Productivity before 8 a.m.

Hanukkah is observed for 8 nights and days.  So is my time off from work.  Hanukkah began on Tuesday evening.  My vacation began last night.  I am not Jewish and am not one to make light of religion.  However, I don't think I've ever had 8 consecutive days off from work and not gone anywhere.  So it's a pretty big deal to me.  Plus, instead of getting a gift every night, I will be hiding and wrapping gifts every night.  See all the parallels?  No?

I plan to be very productive and take full advantage of the next 8 days.  So far, this is what I've accomplished today:

• Put different pajamas on Kenzie for school.  We are not out of clean school clothes, it's just pajama day.

• Drank a cup of coffee.

• Discovered that Pippa makes a marvelous table for my laptop while she's sleeping on my lap.  It's the perfect set-up and I can't believe I just now thought of it.  She's warm on my lap (I'm always cold).  The computer is warm on her (cats love to be warm too).  AND, the computer is raised about 6 inches; a much more ergonomic height for typing and browsing.  It's a win-win-win situation.

So far, it's been a very productive morning.  I may not do another thing for the rest of the day.

Number 29

Yes, I know this is number 29, not 23.  I have started those in between numbers and not completed them.  Yet.  I will fill them in as they are edited.  And they'll still go in order.  This was a stream of conciousness thing I just had to write down, like right now, this very second.

I am so thankful that I have a healthy little girl.  I have a friend who's baby granddaughter is having serious medical issues stemming from a congenital abnormality.  I have been reading the mother's blog tonight and am just so humbled by this little 3 month old and her parents, whom I've met once. 

I was so lucky to have a mostly uneventful pregnancy.  It was so easy, especially with each ultrasound showing Kenzie's completely normal, healthy progress.  And being pregnant was fun!  Well, except for when I had sciatica.  And when my feet got so fat they broke the strap on a pair of Crocs.  And then when my face got fat near the end. . .

Anyway, it really was easy breezy.  And having a completely healthy baby was the icing on the cake!  Like the good, thick kind that's made with lard.  Every single check-up with the pediatrician was positive.

I remember a few months back when Kenzie had to have surgery for a double hernia repair, I was absolutely frightened to death.  Even though it was a very basic, routine procedure.  Knowing something, anything, is wrong with your child is the worst feeling ever.  And it was an easy outpatient procedure that went great (whew, thank you God!).  I was so thankful to walk out of Children's Hospital and hoping to never need to go back.

This little girl has now been in the hospital for 14 days.  I cannot imagine being in her Mom's shoes.  She is so strong in her faith, but I'm sure the fear of the unknown is a heavy burden to bear.  Looking at that sweet, smiling baby and her parents just breaks my heart for them.  And reminds me that I am so very blessed to have a healthy little 5 year old.  Sometimes a fit-throwing, stubborn, loud, and unreasonable 5 year old, but healthy nonetheless.

If you have a minute, would you say a prayer for this little baby and her parents?  Her name is Piper.

Number 24

Happy Thanksgiving!  Today I am thankful so, SO many things including my Aunt Deloris.  Of course I'm thankful for Uncle William and their kids and grandkids too, but this post is going to just be about her.

Ever since I was little, as far back as I remember, I have always had Thanksgiving dinner with my Aunt Deloris.  I've missed a year now and then, but all my life, this has been tradition.  When I was very young, this would be at Grandmother and Grandad's house at the farm.  But she was always there and she helped Grandmother cook.

Lordy did she cook.

Mom (and now Denton) say she is the very best cook there is.  And I agree with them.  But it's not just her ability to actually make the food, it's also the work she puts into the appearance.  She has often told me that presentation is 90% of the taste.  And lots of what she makes is time consuming, but she doesn't care because she knows it will result in an amazing dish.

I bet she's never even opened a box of macaroni & cheese.  Boxed?  The horror!

She is so loving and so gracious.  Because of the age gap between her and my Dad, she treated me like I was her first grandchild.  She took me shopping with her, to restaurants, and to church.  Now that I've written this, I'm realizing those are pretty normal places for anyone to go.  But it was a big deal to go to those places with someone who's not your parent.  She made me lots of frilly dresses and my tooth fairy pillow.  I'll see if I can scrounge up an old picture of me in one of the dresses because they were complicated and fluffy with lots of layers under the skirt.  Better than what you could buy at any store.  She even sewed a couple tiny jingle bells underneath.  Did your dresses have jingle bells?  No?  That's too bad.

Deloris is honest.  Even when it's not terribly pleasant to hear.  I remember shopping for an Easter dress (another tradition that continued until college), and trying on a really pretty mint green dress.  She made a face and told me that color was not for me, as it made me look like a corpse.  She was right though.  And I've seen lots of corpses so I would know.  As I have gotten older, I have become conscious of the fact that I have undoubtedly inherited this trait.  As a result, I've been told I lack compassion and sometimes tact.  And maybe on rare occasions that's accurate, but at least you know you're getting the truth.

