Thankful Thursday #4

Back in November, our dishwasher stopped washing on one setting--the half load setting that we usually use. It wasn't such a big deal when we could just load the full dishwasher and run the full load. However, just before Christmas, the whole thing stopped working. Talk about perfect timing. It definitely made cleaning up after Christmas dinner loads of fun for everyone.

This actually shouldn't have been that painful for me. After all, I didn't have a dishwasher the entire time I was in Colorado (5 years). But I'd managed to get used to the convenience in the 9 months we've lived in our apartment. It also was cause for several mini-arguments on who had to do the dishes. Being the manipulative incredibly intelligent lazy person that I am, I came up with the idea of "I cook, you clean." It worked beautifully, until he cooked. Then I had to clean. Bleh.

I finally got around to contacting the landlady who immediately contacted a repair-person. This process took a while, but I'm pleased to say we've washed several loads of dishes thus far. All it took was a new circuit board.

So, today, I'm thankful for my dishwasher, which keeps me from scalding myself on the ridiculous water system here. Also, it keeps me from having to touch the icky old food. I like to leave that job to the hubby. :-D

Thankful Thursday #3 - Tomatoes & Green Chiles

Oh, yes, my friends. I am dedicating this Thursday's thankfulness to the four wonderfully spicy cans of tomatoes and green chiles that sit in my cupboard. "Why?" you might ask. Well, I'll tell you.

They rock my world!!

The yummy tomato-y goodness mixed with the peppery spice of the chile is making my mouth water as I type. In fact, I really want to get up, open every can and make myself some Mexican rice and salsa. But I won't. No, I will restrain myself, because I live in England, a place where the only way for me to get tomatoes with green chiles* (or green chiles at all, for that matter) is an importer or friends and family.

So, I will not give into the temptation to eat them right away. I will ration them, keeping them safe in the cupboard until I absolutely cannot stand it any more. Only then will I give into temptation.

Maybe I should also be thankful for my restraint. :-)

*No, I'm not talking about what people here call "green chiles", which apparently are any number of chiles that happen to be green. I am talking about these (in no specific brand)...and if you know where to get them that won't cost me a fortune or a plane ride, please comment or email me!

Thankful Thursday #2 - Absolute Write

I've mentioned Absolute Write several times on this blog now. This one is adding to the others. I actually had another post set up for today, but I'm postponing that one. I've been having a lot of trouble writing lately. I could blame it on the holidays, but really, that wasn't it at all. I think I have this thing called fear. I'm not afraid to write, and I'm not even afraid to share my stuff. I think I'm afraid that when it comes down to it, I'm going to completely suck at it.

It's not a new thing with me. I have what I like to call "poser syndrome". I don't know that I'll ever feel I'm good at something, whether it's academics, singing, writing, or whatever. I'll always feel like a poser. And, I definitely feel like that with writing.

All this is to say what I'm thankful for today: my AW friends!!!

It doesn't matter how down I feel, I know they will smack me for being stupid--in the nicest virtual way possible of course, right Steph?? ;) --and pick me back up to keep writing. I know they'll give me honest feedback on my stuff, so I don't have to worry that I really do suck and people are just being nice. (And yes, I would definitely think that.) They'll tell me things like, "I look at it this way: writing styles are like fingerprints--no two are exactly the same," when I read things and feel like I'll never be as good as the other writers (THANKS BECCA!!!)

Anyway, I'm incredibly lucky to have found such a wonderful group over at AW (most of them in OPWFT - Old People Writing For Teens), and I can't really be thankful enough. :)

Note: Check out the blogroll on my sidebar to see lots of awesome blogs from my AW pals. k?


Speaking of AW pals, go check out Race's blog and win a copy of The Secret Year by Jennifer Hubbard! No, really...go there NOW!

This is Dedicated to the One I Love

This post starts my bi-weekly thankfulness post. Like I said before, I tend to rant quite a bit, and never really stop to think about how good I really have it. So, that's what every other Thursday is for. I'll pick at least one thing (and there are tons of things to choose from!) and write a little about it and why I am so thankful.

To start of the first post, it's only fitting that I dedicate this post to my hubby. I can't even begin to convey how thankful and blessed I am to have him. I've posted about him before and will probably post about him again, because, well, he's just awesome!

Today, I had some bad news concerning a paper I wrote that got rejected. I was pretty down, but he picked me back up again by reminding me that it was my first try and telling me all about his rejected papers. I know how smart he is, and it reminded me that it happens to everyone.

Last night, he made me a very yummy dinner before I could get in the kitchen to make it. It was nice, and of course, I think the food always tastes better when he makes it. :-)

Oh, and he also retucked the sheets into the bottom of the bed, because I was whining that they were loose. I'm a total freak when it comes to sheets and have to have my feet touching tightly tucked sheets. He didn't even life at me when I whined like a baby!

So, yes, I'm thankful that I was blessed with such a great, loving, funny, smart, amazing husband.