Thankful Thursday | week 1 is almost done
After lectures today, I have four days in between classes thanks to Labor Day.
I'm really glad about that because woo, I am feeling a little discombobulated after the first week, and I need to get myself organized.
This week, I am thankful:
that I did not get sick last week
Zoe came down with Covid, but miraculously, I did not catch it. I took tons of Covid tests, but no Covid for me this go-round!
The odd thing is that when I came down with it last January, Zoe never caught it from me either.
When she tested positive, I thought for sure I was gonna get it and miss my first week of nursing classes, so I am very surprised/thankful that I'm ok. Whew!
And thanks to the timing of Zoe's sickness, she was out of quarantine and able to go to her first day of class as well. Yay!
for the fun of watching Pride and Prejudice with Zoe
She took two English lit classes last year, which prompted us to watch Sense and Sensibility together. And after we watched the Barbie movie, with its reference to Pride and Prejudice, we agreed that we needed to rewatch the 1995 version.
We watched episodes 1 and 2 one evening, episodes 3 and 4 another evening, and now we have the last two to go. Unfortunately, school and work are interfering mightily with our efforts to watch the last two episodes and we might have to wait until next Monday.
Sigh.
These are the hazards of functioning as responsible human beings.
Anyway, we are having a delightful time watching this together. I was Zoe's age (17) when this version first came out, and it's been a long time since I went through the whole series again.
Our favorite thing is to hate on the Bingley sisters, Mr. Collins, and Mr. Wickham.
And although we know Lydia is problematic, she IS very entertaining to watch.
for accountability from afar
One late afternoon last week I had a lot of stuff to do and ZERO motivation.
So, I texted my friend Carrie a list of the things I wanted to get done, asking her to check back in with me before bed.
And it helped!
for virtual friends
My Zoom support group (for women leaving marriages like mine) has been off for the summer, but my two besties from that group have a little group text going on with the three of us, and we sometimes do Zoom calls to catch up with each other.
ALSO: the three of us are having dinner together on Friday this week. Woohoo!
that I waited until now to start nursing school
I'd always planned to start nursing school after Zoe graduated high school, and I am feeling super good about that decision (as opposed to trying to rush through pre-reqs and get in while still homeschooling her.)
The nursing school schedule is kind of nutso, and I am very glad that I'm not responsible for teaching anyone else while I'm in school.
that I've got a flexible schedule
I somehow got into an evening/weekend clinical rotation this semester, which is very much not what I wanted.
(I am not at my finest by 9:30 pm.)
But...it's ok! My only housemate is Zoe, and she's busy with work/school/friends, so it's no big deal. I can make this work even though it's not what I really wanted.
that we get to change clinicals every semester
If I was stuck in this schedule for the next two years, I might be a little bit distressed. But everything is just one semester long, so, no biggie. It's temporary.
for space to paint inside
It's been too humid outside for painting, so I've spread a dropcloth inside to work on Sonia's storage chest.
The only complicating factor in here is Chiquita, who is quite invested in depositing fur on my wet paint. So I have to shut the door and then she is distressed.
Either that, or I have to put my painting up high, like so.
Luckily she doesn't jump up on the counters. 😉
for the cats
Shelly's been joining us during our Pride and Prejudice viewings, which is lovely.
And Chiquita is just everywhere...here, there, up, down, and sometimes in the middle of the floor.
Congratulations on making it through the first week! The mental (and physical) exhaustion of new things--and new schooling--is definitely taxing, so I'm glad you have these four days to re-group. Enjoy!
Thankful that adult daughter will visit her younger sister at college on the weekend. Younger had a very rough week- new at college far from home and boyfriend broke up with her- so the family support is wonderful.
Thankful that sons liked to help put up drywall, and so that stage of our new garage is complete.
Thankful that my students don't mind one day a week virtual meeting. I like teaching in person, but this class is 5 days a week, which increases that gas budget. By taking on virtual day, I save gas and the students can have one relaxing morning.
I wonder if I can get my boys to watch Pride and Prejudice?...
@mbmom11, what is with the timing of boyfriend’s breaking up?! My daughter’s broke up with her 2 weeks before her first finals. My journal heard a lot that I couldn’t say to him. I’m thankful for journals that don’t mind more than a few choice words!
@mbmom11, I don't know how old your boys are--but if they're at least teenagers, tell them that watching/reading JA will turn them into instant chick magnets. Extra points if they're willing to dress in Regency style (it can actually be done pretty simply) and do some cosplay.
Haha,that's so true! But they are a little younger than that and think girls are too much drama.
@mbmom11,
My high school age niece recently experienced a break up...her boyfriend is going to college in NYC, and she is a high school senior this year in Minnesota, so they broke up by mutual agreement. My sister (niece's mom) assembled a Spotify play list of "break up" songs for her, with input from myself, my other two sisters, another adult niece, and my mom. So, the songs were from multiple eras (1950s-2000s) and multiple styles, some were funny (Love Stinks by the J Geils Band), some were songs to cry to. She loved it, and we all enjoyed helping!
