30 Days of Thanks - Day 30

Today I’m grateful for this month to be over and for my favorite one to start tomorrow. December is clearly the best month because I was born and it’s the end of the year. It is the month of twinkly lights, sometimes snow, and the end of the calendar year.

December marks the beginning of winter which feels like the transition into the resting season and another symbol for the change we all begin to feel as a new year starts. Winter ushers in snowy trips to my best friend’s cabin, snowshoeing, and cross-country skiing. With winter comes darkness and that makes those twinkly lights and warm blankets even more special.

My birthday is just before winter, though I’d say winter is definitely my season. I love the winter adventures and finding cool things to do outside. When I lived in Texas, we’d often be seen on the pontoon in winter or I’d be hiking with my aunt at Dinosaur Valley because the weather was PERFECTLY mild. I’m excited to see what winter is like here in Ohio.

I’m thankful for everything December has to offer, what are you thankful for today?

30 Days of Thanks - Day 29

Today I’m thankful for the cheesy holiday movies. I’m not talking the Hallmark stuff, though they have their place, but definitely the 90s classics like Home Alone, Christmas Vacation, and Santa Clause along with newer ones like Elf and Bad Santa. These movies are so fun and silly that they make me laugh over and over. There’s a whole bunch of them that get rotated through a few times during the holidays - and I’m not ashamed to admit I watch Home Alone all year!

There are also some more serious movies, that are still funny, that I love to rotate through like Love, Simon and Happiest Season. I love all holiday movies ranging from Jingle All The Way to Love the Coopers. Some of my favorite TV episodes were the Christmas lights related ones on Home Improvement every year. This is all over because the movies I love are always all over… what are some of your faves?

What are you thankful for today?

Watching Christmas Vacation from bed (before I decorated the bedroom tree)

30 Days of Thanks - Day 28

When I was asked to go in on Thanksgiving, it wasn’t that big of a deal. Today I’m grateful for the flexibility that comes from years of retail work and working in 24/7 operations like energy. I come from a family of shift workers, and sometimes we moved holidays to totally different days so we could celebrate together. Move Thanksgiving dinner to Friday? No big deal. (Now, if I am asked to go in Friday, I may be a little pissy). Thanksgiving is something I try to live all the time - daily gratitude, seeing and appreciating people more often than once per year, and enjoying good food more than once per year. I’m flexible with this because I don’t have a choice and there is no use fighting something you can’t really control.

Related to yesterday’s “thankful for therapy” post, I have been learning to control what I can and can not worry about. I have had a big issue with plans changing or shifts in decisions - which are normal - and learning to let go of things I can’t control and just learning to adjust how I react and adapt has been groundbreaking for me.

So, on this Thanksgiving (with many others) I’ll be at work for a while and it’ll be okay. Now, I do have plans to food prep all day after I get home, so the work thing better not be all day! What are you thankful for today? (I’m also thankful this month is almost over)

Thanksgiving some years ago - 2007 (17 years now!?)

30 Days of Thanks - Day 27

Today I’m thankful for therapy. I have a great therapist here in Ohio and a great psychiatrist. Together, we’re all managing my mental health. I’ve worked through so much since starting therapy regularly in early 2023 and I’m so grateful to have a third party sounding board that can respond. Therapy isn’t all about assigning blame or tearing everything down, it’s about understanding and learning how to recognize your own behaviors and thoughts. It’s learning how to and when to react and sharing ideas without judgment. I’m grateful to have good insurance to cover it and that I’ve found some professionals so quickly here. I’m happy to report that I’m doing what’s best for me and taking charge of my mental health and I highly recommend doing the same for yourself.

You don’t have to be any certain level of “whatever” to go to therapy, it’s literally for anyone who wants to talk things out and better understand themselves and their thought processes.

What are you thankful for today?

Chewy and I out on a walk for a mental health lol

30 Days of Thanks - Day 26

Today is my “I’m thankful for friends and family near and far” post. I wasn’t going to include this because it should be implied, but I am truly grateful for the connections and family I have on this Earth. I have family all over, but I’m so grateful that I’ve always lived somewhere close to them, sans the time I spent in the Pacific Northwest. I was always a quick drive or walk away from my aunt, uncle, and cousin in Texas and that was super fun. I have a ton of good memories, despite it being Texas. I’m back, close to the Great Lakes, and I’m so excited to be near my family again up here. I’m also close to besties spanning from Minnesota to Maryland. I’ve already hung out with friends I hadn’t seen in months or years more than once. I’m glad to be closer to Maine and the great DC area as well as only a hop-skip-and-a-jump to North Carolina.

I know that some relationships are the types that no time passes while others fade away and sometimes come back. I know that there are people I probably don’t want to see anymore and I know there are people I am so excited to see for the first time in years. All in all, I’m so thankful for the connections with everyone - no matter how long, short, or stable it’s been.

