Happy Thanksgiving

Although there are undertones of unsettledness I feel about the origins of thanksgiving (I won't rage about it, it happened, it sucks), it does always serve as a reminder to stop and remember what we are thankful for.
It's also a really great reason to have a family gathering and eating turkey.  (even though I don't think I'll be getting turkey this year *sob*)

This year I am thankful for
- Bunny
- the amazing birth we had
- my families support in the early months.  Most specifically Sister S. who came from across the city (over an hour commute some days).
- J.  He tries so hard.  I don't  mean that in a patronizing way.  He's got a stressful job, a teen aged son giving him grief, an elderly mom who needs help, and a demanding wife.  He's pretty great.

We have a good place to live, heat, water, food.

Today I:

It's been a while since I did Today I:

I've been wanting to try it again.  I've been grumpy, and complaining a lot.  I want to be mindful of that, and really, stop complaining.  It's not cool. 

The premise is, I notice that I notice.

I try to remember that I was mindful about at least one of each of my senses; smell, touch, taste, sound, sight and emotion.

so, Today I:
Saw the stars
Thoroughly enjoyed the forbidden bit of chocolate cinnamon loaf (2 birds, one stone!  taste and emotion...mmmm food)
Made an effort to physically encourage a co-worker (rub/pat on the back.  Poor Ben is sick)
Listened to people sing along to the music at Vale Village.
Smelled the cold air, and the 'out side' smell once I was in side.

day off, sad news

I have a day off, one that J is working, so I get the computer all to myself.  There are a few things I've been thinking about.  I'll write a few posts and stick a couple in the draft folder for later 'k?



My Stepmom's mom passed away last Tuesday morning.  We called her Grandma Sherman, aka Nana by her bio grandchildren.

I hadn't seen her much over the past few years.  When I was a teenager we would be at 'the Sherman's' for lunch after church, and spen Christmas eve with them, playing 'the present game'*.
Grandma Sherman was a tiny lady with a huge heart.  She always greeted us (me and Sister) warmly and quietly.  I always felt part of the family.  Even when I dressed rather crazy, this conservative Nana never batted an eye.  One of my favorite rememberings is that she always gave Sister and I 'man' glasses of milk.  The Sherman girls (her daughters and granddaughters) where either young or petite and didn't eat as much as the big amazonian girls we where (Sister and I, at that point, where about 5'9", Sister might have been taller than me by then) When setting the table there was a distinction about where one sat because there where large 'man' glasses, and small 'lady' glasses.  We must have asked for more milk a lot (milk was the preferred lunch beverage) because eventually we got 'man' glasses!

She was always busy, helping her family and Church.

When Grandpa Sherman passed away Nana included us in giving one of his paintings.  All the grandchildren got one you see.

Rest In Peace Nana.  Thank you for bringing us into the fold.  I love you for it.

saying goodbye

Yesterday Jason and I went down to Todmorden Mills and said goodbye to Rizo.  Jason had got some tobacco, and we made up two packets of sacred herbs for an offering to the creator.   We found a good old tree, tucked the packets away, lit some sweetgrass and J said a few words.  Asking the creator to take care of Rizo's spirit, and to bless us with future children.  It was a wonderful way to let go, and have our thoughts be carried to the creator.

251-275

Happy Thursday!

today I am thankful/happy about:
-long weekend!
-no rain!
-ginger
-sunshine
-an understanding boss
-decent conversation with co-worker
-early end
-some communication progress
-angels to welcome tonight
-neck rub
-Going out for soup
-movie cuddles
-kind housekeeper
-new plant growth
-inspirational video
-the thought of soup stalk
-cerial
-wearing a nice necklace
-good dinner conversation
-feeling better
-Raffi
-cuddles
-knowing we're having our taxes done soon!
-commitment (again)
-my mom

thanks!

I was sick last night!  I forgot to do my thanks! 

-late start rain day
-sexy time
-a heated truck
-easy maintenance due to no weeds yet (SEE, there IS good to this cold weather!)
-remembering it's a short week!
-hot tea
-having the flexability to stop work early due to illness
-loving husband taking care of me
-more hot tea
-4 episodes of the X Files in a row, on the 'big screen'
-forgotten licorice alsorts
-dinner made for me again!


hmmm...I can't think of anymore, it being yesterday *and* I was sick and miserable...so I'll do the next 'real' 25 later tonight for today!

