We're Still Here

...and that's something to be thankful for.

I totally dropped the ball on my Thanksgiving advent posts, didn't I? It's not that I ran out of things to be thankful for--far from it. One thing I'm over-the-moon grateful about is the fact that my business is picking up. But that's keeping me pretty busy. I've also still been doing NaNoWriMo, although I've fallen about 12,000 words behind where I should be by now, mainly because in addition to being busy with work I've also been sick. Nothing major, just a lingering chest crud with a low-grade fever and a scratchy throat that never wants to become full-fledged sore. Not that I'm complaining about that. It's not bad enough to knock me out of commission, but it is slowing me down and keeping me from having a lot of energy.

But the good news re: NaNo is that I finished Dominion of the Damned! So if I don't make up the word count on another project, it will still be a win in my book.

The other thing keeping me busy and distracted has to do with the earthquakes. Did you know we had earthquakes in Oklahoma? Well, apparently we do now. The fact that they're increasing in both quantity and intensity made us think that it would be a good idea to make sure we're prepared if a major one ever happens here. We also started our winter preps, making sure we have enough food, water and warmth to get us through a major ice storm. And then it all kind of snowballed from there into an obsessive survivalist quest to be fully prepared for The End Of The World As We Know It. Or, zombies. At any rate, that's triggering my obsessive tendencies and taking up a lot of my mental energy these days.

It's not helping (or maybe it is--depends on how you look at it) that we've been watching all these survival shows on Netflix. We've gone through all there is to date of Bear Grylls, Survivorman, Man Woman Wild and Dual Survival, and now I feel pretty certain that if I ever get lost in some God-forsaken wilderness/desert/jungle/frozen wasteland that I'll be able to build a shelter and start a fire and feed and hydrate myself. I think the biggest lesson these shows have taught me is never go anywhere without carrying a lighter, a bottle of water and some gorram Balance Bars--all of which items have recently taken up permanent residence in my purse.

Actually, the biggest lesson these shows have taught me is that as long as you have shelter, water, food and warmth, everything else is gravy. And if on top of those things you also have comfort and security, then you are richly blessed. It's helping me realize that only when you have those things in abundance do you have the luxury of thinking that things like not having the latest gadgets or not having a home that looks like it belongs in Better Homes & Gardens are things to get depressed about.

Matt and I are richly blessed. And today, as every day, I'm grateful for that, and for our health, and the health and safety of our loved ones, and that we've managed to avert major disaster for yet another day.

Happy Thanksgiving, y'all.

Giving Thanks: My Poncho

I have this poncho that I picked up at the Salvation Army thrift store a few years ago, right after we moved into our house. It's ugly 1970s burnt orange and dark brown, with fringe, and my husband hates it, but I love it so much. I break it out every year this time of year, and I wear it almost continuously until spring comes and the house gets warm again. It's machine knitted and it hangs down past my knees and covers my arms, and it's pretty much like a wearable afghan. I think I like it better than I would a Snuggy, because it's loose and gives me plenty of freedom of movement. I would be a very sad Jean in the winter months without my poncho, and I'm so thankful for that day I turned around in the Salvation Army store and saw it hanging on an end-cap display and knew I'd found the winter clothing equivalent of my soul mate. I ♥ my poncho.

Giving Thanks, Days 1-3

I wanted to use this space to write each day about something I'm thankful for in the weeks leading up to Thanksgiving, but thanks to NaNoWriMo I've fallen behind on everything that doesn't include adding new words to my novel. But better late than never, right? So here are three things:

My two legs. My husband, an amputee, is always telling me I should be grateful that I still have two strong legs, and I am. He usually tells me this when I start to complain that it's too cold to get out there and do my 45-minute walk, or too hot, or that I'm too tired, or whatever I've pulled out of my litany of excuses that day, and I know he's right, so I get out there and walk. And as I walk, I say a prayer of thanks that I'm still able-bodied and healthy, and that my legs are strong enough to carry me.

Related to this, I'm also thankful for my strength, and I don't mean the emotional strength that has been amply tested over the last two years. I come from hardy stock, and the women of my family aren't the sort to stand daintily back and let the men-folk handle all of the heavy lifting. We get in there and git 'er done. I very rarely come across a jar that I need my husband's help to open, and I'm definitely someone you want on your team on moving day. The only caveat to this is that I have a weak lower back, and if I'm not diligent about keeping my core strong, I can really hurt myself trying to move heavy stuff by myself if I'm not careful.

And as long as I'm being thankful for physical attributes, let me add a word of thanks for my hips. Yes, you read that right. Most women, it seems, would love to give up their hips and have the figure of a 12 year old boy like Hollywood tells us is oh so fashionable these days, but I'm grateful for my curves, especially my hips. They serve as extra hands when I'm carrying laundry or groceries, they can open and close doors, and they can knock someone over if I need them to. If the day ever comes for me to give birth, they should make that whole process a little easier, and I look forward to the day when I can rest a child on them. So I really don't mind if all of this leftover Halloween candy I'm failing to resist ends up going straight to my hips.

What are YOU thankful for this month?

Happy Thanksgiving 2010!

We have a lot to be thankful about this year, not the least of which is that Step-Dad-In-Law came home from the hospital Wednesday morning, feeling more than ready to get his turkey & stuffing on.

What are you most thankful for today?

Happy Thanksgiving!

Here's hoping all of my fellow Americans have a lovely ritual sacrifice, with pie.

Thangsgiving GMP

Spike's unhappy Thanksgiving:



Wishing all of my fellow Americans a happy Ritual Sacrifice With Pie.