This year was a challenge, as all other years before it but in a lot of ways it was a success! Many new things were tried, many new experiences were um, experienced and many things done were deemed doable again! Other things not so much, but that's for another day :)
So let's break down the thankfulness by category for organizational purposes because we cannot organize enough around here!
1. I am thankful I can 'hang' with the 13 year old crowd and understand pop-culture references chatted about in their tongue. There is nothing like a an hour-plus long car ride with Lexxy listening to talk to her friends on her cell about how ambidextrous they are, what kind of hair straightener they have and when it was last used, who is selling the dress Bella wears in New Moon and who looks more like Bella, in New Moon of course. I am thankful I know who Bella is and am thankful it started Lexxy reading. I am however not so thankful for the sex scenes that we will need to discuss when the third and fourth books are cinematized in the next two years... gulp!
2. I am thankful for State Farm. I don't care what Allstate says, you are in good hands with State Farm. After my accident in February they were capital-A Awesome! From our agent to customer no-service, who actually provided service, they rocked it out, putting me in a new vehicle in no-time. RIP my cute little Jaguar XJ8... you will be missed. (insert moment of silence followed by bagpipes here)
3. I am, as I am every year, thankful for seasonal beverages! This year it was Starbucks Peppermint Mocha and Silk's Soy-Nog. The PM was a great addition to my every, single, working morning and it will be missed when it goes away. The Soy-Nog was a nice addition to Christmas and wasn't as heavy and thick as regular eggnog, plus it was like getting a serving of veggies so twice the perks! Health benefits and a good drink, minus the rum brought back from Grand Cayman... yum-o!
4. I am oh ever so thankful for new music to fill my commute and weekends! As many of you know I am an avid listener and music has always been a huge part of my life. I have my old standards in Jazz and classic 80's that I love but new recommendations are always welcome. Here are some I tried and loved this year:
The Rescues
Gloriana
Lady Antebellum
Mary Fahl - former lead singer of October Project
Cat Power
Company of Thieves
The Distants
Johnny Klimek & Reinhold Heil - one song from a soundtrack that is killer
Kate Miller-Heidke
LaRoux - total 80's vibe!
Landon Pigg - Rufus Wainwright vibe
The Lovemakers - just love them!
Lucy Kaplansky
Madeleine Peyroux - Beautiful jazz
Paramore - Good for a rock out in the car
Tal & Acacia
Toby Lightman
30 Seconds To Mars - many albums out and much diverse music to love!
5. I am thankful that I know how to read, translate and adapt recipes to fit the needs of a changing family. With gluten and corn free being the new monicker in the Roberts family, each meal is customized to fit the medical needs of the Monkeygirl. Simple things from a bagel at breakfast to breading on chicken for dinner and what's in the soy sauce we are using. Each takes a second though, which leads me to number 6...
6. I am thankful to The App Store, which introduced me to The Gluten Free App! This makes shopping a breeze! I Cynthia also introduced me to the Gluten Free Alcohol webpage which is nice should I ever want to pry her with liquor on a girls night! ;)
7. I am thankful for specialty food shops such as Harry's, Fresh Market and Whole Foods, oh and can't forget Trader Joe's re: gluten free as well. I also like their meat free sections, but that's just the former vegetarian in me coming back out.
8. I am thankful for my family. It's been a year and a half, almost, since I lost my Dad and the family has gone through a really dramatic shift. I have a new Stepfather, nice guy, I mean he loves my Mom who now lives all the way over in Oregon so, I can't really say anything bad about him... but he's not my Dad. The closest to fit the bill and to come to my rescue when I needed a Dad figure this year was my Father in Law. He stepped up and was just there for me so he wins Jenn's New Dad of The Year Award for 2009! There will be no award issued for 2010 as the 2009 award is an automatic carryover indefinitely or until he resigns from post.
9. I am thankful for my friends old and new, near and far. Some of you have been here for the long haul and some of us have just met. I have a good track record and tend to keep my friends around for some time so hold on baby, this will be a long flight :)
10. I am thankful to QVC for making my holiday shopping a little easier this year. Ok. There. I said it. Yes, I flex-pay! When I got a job after being out of work for a few months money was tight and it was the best way to get my family a little something by paying a little something. I do admit I have a problem in that I consider the In the Kitchen with David segment an actual Show on Sundays that I watch from noon to 2pm Eastern. Yeah, I have issues. Now if I can figure out a way to fanagle that KitchenAid 6.0Qt Pro Stand Mixer... I covet it with passion... in Caviar or Willow Blue please.
My oath to my readers: I promise in 2010 to be better at blogging. I admit in 2009 I floundered with not being sure what to write and it seemed in some ways to be somewhat self serving. This year I will share more of me and ask that you do the same! Let me know what you like and what you don't and the blog will be dynamic in nature! Some of you know you can call me on my cell, the ones who don't now do, heck my cell is listed on Facebook. So feel free to share, sharing is good!