She is sentimental and loves tradition.  A few months back, Kenzie and I stayed the night with her and William.  Deloris pulled up video from the first Fuston family reunion.  I think it was in 1988 although I may be off a year.  Someone had set up a camera and just let it roll while people hung out, visited, and ate.  Yes, there were dull moments where people weren't doing anything particularly spectacular, but we would catch a glimpse of someone walking by who has since passed away.  Then we would talk about them.  We were like commentators.  The video was a couple hours long and she and I were glued to the screen the whole time.  I think William and Kenzie were ready to disown us that night.

She knows how to tend a mean garden and work in the corporate world.  And she lets stray cats become her pets.

Are you thinking, "so is there anything not super awesome about her"?  Well, sure.  She drives fast.  She doesn't call family if someone is in the hospital until after they get out because she "doesn't want to worry anyone".  And once she swerved to avoid hitting an animal and ended up at Erlanger hospital with a broken hip and skin grafts.  And she won't wear sunscreen.  But that's about it.  She really is a great person to know and love. 

I bet you wish you had an Aunt Deloris, don't you?

I have better pictures, but not on this computer.  Easter 2007

Number 22

I am thankful for my hairdresser(s).  Or are they called stylists?  I'm not exactly sure, but you know, the people who cut and highlight my hair.  For the past several years, this person has been Randy.  There is actually a picture of him on here as he is the one who did the damage control when Kenzie cut her hair off a couple years ago. 

Randy is cool for several reasons.  He never steers me wrong in the hair and makeup department.  He is truly not afraid to tell me if my hair (or makeup) looks like a hot mess and is completely honest about what type hair will look best on my head.  Even if that means he's doing less to it and not getting as much money.

He also has a sweet little girl who is Kenzie's age and a really cool wife.  We all trick-or-treated together this year and had a big time.  And let's not forget that he used to do Billy Ray Cyrus' hair back in the mullet days.  Yes, for real. 

But Randy had an injury earlier this year, then some surgery, so he hasn't been at the salon.  And it's just him.  He's the only stylist.  At first, I feared this would be a catastrophic, devastating blow to my hair.  But then he had someone step in to replace him while he is out.  Her name is Robin and she is just amazing!  She and Randy have been friends (and often co-workers) for like 20 something years, and she's actually a lot like him. 

If I have a hair emergency, Robin (and Randy until recently) will gladly work me in.  And she did Mom's hair about a month ago and I swear it made her look 10 years younger.  We have good conversation too, which is important since I often spend a couple hours at the salon.

A good hair person that understands you and knows how to make you look like a million bucks is hard to find.  I love that Randy (and his family) and Robin are not just the people who do my hair- they are friends. Even though sometimes we argue over how much really needs to be cut (which usually ends with them saying something like, "okay, we can just take off a half inch.  Thin, ratty, cotton candy ends will probably look good on you."  Then I give in and walk out with healthier hair)  I trust them. 

Like that time Randy and I were "trying something new" and my hair turned orange?  I was only frightened for a millisecond because I knew he could fix it.  Then Erin walked into the salon right at that moment and I saw the fear in his eyes (clearly worried he now had an orange-headed wife) but Randy made a believer out of him too when I walked out an hour later with my regular blonde.

Yes, a good hair stylist is hard to find.  If Randy never comes back and Robin moves away or something, I'm SO going to be up a creek without a paddle.

Number 21

I am thankful for satellite radio.  I have always been one of those people who scorned those who actually pay for XM or Sirius radio, when you can get the regular radio for free.  I mean, it's kind of a no-brainer.  Plus you get local traffic and weather.

All that changed in 2008.

I had just gotten a new car and it came with a free 3 month trial of XM.  It took me, oh, I don't know, probably, 2 days to realize that this was something life-changing.  I quickly decided that I didn't care if it cost tons of money, I needed to keep this subscription.  I immediately saw the flaws of regular radio:

• No Commercials.  This was the biggie for me.  I absolutely loathe them.  I don't know many people who just love them, but still.  Eliminating commercials was the biggest sell for me.  And yes, there are stations that do have them, but those are shunned by me of course.
• Newer music.  Think of the most popular music station in your area.  Now think of the 5 songs they play at least 5 times a day.  Over and over.  And over.  The songs that you swear will make your ears bleed if you hear them just one more time.  XM has those stations, but again, they are avoided like the plague. 
• Cooler music.  And lots of it.  Sure, there are 80's stations on regular radio.  And classic rock stations.  But are there stations dedicated solely to acoustic/live songs, 90's alternative, or Jimmy Buffet?  How about 5 different stations, each playing a different genre of Christmas music?
• Not music at all.  I am not a fan of talk radio.  Or sports radio unless a UT football game is on.  But sometimes I want to listen to, well, not music.  Like stand-up comedy.  Or MSNBC.  And if I really wanted to, I could listen to news programs in french. 
• Your favorite station never fades out on a long trip. 
• You can get local weather and alerts if you have navigation.  You can also get traffic if you live in a big enough city.  Knoxville is not a big enough city, by the way. 
• It's cheap.  Like 10 bucks a month.  Often cheaper (like 6 bucks a month) if you threaten to cancel when your subscription ends.

