Thankful IV

After a long, boring Saturday spent working at home, I thought I should search my soul for something I am thankful for today.

Day 4 of Thankful Andrea: November 13

I am thankful for Annie!

Enough said!

Thankful III

I really wanted to write a regular post for once, since I am really trying to be non-lazy this week! But I am committed to this 29 days of thanks thing. So I guess I will combine the two.

Day 3 of Thankful Andrea: November 9

I am (somewhat) thankful for the ability to run. While I find myself really hating running, I can't help but think that a little over a year ago, I never thought I could be a runner. I started gasping for life with any minimal amount of exercise. I had diagnosed myself with exercise-induced asthma. The treatment for my self-diagnosis: Don't exercise.
Little did I know, I COULD run. I could run with a friend. I could run by myself. I could run 5Ks!! By March, I could run an 8K!!! Crazy.
But still this summer and fall, I find myself really not wanting to run. I think RAGBRAI ruined me on running for a while. Biking is so much more enjoyable for me, and the amount of biking I did before and during RAGBRAI left little time or motivation to run.
I am now forcing myself to run in hopes that it will become habit again. As I was struggling through my run tonight, thinking about a what to write in my next post, I thought about this thankfulness idea. We recently received an email at school, asking for the teachers to make cards with their class for a soldier who has lost both of his legs while serving his country. Wow. What on earth am I complaining about when I have to drag my butt off the couch to go for a run. That soldier would probably love the chance to run. Or the chance to complain about a run, because his world is not encumbered by anything else. Perspective, here, Lazy Girl!
On day 3 of Thankful Andrea, I am thankful that I CAN run.

Thankful II

After a very long, exhausting week, I find thankfulness difficult. However, this makes me think it would be a good time to dig deep to find some thanks!

Day 2 of Thankful Andrea: November 5

I am thankful for fall. It is my favorite season, for several reasons.
1) All my favorite colors signify fall. Purple, red, brown, gold....now that I think of it, most of my house is decorated fall-ishly.
2) Sweatshirts and jeans. That's it. Love it. I hate that I had to get my winter coat out this week. My denial of the approach of winter is coming to an end.
3) Crunchy leaves that have that certain fall-y smell.
4) It's just so darn pretty. Dubuque Bluffs. That's all I'm going to say.

Summer's great, but I am always ready for beautiful, comfortable fall. Spring....new life and all that, okay, I get the appeal. But I mainly see rain and mud as the symbol of spring. And I don't even want to talk about winter. Winter is something I really have to work hard to get through every year. I do not like winter. But fall.........that's where it's at!

On day 2 of Thankful Andrea, I am thankful that I live in a region where I can really enjoy the best season there is.

Thankful

Since this Thanksgiving is extra special this year (it is also my 29th birthday), I have decided to write everyday about the things that I am thankful for. 29 thanks for all 29 years of my existence! This is my attempt to be more introspective. I must warn....I am not so good at this self-contemplation, so don't be surprised if I end up discussing my thanks for things like pizza.

Here goes.....

Day 1 of Thankful Andrea: November 2

I am thankful to live in a place where I can vote. I am the second person to tell you that I am not involved enough in politics. (The first would be my friend Beth, who is pretty well-informed in her politics, and who yells at me all the time about it.) I have had a really hard time trying to get involved this year. I want to learn more, especially being a teacher. But, man. I can't handle the negativity that has overtaken the political world. It's almost enough to keep you away from the polls. And actually research is showing that young people (am I still included in that demographic?) are not voting because of the negativity surrounding the political races. And I get that. But still, today I walked into the church down the street from my house in order to cast my ballot on something I knew much less about than Beth. As I walked in the door, I saw my sister, Wendy, sitting at a ballot box, so intently reading her ballot that she could not hear me saying her name. I was three feet away from her. As I was sitting down at my box, with an enormous piece of paper with a lot of names I did not know, I heard the elderly volunteers voicing their hope that they would get 300 people by 3:00. They seemed to think it was not going to happen.
After turning in my ballot, I thought about the importance of what I just did. Granted, it was not as huge as picking out our president. However, if the people living without the "basic" right to vote, were given the chance, they would FILL that church basement today. They ALL would be concentrating as hard as my sister was. Just to have their voices heard. What a gift we have! Yes, our system is FAR from perfect. Really far. But who are we to say "hmmmm....this right I've been given.....the one so many people around the world wish they had....that people fought for us to have.....Nah, no thanks, I'm gonna sit at home and complain about that very right."

