Today I’m thankful for May 1st, 2012.

Why?

That will be my last day of school.

I know. Epic.

OK, to be fair, it may not be exactly May 1st. The Spring semester ends on the 1st, but I will be doing my student teaching that semester (as well as taking my methods course), and I don’t know when that would end (presumably by the end of the semester, but who knows).

It’s OK. You can be excited. Jump up and down a little if you’d like.

May 2012 is actually when both and I will be graduating (she from her second round of nursing school). It was deemed necessary to throw a huge party in celebration, and our house was deemed the appropriate locale. No date picked, or time, but you could start planning what food you’d like to bring to the potluck.

So I’ve added a little countdown timer (over there —>) to try to be more excited, since 2012 seems like a really long ways off. And, honestly, today’s info, 1 year 7 months 29 days, is not exactly thrilling. But, it is a light at the end of what has been a really long tunnel. (I started Fall 2006, and already had my Bachelor’s degree. How is that? As a small consolation, I’ve earned a second Bachelor’s degree. Woo-hoo. And no, I won’t actually have a Master’s degree when I’m done. Seriously. But I will have lots of graduate credits to transfer to a Master’s program at some other school, if I so choose.) At some point, I’ll update the date when I really and truly know what it is, but for now, May 1 will suffice.

Also lovely? Now when people ask me how much longer I have, there’s an answer! For real! This would come in especially handy if I was planning on seeing any extended family anytime soon.

As for the details, I’ve got two classes this semester, two in the spring (plus practicum), the summer OFF, two in the fall (also with  practicum, I think), and the one in the spring along with Student Teaching. I’m really excited about that summer off (taking classes then didn’t change my graduation date at all, so why bother). I don’t know if you know this, but houses are high-maintenance. At least, ours is. Maintenance with love, though. (It’s just hard to keep up on all of it at the same time.) I don’t actually have a copy of the plan, because my advisor was going to transfer it to another form, and then submit it for someone’s signature, and then his own signature, and then my signature, and then it’s official, like a contract to graduation.

But in the meantime, let’s celebrate May 1.

Very, very thankfully.

Today, I’m thankful at how productive I’ve managed to be lately. Last night, among other things…

… we finally quit the gym. 15 months of not using it seemed to warrant that. OK, I have gone once since we moved, and went a few times. Definitely not often enough.

… we refilled the bird feeder, though “fill” is a misnomer, since we only had enough seed left to fill the bottom third.

… I mowed the lawn (while making dinner – a feat I’m sure you’re jealous of). Actually, I made dinner before mowing the lawn, put it in the oven to bake, and while I was out, made sure everything was OK and cooked up noodles to go with. I’m not superwoman.

… I did more poly-ing.

… I partially disassembled the pretty blue floral disaster of a dress, wrote myself a note of what was wrong, and packed it all up for next year. The time for sundresses is over.

… I went through my clothing projects (pattern matched up with fabric), divided them out by season, and bagged up what wasn’t fall. The fall ones went on the shelf where some of them had been. There’s a lot more space in there now, and it actually seems… manageable.

… The above meant that part of my cutting table was now clear, so I cut out the embroidery pieces according to the markings I’d made on Monday. Then I cut out the pieces to make the sashiko panels for the guest bedroom pillows.

… Stayed up way too late reading. Stuff was happening! I couldn’t just leave it hanging!

… Accidentally slept in an extra 15 minutes today. Oops! Still, I’m thankful for that extra bit of sleep.

What are you thankful for? Have you been productive like me (what have you done?) or have you taken time to relax? Are things starting to get busy, or winding down?

Today, I’m thankful for the impulse purchase of a Nutty Bar while I was getting Powerade (to go with my lunch). The bagel sandwich turned out to be a poor choice, so at least I won’t go hungry now.

Any randomness you’re thankful for?

OK, here’s the deal. I know I’m supposed to take time today to be thankful, but I don’t really have the time. You see, yesterday I finally fixed the thing that was wrong with a database, and now I can continue to work on its upgrade. So, my time is spent rebuilding, and my brain is a little fried by the end of the day. Plus, I had a meeting to go to (blech).

Suffice it to say, however, that I am feeling thankful for lots of things, including the fixing of the afore-mentioned database.