See?  It really is the best thing ever.  It can make you not hate driving.  And if I ever get a hankering to listen to all Elvis, all the time, all I have to do is turn the dial to channel 19.

Now that I've written this, I'm thinking that XM should really be paying ME per month.  This post alone could get them lots of business!

It's so much better than this!

Number 20

I am thankful for my Dad.  Our time together was cut painfully short, but I am so thankful for the 19 years I did have with him.

My Dad was my biggest fan, which I know isn't all that uncommon for a daughter, but he truly thought I was the prettiest, smartest, and funniest gal around.  There was however that span of time during the early teen years when he probably thought I was the biggest pain in the butt around. . .

He taught me lots of important life lessons- like how to stand up for myself, how it's important to make good grades, and to never settle for mediocrity.  He also taught me about how cool The Doors, Janis Joplin, and Led Zeppelin were.  He tried to convince me how cool El Camino cars were, but I never did quite agree with him on that.

I remember once in preschool, there was a little girl that was being mean to me and I, being meek and timid, would just deal with it and cry about it later.  My Dad kept telling me to "bloody her nose".  Not wanting to see blood and cause a mess (much too frightening for a 4 year old), I finally got her down on the floor one day, straddled her so she couldn't get away, and covered her entire face with a Sharpie.  Like a not-at-all-washable-good-luck-EVER-getting-that-off-your-face Sharpie.  Her Mom was really mad about it and the teacher had to talk to my parents about it but I didn't get in trouble at home because my Dad knew that I was finally standing up for myself.  And he thought it was funny.

Cara and I often joke about how we make fun of other people's misfortune.  I know that sounds horribly mean- but I'm talking about the stuff you might see on America's Funniest Home Videos.  Like the time she got bucked off a horse and broke her tailbone?  That was seriously funny.  But probably not to her at the time.  Now she agrees it was hysterical.  I think I get my sense of humor from my Dad.  He would do things like tie my shoe laces together in about 30 knots and laugh when I found them and had to sit there untying each one.  I remember getting in trouble a couple times for laughing when Collen got a spanking.  Mom said I was being mean and cruel.  But I bet if Dad had ever watched my aunt Deloris get a spanking, he would have laughed too.

My Dad did stuff that was totally embarrassing like crushing boy's hands during a handshake.  Or like when he was sitting on the front porch with a shotgun, in the dark, when we pulled up coming home from a date- I never got a call back from that guy.  Can't imagine why.

He also did things that were probably a little embarrassing for him, but he did them anyway, just because it was special to me- like when I was on the dance team in college and during homecoming, we all brought our dads on the field to dance a routine with us.  He even had a tee shirt that said TTU Dancing Dad.  At first he refused to wear it or take part at all, but he later relented, ended up having a great time, and even later wore the tee shirt regularly.  One of the last pictures I have with my dad, he is wearing that shirt.

Sometimes I start to throw myself a pity party because it doesn't seem fair that he missed so much:  seeing me graduate from college, walking me down the aisle, meeting his granddaughter, getting to just talk on the phone to each other; I could go on and on.  But then I remember that I'm lucky I have so many amazing memories with him.  And some people lose a parent much younger than I did (like Collen, who was only 13) or grow up never having one of their parents around.  There is always someone who is worse off.  So, because of that, I always cancel the pity party and think about how thankful I am to have had my sweet Dad as long as I did.  He was a really cool dude.

Number 19

I am thankful for make-up.  I love trying out new things and like any make-up lover, am constantly on the prowl for an even better mascara.  I have a small drawer in the bathroom that holds about 1/4 of my supply.  You know, the daily stuff.  Plus some I keep telling myself I should wear.  Plus some that I'll probably never wear. 

Then there is the huge drawer in the bathroom closet that holds the rest.  Mostly seasonal stuff, plus some extra of my favorites in case they stop making it- which has happened to me several times:

 

      

I could cut and paste pictures all day.  These are just 8 of my favorites, now extinct.  Don't even get me started on how Bath & Body Works changed the scent for Sweet Cinnamon Pumpkin about 10 years ago. . .

