What I'm thankful for: May 31

Today I'm thankful for...

Starting my last semester of grad school!

My last semester of grad school started tonight. At least I hope it's my last semester. Knowing me, I'll probably find some other grant or scholarship program and decide to go for another one. I just can't stay away from school, no matter how much I complain!

What I'm thankful for: May 30

Today I'm thankful for...

Spelling Bees!

It's National Spelling Bee time again. Hope everyone e-n-j-o-y-s watching it.

What I'm thankful for: May 29

Today I'm thankful for...

Anti-nausea medicine!

Stomach bugs suck.

What I'm thankful for: May 28

Today I'm thankful for...

Sacrifices!

On this Memorial Day, I am thankful for the sacrifices that all of the men and women who have served, are serving, and will serve our country have made. These brave, wonderful people are the reason that I can write these blog posts. I can't imagine going into a job and knowing that I could be killed at any moment. I'm so very thankful for all who have served and made sacrifices, including those who have sacrificed their lives. Thank you soldiers.

What I'm thankful for: May 27

Today I'm thankful for...

Treadmills!

I'm planning to do the Women's Half Marathon again in September, so I started my training program this week. This weekend called for me to do 3 miles, and despite my good intentions to get up and do it at the park or somewhere before it got really hot, my body let me sleep pretty late. Thankfully, I was able to do it on the treadmill, which was only partially as hot as going outside! It does get a little boring, but it's a nice alternative to have on a 90+ degree day!

What I'm thankful for: May 26

Today I'm thankful for...

The Bull & Whistle!

Or should I say, I was thankful for it? Unfortunately, according to various reports, they are no more, as of last Saturday. They were an affordable place with good food and good entertainment, like game night (where I got to show the world just how horrible I am at Mario Kart on the Wii). It was a good place to go for lunch, except for once when it was extremely slow, but I'll write that off as a fluke. I'm not sure what happened, but I will miss them.

What I'm thankful for: May 25

Today I'm thankful for...

Towels!

Today was National Towel Day or something crazy like that. I love towels. They dry me and things that I spill, and all they ask for in return is a good washing and drying. Towels, I think we have a deal!

What I'm thankful for: May 24

Today I'm thankful for...

Tiaras!

Today is yet another random day- International Tiara Day, and it is yet another day that I waited too long to write my entry (guess I was too busy tagging pictures on Facebook ha ha), so this will be brief. Tiaras are adorable and can make anyone feel like a princess. That's all I've got for tonight. Hopefully I'll be less lame soon! ;)

What I'm thankful for: May 23

Today I'm thankful for...

Turtles!

Today is international turtle day. I'm so tired that I'm about to fall asleep writing this, so I'll just stick with saying "turtles are cute". The end.

What I'm thankful for: May 22

Today I'm thankful for...

Mr. Rogers!

I had read on one website that it was on this day in 1967 that Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood premiered. After doing a little more research (like a librarian does), I determined that my information was incorrect, and it actually premiered in February 1968. Since we're already past February, and this is what I had on my schedule today, I'm going to stick with it! Who didn't love Mr. Rogers? (Rhetorical question since I know there will be people who didn't!) He was kind and generous and always seemed like he would be the nicest person ever. I'm sure he had his moments, but I'll pretend like he never, ever got mad...especially when he was sporting his cardigans...

What I'm thankful for: May 21

Today I'm thankful for...

Paint your own art places!

On Friday night a couple of friends, my mom, and I went to the Art Mill for Open Paint Night. Even though I'm not exactly artistically gifted, my picture turned out to be pretty good thanks to the help of the ladies who work there. Paint your own art places give you the chance to relax, hang out with friends, and create some new art for your house, or if you're not a very good artist, for someone else's house!

What I'm thankful for: May 20

Today I'm thankful for...

GPS!

GPS isn't a function that I use often, but when I do, I'm very, very thankful for it. In the past, we had to rely on paper maps or MapQuest to help us find where we were going. After an ill-fated MapQuest direction that took my family the wrong way on the way to Louisville a few years ago, I was a little hesitant to use it. Now I have GPS on my phone and while it may let me down at some point, it hasn't yet!

What I'm thankful for: May 19

Today I'm thankful for...

Smartphones!

Once upon a time, I didn't expect my phone to do anything except make and receive phone calls; voicemail was a bonus feature. Then, I began texting, and my phone could do more for me. Then, I moved up into the realm of having mobile web on my phone. After that point, I never looked back, and I will always expect my phone to be able to do 95 different things, but I no longer really care if it makes or receives phone calls. Irony? Perhaps...

What I'm thankful for: May 18

Today I'm thankful for...

WiFi!

I'll be brief since it's late. WiFi (or however it's supposed to be spelled) is a wonderful thing. How else could I lay in bed and surf Facebook on my iPad? We have WiFi at home and work, and I'm spoiled. In fact, I've told Will that I want that more than cable whenever we're married. Priorities, right?

What I'm thankful for: May 17

Today I'm thankful for...

eReaders!

