Tuesday, November 26, 2013

Thankful

1. I'm thankful that I have a roof over my head and that I can pay the rent on my own apartment. I'm also thankful that even though I have to share a building with my neighbors, I don't have to share my studio with them. This is important because at least one of them threw up in the laundry room and left the vomit there.

2. I'm thankful that I don't have to cook Thanksgiving dinner for anyone, because then they would have to see me accidentally set my clothes on fire (which is what happened the last time I tried to cook something). Then they would have to eat burnt pizza, because somehow I still manage to burn frozen pizza almost every time.

3. I'm thankful for writing and the blank pages of my journal, which I can fill with short stories, ideas for novels, and statements like, "I had another dream where I was working the whole time. I think I really am incapable of relaxing, even in my sleep."

4. I'm thankful that even after teaching hundreds of students over the course of several years, teaching is something that I still love to do. It is one of the few things that I can do with confidence. I admit that I've tripped and fallen flat on my face in front of my students on more than one occasion, but I popped back up and kept teaching with confidence (and a sore face).

5. I'm thankful that Twitter has given me a new outlet; it's fun to Tweet whenever I want. And I like reading other people's humorous and interesting Tweets. It makes the commute more bearable, which is good because then I'm much less likely to start throwing things at the people who blast their music on their headphones.

6. I'm thankful that I live in Chicago, a city that I've loved ever since I moved here. I also love that it's basically a requirement to eat deep-dish pizza here, because what kind of Chicagoan would you be if you didn't like the pizza? (And I'm still mad at Jon Stewart for insulting my city's pizza. I'd throw a pizza at his face, but then I wouldn't get to eat the pizza.)

7. I'm thankful for good books and the authors who write them. I wish I could meet more of these authors and do that Wayne and Garth thing where I throw myself at their feet and yell, "I'm not worthy! I'm not worthy!"

What about you? What are you grateful for?

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

6 comments:

  1. happy thanksgiving ( albeit late) to you as well. Seriously in the laundry room gross. You and I are thankful for some of the same things.

    I am working on a book that will be available soon about this very thing, at least in part. In a world were so many things can and does go wrong, we miss the wonderful little things that happen that we should be thankful for. Like blog friends who say what you feel and often say it better.

    I'm thankful for the ability and passion to write and share with those who stroll past my shelf at the amazon book shelf (although I have just begun to add to it) or my blog. (no I'm not purposely plugging my stuff,).

    I'm thankful for a place to rest my head at night and someone to share my day with. I'm thankful for the food we have and the clothes we wear. these may be obvious, but there are many who don't have these things.

    I'm also thankful for the great teachers we have who have the passion to teach us something we don't know about. Because to be a teacher you must have passion because the pay is often times non existent.

    have a great day and pass the coffee ....

    Debi


    Hope you have lots of left overs to not burn yourself when you heat later

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    Replies
    1. Hi Debi,
      I had leftover pizza, because that's what I ate on Thanksgiving. :) And yes, the laundry room incident did happen; may it never happen again. Better yet, may the neighbor who did that move out. Then I'll be really thankful.
      Good luck on your book! It sounds interesting. I'm thankful for writing too; if it wasn't for writing I think I'd be cranky all the time and even more neurotic. Writing gives me an outlet for my thoughts and feelings.
      You're right that teachers have to have passion for their work; that passion makes all the difference.

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  2. Replies
    1. Hi Lynda,
      Actually, I had pizza for Thanksgiving. But it was delivery, not frozen, so I didn't have to worry about burning it.

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  3. Awesome list! Ah, love a blank journal...

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    Replies
    1. Hi Deniz,
      I was so tempted to buy a new journal this weekend, especially since Barnes and Noble were selling Moleskine journals "Buy 2, Get 1 free" on Black Friday.

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