226-250

25 more things that I am thankful for and/or made me happy today

-sleeping in
-having a lazy morning at work
-tea from client
-taking the opportunity of time waiting to meditate
-listening to hip hop on CBC
-being alone at work
-the sun coming out again
-witnessing children br children when the think no one is watching
-having it start to rain *just* as we finished
-the hope of a rain day tomorrow
-coming home after a hard afternoon
-hat bath
-the offer of dinner being made
-surprise Mado's sauce (just when I was thinking I'd like some for the chicken!)
-yum dinner
-leftovers for lunch
-visit from a robin
-lovely notes from friends
-new possibilities
-new computer!
-watching '9' on the TV rather than the laptop
-eating dinner with the TV off
-the amazing beuaty in the movie '9'/  the monsters especially are so inventive
-blooming hibiscus
-4 day work week

201-225

thankful and happy for:
 
-talking to jason
-being married
-being mindful when feeling *really* grumpy
-being wrong
-being open to change
-wearing enough layers
-co-worker knowing where he is going
-figuring out a solution
-visits from random cats
-being alone
-being told about the movie day of the trifids
-the stop sigh saying "nothing will STOP me now"
-white trash dinner
-all the puppies
-getting 2 parts of the job done quickly
-the satisfying *crack* of roots breaking
-ice cream
-kisses
-forsithias in bloom
-co-worker being hard working
-the bed being made for me
-chocolate chips and nuts
-orange
-breathing

yesterdays thanks

I was up crazy late the last two nights.  here are yesterdays thanks!

-Hair cut!
-having a friend as my hair dresser is great, esp. when talking about life...
-extra big hugs
-being so happy for others
-poprocks in my heart chakra
-(temprorary) pink hair
-long streetcar rides
-CBC podcasts
-not getting sick from sushi
-laughing at roommate not being up when I got home at 1:30
-coffee with honey
-going out for the SECOND night in a row
-getting complemented on my Animal Patrol outfit (high waisted, curvy black skirt, white button up shirt (tucked) small brown button up vest, fedora)
-feeling a part of a cumunity.
-feeling the love of my community when life gets tough
-CANDY
-a mini rainbow umbrella for Edith from D
-hugs hugs and more hugs
-BUNNIES EVERYWHERE
-loosing my voice singing Bohemian Rhapsody and Jane Says
-planning a day to make someone who doesn't believe people like them to prove that people do (sorry for being cryptic!)
-getting one of the photos I bought from a friend
-having a good time planning costume with North
-feeling lighter and happier
-having people notice I feel lighter and happier (Saturday and Friday)

126-150 thanks

I back slid...So I figured I'd start where I left off.  125.

-back at Gayles
-Hot tea
-the offer of coffee
-feeling comforatable with what I was doing at work
-wood pecker!
-having a 'real' washroom
-I remembered my orange!
-working alone
-seeing things grow
-junk food
-roomatehugs
-on sale icecream
-sharing icecream
-having a conversation
-survivour
-unexpectedly getting the metropass for the weekend
-surprising kindness
-rice and peas
-curry spinach and cottage cheese
-birthday!
-finding friends
-hugs and kisses
-taking some amazing photos
-having a half pint
-being told TWICE that my pants are nice

101-125 thanks

ok...now, today...might be harder!  I'm feeling rather grumpy.

-not working until 9:30
-The truck being packed when I got to work (early)
-Sunshine
-watching a butterfly and bee feed.
-the bee reminded me of Kiki, because it's cargo pockets where full of pollen
-having a good conversation with the Kid about music and BC
-working near second cup, so I could pee in a washroom and buy a pink grapefruit italian soda
-pruning boxwood with boss not critisizing
-being greeted by a sweet old lady cat
-SUNSHINE!
-having a bath with no loud fan running
-finding out that a customers mean neighbour has moved, making her life a little easier
-hot salami
-my favorite crackers
-bagels I can eat
-getting a back rub and cuddling with J when I feel so grumpy
-having dinner made for me again!
-forbidden chocolate chip cookies
-the sun was great today!
-thinking about what to plant in my moms garden
-recognizing my feelings of annoyance and allowing it, and turning it into compassion
-finding a great blog entry about what I've been trying to live
-a nice wake up
-my pink toes
-laughing together about the big debate

76-100 thanks

Today shouldn't prove to be too hard after all!  I was worried a work day would prove to be boring and thankless.

