs cultured cremes and they are now my bestest favorites. I didn’t like the vanilla but the strawberry and black cherry are soooo good. Better than ice cream. And the company says the product has live cultures. I won’t really be able to tell if the extra calcium from eating yogurt everyday makes a difference but in 2 weeks I’d say my gut health is definitely improved. One hazard of increased yogurt consumption…sneaky kitties. >^..^<
Lots of 'thankfuls' this week for me - hooray!
1. I am thankful that my husband was offered a new job which will pay him a bit more. allow him to be home for dinner with us every night, give him most of Saturday and all of Sunday off every week, AND he will get to work on his own without having to manage the typical retail workers. I know there are some folks who work in retail that are really great but many are not since 2020 and I have prayed many a prayer for God to open a door for him to have a new beginning. This has not been easy. Losing a job the week after Christmas was highly stressful but here we are. Our word for 2025 : Breakthrough.
2. I am thankful that adding some B-12 to my husband's immunotherapy seems to be the trick to keeping the fatigue down and helping him to live easier while undergoing the treatment.
3. Thankful for a blissful 3 weeks with my husband at home. Our time together is so rare. Usually we are hustling to the next task, appointment or need that demands our attention. These last weeks have been full of peace, rest, and prayer and we have soaked in every ounce.
4. Provision, always provision . I am reminded over and over again that God always has a plan even when we cannot see it in the natural.
5. The beauty, calm and quiet of the snowstorm we had just last weekend. I am not a huge fan of snow. In the Atlanta area there are not many who know how to drive in it much less listen to wisdom when they are telling people to stay off the roads. Folks don't know how to prepare and in my 40+ years in GA it always seems to cause chaos. This time felt different in our home. There were fires, board games & cards, hot cocoa, soups, laughter, a snowman, naps, and cozy walks. It was lovely.
6. Last but def not least thankful for our home. Watching so many lose everything they have without insurance or anything to show for years of work in California make me all the more grateful for our comfortable home. Even in the challenging times we have had in 2024 - a house being flooded & an unplanned move, repairs and costs, advancing dementia, surgery to avoid loss of a limb, a cancer diagnosis & amputation of an ear, radiation & immunotherapy, and last but not least the loss of a job - we still have so much to be thankful for and that is heavy on my heart these days.
I usually just lurk here but I'm resting up after a root canal today and gratitude is a good way to chase away self-pity.
1. This blog. It's so warm and inspirational, in so many ways
2. Generic OTC pain reliever work pretty well
3. Good dental insurance! The cost is f this procedure would be a huge liability without the insurance. Instead it's only costing $450 and we have more than enough to cover that in our HSA.
4. Regular paycheck with the ability to save in our HSA
5. The local library. I have an excellent mystery/detective novel to take my mind off of my tooth problems.
This week I'm thankful:
* for safety when a power line went down in my front yard on Tuesday. No one got hurt. My kids got to see a fire truck hang out in front of our house. Our house didn't get too cold. The power company had everything fixed and the power restored before we went to bed. My neighbors took good care of us. Lots of items in one.
* for the flexibility my husband and I had on Monday when my best friend had something happen that meant we needed to drop everything and go.
* that today at work was more fun than I anticipated.
* for access to almost anything I want to read because of interlibrary loans.
* that after a stressful fall (full schedule, working through a big family change), we're enjoying a lighter load right now.
I feel like I need to stand up in defense of snow. I loved living in the most northern village in the state, where snow fell every single month. In the summer months, it did not stick but we always had a day or two of flakes.
Thankful:
1. That Clobber Paws is finally showing us consistent affection. He was so standoffish for the first 10 months we had him, I felt like we would never be able to convince him we were safe humans.
2. For Sumo oranges. Even at $4.99 each.
3. For my food bank volunteer hours. It is such a wonderful group, and they do great and needed work; I look forward to going in every week. They are very good at finding things for me to do that accommodate my wheelchair on bad days.
4. For our hospital, locally owned and managed. It is non-profit and they pour their money into equipment that is usually not available in communities our size. Since the only other hospital is a plane ride away, this makes a difference.
5. For the husband, always the husband. I started to slip this morning getting into the vehicle and he caught me. I thanked him and he said, "I have told you before, I will be here to catch you until the day I die." It was all I could do to not weep. Not sure how I lucked out.
@Lindsey, #5 - good things happen to good people
Right there with you on the snow! So beautiful.
And yay for a fabulous husband.
1 - financial means - we've started my pre retirement replacement of items.
2 - that my dad is not fighting my it's time for you to stop driving in heavy/crazy traffic areas
3 - that 2+ of the people on my team are getting up to snuff so come the day I officially retire, they won't be left high and dry
4 - for the 14 deer who show up in my yard (in varying numbers) - there are at least 3 generations of them
5 - means - well prepared for the impending chaos (financial) and have a 10 acres of sanity
Thankful for Friday, and noting gratitudes this week:
+ my faithful cleaner, who is shining up our home and helping us stay here.
+ our adopted cat, who is more affectionate every day, and wakes us in the morning with loud purring.
+ relief from my sciatica, which has been painful for several days.
+ recovering from other uncomfortable health problems. No one promised that getting older would be free of discomforts.
+ beautiful evergreens--holly, fir, pine, cedar--and the snow ornaments on them.
Thankful for:
- Being high enough on the seniority list that I get all the extra work shifts I apply for
- That 2 good friends are coming over tonight for a sleepover for my DD 15th birthday
- That I finally found a psychologist that I believe will be a good fit for me (after trying many)
- That DH is on board with my wanting to reduce our unnecessary expenses and invest that money in our retirement savings instead
- That I have a diner date with a friend tomorrow, she's taking me out for my bday 🙂
Stop "shoulding" on yourself. First time I heard this, it resonated with me. I'm still trying to apply it to my life.