I’ve been looking through photos a lot lately as I piece together pieces I’m writing or just reminiscing and I am hopeful that some connections can be strengthened again. If not, maybe they’re just meant to be good memories. Either way, I’m so lucky.

What are you thankful for today?

A few of my first visitors in Ohio

My Aunt already came, too!

Some more besties who visited me!

I’ve now seen my brother twice in two months… more than I had before my gram’s funeral

30 Days of Thanks - Day 25

Today I’m grateful for my gramma’s ornaments which are now on my tree. When we were cleaning out her house, I took several of them and now have a whole tree devoted to them. As a kid she used to have the best trees, and since they’d get a real tree, we’d often do it right around my birthday weekend. The trees ranged from BIG to HUGE then to a little smaller as they aged and didn’t want to do so much.

This year I have the space for a whole tree filled with the ornaments from her, and I think it’s quite lovely. I’m thankful for that and other things to help keep the memories alive. Here are some photos from years past and my current tree.

What are you thankful for today?

My tree this year!

30 Days of Thanks - Day 24

I’m thankful to have space for guests. I have a dedicated guest room here in Ohio, with a queen bed and plenty of space. I have a second room with an air mattress, and a sofa that sucks you in. I’m so grateful to have space to house people and have them stay over if they want.

I’ve always had plenty of guests - and space for them - but not a dedicated room with a proper bed and privacy. Get on it and plan a damn visit already, I’ll be waiting! Having people come visit and getting to explore new things together is one of my favorite things in the world. I love making breakfast and cocktails and whatever else having guests entails. There’s lots to see in Ohio, I promise.

What are you thankful for today?

The guest room - humble, but comfy. The overhead lighting is killing me, the lamps are way better.

30 Days of Thanks - Day 23

Today’s is simple - I’m thankful for coffee. I was going to say that I’m thankful for my Nespresso, but I think coffee in general is just a better idea. Nespresso is kind of expensive and wearing me down, so we’ll see how much longer that lasts.

I’m not one of those “not before my coffee” people in any way, but I do (as mentioned a couple of days ago) enjoy my morning, quiet time with a coffee. I don’t even drink coffee every day, but I do enjoy the flavor enough to want it everyday. I did decaf for a while, which was fine, but I do enjoy a little caffeine boost.

I used to have a grind and brew coffeemaker and I loved it. My Cuisinart had a built-in burr grinder and a thermal carafe. The cost to operate was much less than Nespresso, so it’s something I’ve contemplated again. The fresh ground and brewed coffee was just unbeatable. I do enjoy going out to get coffee, but not so much these days.

What are you thankful for today?

If anyone wants to get me a gift, this would be it: Cuisinart Automatic Grind and Brew

The other morning, during my quiet time

A little slideshow of morning coffee during the pandemic when I was taking calls down at the lake in Wisconsin - I miss those days.

30 Days of Thanks - Day 22

Today I’m thankful for clear, starry night skies. In Olympia, I had an okay view and Portland was a little rough because of the city. Here in Ohio, I have a really good view and a pretty dark neighborhood. Wherever I have lived, regardless of the city lights, I would find a way to see the big dipper and other key constellations. One of my favorite memories is laying on the beach of Lake Huron at night in August looking up at the meteor shower and stars. Some of the best skies were up in Mt. Rainier National Park, Bryce Canyon National Park, out in the middle of nowhere Nevada, the deserts of New Mexico, and up near the Boundary Waters in Minnesota.

When I was in Hawaii last year, we were able to have a guided star tour with super cool telescope! Here are some of those photos.

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What are you thankful for today?

30 Days of Thanks - Day 21

Today I’m thankful for quiet, early mornings. One of my favorite things is to wake up early, turn on the holiday lights, and brew a fresh cup of coffee. I was looking back at Facebook and I am thankful for this every time I do this 30 day summary. I love an early morning. I love watching movies in the early morning or even baking something tasty. Alone time, when it’s quiet and calm, is so important to me. I am not sure I was always an early morning person, but since about 2011 I’ve been one and nothing has changed. I can’t stand sleeping in too late nor do I enjoy just laying in bed doing nothing in the morning. If I’m going to lay in bed, and do nothing, it’ll be for an afternoon nap when the day is annoying and busy and everyone else in the world is awake.

I like quiet things, alone time, and mornings a lot more as I age. What are you thankful for today?

30 Days of Thanks - Day 20

I’m thankful for artists like Kacey Musgraves and bands like Lord Huron. Furthermore, I’m grateful that they’ll be coming together on my 40th birthday in Nashville where I’ll be in the audience with two of my favorite people.

