Everyone is doing this “What are you thankful for” thing on facebook for their status updates. The weird thing to me was that when it started going around, it said something like “it’ll get harder as you go along”. This is only for less than a month people are doing it. I believe that once you actively start being thankful for things, you find more and more to be thankful for.

I’m so thankful to be capable of running this half-marathon (we’ll see how well I do after tomorrow early in the morn!). I’m also thankful for being able to have the time to train for it (though I didn’t train as much as I’d wanted, I did a good job nonetheless). I’m thankful for motivation, inspiration, determination, and this goal. Thankful to my mother for her good example (she is over 50 and ran 50 miles recently!)

So much has happened in my life since I signed up to run the 1/2 marathon. Many difficult things (the most difficult was the diagnosis of my father with stage IV lung cancer) including a few funerals and some personal tough times. But, that said, the running has made me happier through it. It’s gotten me out of many a depressing day’s funk. And it’s made me feel better about myself. All of the stuff they say about it is true. And yes, it was rough at times, and it is tough on your body, but it’s wonderful.

I enjoyed picking up my race packet (I’m thankful that my mom and I figured that out this morning instead of forgetting to do that and showing up and not being able to race!!!), and I’m thankful to my good friend who went down there with me.

I could go on and on being thankful, also for the recent good news that my dad’s CT scan showed significant shrinkage in the cancerous nodules (woohoo!), but I need to get things in order and go to bed.

I just wanted to share how much I’m grateful for (thankful for a nice family dinner tonight), and how excited I am to be here, night before race day. I’m not too nervous, a little worried about getting to bed at a decent hour, but I’ma settle down to a nice movie and drink some sleepy tea.

Woohoo…it’s almost Thanksgiving. Did I forget to mention I’m very thankful that I’ll have a few days off of school soon?!?!?

“Snow and Ice hit Midwest States” My family who lives near Detroit denies these claims, but admits to there being a possibility that it could hit as soon as tomorrow. That means in a few days, we will most likely be getting snow out here. Is that awesome? Maybe. I do love snow, and I guess if it’s going to be cold, then why not have some fun and beautiful snow? Really, I should get a coat.

Sadly, I have no money. And no jobs further. Well, I sort of had a job and I’m going to get some money from it at some point, but I’ve been waiting since mid-October for my next check. It’s sad. And I should be all happy and celebrating because I just finished taking my comprehensive examination, a requirement for passing the Grad School Education program. And I think I passed. But alas, so quickly I let go of the glory?

No! By gone! As I write this I remember the words of my mother, spoken early this morning, and she said to cultivate gratitude in every step of your life. For it can drastically change a life, make a child realize they like school, make a sick person better. Yes indeed. I am thankful for cats, my dog, my boyfriend, thankful for food (and credit cards to pay for it, hellish as they/that may be) and I’m very happy for my friends getting engaged.

I guess life isn’t so bad after all. The snow will be a nice change if it does happen. Maybe I can join a snow shoveling crew…dun dun dun dun (noise of dread and bad tasteless humor)

A woman gave her Mustang to the person that found her lost dog, and got a free Mustang in return from Armorall!

That makes me think that good random acts of kindness are making the news, making the break, making the day. Now go make your bed.

These kids have the right idea: students use recess time to make no more school for the day time. I always love when things get canceled because of snow. I noticed it is still warm in this state of Pencilveinya and I like it. Will it be a harsh winter, though? Who knows. It could be warm and sunny! Or not. I like ice skating.

What good deeds can I do to help the world? Talk about stuff I care about, like the way America is messed up because a salad costs more than a big mac and maybe that has something to do with our priorities and health issues. I can reduce, recycle and reuse (i want to make paper very soon, just need a screen)…but I won’t feel good until I volunteer.

Recently a woman I was talking with about jobs suggested I volunteer with a literacy center to get more experience if I wanted a job with their company. It’s a nice thought, but at this point right now in my life, I am poor. And need jobs. Many of them, so I can do the service of student teaching this Spring. I think that will be a good deed as long as I plan well. I guess I can volunteer later in life, but just like everything right now, I’m impatient.

At least I have lots to look forward to, and my boyf did a nice deed by fixing my razr phone that he previously got confused up (he did a lot of reprogramming and got it fixed). Now I have a sweet phone, but it only texts in Hebrew…anyway, having stuff to enjoy and be positive about helps make good deeds happen, probably I might not even be noticing them. Whether I do them or other people do them, good deeds are nice times.

In the meantime, old news bout a rapper with some mad sensible cars that didn’t get put on MTV Cribs.

And one last thing, having nothing to do with good deeds:

Narcoleptic Dog

(makes me think of lil brudder)