I've had a Nook for a couple of years now, and it has been one of the coolest things I've had. As some of you may know, I'm a bit of a book-a-holic. The last time my family went to the beach, I took at least 5 books and a stack of magazines. That can take up quite a bit of room in a suitcase or duffel bag! Now that I have an eReader, I can put a few library books on it, not have to worry about getting sand on them or returning them late, and read until I can't read anymore. For those who say they like "real" books better, I understand that. I still love to check out physical books too, especially when my Nook has a dead battery! But, if you try an eReader, you might be surprised at how much you actually like reading on it!

What I'm thankful for: May 16

Today I'm thankful for...

iPods!

After talking about their bigger, newer counterparts yesterday, I thought it was only fair to talk about iPods. I got my first iPod when I graduated from college in 2006. It was a refurbished original model, and I was so in love with it! Until that point, I had been walking around with a portable CD player and a folder full of CDs; now I could have all kinds of music all on one handy little device. That iPod doesn't work anymore and seems like a huge dinosaur compared to the newer ones, but I'm still in love with iPods! And just for fun, I've got a couple of comparison shots of different iPods that we took on Christmas morning.

All of the iPods stacked on top of each other. Look how thick the original one is!

The one on the far left is my first iPod, and the one on the end is the latest iPod Touch. 

What I'm thankful for: May 15

Today I'm thankful for...

iPads!

I have a confession. When I first heard about the iPad, I didn't understand what the big deal was. I didn't know why people were getting so excited about something that I thought was just a big iPod. Even after I was able to get one through work, I still had a hard time figuring out exactly what to do with it, until the magical day when I made the Internet work in my bedroom. Suddenly, I could do important work, like browse Facebook and check email, without ever leaving my bed. I didn't have to worry about my laptop burning me or overheating; I didn't have to even sit up if I didn't want to. I've since expanded what I do on my iPad beyond games and Facebook, branching out to things like reading magazines and books. It may still be kind of like a big iPod, but I love it!

What I'm thankful for: May 14

Today I'm thankful for...

Computers!

This week I'm having a little bit of a "theme" week and declaring it technology week. There's really no reason for that other than it's what's on my scheduled postings list! I'm truly thankful for computers. I can't remember my life without one; even before I really knew what the Internet was, I remember playing on the computer. Now, I spend most of my days, whether I'm at work or at home, staring at a computer screen all day. I am thankful for them because otherwise I would have to do a lot of things by hand, and that just wouldn't work for me at all!

What I'm thankful for: May 13

Today I'm thankful for...

Moms!

I hate to inform all of you this, but I have the best mom in the world. Anyone who cleans out my filthy, filthy car should win every award on the planet. To my mom, and every other mom out there, Happy Mother's Day! Here's a little something special for you. ;)

As Mr. T says, be kind to your mother!

What I'm thankful for: May 12

Today I'm thankful for...

Good weather during Relay for Life!

Even though it was a lot colder this year than it was last year, we were very fortunate not to have had any rain. Can you imagine being outside all night long in the pouring rain? Blech. No thank you!

What I'm thankful for: May 11

Today I'm thankful for...

Relay for Life!


Tonight (and, er, tomorrow morning), I will be participating in Relay for Life. It is an event where you stay out all night to celebrate the lives of those who have had cancer and honor those who lost their battle. The website has more information about it. I think it's a great way to raise awareness for all types of cancer- not just those with a huge ribbon campaign. If you're in the area and want to come support the cause (and bring caffeine ha ha), we'd love to see you there!

What I'm thankful for: May 10

Today I'm thankful for...

Being engaged!

Here's the long awaited (ha ha) engagement posting! For this unaware, Will proposed to me on Saturday, May 5. We were at the park having pictures made as a way for a couple that one of my friends from college goes to church with to raise money to adopt a baby (is that convoluted enough? All of the knowledge I have about grammar just went out of the window...). The shot started out on shaky terms; I hadn't been able to get all of the details, so I wasn't even 100% sure that the photographer knew we were there. I texted another friend who had done it a few days prior, and between her help and the husband in the couple spotting us, we finally got started. The photographer asked us what kind of poses we wanted, and neither of us really had a good answer, so she guided us through the process until we started giving some input. At one point, I even thought it would be a good idea for him to hang off of a pull up bar so we could have a Spiderman movie moment. Ah, what a dork I am! ;) It was pretty hot that afternoon, and we only had a 30 minute session, so I was about ready to wind it up when Will said he had an idea for one last pose. We were standing a few feet away from the photographer, and he dropped down to one knee and began proposing. In my typical fashion, I giggled (a lot!) and asked if he was for real or just doing it for the photo opportunity (I know, I know). He assured me that he was really proposing, and I said yes! Then I said I had to call my mama lol. The photographer was crying, and she got shots of the proposal! She's working on editing the pictures, and I'll post them on my Facebook page as soon as we get them!

So, that's our story! We're working on the details of the wedding, including the date, and I'll share that as soon as we get it nailed down and talk to our families. I'm so, so, so excited, and I'm glad that I have been blessed with this man! Thank you to everyone who has sent their well wishes and congratulations to us!

What I'm thankful for: May 9

Today I'm thankful for...

Hockey!