-NEWBORN LAMBS!
-remembering that riverdale has a bathroom and it was closer than tim hortons (NEWBORN LAMBS!)
-no thunderstorm
-sunshine!
-heat!
-not having to work until 9:30
-once again, being praised
-seeing Z leaving Riverdale (she saw the new born lambs too!!!)
-remembering my i pod
-stoping for lunch near the big carrot where I can eat things they sell
-making a friend laugh instead of cry
-being mindful
-the wind
-starting late and finishing early, and *still* working almost an 8 hour shift
-the internet, being able to learn a bout a city we might want to live in
-Tulips from J
-J recommending we go to Snakes and Lattes with Pickle and MIL
-SUSHI! 
-realizing I don't have to make dinner tomorrow either!
-making progress in 'leaning into' uncomfortable feelings.
-wearing a t-shirt and wishing I had shorts on
-seeing knitting come together
-the offer of perogies
-the X files
-getting to stay up "late" because I don't have to be at work until 9:30 again!

50-75 things that make me thankful

I don't think today will be too hard.  I had a good day!

-the thought of +17 weather
-my new fedora from North
-putting miney in the saviungs
-going to body blitz with my mom
-chatting with mom about everything
-showing my mom a new book (Pema's book I talked about earlier)
-seeing Mo on my way to the spa
-getting a recommendation for our new after spa lunch spot
-soaking, steaming and soaking bliss
-my new face scrub
-being able to go see my moms new house in Peterborough
-seeing what a great house they bought
-discovering the hiking trail a 2 minute walk behind the house!
-seeing and hearing fat robins, blue jays and cardinals.
-a creek!
-smelling the spring air
-being excited about helping landscape their property
-vegetable garden!!
-meeting K's mom, and S's girlfriend
-finding a Vietnamese restaurant, and it being good!
-finding a magazine called Peterbourough Kids, and realizing there is so much in the city for me as a parent, and I don't have to worry about being alone.
-seeing how potentially 'green' the city is, environmental that is.
-being welcomed home to two cute boys
-getting to sleep with one of those boys

26-50 thankfulness

Actually, I did 26 yesterday...so this is really 27-51

-Sunny Saturday mornings in my chair by the window
-the internet for giving me the ability to troll friend FB and see them, even when they are across the country
-sleeping in
-pate.  I love liverwurst!
-being content working on a Saturday because the weather is GORGEOUS
-taking off layers
-cutting down old perennials and finding new fussy babies growing
-the fact that a lot of new shoots growing are fuzzy!
-crocuses
-the sun just beating down on my back
-the smell of turned earth
-singing birds
-the sound of children playing on the first 'hot' day of the season
-I think I saw a bee!
-earning money
-finishing kitting for mommy
-starting new project I've wanted to do for a while
-Jason sharing his Good and Plenty's
-talking to mommy
-having Psquared call me to see if I wanted a lift
-prophetic dreams...even when scary
-books lent from friends
-Pema Chodron
-days off
-chocolate

1000 thanks

A friend just posted on the facebook a challenge.
40 days of 25 things you are thankful for.

I have a feeling this might help with mindfulness, and living in the moment, and being less grumpy!
here it goes!

25 things I'm thankful/grateful/happy about today:
-the gorgeous sunrise this morning
-feeling great 2 days after my concussion
-my awesome roommates singing (thanks North!  I don't know *what* you are singing, but hearing it muffled though the floor made me smile)
-not having to work with Asshat
-being pleasantly surprised at how well new Kid worked.
-this website
-having dinner made for me
-having dinner be SO yummy
-getting 2 jobs done quicker than we thought, and finishing site 5 so we don't have to do it tomorrow
-being thanks by Boss
-having J give me a massage
-having J 'let' me watch X files
-cuddling with J on the couch while watching X files
-cleaning up all the leaves and seeing little purple hosta shoots
-people complementing my photography and blog posts
-friends getting into school
-Robins
-the sun coming out at the end of the day to make it that much easier to do 10 hours
-cute people
-the pussy willows on my table flowering
-organic oranged
-knowing I can help a friend by buying a photograph
-IT'S FRIDAY
-the fact that Friday *means* something now that I'm working
-my pink toe nails that make me feel feminine when otherwise looking masculine
-a friend having the courage to speak about an abusive relationship

So, lets have it...what are you happy about today??