@Liz B., That's sounds amazing. thanks for the idea!
@A. Marie, love this. Not that teenage boys ever listen to a word of advice. This would be an almost perfect world if they did,
@Liz B., ooo, can you SHARE that Spotify list? Sounds like a useful thing IMHO... @mbmom11 and @Heather, my #3 (chosen/gift to me by his mother as she was dying) son was informed by his wife - the NIGHT BEFORE HIS THESIS DISSERATION - that she wanted a divorce because she was in love with someone else. Who ARE these people. Gah.
My #2 son broke up with his summer-after-highschool girlfriend by mutual decision as she was going away to school. He cried for a week, it was so painful to watch - yet then and even now, 6 years later, he was/is adamant that the choice was the right one.
Regarding trying to work on projects and/or from home with cats: Half an hour before my intended start time, I pre-game our feline trio with Kitty Crack (yes, really) cat nip. Once they’ve passed the initial crazies and are solidly blissed out (again, thirty minutes—yes, I’ve timed this), I can retreat to my home office, where they aren’t allowed.* I don’t do this every day, but it’s useful when I’ve something to work on that can’t be interrupted for several hours. I don’t know if Chiquita would respond the same way, of course, but it’s a thought!
*On non-catnip work days, I take quick play breaks for all of us. Otherwise, they try to tunnel through my office door!
I absolutely love that version of Pride and Prejudice. In fact, it might be time to watch it again.
This week I have just one big thing. I am thankful that the Hurricane did not take the path that was originally forecasted. It spared us.
My heart goes out to those impacted. JD, I am thinking of you.
Wishing all of peace, good health and prosperity.
Congratulations on surviving the first week of school!
- I'm thankful that I only have to work half a day tomorrow
- I'm thankful that our DD and SIL are going to the first Alabama football game of the season with us. DD wanted to see a night game and since she's expecting, we won't have a lot of opportunities in the near future.
- I'm thankful that DH got a diagnosis for at least some of his ills and will have his gallbladder removed next week
- I'm thankful that our dog is back to her normal self. I think she had a little PTSD from all the thunderstorms and fireworks in July that she's finally recovered from.
- I'm thankful that our weather forecast for the long weekend is sunny and not as hot as it has been. Always thankful for air conditioning!
Thankful for the bountiful harvest we are getting this year. The previous owners planted the strawberry plants, and we planted a lot of tomato plants and corn. I've already made 3 qt jars of tomato puree and 2 qt jars of tomato juice, 6 pints of strawberry jam, and 3 pints of grape jam/jelly courtesy of our neighbor's grapes that she gave us. Will be picking more tomatoes and making more puree and juice tonight. Have to harvest the corn and freeze some of it for winter. Oh and the zucchini. One plant and I've gotten 7 large zucchinis and its still flowering!
Thankful for the new bed and frame we ordered. When we were on vacation, we slept on a foam mattress and fell in love with it. My husband did not want to order a mattress without trying it out first. Can't wait until he puts it all together this weekend!
Thankful for family and the busy upcoming weekend I have with them. It includes a ton of driving on my part that I'm a little scared of, but hoping I arrive safely everywhere and enjoy my time.
Thankful that I have some craft skills to make some gifts to bring with me. One of the family visits is a couples shower, so I am making a picture frame for them. I can bring some of my homemade goodies listed above to the other places.
Thankful that Kristen brings us some of her life everyday. Here's hoping that you really love nursing school and continue to show us how to create our own happiness. Thankful for Thankful Thursdays and that they will continue. 🙂
I love watching that P & P with my kids, too. We love cringing at Mr. Collins and imitating Mrs. Bennett and all her flutterings.
This week I'm thankful:
*for fresh peaches.
*for back-to-school time.
*that my kids' soccer coach seems to be doing a good job.
*for morning kid cuddles.
*for evening kid snuggles during bedtime reading. We've recently picked this up again after the face drama hiatus. It would be so easy to skip, but I realize these are my last few moments of motherhood for bedtime stories.
*that we will soon be getting better internet. (I hope.)
*for laughter.
Don't know if you've ever addressed this - if you have, I missed it - why did you choose to homeschool your children?
Congrats on finishing the first week of your new career! And as someone said a day or so ago, you have some of the best teeth on the internet.
Thankful for being able to afford and have sufficient health to go on the Last Hurrah Tour. The husband and I have spent most of our careers working together so pretty much together 24/7 and we both liked that. Now we have 24/7 but are doing totally new stuff, seeing new sights, and eating at new fast food franchises. We still like being together all the time. The only change in our schedule was that we were scheduled to be in Charleston yesterday to go to the new International African American museum but the hurricane shut down the area where we were supposed to stay. Given how many people are impacted and will be impacted for years, this is nothing but we love museums and were especially looking forward to this one after all the reading we have done about it. I doubt we will ever be back here. One thing we did experience that was the result of the hurricane was a rainstorm so severe that most of the vehicles, including 18 wheelers, pulled off to the side of the highway and waited until the worst of it had passed. I have never seen rain so severe; it was like being in a car wash while trying to drive 70 miles an hour. I was happy to stop and wait it out.