Like that lipstick?  It's been discontinued for at least 6 years.  And I still have 7 unopened tubes of it.  It's Almay & the color is Flutter.  When I noticed the supply getting sparse, I took to Big Lots and Ebay like a pack of wolves on a 3 legged cat. 

I also have 1 unopened tube of the Bonnie Bell Gel Bronze.  I did have 2 saved up, but Cara was going on last year about how they had discontinued it and so I gave her one for her birthday.  That was one of the most unselfish things I have ever done in my life, by the way.  I mean, you can't get it anymore and I gave her one out of the goodness of my heart!  She's totally bronzer-worthy though.

At last count my mascara count was 26.  But I did get another tube last weekend, so I guess it's 27.  The lipgloss/lipstick count was well over one hundred. 

mascara & liner about a month ago

lipstick & glosses

If you think I'm a hoarder, you're wrong.  I actually use this stuff!  Okay, fine, I use most of it.  I just like having lots of options.  And I love to be girly and put on make-up- not like pile it on, rather, tastefully apply.

And if you think I'm being shallow or that I should "embrace my inner beauty instead of being concerned with my outer appearance", well, I guess you've never seen me without makeup!

Number 18

I am thankful for our house.  I am going to say what everyone else does about how it provides shelter for us from the heat, chill, and rain.  But I'm going to go one step further- it protected my family from the tornadoes and baseball-sized hail this past April.  I was in Detroit at the time and remember Erin calling me telling me the weather was getting really bad.  Then I heard what sounded like bowling balls falling on a metal roof.  Then the phone went dead.

It was pretty scary.

But my house (specifically, my coat closet) protected my family from the $26,000 in damage that happened that night.  We now have a new roof, siding, gutters, deck work and some window repairs.  I should probably add that am certainly thankful for insurance too.  But can you imagine the damage that would have occurred if our house didn't have a roof?  I might not have my family.

I love our house.  Even though they put the wrong color roof on, I still think it's pretty. 

And in a related story, I would like to invent something called "shingle paint" for those times you have your roof replaced and they put on gray shingles (when your roof was black) but you don't notice until it's finished because you've been coming home after dark every night to avoid the noise.  With shingle paint, you turn that thousands-of-dollars mistake into a tens-of-dollars mistake.  Great idea, huh?

I love how we have an open floor plan (except for when I can't reach the broom up high enough to sweep down the cobwebs) and lots of windows. I love the deck that allows us a comfortable spot to hang out with friends or grill-out during warmer months.  I love that we have a wood burning fireplace instead of just gas.  And although I cannot stand, loathe actually, the oh-so-steep driveway, I really love how we are right in the middle of the cul-de-sac and up high enough that we have an amazing view of the Smokies on a clear day.

I especially love how our house is a home- it's the only place Kenzie has ever known.  So much has happened in the almost 6 years we have lived in it.  And while there are definitely improvements we want/need to make (like cut down the crazy huge cypress tree that only stood a foot and a half tall when we moved in, but is now an eyesore), I really don't ever plan to move.  Because I love it and it's our home.

December 2005

2 months ago.  Stupid tree.

Number 17

I am thankful for my car.  I'm picky about cars.  And I like switch them out more often than most people.  I like a straight shift.  In fact, out of all 6 cars I've had, only my current one is an automatic.  And I hate that about it.  But it would have taken several months longer to get the car I wanted, in the exterior and interior color I wanted, and all the specific extras I wanted.  So I compromised.  It's been almost a year and a half and I'm still not used to it.  Next time, I'll wait it out.

All of my cars have shared a similar problem- a heavy accelerator pedal, which has resulted in a couple few speeding tickets.  I'm still trying to get that darn pedal fixed. . .

Erin doesn't like my current car.  He complained that the last two were too girly and that this one is not only a "chic car" but is also too small.  But I've actually just had 3 different year models of the exact same car for the past 6 years.  Same color every time too.  In a couple years, I'll probably get the same one again because it's always been a dependable vehicle.  I'm a creature of habit, I guess.  I also burn through tires pretty often, which can get pricey. Plus, they can't be rotated due to the different sizes on front and back.  Cara calls this impractical.  But I really like my car. 

Honestly, I'm really, truly thankful that it gets me from point A to B because some people need a car yet don't have one.  I know I'm fortunate to have a vehicle at all.  But I do think the extras are always worth it.  I figure, if you're going to be in a car daily, and you're already paying too much money for the thing in the first place, why not get what you really like so you can enjoy driving? 

Not my car, but too funny-looking not to post.

Number 16

 

I am thankful I can cook.  Today was our Thanksgiving dinner at work.  I usually bring 2 things because I can never decide on just one.  Plus, if one turns out to be awful, I can say that I bought the bad one at Kroger and the good one was homemade.  Fortunately that hasn't happened yet.  At work.  It has happened at home.

