Giving Thanks

Thanksgiving is nearing an end, and I'm already feeling nostalgic about it.  :)  What else is new?  This year, I decided to forego the huge family gathering and stay around town and be productive instead.  Productivity?  Check.  Huge family gathering?  Check - only it wasn't my family.  Instead, what I thought was going to be a small family dinner turned out to be most of Darren's family.  But it was nice to be around a family for Thanksgiving, even though it wasn't mine.  And Soojin was there, so I had at least one family member around.  :)

We watched "Changeling" afterwards, in hopes of continuing the Thanksgiving tradition of watching a terrible movie after dinner.  Unfortunately, the movie ended up being good so tradition has now been trashed and I will forever be tainted with the memory of a good movie on Thanksgiving night.  However, the night wasn't a complete bust since the movie-going experience was lessened for reasons threefold.  

1)  the BABY that was a few rows back and the empty plastic water bottle that was given to it to amuse it while the adults watched the movie - need i say more?

2)  the two girls sitting next to me who didn't know the meaning of the word whisper, nor of the common courtesy of not talking throughout an entire movie

3)  High School Musical 3 blaring next door, music pounding through the walls, easily heard over the solemn silence of our movie

Nevertheless and despite these three atrocities, the movie was good.  Hopefully tonight's experience will be a tide-turner and tradition will change for the better.  We'll see at Christmastime...

Lord, in no particular order, I'd like to thank you for...

1)   a loving family

2)   loving friends

3)   turkey and tofurkey alike!

4)   cute puppies

5)   iphones

6)   the ability to have a choice as to where I want to spend Thanksgiving

7)   Sabbath to rest on

8)   safe travels for friends and loved ones

9)   rain

10) a great season for the Giants

11) life, both new and used

12) the ability to perform under pressure

13) helping me find my dream job

14) making me into a pseudo-morning person

15) lentils

16) Top Chef

17)  people who think (and like it too!)

18) books that smell dusty and feel dusty but make my head less dusty

19) amazon.com

20) kevin

21)  trust in faith and the faith to trust

22)  free flights on Southwest Airlines (and free bag checkins)

23)  Half Notes and the crazy joy it brings

24)  Tuesday and Wednesday respites from life

25)  kimchi dolsot bibimbap and Great Sea kkampoongki

26)  direction

27)  a roof over my head, a bed to sleep on, and a soft blanket to cuddle up in

28)  internet that works (most of the time) and a computer to access it with

29)  coffee

30)  the hope for a new nation

31)  petite vanilla scones

32)  Chicago

33)  the ability to lead out in praise

34)  the ability to speak in public (and not suck)

35)  my students without whom I would be jobless

36)  the hope for a better future for our children

37)  bangs

38)  shoes on sale and shoes full price

39)  Off Saks

40)  Anthropologie and its ability to make me drool

41)  mornings cold enough to wear my coats

42)  the smell of smoke rising from a chimney

43)  the fact that I am not running out of things to thank You for.

Please continue to bless me this year (and the rest of my loved ones)...thank you!!!