I have so much to be thankful for today! While I mentioned most of it earlier today, some of it is new, and I’m in a good mood, so I’m sharing.

• Good hair days.
• Job security.
• Getting spoiled. (When I got home from class last night, there was a path of candles leading me outside to where had set up my hammock for me. How cute is that?)
• Creativity.
• Food. I really like food. (I’m hungry right now, can you tell?) So thankful to not be dieting anymore.
• Great friends.
• Funny, funny family members.
• Awesome in-laws.
• All those who fought hard for the world we have today. (We’re studying the 1934 Truck Driver’s Strike in class, and it is just amazing to think about not having the right to unionize, or a 40-hour week, or unemployment benefits.)
• Finishing projects, even if 20  more are waiting in the wings. Doesn’t it feel good to be done?
• Some fantastic co-workers.
• The amazingness of having blogged for 7 years now!
• My grandpa turned 97 last Friday, and on Sunday, my 91-year-old grandma drove the two of them an hour to ‘s house for a Father’s Day dinner. There are so many things about that sentence to be thankful for.
• Mr Clean Magic Erasers – is there nothing they can’t fix?
• Our house. I love our house.
• Two snuggly kitties.
• Everything that I take for granted.
• Every one of the 11,687 days I have been on this earth (yes, I took leap years into account). Not all of them were fun, but they have gotten me to this place and made me the person I am.

Wow. It’s not every day that I come up with over 11,000 things to be thankful for. Must be an awesome day.

I have good reason to be seriously crabby today. Instead, I’m going to attempt to be happy, or at least personable. Let’s start with making a list of things I’m thankful for, and go from there.

… perfect weather for my walk from downtown to school yesterday.

… rain today. (My veggies need it! I’ve been ignoring them, but having dreams about their growth – it must be time to spend some time in the garden.)

… dental insurance (let’s be honest – without dental insurance, I certainly wouldn’t have scheduled my cavities to be filled without making sure I had the funds to cover it, and I probably wouldn’t be going to the dentist in the first place, which mean that by now, I’d have no teeth left. )

… lists and schedules. They’re great for keeping me calm and semi-focused.

… Wendy’s Frostys. Yum!

… that there was not, in fact, a third cat in the house this morning, though it sounded like the two we have were trying to kill something. Apparently, it was each other. We will be discussing this later (don’t they know better than to wake me at 5 am?). I know it sounds more like a complaint, but really, when I turned the corner to the kitchen, I was fully expecting a wild animal, stranger, or… something else scary in the kitchen. I am quite glad that there wasn’t.

… that Father’s Day is next weekend, not this one. It sounds bad, but I totally thought I’d forgotten it, and between needing to mail a gift to , figuring out two gifts for Father’s Day for each of our dads, and then ‘s birthday is at the end of the month. Now we have a few more days to figure out gifts.

… remembering to take my sewing machine in for its free check-up before the year is up (somewhere around June 28th, I believe). Hopefully it won’t be gone for too long, but I have definitely used it enough to warrant some TLC, especially because…

… I got a spot in Doll Quilt Swap 9! Interest keeps getting bigger, so there were limitations put on the number of participants. It’s fun to make something for someone else (non-clothing), nice to finish a project (which I’m terrible at), and a good chance to be creative and stretch myself.

… bookmarks. I really like bookmarks. Both the computer and paper versions.

… rhubarb in our backyard. It gives friends an excuse to stop by. (Hey, someone has to harvest it, and it certainly isn’t us!)

… headphones. Aren’t they a glorious thing? Not only can I listen to the music I want to without burdening other people, but I can drown out annoying noises.

… that teacher’s get the summers “off.” I know it doesn’t really affect me now (other than being a bit more accessible), but on beautiful days when I’d rather be outside than stuck in a cubicle, I can hope and dream of the day when I, too, will have summers off.

… last weekend, I was only asked once when I was having babies, and even then, it wasn’t really asking, but a gentle hint (from Grandma, who else?). I was really counting on at least a dozen not-so-subtle hints or flat-out questions that I would have liked to answer “none of your business” but instead would have politely said, “not while I’m in school” and left it at that. I think everyone was too occupied with the boys, new grandkids, and grandkids on the way, to remember that I’m the only cousin without kids (not the last to get married, either – the two that got married after we did are both expecting in December).