I think my cooking skills were mostly learned from watching (and questioning) my Mom, my Grandmother, and especially my Aunt Deloris who is probably the best cook I know.  Deloris could go head to head with Paula Deen any day of the week and come out on top.  If you know Deloris then you know I'm right.

I don't have a whole lot of time to cook, but I really love to do it.  There's something about following a recipe from start to finish- going from a bunch of ingredients to an amazing end result- that is very satisfying.  It's like a science experiment.

Every New Year's Day and sometimes Thanksgiving too, I cook a big meal for both mine and Erin's family to come enjoy with us.  I never want anyone to bring anything because I like the feeling of doing it all, beginning to end, so all our guests have to do is relax and eat.  And probably gain a few pounds.

It's a huge compliment to me when we are packaging up leftovers for the next day and my serving dishes are empty.  No one wants to have the dish that's had only a couple spoonfuls taken.  That means word got around and people didn't like what you made.  I love it when people go back for seconds or ask me for a recipe.  It's also flattering that Kenzie would rather me make her birthday cakes than buy one.  She thinks I'm a good decorator.  Plus she gets to help. 

It does take time to learn to be a good cook and I still call Mom or Deloris for help in emergency situations.  But I think I've come a long way from cooking a frozen pizza in the oven. . .on the cardboard it came on. . .which set the smoke detectors off and made everyone think the kitchen was on fire.

Okay, okay, so I know these don't show savory meals with lip-smacking sides.  But I did make these cakes, and the are pretty darn cute, right?

Number 15

I am thankful that Sephora accepts returns of make-up I've opened and tried on.  Because if they didn't, I would have wasted a lot of money over the years on expensive cosmetics that make me look stupid.  Like the $55 I spent Sunday on a compact of blush/bronzer/highlighter?  Well, I tried it out today and my cheeks, forehead, chin, and brow bones kind of look like I had my makeup done for Cirque du Soleil. 

Yep, that about covers it.

Nars trio?  Fail.

Number 14

Today I am thankful for my brother Collen.  He is so even and so grounded.  You know how I get very animated and excited over small things like, say, a deeply discounted pair of heels?  Or how dramatic I might be when telling a story?  Well, Collen is pretty much my polar opposite in that sense.  I have always said that the house could be on fire and while I'd be screaming, "Everybody out, save yourselves, oh my gosh, we're all going to die!!!" and he'd be like, "C'mon guys. (long pause) Let's go."

Now that's not really true.  It's just that he doesn't sweat the small stuff.  And sometimes doesn't even get dramatic about the big stuff.  He's not shy, but he's kind of quiet.  If Collen is talking, it's about something relevant.  He's just no-nonsense that way.  He reminds me a lot of our Grandad.  He didn't say a whole lot, but when he did, people listened because it wasn't just for small talk.

Collen has a kind heart.  And he is so polite.  Plus he was one of those guys who didn't really crack open a book, yet graduated with high honors (sickening, I know).  And he never missed a day of high school (I know, right?!) He's non-confrontational, but I've certainly seen him stand up for what he believes in and voice his opinion. 

There are over 6 years between us, so that meant he had to put up with me being a bitty for a few years after he was born.  Like the time we were in the car and I poked him with a pin so he'd cry and get in trouble (which as it turns out, babies don't get in trouble for crying, especially when they're being deliberately injured by their jealous older sister.  Rather, the car stops and the jealous sister gets a spanking on the side of the interstate.) or when I cut off all of his hair just after he had finally grown some.  Or when Mandy and I dressed him in a cheerleading uniform and tied him to a rocking chair and took pictures of him.  Or that time I almost got both of us killed by a train.  Well, that one wasn't intentional on my part, but it still counts as serious neglect on my part. 

After all that (and believe me, there was plenty more), Collen always loved me and stood by my side.  Of course we fought as siblings do.  But he's just a different breed.  I don't see him as often as I'd like, but when I do it's always a fun time.  He is a really, really great brother and I am just so lucky to have him.

Number 13

I am thankful that I can run.  Especially when it's for a good cause.  Today Erin and I, along with several other coworkers, participated in the Buddy's Race Against Cancer.  It is a 5K.  Now, I believe I have mentioned that I am not the worlds fastest runner.  I'm usually somewhere near the middle when the race results come out.  But I'm really thankful I can do the race at all. 

Because of a car accident and subsequent back surgery when I was little, my dad was never able to run, so it makes me proud that I can.  Plus, the Buddy's race has lots of meaning for me.  I have lost friends and relatives to cancer and also celebrate with the friends and family that are currently celebrating their survival.  I ran in memory of my Grandad, my Dad, my coworkers Shirley and Reno, and for my friend Tim, who recently passed away.  I ran in celebration of my cousins Mary and Gale, my friends Lori and Ranee, and my father-in-law Chuck who was just recently diagnosed with lung cancer.  Actually, if you have a second, I'd appreciate a prayer for Chuck.  He is currently undergoing treatment.