Happy New Year to All~ I will be spending it at the Georgia Dome watching the University of Tennessee Volunteers fight the Virginia Tech Hokies (WTF??) in the Chic-Fil-A (former Peach) Bowl.
10...9...8...7...6...5...
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Merry Christmas Dad...
So many people this time of year send newsletters out to their family and friends and I thought I would write one to just one person, my Dad.
Dear Dad,
This is your second year away from us and we miss you each and every day, especially at the holidays. It seems like every since you went away the family has kind of gone its separate ways, with Mom in one corner of the country and me in another. We still talk all the time and visit when we can but there is always an empty spot where you should be. A lot has happened over the last year and in case you missed any of it watching down on us I figured I would give you the cliff notes version.
Your favorite dog Milo is now into high fashion and wears sweaters. He was always cold and ever since Christy came to visit a year ago October and we got him a sweater he has been addicted to them! He now has a collection and even Mom is sending him new ones, including snazzy ones for the holidays! Even hoodies! Although he doesn't like the hoodies very much and gets really pissy when his ears are covered. It's really funny. He spends most of his spare time when he's not bossing the bigger dogs around sitting on me or Adam or Lexxy and sleeping. We still call him Stinky and he still sleeps on my head at night.
It was a hard year this year Dad where I was unemployed for a while but we got through it. I learned what I need to live by and what's truly important. I feel lucky to have found a new job so quickly while others in the country are still looking after being unemployed for months and even years at this point. I will make it through, I always do :)
We didn't really travel anywhere or have any good stories to tell of adventure but I do have wonderful stories to tell of reconnections with old friends near and far with whom I am blessed to have back in my life after many years absense. You know the old saying about new friends being silver and old friends being gold, well these friends are definitely 100% pure and remind me of what true friendships and acceptance are all about.
This year I turn the big 4-0 Dad... ugh! The clock is ticking and I feel under pressure to finish things I have on my list of ambitions. Things I should have completed in my twenties. I guess we always have time, but as we all know, you never know when your chances will suddenly run out and I don't want to leave anything unfinished in this lifetime when I leave it so many years from now, G-d willing.
Mom is happy and healthy and living a quiet life out in Oregon. She and Tom seem to love being retired together and do a heck of a lot of gardening. He is teaching her how to play golf and occasionally she cuts his hair. She hopes to get to Atlanta for a visit in January, depending on the weather and such. Tom is a nice man. He loves her and that's what's important. Personally, he's not you and he never will be but I am learning to accept him as her spouse, slowly but surely. You will always be my Dad though, that will never change.
For Christmas my one wish would be to have a great dream where you and I would have a good sit down conversation face to face. I could live off of that for months :)
I miss you Dad and wish I could just ring you up. Merry Christmas Dad. I love you
Dear Dad,
This is your second year away from us and we miss you each and every day, especially at the holidays. It seems like every since you went away the family has kind of gone its separate ways, with Mom in one corner of the country and me in another. We still talk all the time and visit when we can but there is always an empty spot where you should be. A lot has happened over the last year and in case you missed any of it watching down on us I figured I would give you the cliff notes version.
Your favorite dog Milo is now into high fashion and wears sweaters. He was always cold and ever since Christy came to visit a year ago October and we got him a sweater he has been addicted to them! He now has a collection and even Mom is sending him new ones, including snazzy ones for the holidays! Even hoodies! Although he doesn't like the hoodies very much and gets really pissy when his ears are covered. It's really funny. He spends most of his spare time when he's not bossing the bigger dogs around sitting on me or Adam or Lexxy and sleeping. We still call him Stinky and he still sleeps on my head at night.
It was a hard year this year Dad where I was unemployed for a while but we got through it. I learned what I need to live by and what's truly important. I feel lucky to have found a new job so quickly while others in the country are still looking after being unemployed for months and even years at this point. I will make it through, I always do :)
We didn't really travel anywhere or have any good stories to tell of adventure but I do have wonderful stories to tell of reconnections with old friends near and far with whom I am blessed to have back in my life after many years absense. You know the old saying about new friends being silver and old friends being gold, well these friends are definitely 100% pure and remind me of what true friendships and acceptance are all about.
This year I turn the big 4-0 Dad... ugh! The clock is ticking and I feel under pressure to finish things I have on my list of ambitions. Things I should have completed in my twenties. I guess we always have time, but as we all know, you never know when your chances will suddenly run out and I don't want to leave anything unfinished in this lifetime when I leave it so many years from now, G-d willing.
Mom is happy and healthy and living a quiet life out in Oregon. She and Tom seem to love being retired together and do a heck of a lot of gardening. He is teaching her how to play golf and occasionally she cuts his hair. She hopes to get to Atlanta for a visit in January, depending on the weather and such. Tom is a nice man. He loves her and that's what's important. Personally, he's not you and he never will be but I am learning to accept him as her spouse, slowly but surely. You will always be my Dad though, that will never change.
For Christmas my one wish would be to have a great dream where you and I would have a good sit down conversation face to face. I could live off of that for months :)
I miss you Dad and wish I could just ring you up. Merry Christmas Dad. I love you
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