I'll let you in on a little secret. Even though I usually don't know what half of the penalties in hockey games mean nor do I really know the official rules, I still love going to hockey games! There's something about the atmosphere and the fans that just draws you in. Will and I were able to go to the last home playoff game this season, and it was amazing (even though they didn't quite bring their A game that night). We will definitely go to more games next season, and I might even take a few minutes to learn what icing and high sticking actually mean!

What I'm thankful for: May 8

Today I'm thankful for...

Teachers!

Since this is Teacher Appreciation Day, I couldn't pass up the opportunity to show my appreciation for them. As someone with an education degree who has done this much classroom work, I understand that teaching consists of much, much more than showing up, doing a little math and reading, leaving at 2:15, and laying around all summer (okay, maybe there's a little laying around in the summer from what I see on Facebook ha ha). Teachers care for all of their students...even that one child that makes them want to rip their hair out, leave the profession, and never set foot in a school ever again. But, for every frustrating moment, there are dozens of other rewarding ones. Plus, teachers are the reason that other professions exist. Whether you are a teacher or a professor, you have knowledge that students must learn before they can move on to the next stepping stone in life. Even though I'm very, very ready to be finished with graduate school, I appreciate my teachers/professors, and all of those who have shaped me to this point. And to all of my teacher friends, hang tight; summer is just around the corner!

What I'm thankful for: May 7

Today I'm thankful for...

Nurses!

This is National Nurses Week, so I wanted to take a moment to appreciate all of the nurses out there (and all of the nursing students). I wouldn't be able to do your job, even for one hour, so I'm truly thankful for all of you who were called to do this and love what you do!

What I'm thankful for: May 6

Today I'm thankful for...

No diet day!

Today is International No Diet Day, which is evidently a day to celebrate body shape diversity. I celebrated my diversity by eating lots of food today and yesterday. I must really love my diversity!

Also, on a side note that's not really a side note, I'm engaged!! I just might have a post about it soon! ;)

What I'm thankful for: May 5

Today I'm thankful for...

College graduations!

There are a lot of college graduations that were scheduled today. My college graduation was 6 years ago, and I remember being excited, nervous, and exhausted. It's such a huge accomplishment, but there's also the feeling of wondering what's next. For those of you who already know what your next step will be, congratulations. For the rest of you, things will work out. For now, just bask in the glow of your accomplishment and go buy a nice frame for your brand new diploma!

What I'm thankful for: May 4

Today I'm thankful for...

Firefighters!

Even though today is Star Wars Day (May the fourth be with you...ha?), it is also a much more important day: International Firefighters Day. Firefighters, like the other professions that I have talked about over the past few days, are extremely brave and definitely underappreciated. They protect our safety in a different way than the military and police officers, but they are still a vital part of every community. I hope to never have to call upon the services of a firefighter, but if I ever have to, I know that I am in good hands.

What I'm thankful for: May 3

Today I'm thankful for...

Postal workers!

For the past couple of days I've been talking about people who put their lives on the line just so we can continue to live the lives we're accustomed to. While I don't think postal workers have to do that, I do think they're another group that is definitely underappreciated. Let's face it, the use of the Postal Service has gone way down. People don't send and receive nearly as much mail as they used to. Email, electronic bill pay, and things like that have made mail move towards being obsolete. But, we still need postal workers. As long as there are print magazines and eBay, we will continue to have a need to receive things at our house. Also, it's nice to get cards during the holidays. There may be a day when the mail only comes once a week, so enjoy it while it lasts...unless it's a bill. Then, you can shake your fist at the mailbox...

Also, today is the National Day of Prayer. I talked about prayer on March 4, so check it out! =)

What I'm thankful for: May 2

Today I'm thankful for...

Police officers!

After talking about the military yesterday, I realized that I needed to express my thanks for police officers also. They are protecting our communities daily, and they don't get nearly the thanks they deserve. A couple of years ago I went through our local Citizen's Police Academy (please stifle your laughter or else I will have to perform a citizen's arrest), and I got just a tiny taste of what they do. I even got to go on a police ride along, and while that night was pretty slow, I know there are nights (and days) that are hectic and crazy and force them to make life and death decisions faster than I can type this blog entry. If I'm not mistaken, many communities offer police ride along programs for their citizens, and I urge people to go on one. It's fascinating, and it gives you a new perspective of what they do and what they face. Even though we may groan if we see a police car as we speed down the road, officers are a vital part of our world, and I'm glad that they're out there to protect and serve!

What I'm thankful for: May 1

Today I'm thankful for...

The military!

May is Military Appreciation Month, so I wanted to dedicate the first posting of the month to all of the members of the military, both veterans and active duty members. I can't adequately express the gratitude I have for all of the men and women who have put their lives on the line so people like me can continue to have the freedom to do the things we want, like write silly blogs, worship how we choose, and post our opinions on social networks. Also, this seems like a fitting day to recognize the military since it has been a year since Navy Seal's Team 6 killed Osama Bin Laden. Think about having that job the next time you grumble about something at your place of employment (like, ahem, people being loud in the library). Thank you to all of the men and women of the military.