To be really honest, I don't like running.  You know that runner's high that people talk about?  I've never experienced that and wonder if really it's just an old wives tale.  But I know that cardiovascular activity is good for my heart.  And it helps my jeans fit.  But most of all, I know that I'm blessed that God gave me a working pair of legs, so I should probably put them to good use. 



Number 12

I am thankful for modern technology.  I mean, without it, I couldn't do this blog at all.  Or make a phone call.  Or watch Jeopardy.

What did we do before email?  Or online checking?  I especially love the whole advent of the digital camera.  I remember when you paid for all your pictures to be developed and when it turned out that really only 3 of the 24 were good, you still had to suck it up and pay for 24.  Now you can take 500 pictures and weed out the ugly ones and pay to have only 7 printed.  Absolutely genius.

And let's not forget about cell phones.  I remember when I had a 30 minute per month plan when I started college.  It was for emergency use only.  And the phone itself was about as big as a glass jar of ketchup and weighed just as much.  Losing your phone meant you lost the 10 numbers stored in the "quick dial" feature, not losing pictures and apps along with all of your contacts. 

In college, we might have checked our email at a computer center once a week if we remembered.  Now I probably check it at least twice per day.  And Facebook may still be a huge waste of time, but I appreciate that it lets me see pictures of people I haven't seen in 20 years. 

I remember telling Collen several years ago that I was pretty sure this whole Internet thing was probably a passing fad.  I guess I'll happily eat that bowl of crow now.

Number 11

Today is Veteran's Day.  I am thankful for all of the veterans who have served our country.  No matter your political affiliation or preference, I bet you're happy that we live in a free country.  I know I am.

My husband is a veteran.  I very vividly remember the year we spent apart while he was a combat medic in Iraq.  I remember not being able to call him and wondering when he would be able to call me.  I remember worrying about whether he would hit an roadside bomb (IED- improvised explosive device) or be shot while doing daily missions into extremely volatile, dangerous cities.  I also remember very well the phone call I received one night from the military, informing me that his group had hit an IED and that Erin had been mildly injured.  I remember being so, SO thankful that it wasn't worse. 

Not only am I the wife of a veteran, I am also the proud niece of, cousin of, daughter-in-law of, sister-in law, and friend of veterans.  Soldiers make so many sacrifices so we can live in our country, safe and with plenty of freedom.  I'm thankful for all the veterans for what they have done for us.

This morning, Kenzie's school had a Veteran's Day program, in which Erin was a part of.  This is him with Tennessee's Adjutant General, Major General Max Haston.

Number 10

Today I am thankful for fast food restaurants.  Yes, they do possess certain negative attributes:  Although they have healthy items, those are usually not what I'm buying.  As much as I like the healthier options offered at Taco Bell, I'm probably going to go for the double-decker taco or the Mexican pizza.  Many are overpriced.  Have you ever made a bowl of oatmeal at home and threw in some nuts and cranberries or raisins?  Have you ever bought a small bowl of the same thing at Starbucks?  What was the price difference?  And you know, I love a McDonalds or Burger King hamburger.  But most would argue that the quality is nowhere near a hamburger you pat out yourself and cook on your own grill.

I like it though.  It's convenient.  And let's be honest here.  If it weren't for the occasional fast food run, my family would likely starve.

Last week on the slide at Burger King

Number 8

I am thankful for my job.  I work at KDL Pathology as a Pathologist Assistant.  This means I do the gross dissection of tissue specimens.  Lots of people think my job is disgusting.  But I really like it.  And it's interesting.  Erin does the same thing, so over dinner, we often talk about a cool specimen we cut that day.  And tons of people have skinned a buck or cleaned a fish, but how many have gutted a human or cut open a gallbladder? 

I have always wanted to work in the medical field.  I love the "blood and guts" stuff.  But I was always apprehensive about working around patients.  I get attached too easily.  In college, while working at an outpatient imaging center, I would put patients in the MRI or CT then get them out after their scan.  Sometimes during their test, on the screen you could see that it was really a big fat tumor that was causing their problem and it really bothered me that I knew before they did.  It was hard walking them back to the dressing room and lying, saying I didn't know, when they asked if everything looked okay- because not being a radiologist, it was illegal to tell them anything regarding results (plus that was not something I was qualified to do in the first place).  I would then go home and think about that patient for days.  Especially since you never know how they turned out.

This is one reason that Pathology is a fitting field for me.  I get specimens from literally tens of thousands of patients every year.  But the only time I see a patient's face is if there is a picture attached to the requisition form.  You know how they say lots of people would turn vegetarian if they saw how their meat actually made it from the cow to their table?  Well, this is similar.  There's no emotional attachment I take home at night but I still get to make a difference in people's lives while doing what I love.

