Things I’m Grateful For (continued)

A couple of years ago, I posted my list of 50 things I was grateful for. And I’m still grateful for all those things (especially you, TJ Maxx), but since gratitude is good for you, let’s turn this thing up to 11, shall we? Here are 20 more things I’m grateful for:

1. My family. This one’s a cheat because they were on last year’s list, but yesterday George and I had a disagreement over who loves the other more. We got to “I love you more times infinity + 2” and it was as disgustingly adorable as it sounds.

   

2. Romance movies on Netflix. Currently watching Leap Year with the adorable Amy Adams.
3. Armchair Expert with Dax Shepherd. Listen to the John Gottman episode.
4. My village – my parents, my mother-in-law, Dee & Jamie (who just took Hazy for a night Matty and I could go to our friends’ wedding), Marie & Jip (who took care of George that same night and always take care of Rosie), my nephew Ryan, our unofficial family photographer, and a whole slew of amazing people who help us feel loved and supported. I’m beginning to understand those groups of old ladies who buy a bunch of tiny homes next to each other so they can grow old together.

   

5. All the cheeses. I have amended my position on swiss cheese after having it melted on an egg sandwich.
6. Grey’s Anatomy. How is this still going strong? I know they’ve run out of believable storylines like 5 seasons ago and they’ve gotten to that point where they’re just mixing and matching romantic partners (Meredith and DeLuca – puhlease), but I still love it.
7. All the word nerd games at OneUpMe.com, but especially Analogies, Caption Contest and Talking Shit, and all the creative, interesting, weird, nerdy people I’ve met on the site and then in real life.

   

8. Three years on my running streak, and therefore, three years without being horribly sick (knock on wood). You can’t stop me, food poisoning!* (*please don’t take that as some kind of challenge, food poisoning. You could indeed stop me if you really tried. But seriously, please don’t.)
9. The mofo resistance – all the brave, dedicated, hard-working people who still believe in a better world and are willing to put in the work to get us there. People like the amazing Shannon Watts from Moms Demand Action and Angry Staffer.
10. My bootcamp/run group/Power Within crew who make me feel strong and taken care of, and have somehow done the impossible: made me kinda, sorta almost like exercising. Turns out it’s much more fun to exercise when it’s accompanied by chatty friends.
11. The soundtracks from the Descendants movies which I pretend to hate but secretly love. #teamUma
12. Chinese jasmine tea, the only hot tea I drink. My Auntie Cecelia says it kind of melts away the grease when you eat greasy Chinese food, and I have taken this as gospel. This is why I drink approximately one cup of Chinese tea per serving of dim sum, or 19 cups of tea every time I eat dim sum. (Pro tip: putting the lid askew on the teapot lets the dim sum staff know you need a refill.)
13. Not having any hangnails right now. (Every time I have a hangnail and lament my life being over, I vow to be grateful the very moment I don’t have one. Nailed it! No pun intended.) Hang tough, nails! (Pun intended that time. I’ll stop now.)
14. The “multigenerational choir” I sing with and the fact that we’re singing Under Pressure this season. For the sake of my choir mates, I’ll try not to sing-shout, “give love one more chance,” but no guarantees.
15. My job and the group of funny, kind, smart people I get to work with. I knew I wanted to go into advertising since I saw the movie Crazy People with Dudley Moore, and while I haven’t made my “Sony, Bony” yet, I feel so fortunate to get to use my imagination and creativity every day at work. Also, lately we’ve had free Doritos and candy there, so it’s like 14-year old me designed my dream job.

    

16. The Florentine Benny at Evergreen Café and my friend Ay who meets me for breakfast there.
17. bill hader dancing to on Twitter. Gets me every time.
18. Speaking of Twitter, dog twitter, the perfect palate cleanser for all the political stuff: @dog_rates, @IvePetThatDog, @dog_feelings
19. Reeses’ holiday-shaped peanut butter treats. I’m looking at you, pumpkin, ghost, and Christmas tree. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not mad at the classic cups either.
20. Girls’ weekends. I go on one with my JP friends and one with my college friends and they are everything. (Everything = epic eating, wine, a Beyoncé tribute show, reminiscing, puzzles, hiking, running, cheese plates, skinny dipping, late night deep talks, lots of laughing)
    

    

    I love being a mom, but for two weekends a year, I really enjoy not being a mom.

Hope you enjoyed your Thanksgivings and that, to paraphrase my work buddy Erin, the carbs were plentiful and your families apolitical.

Onto the crippling insanity that is the Christmas season.

Gratefully,

Natasha