… my three Contigo travel mugs. I often forget how awesome they are, because, like my sewing machine, they just work how they’re supposed to. Here’s the thing: they are completely, truly, absolutely water-tight. I throw one in my purse every morning and have never had even a drop spill, and I am not careful with it in the slightest. It is so much easier to toss it in my purse and forget about it, versus carrying it delicately in my hand, especially while riding the bus.

… all five senses working, and all my limbs etc functioning. We often take it for granted without realizing, until we’re face-to-face with someone who is missing one of those. [Editor's note: the disability community would probably prefer that I didn't use the word "missing" as a negative, as if they were somehow lacking. They are correct. Those with disabilities are fully human and in no way incapable. I just couldn't think of a better way to say "without".]

… fun co-workers. It hasn’t always been that way here.

… online shopping, digital photos, email, and all those other conveniences that I rely on. Let’s add “spell check” to that list, since I just misspelled “conveniences” (it’s now corrected).

… an interesting and engaging summer class. It makes it easier to not complain about it, since I’m actually enjoying myself (I just wish I didn’t have to spend so much time on the homework part).

… no longer feeling (self-inflicted) pressure to have a new Facebook status update every day.  People really don’t care, and I am not all that clever.

… libraries. Need I say more?

… a weekend free of plans (besides homework). Last weekend was so busy, and kind of a blur. I have things to do at home (weeding the garden, vacuuming, painting), and I really need to get out to Target (I’ve been out of face soap all week).

What are you thankful for?

• rain
• an interesting [read: thought-provoking] class this summer semester
• curly hair (I’ve got be honest – I think I’ve got it better than those of you with stick-straight hair)
• ‘s wedding is almost here (2 days!)
• silly, mindless distractions like Super Mario Galaxy 2
• patience, though sometimes it seems like my reserves aren’t deep enough
• homemade granola – seriously, it might be the best food ever created
• family (lots of family this weekend!)
• comfortable shoes (oh how I wish they were all comfortable)
• days off work

• Rice cakes and granola, and the work they do to stop that “hunger” feeling.
• Three day weekends (followed by a three day work week!).
• Time spent with friends (and, conveniently, ice cream).
• Class last night was good, and thought-provoking.
• New iPhone apps!
• Plants/seeds are in the ground. Not all of them, but enough for me to feel good about the end of May being here.
• Ice – it makes most drinks so much better!
• Fake nails, because the current state of my nails is definitely not bridesmaid (ahem, maid matron of honor) worthy.
• The new cap for my Nalgene. It’s everything I’ve been looking for (in a Nalgene cap, that is).
• Finally figuring out exactly what I want for end tables (sofa tables?) in the living room. (No, I haven’t technically found them, but I know what they look like, theoretically.)
• Our lilac bushes are blooming, and we even have a few daylily blooms (it should be noted that I don’t actually like the daylilies, but it’s nice to see them blooming rather than just being large lumps of leaves).
• Comfortable shoes. Most of the ones I own are not (comfort being defined as not painful to walk more than a mile in), hence most of the ones I own do not get worn. But those that are comfortable, they’re fabulous.
• The phrase, “I can wait until you’re ready.” I don’t think it matters what the context is – it’s always lovely to hear.
• That feeling of “here are all the things I want to get done this weekend,” even if you know full well that most will remain undone. The bliss of the potential.

Shortly today…

I’m thankful for my wonderful husband, who turns 28 today!

This week, I’m thankful…

… that the server is up! Last week it was down all day Thursday. We have taken sufficient measures to ensure that this happens… less. My blog is hardly important, but the two other websites that live on the server are, you know, real stuff.

… for Administrative Professional’s Day (today)! It’s always nice to be appreciated (and given chocolate).

… that my literacy class is over, though it was my most enjoyable class this semester. Though grades aren’t in, I think it’s sufficient to say that I scored an A in the class. (No getting marked down for lack of class participation, though that’s hardly possible with the small size of my education classes.)

… our California trip, which I am finally able to feel excited about. I think it was all that homework hanging over my head that was preventing my glee.  This trip will require me to step outside my comfort zone a bit, and will require some bravery (as well as shoving aside any feelings of social anxiety), but should be wonderful regardless.

