Thankful

I have an idea for a post kind of percolating in my head, but it's not fully formed, and it's somewhat depressing, so I'm not ready to write it up yet. Maybe tomorrow. So, for today, I'll mention a few of the little things that I'm thankful for in my life.

I'm thankful that the combination of Oxy Clean and the new Bissell that Ted bought yesterday (yay Sears! This link isn't to Sears...it's to a post that I read about them) removed all traces of orange dog barf from our bedroom carpet. Also that Ted and the Bissell worked together to get some of the worst of the 'high traffic' (read, dog sleeps there) areas clean yesterday.

I'm thankful that we were able to afford the wonderful vacuum cleaner that Ted bought yesterday. It's GREAT. We've never been able to buy such a nice one before, one that SHOULD last more than 2 or 3 year. (No, it's not a Kirby. We didn't win the Lotto or anything.)

I'm thankful that ML did my food meme, because hers caused me to crave sushi all day, and being the spoiled brat that I am, Ted took us out for sushi last night. Nice.

I'm thankful for Maya's involvement in the Girl Scouts. For all of my complaining about how much involvement it takes from the moms, when it's really the girls' thing, it is a great program, and I think she's learning great things from it. For example, there is a shelter in our area called Bay Area Crisis Nursery, which is a place that families in crisis can go during their time of need. We've been a little bit involved with them in years past...at EDS, there was something called Global Volunteer Day, where all employees were encouraged to form teams and take on a volunteer project in their community. My team volunteered to help out at the BACN by painting a few rooms for them one day. It was fun, and Ted and Maya were able to come and paint as well, even though they weren't employees of EDS. Well, that wall we painted was torn down this week. They are tearing down the Nursery, and doing a Miracle Makeover, which means they will be rebuilding VERY quickly, in something like 10 days. There will be crews working there in shifts, 24 hours a day during this time. Maya's girl scout troop knows of the Nursery...they went and wrapped gifts for the children who were housed there last year. When they found out about the Miracle Makeover, they decided they wanted to help out, so after school today, they're going over to the troop leaders house and making a meal for the workers, which they will then deliver this evening. We live in a fairly affluent community, and our girls are somewhat sheltered. It's nice to see them involved in a program where they can learn to give back to the community in such a hands on way. Of course, in addition to the volunteering, Girl Scouts emphasizes the girls doing things themselves and being very self reliant, which I also really like. I was raised to be very self reliant, and Montessori also teaches this, but I notice that I tend to do a lot of things for Maya, because it's faster and easier. I'm doing her a disservice, I realize, and I'm working on it. (Ted's much better about having her do things for herself. If it were up to me, I'd probably still be bathing her at bedtime.) So between Ted, Girl Scouts, and Montessori, and maybe some backing off on my part, I'm sure she'll turn out to be self reliant. ;) Thanks, Girl Scouts.

I'm thankful to live in the Bay Area. To be able to go to the Monet exhibit last week was a treat. To have so many different opportunities so close to us is a great thing. Of course, I do get tired of hot summers and Republicans (we are in the East Bay, after all, on the wrong side of the tunnel), but I can deal with both.

I'm thankful for fake meat. Maya has decided to give vegetarianism a shot, and while I want to support her wholeheartedly, I like to eat meat, and I don't want to join her. I also don't want to make two meals every night. So I'm thankful that there are fake chicken strips and things like that that we can serve her when we have regular chicken. The rest of the meal we can all eat. :) Thanks, Morningstar Farms!

I'm thankful for the Advil Cold and Sinus I just took. I have a sinus thing today, and usually those help a lot. I'm hoping this will be one of those times.

I'm thankful that although I have seen a bluejay flying around outside of my window, it has yet to start waking me up in the morning with obnoxious bluejay screams. I don't mind them during the day, only when I'm trying to sleep. So maybe this one's nest is far enough away that I don't have to listen to it. I'm glad.

I'm thankful that the price of gas is finally under $3 a gallon. Still way too high, but it's getting a bit better.

That's my list for today. I'm thankful for a lot of other things as well...both big and small, personal and global. But jeez, that could take all day. :)