Right now there are so many people who have lost jobs in our struggling economy.  I truly feel blessed to not only have a job at all, but one that I honestly enjoy.  Part of that is because of who I work with and work for.  It's a lot easier to like your job if you like your coworkers.  I'm thankful to be a part of the KDL family.  Maybe that sounds lame, but it's seriously true.

Halloween is a big deal at KDL.  We also had a 40's flapper and 2 more pirates.

Number 7

I'm thankful I live in the South; more specifically, Knoxville.  Although not exactly a jet-setting,  globe-trotter, I have enough traveling under my belt to know that the South is definitely where it's at!  People are more considerate, we have actual seasons without having a 9 month winter (or summer, depending on where you live), drivers tend to be more skilled (I know that's just my personal opinion), and who doesn't like to hear a bit of southern drawl?  The World's Fair was here and there was even an episode of The Simpson's where Bart and his friends go on a road trip to Knoxville.  Not to mention Volunteer football!

For me, Knoxville strikes the balance between "big city" and "small town".  It's neither really, but is somewhere perfectly placed in the middle.  When going somewhere, there's a good chance you'll see someone you know, but you don't know everyone.

I really like where we live in Knoxville too.  It's within a half-mile of the lake and from our front porch, you can see the Smoky Mountains in the distance.  Within 2 minutes, you can be in the middle of a cow pasture and swear that "town" is hours away.  But it's only a 20 minute drive to Starbucks, the mall, the movies, or downtown where you would swear that "the country" is a faraway drive.

I love local businesses like The Pizza Kitchen and I love how people still wave when driving down the back roads.  I love how neighbors are friendly and our idea of a good night might be playing corn hole or hanging out around the fire pit.  I love wearing orange and going to UT football games.  I love how when asking directions, you might hear, "well, you go down this road a little piece and turn left".  Only in the south does one know how far a "little piece" could be.

I love Knoxville and haven't found anywhere else I'd rather be.

Number 6

Today I am thankful for my husband, Erin.  The reason he is number 6 is because today is our anniversary!  I am thankful for him for countless reasons.  I admit, sometimes I do want to throw all his clothes out on the front lawn and set them on fire.  But the other 98% of the time, he's amazing and I am so very lucky to have him. 

I often can't figure out if we are exactly alike or total opposites.  We are both stubborn, love to be outside, have the exact same job, are sadly procrastinators, enjoy the same TV shows (which is interesting since we really don't watch a lot of TV to begin with), and these things make it really fun to be together.  Then again, we have a completely different way of how to clean a house (and both of us think ours is the right way), he loves spicy/salty food whereas I live on sweets and bread, he doesn't like cats (although I have caught him petting Pippa on more than one occasion), I'm more of a democrat while he's more of a republican, and he runs fast whereas I'm a slowpoke.  These things make it fun to be together too though because it gives us something to argue talk about!

Erin is really good to me.  And he's good to others too.  He knows what chivalry is and practices it often.  He's handsome.  He makes me laugh-  and that's important because good looks will only get you so far :)  He motivates me to exercise.  And not in that "hey baby, you should start hitting the gym" way. I ran my first 5K a month after I turned 30 and we have been running them together ever since.  Had he not encouraged me to run with him, I probably would have never signed up for a single one.  I mean, you're paying to wear yourself out running!  He teaches me things- anything from how to tie certain kinds of knots to a different way to dissect a prostate.  He's really good at picking out heels for me.  There has never been a time that I opened a gift of shoes and was disappointed.  He's a hard worker.  And when I'm super stressed, he knows how to make me feel better.

I know I am opinionated and messy and probably sometimes hard to live with.  But Erin is the best and I just love hanging out with him and being his wife.  I know I'm so lucky to have this husband of mine. 

Yesterday evening at Joe's wedding

Number 5

I am thankful that 9 years ago, I chose Kappa Delta as my sorority.  Today was homecoming.  I go back every year to watch the parade and hang out with college friends.  Over the years, our group has added husbands, then kids to the mix.  The active KD's always do an alumni luncheon afterwards, proudly wearing their pins, prompting us all to remember what it means to be a KD lady.

In college, these girls were some of my very best friends.  We went out at night together, borrowed each other's clothes, helped one another out with hard classes, went on spring break trips, did charity work, cried on each other's shoulders during break-ups and loss of family members, laughed at each other, performed in countless stage shows, prayed together, watched 90210, and we always went to homecoming.

In the years since college, we have been each other's bridesmaids, celebrated births, mourned divorces and miscarriages, had yard sales together, gone to Pampered Chef parties, called to discuss the latest celebrity gossip, prayed about lost jobs and sick family members, went on road trips, babysat each other's kids, and ran 5K races for charity.  We still laugh at each other and we still go to homecoming.