I have had periods where life sucked and I woke up angry each morning that I had not died during the night. I have said before that the year I spent mostly in the hospital and then bad ridden at home, I was fortunate to have a daily visiting nurse who told me every single day that I could survive, and while I might have a different life being more disabled, it could be a good life. She was right. She saved my life. I think you will be that kind of nurse. On to your second week!
@Lindsey, So nice to hear this report from the road! Sorry you missed the museum but you got to ride out a hurricane. Yay? Nay? Just another shared experience you'll always remember? Stay safe and happy travels. And bless us with more reports of your trip.
@Lindsey, Yay, thanks for checking in and updating us FGers about your Grand Tour! I know exactly what you mean about driving in severe rain - glad you guys are safe. (and I'm grateful you had that nurse too)
@Lindsey, please keep us posted on your further adventures with the husband and Pound Hound. And I hope that PH wasn't too distressed by the 70 mph car wash.
Lindsey!! So glad to hear from you! I'm delighted that you checked in with us.
I will be happy if I'm even half as good as the nurse who helped you. 🙂
1. For my son's improvement with behavior at school. We didn't have a teacher that he meshed well with last year and notes home & calls were the daily norm. It became a situation where there was not a single thing he could do right. We have a new teacher this year, a new behavior system and he is thriving.
2. Reading with my son every evening. He is really enjoying this and doing very well. It is such a blessing to watch him learn and enjoy the learning together.
3. Fall candles and a small drop in temperatures outside. I know it sounds silly but I am so over the heat that lighting a fall candle and curling up inside is pure bliss. Fall you can't come soon enough for me!
4. A 3-day weekend ahead. I need the extra time to catch up on household tasks like cleaning baseboards, dusting air vents & hard to reach furniture, washing & waxing my car, and I plan to do quite a bit of batch cooking to get us through the next couple of months.
5. A sale on my favorite protein bars and discounted shipping. Coffee - give me all of the coffee. A sale on a new duvet cover for our bed - nothing fancy just practical. The energy to do all of the above and more. An upcoming camping trip this fall. We have never been camping so if anyone has any advice on tent camping for the first time...please pass it along. Sleeping on the ground, cooking meals outdoors, suitable clothing etc.
Happy Thursday!
@Angie,
Tent camping 101: Make sure each person is sleeping on a good quality air mattress. It will be more comfortable and will insulate you from the cold. Cast iron cookware for cooking outdoors over a campfire or bring a camping stove and fuel. Go for a layered approach to clothing. Always take a rain poncho for each person. You didn't say where you would be camping; different weather and terrain call for different camping items. Take a small shovel or trenching tool with you and dig a trench 3/4 qtrs around each tent. This will allow any rain water to flow away from the tent and not flow into the tent. I'll post more tips as I think of them; it's been a few years since I went camping.
@Angie, Julie's suggestions are great. I would also double-check your cooking items--things like can openers are easy to overlook (been there!). Cooking utensils/sharp knife/dishcloths and towels (which can double for handling hot pans). Dish soap and wash basin. A small broom/dustpan combo for quick tent clean-ups, and a rug by the door of your tent to minimize the dirt that comes in. Clothesline and clothespins. Lantern. Extra batteries for your air mattress pump. Tools--hammer, pliers, shovel. Container for water if you have to pump your own--if this is true, a funnel for getting the water into the container is also helpful. Depending on how you are cooking, the right fuel for the job. Insect repellant and sunscreen. Tylenol/ibuprofen, Benadryl, etc. Paper towels. Bags for trash disposal. Ziplocs. If you can fit it in, bag chairs. Matches. Tape and a plastic ground cloth for under your tent. I'm assuming you are traveling with kids--I always bring along a totebag of travel-size games/activities to keep them occupied when there's a lull or if the weather turns icky. Space is a concern, so fun food items (hey, the need to improve moods is real!) that pack into a small space, like the Koolaide squeeze bottles to add to water, hot chocolate packets, etc., are helpful. Pringles are easy to tote (there are all sorts of crunchy salty treats that come in Pringles canisters these days!) and somewhat hard to crush, which is a win when you are scrambling around at a campsite. Camping is not a great time to bring a lot of homemade items (which is generally how I feed our family). The weather ups-and-downs can make your zucchini muffins turn funny colors from spoilage. Oops. Opt for store-bought.
We do a combination of grilling, camp stove cooking, and Dutch oven cooking when we camp. Keep it super simple--if you can prep food beforehand (cutting up veggies, etc.) then your future self will thank you. Foil dinners are fun for kids, and they can help prepare them. Don't forget the caffeine for the adults.
Be aware of critters. We keep our food locked up in our vehicle unless we are right there. Raccoons and chipmunks are crafty little buggers, and by autumn, they have learned all the tricks for stealing from humans.
