And so it ends

November, that is. So here we go.

Nov. 26 - I was thankful for...

Hot water.

It seems obvious, but sometimes I forget how lovely hot water can truly be. When it's cold out, and you get in the shower and it feels like a liquid blanket is covering you and you lose track of time and space for a bit... yeah, I love that. 

Nov. 27 - I was thankful for...

My camera.

During the school year, I don't get to play with my camera as much as I'd like, which blows. Hard. But, when I do have time for it, my camera becomes a part of me. If my house was on fire, and I could only save one thing (assuming Maxine was able to get out, or Hubby got her), I'd probably grab my camera (and/or my wedding and engagement rings, assuming I wasn't wearing them). I know it can be replaced, but when it's not around, I feel lost. Even if I don't have a lot of time to use it, I like to know it's there when I have the time. It's like my security blanket with a lens. And I'm definitely thankful for that.

Nov. 28 - I was thankful for...

Comedy/Humor.

If you know me, you know I can have a dry, somewhat twisted sense of humor at times. Or most of the time. Whatever. The point is, I love humor. I love to laugh. I love witty banter and a sharp tongue. I love randomness. I love puns. I love slapstick. I just love it all, from the (mostly) innocent humor of Disney to the wildly inappropriate slams on Tosh.0.

If you've checked out my "That's Entertainment!" page, then you know that I love comedy and comedians, too. I've seen Second City, Capitol Steps, Daniel Tosh, Jeff Dunham, Bill Cosby and the Henson Alternative, and next on my wish list are Gabriel Iglesias (Fluffy) and Lewis Black. I just can't get enough! Laughter is, of course, the best medicine, and for that I'm thankful.

Nov. 29 - I was thankful for...

Delivery.

Sometimes, it's just nice to have your food brought straight to you. Yesterday we found out we won one of the 2 million free Papa John's pizzas, and since we were a bit low on funds (today is payday; woohoo!), we decided it was a sign. We felt bad about just ordering a free pizza, though, so we got some cheese sticks and Mountain Dew to go with it. It took forever to get here, but I figure that's the tradeoff we sometimes make so that we don't have to go out in search of food, leaving the warmth and comfort of our house. 

Whether it's JJ's, pizza, Chinese, or whatever, I love having food delivered. We don't do it frequently, so it's a bit of a treat when food comes to me, instead of me going to it (or me/us having to prepare it). Paper plates and TV trays may not be classy, but there's something satisfying about it anyway. Plus, no dishes to clean. Booya. Definitely thankful for that (as I'm sure Hubby is, too)! 

Nov. 30 - I am thankful for...

Me.

I guess that might sound weird, but I'm coming to like the person that I am. I'm nowhere near perfect, and I still get self conscious pretty easily, but I'm smart and fun, and I'm a fairly capable person when it comes to my job, school, or whatever I really set my mind to. I've struggled a lot with self-esteem issues, so to finally be settling in and accepting who I am is sort of a big deal for me. And it feels a lot better than disliking myself or trying to constantly change to be what I think I should be. I'm thankful for that, and for everyone and everything who has helped me get here. 

So, there you have it. 30 days of things I'm thankful for. Phew! :)

Here we go!

Nov. 10 - On Saturday, I was thankful for...

Caffeine.

When I have a day full of homework ahead of me, it's nice to have the power of caffeine to back me up. I don't do coffee. I know, I know. But I don't like it. I would love to like it! Just hasn't happened yet. Mt Dew (also known to me as the sweet, sweet elixir of life and the nectar of the gods) is my caffeine of choice, and whether it's the actual effect of the caffeine or a placebo effect, it helps keep me going. I'm definitely thankful for that.

And, of course, I am thankful for its other use in my life: relieving headaches. I get a lot of headaches (it runs in the family), and sometimes there's no relief to be found. But, for some headaches, a healthy dose of caffeine can be just the thing to save me from ramming my head into the nearest wall or trying to bash my own skull in with a hammer in hopes of easing the pain.

Nov. 11 - On Sunday, I was thankful for...

Veterans. 

It's the obvious choice for Veterans Day, I know, but it's also an important thing to be grateful for. I'm not one to frequently swell with pride in my country, but I try to remember that freedom is not actually free. It comes at a cost; sometimes a high one. 

I'm thankful for the men and women who have fought for my freedom, who have paid the price for that freedom without even knowing me. I'm thankful for the families that support them and the strength they have to share their loved ones with us all. Truly, I am.

Nov. 12 - Today I am thankful for...

DVR.

Hubby and I love to settle in and watch TV together, but it's not always easy to catch shows as they air. And by not always easy, I mean damn near impossible. We're busy people who like to get out and enjoy life, so the option to sit at home to wait for the newest episode of [insert popular TV show here] is not usually the one we take. 

In fact, we've been so busy lately that we were WAY backlogged on our recorded shows! And when we had some issues with our cable and found out we might lose everything on our DVR, I about flipped my shit. Thankfully that didn't happen, so last night we burned through several hours worth of shows from the last few weeks. 

I'm sure people think it's a silly thing to be thankful for, but I really love having that time to spend with my husband and my dog. It's relaxing and entertaining, and it always feels amazing to veg out on the couch with my family after a long day of work or homework. And that, to me, is worth being thankful for.