Grateful Blog

Today I’m grateful for:

• All the extremely nice people at my doctor’s office. It gets to be a pain hiking out to Waltham (about a 45-minute trip) for appointments now that I live in Quincy and no longer work in Waltham, but today I was reminded why I bother. I can’t recall a single time in almost three and a half years where I encountered anyone who was anything less than pleasant. The more I think about it, the more remarkable it is. Suppose I should give a shout-out to Waltham Family Medicine, particularly Dr. Burns and Dr. Gaines.
• At least our health insurance is covered until the end of next month. It’s better than nothing, right? And apparently I will be making good use of it.
• I’m sure not all will share the sentiment, but I strongly agree with this op-ed piece about President Obama’s decision to ending the ban on federal funding for international groups that promote or perform abortions. Also, I’m just damn grateful that I get to type the words “President Obama” and it is not a fantasy!

Today I’m grateful for:

• My willpower when it comes to Weight Watchers, so that not only did I not want to eat the entire batch of Ghirardelli chocolate chip cookies that I made as a thank you to my neighbor for all of his snow-blowing help, but I controlled myself enough during the week that I could actually have a couple of cookies and it didn’t even put much of a dent in my points totals for the week. It’s the little things.
• Scrubs knowing how to handle a relationship. Watched our DVR’ed version of the J.D./Elliott/Will they/Won’t they? episode. It was perfect. See what I mean (spoiler alert if you haven’t seen it!)
• Some silly “sideline reporter” at the SAG Awards red carpet show (yes, I have a lot of free time), asked Kyra Sedgewick and Kevin Bacon how they’ve managed to stay married for 20 years. Kevin Bacon replied: “You have to keep the fights clean and the sex dirty.” I’m sure he stole it from someone, but I liked it anyway.

Today I’m grateful that:

• I finished “Love in the Time of Cholera” just in time for book club. Even though we almost universally hated it!
• That Chad didn’t mind that I ditched him most of the past two days in order to get the above accomplished.
• Playing Atari with my brother and friends until 3am. There’s something reassuring about the fact that you still have to blow on the cartridges to get them to start. And it still works!

Today I’m grateful that:

• I have a friend who, despite a few ups and downs over the 14+ years we’ve known each other, always has the reaction I expect and want her to when I tell her my latest story of woe!
• Progress on my book club book. Okay, so I’m still way behind, and the book club gathering is in less than 24 hours, but at least I will have some clue as to what we’re talking about when we talk about the book for 10 minutes out of the probably three or four hours that we’ll be hanging out.
• Another walk down memory lane thanks to Facebook!

Today I’m grateful for:

• Lunch and some VH1 reality TV with two people with great senses of humor, Chad and my cousin Adrienne. “Tool Academy” is funny enough (intentionally or not) on its own, but hysterical along with the commentary of those two.  “I’m sorry, you’re just a tool.” … Come on, you know this makes you feel significantly better about your own life!
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• I finally managed to get to a point in my book club book, “Love in the Time of Cholera,” where it’s actually getting interesting and I feel like I’ve perhaps finally reached the actual story. (This really shouldn’t have taken 40+ very long pages!)
• The return of “Lost,” FINALLY! Okay, Chad thought the episode could have been better, but I say a shot of Sawyer’s butt crack was worth the wait. Seriously, I’m glad this show is back on. One of my very favorites!

Today I’m grateful that:

• The Thai dish Singapore fried noodles is somehow, miraculously, (and hopefully not erroneously) listed as only 6-7 points on Weight Watchers. I fully expected to get home from lunch at my friend Tracy’s place, calculate the points, and curse myself. Yay!
• Chad and Chip made it home safe and sound from the inauguration celebration in D.C.
• I now have a cool Obama t-shirt and an Obama bobblehead. What more could one want in life?

Today I’m grateful that:

• Chad was able to not only be in D.C., but have prime seating for the inaugural parade. He lived and breathed Obama’s campaign, and I know he loves and misses his hometown, so although I couldn’t be there with him, I couldn’t be happier for him! Also grateful that he made friends with a park ranger who made sure he didn’t get hypothermia.
• That my parents hung out with me for the day while I watched the coverage of the inauguration on TV. My dad might be the second-most obsessed Obama person I know, and he has a greater appreciation for history than anyone I know, so it definitely made the day even more enjoyable.
• This day has come. It was long overdue, in so many ways. It was inspiring to see other people inspired, and I’m hopeful that despite what will continue to be tough times ahead, the inspiration will continue.

Today I’m grateful for:

• Help shoveling out from my brother and my neighbors. Very much appreciated since Chad is in snow-free D.C., and my back probably wouldn’t be very happy about having to do all that shoveling myself. Also, the snow is really beautiful!
• That I was able to find all of my photo albums and start another trip down memory lane. Yeah, they were in literally the last box I searched in the entire house, but it’s better than them not being in any box at all!
• That I saved the old home movies of my Uncle Denny, who passed away two years ago. Feels kind of surreal, and hard, but in a good way.

Today I’m grateful for:

• Mindless reality television. There is a lot of it out there, especially on VH1. Not only does it pass the time, but it makes me feel infinitely better about my own life.
• A safe trip down to D.C. for the inauguration for my husband, Chad, and our friend, Chip.
• The generosity of my friends. I suppose it could be considered pity, but right now, I’m just going to enjoy and appreciate the free food and drinks.

When I started this blog, it was with the intent to list three things every day that I’m grateful for. The truth is, I started it because the previous few months had been pretty difficult, and I found myself slipping into a pity party on more than one occasion. I wanted that pity party to end.

This has been another difficult week, and I’ve slipped away from the blog, but I’m reminding myself this morning that this is exactly when I should be writing every day. So, today, and this week, I am grateful for:

• The men and women who work as firefighters. What Fr. Mahoney said at Lt.; Kelley’s funeral was indeed the “cold truth”, that we take them for granted until tragedy occurs. We should always recognize these people who risk their lives every single day for total strangers. It’s mind-blowing, when you think about it. I know I couldn’t do it, and I am grateful for those who do.
• The families of firefighters. Their sacrifices are immense. I’m not totally sure what I believe in, but I do think there is something out there/up there that helps people stay strong under the worst circumstances, and this week I saw that in action, and I’m grateful for it.
• The support of our friends and families, especially the ones who understand that sometimes all you need is a hug and a strong, free, drink.