I hope I'm not overwhelming you. I have found that the difference between a fun camping adventure and a not-so-fun experience is based a lot in the planning beforehand. It's the little things that we have forgotten that have caused us to smack ourselves on the forehead. I enjoy camping and we have many fond memories of doing this with our kids, so I hope you have a great time!
Have you guys watched the Bollywood version "Bride and Prejudice"? Definitely lots of fun laughing at characters! And a few hilarious songs. "No life... Without wife!"
Thankful I was able to get a night away with my husband for his milestone birthday.
Thankful for the miracle of having my husband's heart friend out here for an entire week to help celebrate. (Friends' job requires him to request his days off 18 months in advance. 18 months ago, he requested the wrong dates for a family vacation and couldn't change them. When I contacted him six months ago to see if he could fly out for the celebration, he realized those were the exact dates he had off. Whoa.)
Thankful for my amazing mother here to help for a week.
@Dorinda, funny you should mention the Bollywood version. I broke out the CD of the soundtrack to that one while JASNA BFF was here, and you should have seen us both dancing around the living room to "No Life Without Wife"!
@A. Marie, that made me laugh and smile! Thanks for sharing--such a great mental image!
Mostly I'm scared that my mom is stopping cancer treatment and I don't know how long she has left. Let's try to look for the good:
*I've been excited about starting writing workshop next Monday, Labor Day. Somehow, lately, all the stuck bits I had about my book have become unstuck and everything is falling into place.
*A kind neighbor told me where to pick wild blackberries. I hope there are still some left and that I have enough energy to pick them. It was a beloved part of my childhood that no longer exists, mostly.
*Feeling lucky that the worst thing about the hurricane for me is that our beaches ae closed due to rough surf.
*Glad that I spoke out publicly against something that was really bothering me, even though of course it annoyed the lets-always-be-bright-and-cheerful types.
1-2 months according to her doctor.
@Rose, best wishes to your mom for as painless a passage as possible--and to you for coping with it. (Although you may deserve a medal of honor for coping with a continuing s**tstorm from the universe these past few years.)
@Rose, I heartily echo A. Marie's words; couldn’t have put it better myself. Thinking of you throughout.
@A. Marie. Happy Belated Birthday and many happy returns.
@Rose,
I can only echo what A. Marie has so eloquently said already....you have weathered more than your share of terrible things happening all these years. And yet, you've still been able to find things to be thankful for, which is admirable. (I'm not one of those insufferable lets-always-be-bright-and-cheerful people, either :-)). Hoping you can go gather some of those wild blackberries.
@Rose, I’m sorry to hear about your mom. I wish for you love, peace and strength.
On another note, It takes courage to speak out about things that we believe in especially if you are not in agreement with the majority opinion. It’s only possible to solve problems and reach a consensus through open and honest communication. It our differences that gives our country strength not our sameness. So hooray for you!!!! I applaud your bravery.
Yay for 3-day weekends, but they're never long enough. Saw this list attributed to someone named Folu Akinkuoto titled "types of vacations I need":
* a week to deep clean everything I own, twice
*a week to just sleep, then sleep some more
*a week where I don't speak to anyone
*a week where I can cook constantly and never have to clean up
*2-3 days where I don't have to make any decisions
And I thought well, that would be a good start.
'
@JDinNM,
YES! Wouldn't that be incredible?
@JDinNM, and a week or more for finishing projects, a week for serious reading, a week for fun reading, a week for helping friends with stuff, a few weeks volunteer- with ing pets, kids, seniors, etc. A week to watch old movies, then one for old TV shows, a week of learning the answers to my many nature questions, and for learning to sew. With my free time, I guess I would travel!
I'd need a can of Pringles to get through all that painting, too! 😉
Thankful for cooler temps! It won't last (supposed to get very warm this weekend and into next week) but it sure is a blessing right now.
Thankful I found a new quilt I liked for our bed (at Target, bcuz I'm a fancy shopper). Did I need it? No. But our old quilt was getting worn and it never fit the bed properly--it was a full/queen size but never quiiiiiite stretched across the bed to hide the blankets underneath right. I wanted to find a quilt that would coordinate with the somewhat odd bed skirt and curtain colors which coordinated with the previous quilt--apparently warmer colors are "in" this fall, so I had a few good choices! And now I feel like I've had a little refresh in my bedroom.
Thankful for a quiet day at home yesterday, which allowed me to catch up on lots of things.
For a lovely hike last evening with many deer sightings.
For the smartphone photography class I took last week. At first I was disappointed, thinking that I hadn't learned anything (it was the instructor's first time ever teaching a class and the presentation was ... choppy, I guess would be the best word). I've been playing around with what was discussed and lo and behold, I do think I've made some improvements with my picture composition and my editing skills. It's been awhile since I've had the opportunity to learn something new purely for the fun of it.
