Thankful Thursday

Today I’m thankful…

For my bosses being sick
I was feeling much better by the time work rolled around yesterday (Thanks for caring). The office was empty when I arrived at 3–and a quick look around failed to reveal the assistant managers. So I grabbed my normal Wednesday papers to copy and ran downstairs to make the copies–only to find that the door was locked. I ran back upstairs to ask Janet what was going on–and she informed me that both assistant managers and the secretary were at home sick, “so if you don’t mind, you can manage tonight.”

If I don’t mind? You better bet I don’t mind. I love managing. I would do it every time I worked if I could.

It’s just too bad that their pain is my gain.

That the “Best By” Date on the milk doesn’t mean it’s bad
I bought a gallon of milk a week ago, when we a little less than a half gallon left. Unfortunately, the “Best By” date was yesterday and we didn’t go through it anywhere near as fast as we had been–Casandra had a cold so she wasn’t drinking much milk and I hadn’t made yogurt recently.

But thankfully, the milk was still good. Maybe not for drinking–but I still enjoyed in my oatmeal this morning, and as oyster stew for dinner. And after dinner, I made some quick cottage cheese. Yummy!

That I remembered today that my health program planning paper is due tomorrow
I don’t think I would have liked being surprised by that one tomorrow as I’m trying to get my costume in order.

That I’m finally getting somewhere on my seminar
It was driving me nuts! How many useless studies must I read before I can come up with something worth mentioning? But now I have some good solid direction–and I’ve even got stuff down on the computer. I’m down to two weeks now–but I think I might actually be able to make it.

That there’s a sale on iced tea at the Kwik shop down the street
Thursday’s my errand day, and I forgot to get the bottles of tea I need for our research project while I was at the grocery store. So I ran into the Kwik shop, grabbed the most convenient choices and went to check out. The cashier put down her cell phone and, with a “just a sec”, walked across to a different case and pulled some coupons off the wall. Two of my choices had 50 cent off coupons. So I bought four 20 oz teas for $3.50–which isn’t a bad deal if I do say so myself.

That the weather was gorge-o-u-s today
I went for a fifteen minute walk this morning–and had to ditch my coat halfway. I took another walk with my roommate this afternoon–with no coat needed. I sat on a bench in a sweet little hideaway by the Home Ec building in the hour between classes and read my Bible. I closed my eyes and drank in the sun, enjoying the wind rustling the paper-crisp leaves. I contemplated being still. Not an action but a state. Being still. Knowing God. So many loud voices about–a fire (truck full of buff guys), a whirlwind (of papers and assignments and projects), the (rumblings of a political) earthquake–but God’s voice speaks through a gentle whisper. A fire that warms and awakens and enlivens–the sun. A breeze that brushes me with awareness of His presence. The hum of His Spirit empowering me to carry on.


Thankful Thursday

Today I’m thankful…

  • that I feel much better than I did yesterday!
  • that my dresser top is free of clutter (thanks to today’s FlyLady mission)
  • that my (I mean, my sister’s) piano is tuned. (I played Christmas songs this morning!)
  • that the research on the impact of dietary fatty acids on insulin resistance is FINITE–even if I haven’t discovered the end of it yet.
  • that I have a nice huge fuzzy sweater (from my sister) to put over my regular cardigan and a nice pair of fuzzy leg warmers (from my mother) for my feet and a nice set of fuzzy socks (from my senior year in high school house-family) to keep me warm when the temperatures drop.
  • that I don’t have class tomorrow. (I still work, but not having class means I can eat AT HOME before going to work–instead of packing a lunch to stuff in between class and work.)
  • that even if my outdoor temperature sensor isn’t working, someone else in the neighborhood has one that sends me its signal just fine. (It’s currently 42.3 degrees Fahrenheit–gotta love the “.3”)
  • that this beautiful sight greeted me out of the window this morning:

Thankful Thursday

I’m going to bet that you saw that last post and thought that I was breaking my “Thankful Thursday” string of posts. No such luck!