The music they put out makes me feel things. I’ve had an ear for Kacey since I heard her on a Josh Abbott song from way back in the day when I lived in Texas. Her voice was the most magical part of the song, and she is still that way when she duets with any guys. Golden Hour could quite possibly be one of the most perfect albums in the history of music, in my opinion, and I listen to it quite often.

Lord Huron have a haunting yet folksy quality about them and it can be very calming. I enjoy all of their music, but it’s actually the more trippy album Vide Noir that really speaks to me. They always get me with the lyrics and nothing will beat “lost in time and space…”

I am so thankful I get to see them both play live, together, to ring in 40 years on this planet. I’m grateful for the people going with me, who continuously change my life for the better. Cheers to good music that makes you feel something. What are you thankful for today?

30 Days of Thanks - Day 19

I’m thankful for having a yard and nice neighborhood again for Chewy the dog. In Portland, we had no space, but could walk to the park. In Olympia, we had a tiny yard and nice neighborhood, and Chewy was thriving there. Here, we have a big yard, a ton of streets to mark up and it’s quiet and friendly. Chewy loves his neighborhood walks, loves to make sure everyone knows he’s the top dog, and loves to nap immediately after.

The new job, the new commute, and the new expenses all seem worth it for peace of mind and the feeling that I’m home. Chewy loves having three big beds throughout the house for his rests and he loves standing on the deck staring off at the neighbors.

Here’s to decent rentals with plenty of space for Chewy the dog. What are you thankful for today?

30 Days of Thanks - Day 18

I’m thankful to have a separate line for work and a completely different phone, that’s not an iPhone, too. I have all calls, work emails, work texts, and the like routed to my old Texas number on a Google Pixel 9 Pro XL. I love being able to have things separate so they can be silenced when necessary or to have alerts on during the day to remind me when I’m not sitting at my computer without interfering with my own personal things. I’m grateful to have a second phone to play around with and to compare the Apple and Google worlds.

I have always intermingled work and personal, but I’ve learned that they need to be separate. You need to be able to shut work off when you can and also be able to respond but not accidentally to the wrong contact or using the wrong email.

What are you thankful for today?

30 Days of Thanks - Day 17

Today I’m thankful for Martha Stewart. (This is actually a suggestion that was probably made in jest, but I really am) Martha Stewart, in concept and actual human form, was someone my gramma (yes spelled this way nostalgically) looked to for advice and then taught me the things she was learning. This is also true for Ina Garten; I even inherited a few cookbooks. I remember growing up and trying new things from Barefoot Contessa or Martha Stewart at least monthly. My gramma would try new side dishes or clip/copy recipes out of Martha Stewart Living to try. Martha and Ina make me feel good when I watch them on TV or read their recipes and they connect me to the good memories of the past.

What are you thankful for today?

My gramma, Thanksgiving 2000

The cookbooks - plus that binder is full of clipped/copied recipes from all over (before everything was on the internet)

30 Days of Thanks - Day 16

Today I’m thankful for doctors who listen and want to help. I didn’t always go to the doctor regularly, but now I can’t see a life without checkups and ongoing care. Yesterday I visited a new-to-me-doctor here in Ohio and I’m impressed. She was thorough, efficient, and caring. I look forward to our follow up and the plan we created. She referred me to a sleep specialist so they can go over my CPAP data and life is good. I had really good doctors in Portland and Olympia, also, and I’m glad to have been put on this path by them. I’ve also found great care with my new psychiatrist and therapist here in Ohio as well, it’s really working out for healthcare.

What are you thankful for today?

30 Days of Thanks - Day 15

Today I’m thankful for my car. I’m thankful that the mess of 2022-2023 is over and I have my Outback again. I miss my black one that I bought in 2017, and while I don’t regret often, I do regret letting that baby go. It was a hard life lesson, which seems to be my jam, but I am better off now in spite of it all.

My old Outback was my favorite car, until I sat inside the crimson red beauty named Scarlet I have now. This car has everything I wish my black one did, and more. I have a black interior, no more ivory, which is proving to be a little better in the upkeep. I have Android Auto/Apple Carplay and that is super convenient for maps and music. Scarlet has auto up/down windows for all, the way it should be, and a heated steering wheel. I have the updated Starlink system which allows for remote start and lock/unlock, included for three years, which is so nice for cold and hot days. Overally, though, the design and functionality are quite similar and that’s what I was after. I’m a creature of habit and I like what I like.

This car is proving to be a great commuter - giving me 30 mpg daily on my drive to and from work. The Outback isn’t truly Jeep, 4Runner, or truck like for off road, but it is great for those dusty backroads and snow. The car is covered in dog slobber on one side, used to be coated in dog hair, and has some scratches and scuffs so far but that’s just a sign of life being lived. There is no fear when taking it camping or hiking. I never want a car that I’m afraid to get dirty - what’s the point for rme? I love this car and I will be driving it until the wheels fall off, hopefully.