I was around a bunch of people who apparently all caught Covid but I never got it. At least I never tested for it because I never had any symptoms. Still healthy here! 🙂
It's a good day!
-My doctor told me that I'm a cancer survivor after a 15 month journey with breast cancer!!
-For a beautiful, cool morning after 5he storm
-My cat, Lucy. She's so affectionate
-my apartment, my home. It's perfect for me.
I'm surrounded by things that I love.
-other health issues have resolved. I'm going to be strong and healthy from now on.
-and so much more
@Kathy M, That's an extraordinarily good day! Congratulations on all fronts.
@Kathy M, Excellent news, congrats!!
@Kathy M, hurray for your good news about the cancer remission!
@Kathy M, woot-woot on your cancer survivorship, strength and good health!
@Kathy M, Thrilled to hear your good news!
@Kathy M, Hearty congrats on the good news about your health!
@Kathy M, wonderful news!!!! Wishing you the best of health.
@Kathy M, great news! My niece is at a similar point in her breast cancer situation.
I'm just checking in while I'm spending a few hours at work, with a huge thankful - my family and I are safe and sound after Idalia, and it seems our houses all avoided damage, which my neighbors certainly can't say. I say seems, because I've not been able to get back to my house yet (going today) due to blocked roads. My neighbor says our road is now cleared and he's looked at my house. My daughters' houses are known to be sound. My ex-son-in-law's house is also undamaged. This was my granddaughter's week to be with him, and they wisely evacuated as well, coming back to a mess of trees down, but no damage to the house.
I don't usually talk about where I live, but I live in Perry. It came in at our local little beach and swept straight through Perry. You may have heard it said that we haven't seen a major hurricane here in about 125 years, although we've had lesser ones. We were lucky - it dropped from a cat. 4 before landing and people heeded the warnings to a large extent.
This certainly doesn't compare to some other storms - Cat. 5 Hurricane Michael comes to mind immediately - but it's bad enough. No one has power, and utility poles are broken and down everywhere. Much damage. Those of us on wells also don't have water. We can't buy water locally - stores are all closed and we can't get gas so to travel to Tallahassee to buy supplies, we have to watch our consumption of gas and be sure and fill up in Tallahassee.
My yard has trees down everywhere, my neighbor says, including on my well pump house and my new fence, but my house looks fine, so I'm am giving this as my huge thanksgiving!
@JD,
I’m so glad all is well with you and your family. JD. You were on my mind.
@JD, Thanks for letting us know - very thankful to hear you're safe!
@JD, I am down just west of Tampa, and feel we got lucky again - although every time I feel we have dodged a storm, I feel bad another Floridian gets it. Glad this one wasn't as bad as it could have been, and you and yours are okay - and hope you can get back to normal quickly!
@JD, I join Bee and the others in rejoicing that you and your family are OK. I'm sorry to hear about the property damage, the power outage, and the limited supplies of gas and water, though.
@JD, sending good thoughts your way as your community recovers. Glad your home is intact and you are safe.
@JD, Holding you in my thoughts until we heard from you. So glad you are okay but, of course, wishing you and your community well as you recover.
@JD, I'm so glad you are ok! I am south of you, and we didn't get the damage you did, but i just wish these things never made landfall!
JD, I'm so glad you and your family are all ok. Whew!!
@JD, wow. I didn't read your comment until after I posted mine. As I said, I've spent time in Perry but don't live there. We don't live *too* far away. So glad to hear that you're ok!!
Hooray for nurses! That's my first thankful today, especially you, Kirsten, and my younger sister.
2. I get to hear a dear friend this morning talk about her research.
3. I was able to keep up with a walking tour yesterday, two hours up and down.
4. Our neighbor gifted us with perfect tomatoes, that we had been admiring so often we fantasized stealing one!
5. For my new exercise efforts at the YMCA, already feeling better.
I’m so glad you didn’t get sick with Covid and that Zoe is testing negative now. Best wishes to both of you on your schooling this semester! Kristen, do your clinicals take place in the local hospitals?
I’m thankful that the situation requiring my husband to work many extra hours this past weekend doesn’t occur very often. He’s able to take comp time this week so we’re both grateful for some unplanned time together.
I’m glad to be seeing measurable progress in sorting and downsizing stuff in our house. I’ve mentioned before that it’s like a “ Fifteen Puzzle” and though frustrating, it’s that picture/ process that keeps me calm through sorting through everything and making decisions on what to get rid of, what to keep and where to place the keepers.
I was raised in a family of 6 kids. We had to stretch every dollar and my mom didn’t ever want to get rid of anything. She saw purpose in every scrap of paper, fabric, breadcrumb, cardboard tubes, etc. I think I’m a bit like that though I’ve learned not to hoard. So anyway, I’m grateful for progress. It’s bringing more calm to our home.
I’m thankful for our old cars that keep running and for a good mechanic who helps us when the cars are having problems.
I’m thankful for a few upcoming family events. The older I get, the more I cherish these get- togethers.
