Today I’m thankful for…

…water, and remembering to adequately hydrate myself (something I don’t do well).

…quiet days in the office, even if they are a bit boring.

…pants that fit much better than yesterday’s pair.

…cute (and comfortable) shoes.

…indecision about what cookies to make tonight – there are so many good cookie recipes out there!

…remembering to do all my month-end stuff ahead of schedule.

…completing yet another ornament last night, totaling 6, and making it halfway through another. Perhaps I’ll be done by Friday?

…having Christmas gifts figured out for almost everyone (just figured out, not bought).

…last night’s massage, which was a bit rough but that was probably good for my muscles.

…the new bridge they built in our town that crosses over 35E, so I don’t have to make multiple left-turns to get from the bank to the  massage place / Home Depot / Goodwill / Michaels area.

…respite from answering the phones, even if it is just that one call that just came in.

…two bags of winter clothes to sort through that we picked up from storage over the weekend.

…a husband who hasn’t yet complained about the mess I’ve made on the dining table / kitchen counter.

…a husband who is not only much better than the horrible ones I’ve seen on TV lately (last night’s Law & Order: SVU about abusive husbands), but is generally wonderful and a good companion to boot.

…hot cocoa weather.

…the chance to see ‘s smiling face on Saturday (hopefully he’s smiling a bit – he’s taken up the habit of saying “no” to everything and everyone lately, in preparation for his second birthday in a few weeks).

…Monday’s anniversary, seven years since I moved to Minnesota, one of the best (though perhaps most traumatic) decisions I’ve ever made.

…Flickr. It’s great entertainment, and a good way to meet new people too (who needs Facebook or MySpace?).

…the phone call I got last night from Metro State, when my advisor realized that I’m a post-baccalaureate student and not an undergrad. Now there are some things to figure out.

…the chance to multitask some of my favorite things tonight – baking cookies, embroidery, and watching television.

…good health.

Today I’m thankful for…

…a cold that left quickly (I’m just tired today, no sniffles or congestion!).

…getting to yell at a telemarketer last night (it was immensely satisfying, as were the two more complaints I registered with the Do Not Call Registry, making a grand total of 7 for this company).

…Hershey’s Symphony bars.

…a massage scheduled for 7:30 tonight.

…being halfway done with the Holiday Ornament Swap embroidered pieces. 5 done, 5 to go.

…getting recipes out in the mail this morning, just meeting the deadline for one swap and early for another.

…co-workers who appreciate the work I do for them.

…this coming weekend of rest and relaxation, as well as some crafting (one purse has finally died, and ‘s quilt needs some serious work).

…the chance to read completely through the archives of some new blogs (completed two this week so far, and one Flickr group).

…realizing that, though my pants are quite tight today, it’s OK, because they’re 2s (it’s amazing I haven’t suffocated to death, really), and I’m currently a 6/8. That sure explains things (I thought they were 4s).

…staying caught up at work (about 95% of the time I’m caught up), still ready for the moment when the web people say “go” and finally let us get to work on our external site (and then I will be busy for 6 months straight, rewriting hundreds of pages).

…passing off yet another work task to a co-worker for that aspect of my job that I hate and no longer have to do (light at the end of the tunnel: 8 days till exit).

…a husband who gladly made dinner last night (even decided what we were eating) so that I didn’t have to think about food while (albeit mildly) ill. Also, he offered to go buy cake when I was craving some. I declined, but the gesture was really nice.

…a very light bookbag these days, since classes are almost over and I have almost no homework (many nights in a row without homework has been wonderful, though I still have 4 chapters to read by next Thursday).

…5 weeks off between semesters!

…more cookie baking this weekend (Wednesday night and Saturday afternoon).

…that my grandparents are living and well ( gave me an update on last week, and said Grandma had been asking about me).

…that our cats, while completely neurotic and annoying, are alive and healthy (disturbing conversation with the cashier at Bruegger’s this morning, who told me that his cat recently died).

…that last bite of Hershey’s Symphony (I can be thankful for it twice – it was that good).

Today, I am thankful for…

…office jobs downtown, with the flexibility to take a break when I need to.

…not being a schoolteacher yet, because of the aforementioned reason.

…Alka-Seltzer Plus Cold (I’m down to a few Kleenex an hour instead of dozens).

…Emergen-C, even if it’s all in my head, because I will get over this cold fast.

…figuring out how to make a ginormous “G” for ‘s quilt (2′ square, approximately).

…making some progress on some other Christmas gifts.

…the Remember The Milk plugin in Gmail, which is ever so helpful now that I immersed myself in swapland.

…Flickr, because it keeps me wildly entertained at work.

…lots of crafting blogs, which also keep me entertained (and learning new stuff).

…family.

…the wall of pictures up in my office, that help remind me of what’s really important.

…being financially solvent enough that we don’t have to sell our house, and we’re actually saving money the longer we live here (silver lining, right?).

…three-day work weeks.

…co-conspiring with over what to bring to Thanksgiving at ‘s (just a tiny little switcheroo).

…two Thanksgivings this year (though we haven’t yet planned anything with the other half of ‘s family, so it could end up being three).

…lots of yummy foods on the internet (I sense some more posts coming up).