I'm typing as fast as I can in a furious effort to make this, the fifth volume of Thankful Monday, the first volume of Thankful Monday actually posted on a Monday. 

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I wish I could come up with something a little more substantial than a list of thankfulness, but I've been in something of a list making mentality lately.  So with that in mind, here are a list of things from today, Monday, July 14, that I've been thankful for (in as near to to chronological order as I can remember).

• waking up at just the right time to see one of the most incredibly beautiful sunrises ever.
• finding out that some much needed auto maintenance was about $100 less than I thought it would be.
• peanut butter toast and milk
• The Ninth Doctor, who, while not being quite as cool as the tenth, is certainly no slouch.  (If you have no idea what I'm talking about here, I pity your poor deprived life. )
• driving home on a clear, cool evening with the windows down and the sun roof open.
• seeing my friend Austin who just got back from more than a year in Iraq.
• having pork chops for dinner.
• actually getting Thankful Monday posted on Monday.

***

Oh man, I have so much to post about. 

And it's coming.  Soon.

Tootle pip.
[doodlebugs]

I'm thankful for rainy, thundery, blustery mornings.  People seem to be split into two camps on this one.  There are those, like me, who absolutely love "cranky" weather, and there are those who hate it.  For those who live in places where cranky weather can turn quickly into evil weather (i.e. tornadoes, hurricanes, and such like), this hatred is understandable.  I'd probably feel the same way.  But, as it is, to me there is nothing so relaxing as the sound of pouring rain and distant, rumbling thunder; nothing so exhilarating as a full blown, crash and bang thunderstorm.  And when they come in the morning, they usually leave me in a good mood for the rest of the day.

Ack!  Late again!

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This week, I've made a conscious effort to be thankful for the little things.  So far, the list includes:

• febreeze laundry detergent
• clean sheets
• my fleece blanket (even if it does have a hideous picture of a wolf on it.)
• a drink of water at 3am.
• complete sets of Jeeves & Wooster dvds
• Corner Gas being on three times on Wednesday evenings
• the word obsolescence, which is fun to say
• reading on the porch swing during a rain storm
• rain storms
• doing laundry (I know, that's weird)
• chicken sandwiches at Subway
• making funny faces at little kids in Subway
• pens that you don't have to push too hard on and that don't smudge.
• tidy rows of tomatoes, corn, potatoes and such like.
• apple trees
• finding books in the mail
• not finding bills in the mail
• getting up on the right side of the bed
• soft grass
• eccentric cats
• the smell of old books and new books and middle aged books.
• a distinct lack of oppressive heat and humidity
• good water pressure and hot showers
• prayer

and more.

Tootle pip.
[doodlebugs]

• The bikini get it's name from the Bikini Atoll, a group of islands in the Pacific where nuclear bombs were tested.
• The kkk (encouraging redneck idiocy since 1866!) get it's name from the Greek work "kyklos", which means circle.
• The word "trivia" comes from that latin which means "three roads", because they used to post local (or trivial) information at intersections.

See, aren't you glad you read that?

tootle pip.
[doodlebugs]

Well, whether I had that notion or not, I’m glad that it wasn’t and that I didn’t. (wasn’t a passing fad and that I didn’t forget all about it. Do try to keep up. ) I’ve met some really wonderful people on xanga, and a few of those people have become real, honest to goodness friends.

So, needless to say, when I got a chance to meet one of these friends face to face, I was completely thrilled (and not a little bit nervous!). I met up with Aimee and her crew, who were road tripping it through my little corner of the universe on Friday, for a meal (and to give them a break from a very long drive) at Applebee’s. I have to admit, I think I was a bit overwhelmed by the sheer number of new faces, but I adapted pretty quickly and had an absolutely fantastic time. I really hope that they did, too.

So, here’s to my xanga friends. I hope that we all get to meet in “real life”. And for the one that I have, I really hope we get to again.

From L to R: Kelly, Tori, Lindsey, Aimee, & (looking particularly
goofy) myself. Oh, and the photo was taken by Brent.

Yep, good times indeed.

Tootle pip.
[doodlebugs]