Yep, we will do rotations at local hospitals and also outside facilities, such as rehab centers.
I have that same Aldi "bag" cat toy in your last pic of Chiquita.. (we have the bag of chicken one, as there were only 2 left on shelf!) -- my cat Penny LOVES it!!
With that --
Thankful for my cat Penny, and cheap Aldi pet toys!
Thankful that my heart rate monitor is off and on its way back to get some answers on my Tachycardia (which showed up as a side effect from Shingles VAX - BOTH doses sent me to ER). This Journey started a year ago Sept and as a healthy very active woman, i never expected it to last this long.
Thankful my mental health (anxiety, possible over the heart issue?) has improved this week - Therapy WORKS.
Thankful that my company allowed me to work at home for a month (with a Dr note), while I get all of this figured out. The stress of commute, waking up early, etc - was not helpful.
Chiquita loves it too! She immediately knew what to do with it. 😉
First, I'm very thankful for all the folks (including you guys) who weighed in on Tuesday with birthday wishes!
Second, I'm thankful that Hurricane Idalia seems (so far) not to have resulted in major loss of life. The damage reports, of course, will be coming in as time goes on (including from my sister and BIL who are waiting it out in TN before they find out what happens to their Eastpoint, FL, home). And I join Bee in hoping that JD (and any other commenters in the storm's path) will be OK.
Finally, I'm glad that Kristen, Zoe, and so many of the rest of you have been enjoying the 1995 P&P. The only major part I think was better played in another version was Lady Catherine de Bourgh. (I'm such a Lady Catherine fan that I once wrote a short story called "The Early Life of Lady Catherine de Bourgh," which was my way of explaining how she came to be what she was.) Anyway, IMHO, Barbara Leigh-Hunt in 1995 isn't nearly as good as Judy Parfitt in the old 1980 BBC version. Parfitt practically picks up the screen and runs with it.
@A. Marie, Maybe there should be (or has there already been?) a Pride and Prejudice Festival Week where every single version would be screened and we could vote on favorite version/actors and then they could re-film a mashup with just the winners!
How do you feel about the Lady Catherine played in the Keira Knightley version? Judi Dench, I think.
@Kristen, well, who's going to say anything bad about Judi Dench? But what I really liked about Judy Parfitt as Lady C deB: (1) She was clearly a fairly attractive woman in her late 40s (which Lady C would have been); and (2) she played Lady C as a sort of early-19th-century Martha Stewart. (Anyone who's looking for advice about how to get ants out of the linen closet, for example, need look no further.)
Yay for a 1st week of school!!!
At the moment I'm thankful for:
* My pre-surgery liquid diet going really well. I thought I would die of hunger/have no energy/be a monster but turns out I'm ok!
*Both DD had a successful return to school
* 3 days weekend ahead of us
* An affordable gym membership
* Having had my kids (pregnancy) without problem. A good friend of mine is unable to get pregnant, she's going through IVF and all, and she's devastated. My heart hurts for her 🙁
It sounds like you’re off to a great start! So exciting!!
Thankful list today is easy:
1 - we made it all the way to all the destinations on our vacation with no car, health or personal issues. Now we just need to make it home.
2 - we saw beloved family and friends we haven’t seen for a long time.
3 - all four of us siblings got to get together and hang out. First time since my mum’s funeral in 2012
4 - I got all my scheduling and work done yesterday even though we’re on holidays.
5 - our cat is being well looked after by our step daughter and granddaughter.
And a bonus 6 - we were able to avoid all the highways being used by the firefighters and the folks being evacuated. It’s a scary time in BC, Canada. Certainly makes me grateful for everything I have. My heart goes out to everyone involved in these terrible fires.
1. Thankful that this school year has started mostly smoothly - we transitioned to online schooling for my older daughter while my younger one is still going to in-person. We're still adjusting but so far so good.
2. Thankful for my younger daughter's attitude these days. She's been happy and that makes us happy. She says things like "thank you for doing my laundry, mama." and "thank you for making my lunch - I know it's a lot of work" I don't really need the accolades but I'm happy to see my baby acknowledging what others do.
3. For a boss who values me.
4. For the extra day off that's coming up on Monday!
5. For my work from home setup. I feel like I'm always worrying about something when I work from home (if I'm working, I'm thinking about how the dishwasher needs to be unloaded or how I should throw in a load of laundry. If I'm taking a quick break or logging off, I feel compelled to check email one more time or take my phone with me so that it doesn't seem like I'm goofing off instead of working) but it really does lend some flexibility to my lifestyle and it saves me so much time not having to commute.
Hi, Kristin, how did you find the Zoom support group? Thank you.
This one was a referral from a pastor who knows the therapist who runs it!
We still have a few days left before school starts so my son is embracing the last few days of summer vacation. We’ve dropped off his school supplies, school pictures are done, he’s walked his schedule at open house, and I don’t do back to school clothes shopping. All the hard stuff is done so he can really enjoy the down time and so can I!