I know now that during rush, when they say that you are a KD for life, they are making true statements.  I can go literally months without talking to these girls and pick right back up where we left off the moment we text, email, or see each other.  Like today.  Some I talk to on a daily basis, others it might be once a year.  But we're still like family.  Don't get me wrong- I have lots of non-KD friends and they are amazing too!  It's just really cool to be a part of something so awesome and know that it's truly lifelong.  Definitely something to be thankful for.

KD legacies, best friends, & future college roomies!

Number 4

I am thankful for my Mom.  She is the nicest person.  She is so giving and really sees the best in people (something that I admit I sometimes have trouble doing).  Mom really loves me and I'm very lucky to have her.  She's always been supportive of me and my decisions (even when they turn out to be the wrong ones). 

Mom has taught me some important stuff so far:

-taking the high road & being the bigger person
-that strict parenting sucks for a kid at the time, but pays off big-time for them later
-that tanning beds give you wrinkles
-patience
-the importance of taking care of my skin
-treating people the way I like to be treated
-how spending time with the elderly, family or not, is so valuable for you and for them
-that if you're going to watch any soap opera at all, Young & the Restless is really the only good one
-how sometimes you have to make a mess to clean up a mess
-how to braid hair
-giving to those in need
-that a spiral perm isn't right for everybody

This is just twelve things.  I bet I could list hundreds.  I know everyone loves their Mom and thinks their Mom is the best.  But seriously, you guys are all wrong.  Mine is the best. 

4 generations.  3 happy, 1 cross.

Number 3

I would like to preface this by saying that the things I am thankful for will appear in no particular order.  I think it's much more interesting to do it this way. 

Sometimes it's the little things that give us joy.  Today I am thankful that my jeans fit.  That might sound shallow, but hear me out. 

On October 24th, McDonalds just finished up their month-long Monopoly marketing ploy which is designed to suck patrons into the store, sometimes more than once a day, who hope to win money and prizes.  I was one of those foolish Americans along with my friend Adam.  The end result was us winning 38 food prizes, 60 photo prints from Snapfish, $10 toward an EA Sports video game, and exactly zero dollars.

I also won just enough extra weight to prevent my jeans from fitting.

You can imagine the thrill I experienced this morning when trying on a pair and realizing I could get them buttoned without looking like a busted can of biscuits.

Not a recent picture, but these are those jeans.

Number 2

Today I am thankful for Kenzie.  She can make me madder than a wet cat.  But more often, she makes my heart melt.  She teaches me how to have a more open mind and how to share.  She's really funny.  She also teaches me fast forgiveness without holding a grudge.  Like if we have had some type of problem (meltdown, tantrum, fit, etc.) and subsequent punishment (stand in a corner, get toys taken away, a spanking, gasp!), she is so quick to get past it and forgive, even if she's been really mad at me! 

Kenzie is smart and driven to do her best at school.  She tells me that she wants to be the smartest kid in the class.  I'm thankful for that, because some kids really just don't care.

I'm really thankful that we are so close.  We love having "girl days" together and just hanging out.  I really hope that doesn't go away during the teenage years.  Please make a mental note to pray for that with me in about 10 years!

30 days of being thankful

Everyone is doing this thing on Facebook where daily, they list something they are thankful for.  I've decided that's a pretty cool thing to do.  So I'm doing it here.

Number 1.

I am thankful for a God that loves me.  I'm nowhere near perfect.  In fact, I screw-up pretty regularly.  You know that whole "God never gives you more than you can handle" saying?  Well, it's true.  There have been rough patches I've had to struggle through.  But in general, I have a pretty awesome life.  And I know who to thank for that.

The Effects of Aging

Sunday was my birthday.  As all of you know, I turned 24.  Okay, fine, not really.  I turned 32.  Whatever.  Erin threw me a ridiculously fun 80's theme birthday party on Saturday night (pictures to follow, don't have my camera).  I was super excited that everyone chose to dress up because that just makes a party so much more fun, you know?  Even the kids that came (like including babies and toddlers) were dressed in totally tubular 80's style.  I will post pictures in a bit.

Anyway, Sunday I had to run into work to finish up some specimens.  I keep another pair of shoes there that are comfortable because my job requires I stand while cutting tissue and dictating (called grossing- and not because the specimens are "gross", even though sometimes they are, that's just what it's called).  It's commonplace for me to kick off whatever shoes I'm wearing and slip on my "grossing shoes". 

So I kick off my shoes and realize something rather upsetting:

These are the shoes I took off.

They do not match.

Now, you may be thinking "well, they aren't THAT different", but let me show you something else:

This is a view from the back.  The left one is significantly taller!  How did I not notice that?! 

Clearly it's the old age.

*Sigh*