… the time spent going through the boxes of clothes I had in storage. Winter clothes are put away, summer clothes are back in the closet/dressers, and three bags are full for Goodwill. It feels good.

… for the rave reviews of the lemon and lime bars I made for class/work. Also, I’m thankful that most of them were eaten by someone other than myself.

… for the kids at Homework Hub. They are awesome, full of energy and intelligence. They are also kind and grateful, and curious. I had a great time last night giving a 6th grader advice on jumping hurdles (like in track) and giving public speeches (the advice for both is the same: it’s all a head game, so fake it until you make it, as a professor of mine used to say).

… for the Meyer lemons a co-worker just brought me from his tree down in Arizona. I’m so excited to use them and make more lemon bars! (I’ve never used Meyer lemons, but I’ve heard they’re awesome, and I know they’ll be tons better than the crappy not-Super Target ones I bought last week.)

… for the question, “Do I have homework to do?” The answer isn’t always “yes” anymore. At least, not for the next two or three weeks.

… that I finished ‘s pajama pants, and we’re getting together on Sunday for brunch and a freezer paper stenciling session.

… for the dark chocolate Hershey’s kisses in the gift from my boss, which are not as tempting (because I’m not a fan of dark chocolate) and so I’m not eating nearly as many as I would otherwise.

… for good health, good weather, good friends, and a good life (regardless of all my complaining, I really do have it good – that’s what Thankful Thursdays is about, reminding myself of all the ways I have been blessed).

What are you thankful for? List please, in the comments!

… for ditching winter coats in favor of spring jackets.

… for the bowl of pretzels on my desk.

… that tomorrow is Friday.

… that I don’t have to make dinner every night.

… for frosting and cupcakes and ham balls and Easter gatherings with family.

… that the end of the semester is drawing near, and after this weekend I hope to have very little homework left. Then I can re-connect with the world.

… that the Lego Millennium Falcon is being assembled at ‘s work (and not at our house).

… for accurate GPS on my iPhone that makes getting lost (or being forced to take a detour) far less stressful.

… for days when I am reminded that I actually do possess patience (it just doesn’t always feel like it).

… for our upcoming trip to the San Francisco / San Jose / Santa Clara area at the end of April. I am excited to see the sun and the ocean and revisit 11-year-old memories (and make new ones, of course).

… that is still in possession of his hand (complete with all five fingers) after Tuesday night’s miter saw incident. Just scratches and bruises, and the death of the miter saw. Thank you to safety glasses, safety guards, and guardian angels!

… for a weekend weather report that suggests some time spent on the yard or in the garden isn’t entirely out of the question, though time may be better spent on indoor projects.

… for daily reminders that life is good.

today, for…

… not being the victim of any April Fool’s pranks (knock on wood).

… sun, warm weather, being able to open the windows, and fresh air!

… the end of the semester in sight (even if the next one is, like, right there too).

… fun with family this past weekend – I hadn’t seen some of them in the same room together in years.

… gum.

… a light week homework-wise.

… the feeling of creativity.

… Thursday!

… curtains in the bedroom to block the neighbor’s motion-sensitive light.

… the feelings of Spring: busy-ness, wanting, creation, cleaning, life.

… Season 2 of McLeod’s Daughter’s showing up on Netflix Watch Instantly.

… mud.

… green.

… for gorgeous weather, sunlight, and good moods that go along with it.

… for professors who have Spring Fever just as bad (if not worse) as students.

… for the awesome kids who go to the Homework Hub at the Lake Street library. They make Wednesdays awesome (despite the fact that volunteering means three days in a row where I don’t get home until 7 or later).

… that, from what I can surmise from the internet, Valspar interior paints have a cure time of one week, instead of one month like Behr. Howe awesome is that?

… for all the help I had getting our bedroom painted, and how awesome it looks. (Now, if I can only find a non-hideous curtain rod….)

… for finally being able to make my mind up about certain insignificant things, like what kind of light fixture I want in the dining room.

…that the snow is almost entirely gone from our yard (last night we had a chunk or two hiding under some leaves, still holding out hope that it would get cold again – you could almost hear it coughing its last breath).

… for the end of hibernation mode!

… for today, because it is Joey’s first birthday! Suppose I should finally get around to making that name graphic for him?

How about you?

Thankful today for you!