I heard a commercial on the radio about how back to school brings stress but for me it brings structure and I’m already thankful when I look at my calendar and it looks organized and consistent. My brain likes what this season brings and I’m looking forward to the coming months.
My husband sent a recipe request to me this week and I was thrilled. I love menu planning and flexing my creativity muscles but I also love getting input from my family on what they would like to eat. Even better, it’s a slow cooker recipe!
The weather has been cool enough that we’ve been able to spend time on our deck in the evenings reading and enjoying the backyard.
My husband and I put an offer on a house that we completely fell in love with. Our offer wasn’t accepted. My husband has been keeping an eye on the house see what the house ultimately sold for and we found out this week. It sold for much much more than we offered, we couldn’t have matched it. In some ways it makes the loss feel better. If we had lost the house by a small margin I would have carried that with me, but I know there was nothing we could have done.
"Luckily she doesn’t jump up on the counters." Yet.
COVID: phew! The timing would have been awful.
My preferred P&P is the 1940 Greer Garson/Lawrence Olivier version.
You're going to do great in nursing school - you got this.
@WilliamB,
I didn’t know there was a 1940 version of P&P with Laurence Olivier as Mr. Darcy! I think Colin Firth was the perfect Darcy in the 1995 version but undoubtedly Olivier would be stiff competition, despite the earlier type of filmmaking. Glad you mentioned it.
@WilliamB, I wouldn't kick Laurence Olivier as Darcy out of bed for eating crackers (a joke from my long-ago youth). The screenplay does have its moments, which isn't surprising, since Aldous Huxley co-wrote it. And Karen Morley as Charlotte Lucas and Marsha Hunt as Mary Bennet deserve special shout-outs--not only for their performances, but because they both survived blacklisting by the House Un-American Activities Committee in the 1950s and lived to ripe old ages.
But Greer Garson as Elizabeth, those over-the-top costumes (Sam Goldwyn is said to have insisted on the hoop skirts after seeing Gone with the Wind), and the sweetening of the Lady Catherine character at the end--sorry, no, at least not for me.
@A. Marie, My children and I laugh at this version. I'm glad you explained about the hoop skirts because we were wondering if they were simply leftovers from GWTW. I really, really didn't like this adaptation.
@A. Marie, The persistent rumor is that the costumes were leftovers from GWTW.
For me, the attraction is the quality of the acting, which more than balances out the softening of the plot and the all-very-wrong costumes. Not that I expect historical accuracy from 1940s Hollywood.
Have you guys seen Gurinder Chadha's Bride and Prejudice? 'Tisn't perfect but it's a lot of fun.
I love hearing about Chiquita! 🙂 She always makes me giggle, when I read about her antics.
This is one of those, "it could have been a lot worse" Thankful Thursday. I have been training for months for a relay race, and didn't feel great ahead of flying out. I tested negative for COVID, & off we went.
1) That I was able to finish the race, despite feeling really, really, really terrible. (I tested again when I got home on Sunday, and was positive for COVID).
2) That none of my van mates have tested positive so far. I already have guilt about the entire thing, but all of them have been so gracious, appreciated that I tested on Thursday, and understand we are all taking risks, any time we spend two days in a van with five other people.
3) That I survived a run that was nearly 100, with high AQI, and not feeling great, without any medical challenges. There were a lot of ambulances on the route, due to heat stroke, and I'm super happy that I did a lot of pre-race hydration, wore a fuel belt to hydrate along the way & used hydration tablets during the race. There is no fuel provided (water, etc) along the race route, and I think a lot of folks assumed there would be.
4) That our van completed the race without any injuries, which is always a bit rare, given the night runs, the endurance, & somewhat extreme things you're putting your body through.
5) My team mates were incredible. Despite wide gaps in pace time & athletic ability, everyone cheered each other on, stayed positive despite the heat & endless traffic, and we were all there for each other, at every leg. When I felt really terrible ahead of my longest run, our best runner offered to run the leg with me. This would be on top of his own extremely long leg. What a lovely person! Despite not feeling well, a huge reminder that we have such a big impact on those around us, and it's about the people, not the performance or the event itself.
@Hawaii Planner, congratulations on finishing your relay. If I remember correctly, you had a long leg to run. Feel better soon.
@Bee, thank you! Each team member does three total legs, and about ~15-20 miles, with lots of hills!
Excited for your dinner with friends tomorrow!
This week I'm thankful:
* for a new speech therapist for my son through the county school system. Last year was a rough experience, but we got a new one this year and I got to meet her yesterday and I'm SO happy! She seems wonderful and I left that conversation feeling incredibly encouraged.
* for my son's new teacher. He had a rough drop-off yesterday and she handled it like a pro! It's her first year teaching and I'm really happy she's at our school.
* that our first week of school is only a 4-day week.
* for great support and a great team around me for a new role I'm taking on this year. It's been a lot in the last couple of weeks and will be for the next month, but I'm thankful for those around me.