Wow. This was deep for Andrea. Ask Beth. Who knew this midterm election would spark this attitude, and this 29 days of thankfulness? I'm thinking maybe it's time to start learning some politics!
On day one of Thankful Andrea, I am thankful for the right to vote.

Day 8-10

Since I have been out of town all weekend, I could not finish up my 10 Day Blogging Challenge. So here are the last 3 days....And I am GLAD that it is over! It was too hard to commit to blogging for 10 days in a row, and I'm not entirely sure anyone even read them!

Day 8:
Three Turn-Ons

1. An original sense of humor

2. Passion for life

3. Genuine-ness (Is that a word?)

Day 9:
Two Words That Describe My Life Right Now

1. Hectic

2. Happy

Day 10:
One Confession

1. I love Lady Gaga. She is a total freak, but I still love her. There, I said it.

Day 7

Four turn-offs

1. Loud chewers/People who talk with their mouth full : Become self-aware. You are grossing me out.

2. Passive-aggressive people : Just come out with what is bothering you. Don't use your Facebook status as your sounding board. Talk to a live person.

3. Closed-minded people : There are other people and other perspectives than only yours.

4. Close-talkers : Get out of my bubble.

Day 6

Five People Who Mean a Lot to Me

I can't possibly limit this list to 5 people in my life that are important to me, for a few reasons. One - those who mean a lot to me already know who they are. Two - I don't want to accidentally leave anyone out, and end up in a blog-induced friendship-killer. Three - this way is more fun.

1. Michael Jackson
I'm still really upset about his death. There. I said it. And I'm not kidding. Despite whatever controversy surrounded him in the 90s, he is still an AMAZING talent. And I'm sad that he died. Listening to almost any MJ song has a unique ability to lift me from any funk I might have been in. Soon I'm "woo"-ing right along with him, and all my troubles melt away. Okay, that's a little melo-dramatic, but I do believe his songs have healing powers. Just ask my dog, Annie. If she hears me singing Smooth Criminal, she will come running from her bed, ears perked, suddenly in a very happy mood, almost as if she wants to dance. Now, some might say that it's just the continual repetition of her name, but I respectfully disagree.

Annie Are You Ok
So, Annie Are You Ok
Are You Ok Annie
Annie Are You Ok
So, Annie Are You Ok
Are You Ok Annie
Annie Are You Ok
So, Annie Are You Ok
Are You Ok Annie
You've Been Hit By
You've Been Hit By-
A Smooth Criminal


2. Phoebe Buffay

She's a child at heart, who is all for animal rights, doesn't care what others think of her (and her music), and believes in reincarnation. She seems so innocent, yet could probably kill you with the knife in her shoe. She hates all things corporate (including Pottery Barn). Phoebe is selfless, even when it comes to her uterus. She's an independent woman, even after getting married and becoming Princess Consuela Bananahammock. She cries when flowers die.
I mean, come on. How could you NOT love Phoebe and everything she stands for?

3. Will Ferrell

Very few people make me laugh as much as Will Ferrell. Old School may just be one of my all-time favorite movies. I have been known to quote from this movie frequently, especially with one old friend in particular. A trip to the Olive Garden cannot go without a Ferrell quote.

I also loved him on SNL, particularly as George W. Bush. Love this hunting clip with Bush Sr. The antlers crack me up! He has an ability to make me laugh, without being overly ridiculous. Elf is another of my favorites, and it would NOT have been nearly as hilarious without Will Ferrell.
You gotta laugh. Life is boring without laughter. Which is why I will watch Elf year-round, not just at Christmas.

4. Liz Lemon

Another quirky fictional character I can't help but love. If she was real, Liz, Phoebe, and I would be best friends, I'm sure. She's a nerd, she loves to eat, especially when under stress, and she wears cool glasses. She is funny. She sticks to her guns. She's had some crazy relationships, including a boyfriend who ended up on "To Catch A Predator." So, I figure she'd have some great stories. Also, Liz Lemon's sad pathetic-ness would have to make me look better!

There ain't no party like a Liz Lemon party 'cause a Liz Lemon party is mandatory!

5. Elaine Benes
Alright, now I'm just on a sitcom kick. Elaine Benes is the coolest. I love her knock-you-over "Get OUT" shove, her sweet dance moves, and how her only friends are men. I love her huge, poufy hair and her dresses that just scream "90s." I love how she'll dump a guy if he smokes, if he's not sponge-worthy, or if he's a face painter.
She loves big salads. I love big salads. She can be catty. I can be catty. We both realize the importance of an exclamation mark!!! Another imaginary friendship? I think soooo.


So this post took a weird turn, but I had fun watching all the youtube clips! I hope you have fun watching them too!