I’m thankful I can afford a car, insurance, and the maintenance required. I know it’s a privilege to have a reliable vehicle and that is not lost on me. I’m grateful for a decent job and money for gas so I can get out of the house, town, state, etc... I’m thankful for what this car represents - freedom, adventure, and my peace. What are you thankful for today?

30 Days of Thanks - Day 14

Today I’m thankful for nice neighbors. I moved to Lancaster back in September and the two houses across the street introduced themselves right away and one even shared their tomato crop! We may only interact with a wave or casual conversation, but it serves as a reminder that this neighborhood is kind and welcoming. These people are friendly faces now, and it’s good to know your neighbors. I’m hopeful for future encounters.

I’m reminded of my old neighbor in Olympia! She was a real trip. She loved to sunbathe in the tiny yard, had a funny dog who didn’t love people, and was always really chatty. She was nice and helped me with paint color matching (they were condos) and also brought me flowers one day. Some days, I miss her vibrancy.

In Portland, I had a neighbor on my floor who I could meet for a beer or just hang out. He would stop by to say hi or we’d go hit up a brewery, it was quite nice. My other neighbor’s partner was the guy who found my stuff stolen from my car when it was broken into, and called me to make sure I got it back. I’ve been very fortunate to have cool people around me, at least recently.

Back in the day, I lived one house down from my Aunt and Uncle in Texas. Other than it being Texas, or the opinionated guy living between us, we had a blast being that close. I miss being able to walk over or go for golf-cart rides. What are you thankful for today?

30 Days of Thanks - Day 13

Today I’m thankful for fall and winter. When I lived in Texas, I was especially grateful for these seasons because of the (somewhat) lower temperatures. Now, I’m just loving the fall color and hoping for some snow. Yes, snow! I want a snow covered winter, despite the odds. It was 80 in November, already, so I’m not too hopeful.

I love when the sun sets and the bare trees are against the brilliant pink sky. My new drive home is through the forest and I get to see this almost every day right now. There’s something magical about the whole ecosystem going to sleep for a season. I wish we could go to sleep for a whole season.

I’m thankful for the cooler weather and I do enjoy the darker days for a bit. Dark days encourage me create my own light or give me an excuse to put up multiple xmas trees! I haven’t been through a Midwest winter in a decade or more, so we’ll see if I’m still grateful for the season come spring. What are you thankful for today?

Fall and Winter together - Trillium Lake, November 2021

30 Days of Thanks - Day 12

It’s simple, I’m thankful for home grocery delivery. I use one store in particular, but I’ll refrain from sharing to avoid judgment. I get stuff quickly and affordably, and shopping for it is easy. I don’t have to deal with the grocery store or wandering around trying to learn the new stores in the area. I used to use this weekly in Olympia, but then I moved into an apartment in Portland and had to start going to the store myself where I just did curbside.

I’m fully capable of going out and getting my own groceries, but I’m glad I don’t have to. If we’re being vulnerable here, grocery stores can be fun for me but lately they have been hectic nightmares. I’m only really off on evenings and weekends, and by the time I get home I don’t want to go shopping. The weekends, ugh, they’re full of people and it starts to make me feel overwhelmed and overstimulated.

I will occasionally run to Costco or Sam’s for bulk runs, but if I can avoid the local spots I will. I miss the days of 24 hour grocery stores - I’d go around 11 pm back in the day. Now, I’m in bed by 9 and my groceries are delivered hours before that.

What are you thankful for today?

30 Days of Thanks - Day 11

I think about this one all the time - I’m grateful for a garage! I was super spoiled in Olympia with a personal garage to park in and I was so excited to have that again in this rental in Ohio. I had a public garage in Dallas and Portland, but we all know how that turned out.. (My car was smashed into)

Having this garage helps me feel a little more secure while also being super convenient.

• Going Camping? Pull the car out and take stuff to the garage to sort out

• Shopping haul? Don’t worry about the weather, you’re in the garage

• Need to vacuum out the car in the winter? You’ve got a garage for that

The garage is half full of cardboard and other shit from moving, but it’s a work in progress. I will organize the chaos in coming weeks. It is nice to have room for the kayaks and a grill (thanks to my brother). It’s also nice to have room to build something or have space to work on a project despite the weather.

I’m thankful for a range of things from this silly, but practical thing, to serious things like the post yesterday. It will continue to vary, so I hope you enjoy the ride. What are you thankful for today?

(I’m ashamed to say there is way more stuff to the right of my car now)

This is in a secure garage… “secure'“ is relative, I suppose. (Portland, August 2024)