Today I’m thankful for…

  • A 5 pm deadline for that paper.
    Dr. Driskell said, “You barely made it before 5pm.” I know. Almost everything today took longer than I expected.
  • C.Y. Thompsen library.
    I really feel like I need more practice with case studies and they had a copy of Clinical Cases in Dietetics. Yipee!
  • Valentinos with my sister.
    It’s so nice to take a break and chat about medical things without my dinner companion getting bored.
  • Auto Playlists
    I just set up a new auto playlist to wake myself up to in the morning–so I’ll get to hear all sorts of new music every morning. (Wake yourself up with your computer by going to Control Panel–>Scheduled Tasks–>Add Scheduled Task. Then search for your playlist–it’s generally in My Documents/My Music/My Playlists. Then set the time you want to wake up and which days–and whether you want it to repeat, etc. At the end, ask to “open advanced properties for this task when I click finish.” In the advanced properties, select the “settings” tab and select “Wake the computer to run this task.” When you go to bed at night, hibernate your computer instead of shutting down (select Shut down, then press shift to see and select the “hibernate” option). Your computer will wake up to wake you up in the morning with your very own playlist.
  • the Journal of the American Dietetic Association
    Thursday is definitely my day for getting good mail. I think I’ve mentioned mail every week since I started–and today was no exception. I got my first issue of JADA. Interesting note from what I’ve read so far–a recent study from the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition suggests that taking fish oil capsules prenatally may decrease asthma risk in children. Fish is definitely a hot topic for pregnancy–with pros and cons alike.

Thankful Thursday

Today I’m thankful…

For mints in the mail
The kiddos told me I had some mail at Mom and Dad’s. Scandalous mail, they thought. One side showed a woman putting on lipstick in a rearview mirror and said “REKINDLE YOUR INNER GLOW with life’s little luxuries.” The package sorta rattled a bit. Thinking the worst, they came up with the idea that it was condoms. Sorry, scandal seeking siblings, it turned out they were breath mints from Vocalpoint advertising Ford’s new vehicle.

For gas at $3.37/gallon
Yes, I know it still seems high. But remember this summer? We were at or above $4 a gallon when I left for Mexico.

For free admission to the ADA update
I liked not having to pay the $75 normal ADA members had to pay, or even the $25 normal students had to pay. There are some perks to being a dietetics intern.

That I don’t have TB
I skipped out of the update early to get my TB skin test read. I don’t have TB, big surprise. But that means I’ve got my immunizations/tests in order for rotations next semester. While I was back in the nurse’s office, I asked when they’d have the flu shot in–she said they had it now, although they were only giving it to at risk individuals this early. But then she grabbed the medical history I’d just handed her and said, “You’ve got a history of asthma. That counts.” So she pulled out a vial and gave me a flu shot right then and there. Yay for not having to go back and wait in line for a shot! I suppose there are also some advantages to exercise-induced bronchospasm.

That I got to spend an hour chatting with the interns between classes
Shanna invited me back to the grad assistant’s office for the hour between our classes today. I enjoyed chit-chatting about politics and lunch and movies and professors and grading papers. I think I’ve missed out on a bit of bonding because I didn’t get an assistantship–but I know that God has a good plan for what He chose for me. So all is good.

That I caught Dr. Jones
We’ve needed to nail down my project for an age and a half (okay, five weeks), but have only seen each other in passing. Research Methods got out early today and I ran down to Dr. Jones’ office to see if she was around. She was just locking her door to leave. But I caught her, and we set up an appointment. So we’re good.

That my camera is fixed
The LCD screen on my digital camera broke about a week ago and I chose to order a replacement screen instead of throwing out the camera and buying a new one. The screen was dropped off by UPS today and I spent the next several hours attempting to install it. Installation was easy until I put the back of the camera on and started screwing it together. Then the screen got all wavy and kaleidescope-like. But, after fiddling with it for what seemed like forever, it’s all put together and working–and I only lost one screw!

For my roommate who made dinner today
It’s so nice to sit down to a home-cooked meal–especially one that you didn’t prepare. Thanks Casandra.

There’s lots more I can be thankful for, I’ve been blessed enormously. But my post runs long and I’m working towards sleeping a bit more (I know. Imagine that. I’m actually taking up sleeping as a hobby. Thanks, Dan, for continually reminding me to do so.) so I best go.


Thankful Thursday

I’m thankful–that some days I actually can get something accomplished!

Other than that, I’m thankful for (in no particular order):

  • Classes that don’t start until noon
  • Jode, our computer guy, who taught me how to install Lotus Notes at work (so I can actually get into my e-mail there–Yipee!)
  • A B on my first Food Chemistry exam (Have I mentioned that it’s been years since I last took a chemistry class?)
  • more apples from my parents’ tree
  • the worms that came in the mail today!

Thankful Thursday

I’ve decided that the antidote for covetousness is gratefulness. Which is why I’ve been listing my blessings on a pretty regular basis these days.

Today, I’m thankful for lovely, inexpensive vintage dresses in double knit.
green dress
I’m thankful for perfectly formed free green apples from my parents’ tree.
green apple
I’m thankful for a short-term roommate who did the dishes when I’ve been too lazy (or too busy) to do them for a week.
pile of dishes drying
I’m thankful for my landlady’s husband who came and replaced our doorknob, the very next day after I called.
shiny, new doorknob

What are you thankful for?