* that I was able to give away a big container of cherry tomatoes yesterday. I was drowning in them, so I took the big container and a bunch of baggies to the playground after school and I was able to give them all away! No food waste. 😉
* for one more year at home with my youngest before she starts school. So, so thankful for this!
Your lollipop comment was funny because I was just thinking the same thing after watching my Covid test... which was positive last week!
I'm thankful that my husband hasn't contracted it so far (similarly weird that he's escaped two rounds of Covid in the house despite us all being equally vaccinated), and that my kids were able to start school on time.
I'm also thankful to be feeling better, I can vividly remember being more sick last time.
Thankful that I didn't get sick when I visited family and didn't have to cut any trips short.
Last, thankful you didn't have to miss your first week of classes either!
P.S. Here's another huge fan of the 1995 PBS version of Pride and Prejudice. I first watched it shortly after reading the book, and was amazed how it really followed the book word-by-word without being at all stilted. Great actors.
Other recommendations:
Recently watched the 2020 version of the movie Emma based on Jane Austen's "Emma", and was pleasantly surprised how much I enjoyed it despite low expectations. It's adapted in a very fun and smart way, bringing up the awkwardness of the upstairs and downstairs folk living together and other more modern sensibilities without feeling fake. Word of warning, not quite family friendly for the youngest viewers however...
Also, 2016 BBC adaptation of War and Peace by Tolstoy, superb, lush and true to the novel.
@Kristina M., I really enjoyed the Netflix version of Jane Austen's Persuasion (with Dakota Johnson). It is a bit more modern adaptation than the BBC's Pride and Prejudice, but I found it very beautiful.
Covid is so so odd, isn't it? This was Zoe's second round of Covid and the first time, a year and a half ago, she didn't even have any symptoms at all. The only reason I knew she had it is that I took her in to get tested.
I'm so glad your bout this time has been mild.
I'm especially thankful for this weekly exercise voicing gratitude.
-- the good interstate road system here in the US. Although some states do better than others at maintenance and signage, it's so much better than many other places in the world.
--my 10 year old car that is still reliable enough for long trips
--comfortable beds while traveling. (can you see a theme here?)
--cooler evenings
--watching my two year old grandson grow and learn. It's only been a month since we saw him, but he has gained so many new words and skills.
Please pardon me if I'm being alarmist, but has Shelly lost weight? She looks skinnier to me...and ever since my cat had his bout with diabetes I'm super tuned in to cats looking suddenly skinnier. Please tell me it's just the picture angle!
She does look skinny in these photos, but rest assured, she is still rather plump. It's just a funny angle, and the distortion from a phone camera.
She IS skinnier than she was before we got her an automatic feeder, but that's a good thing because she was too fat when we adopted her. lol
This week I'm thankful that Idalia didn't hit our town as hard as predicted. We got rain, wind, limbs down, and a few trees down, but nothing like what happened on the coast. Yikes. I've spent time in Cedar Key and Perry, and my goodness, my heart breaks. If my parents were still alive, their home would have faced major damage from this storm. I'm not thankful they're gone, of course, but I'm thankful they didn't have to face this challenge.
I'm thankful that I understand a little more about one complicated part of my father's estate. When the light bulb went off yesterday, I did a little happy dance!
Speaking of which, I'm thankful that the estate *should* be closed in less than a month. (Major prayer hands!)
I'm thankful for the insights that I gained through the Boundaries Bible study I had previously mentioned. And confidence that some decisions I made during a tough time were good....even when some people around me told me that they weren't.
I'm thankful that my local library purchased 2 books I requested, and now I get to borrow them for free instead of purchasing them myself!
Does no one care for the 2005 version of Pride and Prejudice? That is my favorite version, but no one ever seems to mention it. Brenda Blethyn and Donald Sutherland as the parents are amazing and Tom Hollander as the obsequious Mr. Collins is perfectly cast. And Judy French as Lady Catherine is without peer in my humble opinion. Just thought I'd remind everyone that there is another excellent version to watch.
Dench not French.
Reading all the good and also the hard things this week, and wishing everyone well!!
This week I am thankful for my creativity, that makes me think of fun and useful activities.
Thankful for the energy that I felt all summer.
Thankful for a summer without disasters in my region- nice temperatures, plenty of rain, only one great storm, no wildfires where I live, few intemperate hot spells. I feel all the better for a good summer!
For new dorms for our youngest. One where the windows can be opened and people keep the bathroom tidy.
For being able to advise and support our children.
For the wonderful and very different ways in which our children express their love for us.
I never had to do clinicals on weekends or evenings, but that sure would have been helpful in juggling two small children's care with Hubby. You see the most interesting things in off hours, too! Enjoy your break today!
My cat Milo likes to surprise us and be underfoot a good bit. We are daily stepping on his feet or his tail as he is in the way! He is curious and likes to be nearby most of my waking hours.
I thought surely all the moms of young kids would want that assignment. But apparently it's hard to get people to take the evening/weekend clinical spots. I was surprised!