Day Three Hundred and Fifty - Thankful

A few months ago I compiled a list of 50 things that make me happy. Most of them were food and most of them were silly. In light of the recent holiday tonight I made a list of things I am thankful for. Again, this list is not really that deep for the most part. I was inspired because the other day I had a really bad one...and generally when something bad happens I think - wow, I didn't know things could get worse [obviously, they could be much, much worse - but I'm talking about little things]. It's kinda like...having things stripped away from you - it makes you appreciate all the things that make your life better and, quite simply, liveable. So, yes - here is my list - enjoy...but obviously it's lengthy and verbose so no one is expected or recommended to read it all. And yes, it's more a list of the things that if you took them away from me - things would be worse.

Things I'm Thankful For:

Joseph - for being such a good man and making me feel like there must be something so special about me and alternately making me feel woefully inadequate.

The Tampa Bay Rays - for demonstrating the triumph of exuberance over experience. Suck it Boston!

Laundry @ my door - I'm lazy and lack upper body strength. New machines, too.

A boss that defends me - I've been fortunate that most of my superior officers have been willing to go to bat for me. It's not that I'm perfect, but the alternatives are worse.

Hardwood flooring - carpet really grosses me out, but as renters we don't have a lot of choice. Also, I doubt Wii Fit would work as well on carpet.

Gas cooker - it's fast, even, poisonous, flammable - very exciting.

Migraine medication - my body is getting used to it and it works. No more days of pain.

MP3 player - without it I would simply be uninspired to leave the house in the morning.

Solitude - I like being left alone quite a bit. Most people who know me respect that. They also allow me to chat their faces off when the mood strikes [and it often does].

My cooking skills/love of - I feel bad for people who don't enjoy cooking - what hell their lives must be - food is so essential [and it never ends - you will always have to deal with it].

The frakking Price Chopper - surprised? Well, on Sunday I treated myself to shopping @ the new Sobeys in the Annex. It was hideously expensive. I couldn't bring myself to even buy everything I needed for Thanksgiving. The Price Chopper has 99 problems, but price ain't one.

Al - I like that the took the time to learn my name/story. I admire his work ethic. And he knows lots of stuff, but remains genuinely curious. He is the neighbourhood. Not quite Old Man Friend, but still nice.

Battlestar Galactica - I thought more of these things would be TV related. BSG is everything that TV should be. It makes you think, feel, pay attention...come back soon please.

The US Presidential election - The liveliness of it, really. Maybe just a credit to the normally dubious journalistic standards, but there is a new discussion each day. I can't wait to see how it finishes, but it's already changed the country, no?

The Canadian political scene - Darling, in it's own way. With its fuzzy blue sweaters, French speaking, meaningful [and lengthy] discussion of the arts - it's a bit of a different animal than our friends to the south. Shorter and to the point - I'm just thankful I can have my voice heard.

Amy Sedaris - she's simply a doll. Though I'd love to be her best friend, I'm just thankful for her existence.

David Letterman - one of my many TV dads. I love Conan and Jimmy too [and John and Stephen - see below] - but Dave is the original maverick - a true instigator. Subtly subversive, wonderfully wonky - Dave doesn't mind playing the fool. I hope he continues to give 'em hell for many years.

Daily Show/Colbert Report - If you took away this hour, I would be unspeakably sad. I'm not a fangirl, but both shows are great @ wht they do. I will say it again - The Colbert Report writers are consistently the most clever in the biz. And please, American friends - make their jobs even harder this year [as Jon begged in 2004].

Specialty TV channels - their existence means I rarey have to turn off the TV. So yay for the warm glow of TV! What did people do before syndication?

Holidays - I'm going on one in a little over two weeks. Can't wait. Can't afford it, don't deserve it, don't care. Haters to the left.

Internets - I still marvel over its creation. It's a-mazing. And I'm sure I couldn't live without it.

My bathroom - meaning, I'm glad that I have one to call my own and that I don't have to share it with anyone other than Joseph. I know this might sound really odd - but honestly, I appreciate my little bathroom. I can't imagine sharing it with strangers. This just strikes me as something I should really include in a list like this - lest I tempt fate and have my toilet explode tomorrow morning.

My job - yeah, it sucks to only work three days per week and as a result not really have any money. However, I'm getting by...and two days a week I could hypothetically spend the day in my jammie jams [I don't - but I could]. Also, this job has led me to make more important decisions about my career direction. Scary.

My appearance - I'm not saying this to be vain. However, for most of my life I have been extremely uncomfortable with how I look. Too fat, too skinny, too generally ugly, bummy-looking hair...there's always something. And really - there still is something. However, as I approach the big 3-0 and I get almost daily comments that I look like I'm still a hot young coed/undergrad...that's nice. Even if people are lying, I don't mind. Also, my skin is the best it's ever looked, my body is in okay shape, my hair is long and pretty...this all adds up to me being slightly less self-loathing than normal. It's a good thing.

The aging process - I guess this kinda goes against my vanity in the previous point...but I'm more talking about how you change mentally/intellectually as you age. I adore growing older and wiser. I even don't mind looking back and realizing what an idiot I was not just as a kid or teenager, but what an idiot I ws as a hot young coed undergrad. And beyond [I'm pretty sure I was a huger idiot last week in fact]. I like changing and continually learning and challenging myself. These days I'm working on questioning someone's judgement instead of their motive. It's difficult. As I get older, I'm learning to love planning, organizing, being responsible...it really makes the times when I frak up and throw off all of that maturity so much more delicious.