Day 147

I love when your in those situations where you look at everything around you, and think to your self if anyone looked in on you from the outside they would really wonder "What the heck?"! When you think about what is going on, what it would look like form the outside, and cant help but laugh! So, here was my moment from today. . .

We are driving around in, not the nicest part of Thornton. Meaning this with no offense it is a bit ghetto, most everything is in Spanish, and everything is cheep and in the flavor of spicy with lime! We are right next to the High School, and it appears to be some time around lunch time. We are on a quest for Mexican Smoothies. Smoothies made in a little tienda, by a medium nice Mexican woman. As we pull into the little shoppette we notice a few police officers and a police car around the store in the corner. Hummmm. Not the store we are headed to, so, guess we will still go in! As we park, I swear like 50 kids pile out of the little store!! How did they all fit in there? So we park, and out of the Beetle we pile. A vision of the oddest looking family ever! There is me, Chris the built, blond haired, blue eyed passenger, Nick the tall, lanky, and bearded fellow from the back, and little baby girl Lucia in the car seat with Nick in the back! And, out we all pile and into the smoothie shop we go. A bunch of clearly whities looking for a Mexican smoothie. And for anyone acting as an outside observer, I cant help but smile thinking about the humorous family we portrayed next to a group of busted high schoolers on our quest for smoothies!

Day 146

Yep, definitely had a good day, had a lot of fun, got to meet some amazing students, made an awesome video, and got posted to YouTube! Unfortunately I can't post the link to the YouTube video, I have to take it down because it has students in it, and for what ever reasons, shouldn't post videos of students online I guess! But I was there, I was on YouTube! I am thankful for all the amazing students that I got to meet today, they stories they shared, and the success's I see coming there way! Im thankful we were able to play and make a mocumentary while "working", and Im thankful our students who helped us out! Couldn't have done it without them! And, Im thankful for the "adults" I go to work with today as well!! Fun times, fun times!!

Day 145

I am so grateful that I finally have some time to take care of things around the house!! As my work load and stress level really started to increase the past few months, my time to clean the house and keep things in check really went down! I am SO thankful I finally have time to take care of things, and even spend a shared day off with Will! It feels great to get the house cleaned up, it looks so much better!! Ironic how when we have less and less time, our house chores really seem to lose importance. But at the same time our stress levels are usually up, and having a messy house stresses us out even more! Funny how that works. Well, now that I am finally relatively unbusy, I have time to take care of that final major stressor and get the house cleaned up! Not going to lie, definitely with is was a more shared priority in our house! But as long as I have the time I guess Ill be the main maid. Now, on to organizing my office/studio. . . .

Day 144

I am thankful for GT Dave's Kombucha, and Kick Ass Immune! These two amazing products, I swear, have kept me healthy and illness free through the two most stressful and monumental semesters I have ever had!! throughout my entire college career I had a pattern of always getting sick at the end of every semester. And working with kids and being in schools I typically got sick one or two times a semester! It was ridiculous! While I am sure there were several contributing factors, these two guys I am sure were the main reasons I never got sick this past year. You know that feeling you get as you just start to get sick? That creepy sensation in the back of your neck, and upper shoulders? Take these guys when you start getting that sensation, and I can't guarantee you wont get sick, but you sure wont get as sick! Try it!

Days 142-143

Yes I am again combining days, but sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do. And when days are so similar, I would prefer to combine than be monotonously repetitive! For your sake as much as mine!

This weekend I went on a little road trip / camping trip down to the Sand Dunes of Colorado! I'll say that I am thankful I went, did the things I did, and had some cool experiences. But man am I thankful to be home as well! I really do like to camp (if you can even call running water and flushing toilets camping) I grew up camping. I love the grilling, hanging around the campfire till late at night, and I really like the excuse for not showering! But when it is horrifically windy out, your body has been sandblasted by the dunes, and the incessant wind has started paying a toll on sanity. It's nice to be home, in the quiet, in a shower! I had a good time, loved the company I was with, and enjoyed camping with Will for the first time and an thankful for the whole experience! But, a shower has never felt or sounded so good!

Day 140

I am thankful for the 11th grade Junior class that I have just been teaching. They are an amazing bunch, full of like, character, personality, and enthusiasm! They are a unique group with many different individuals, and/or small groups. But, it appears to me that they can also easily come together when they need the strength and support of one another. I'm thankful that I have had to opportunity to work with such an amazing group, and I hope that I am able to continue working with them next year!!

Day 139

I am so thankful for finding cool threads at affordable prices shopping at Buffalo Exchange! The styles very, and definitely suit specific tastes, but there is always a buried treasure waiting to be discovered in the racks! Don't you love when you find an unexpected sunrise? A shining, beaming, object of beauty catching your eye as you wage through monotony? Sure I went in looking for a pair of Wellie's and came out with 3 new shirts, you never know what to expect! That's half the fun!

Day 138

Today I was SO excited to get to reconnect with my students from the first school I student taught at! I was also thankful that they were excited to see me!! Today they had a final exhibition for the projects and the topic they had stated studying while I was at their school. I was more than impressed with the quality of work these 7th and 8th graders had produced, their professional presentation being in a gallery, and, well, just there overall all around awesomeness! These kids are going places, they are bright, and sharp, and I am grateful I was able to work with them, be appreciated by them, and help them learn and grow!

Day 137

I am thankful for the Pizza For The Gods

Season finales

Hipster Runnoff, my auditory inspiration

Day 136

Today I am very very thankful for my dear friend Lindsey, also known as little Lindsey! I am so thankful that I met Lindsey a few years ago as we both started the education program and we were able to grow and learn together. I am so fortunate to have Lindsey as a friend, she has been a crucial part of my past few years and I am glad we have been able to triumph bumps and come out of the Art Ed. program the super stars we are! I think I can say we are truly friends, we have had disagreements and come out on top standing together. If you ask me, that is the sign of a true, solid, hopefully life long friendship! Linds says that I sometimes ground her, help her feel calmed, rooted, and pulled back in! For me, she lightens my heart, brings sunshine and light to my life, keeps me free and blowing in the wind when I starts to get down! A perfect mach if you ask me! I am so thankful we have shared the past few years together and come to the end graduating together! XOXO

Day 135

Graduation!!! Cue the Pomp and Circumstance, I have officially graduated (again)!! No I did not walk, partake in that horribly painful and boarding right of passage we all have to endure. Been there, done that. But I did graduate once again, and yes I will be receiving another diploma to go with it!! And I couldn't be more thankful that I did! I love where I am at, where I am going and all the steps I have taken where I have been!

Day 134

I continue to be amazed and impressed by the new people I meet and get the opportunity to work with on a daily basis! I am thankful for the opportunities I have been given over the past semester to work with SO many great people. Not only have I had the opportunity to work with amazing art educators, but also amazing teachers across the board from all disciplines. And don't even get me started on the administrators I have been working with! All these individuals I have had the opportunity to work with area ll the most dedicated, educated, and passionate people I have come to know! I am so very thankful that this past semester has exposed me to all these wonderful individuals, that I have been able to "date" these schools short term before I commit myself and "go steady" in the fall with my DSST!

Day 133

I'm nearing the end. This finish line is rapidly approaching and I can see the red tape at the end of the path! I'm grateful I can see the red tape, and in a very odd way I am thankful I am feeling confused. Im a little unsure about what is in store for me. Confused in all the feelings I am feeling, all the uncertainty ahead of me, and the big steps I am about to take as I start teaching my own class. But I think this is all a good thing. It would be foolish to be ending this one chapter and starting the nest with too much certainty and confidence. It's ok to be confused, and unsure. I am sure there has been some time in your life you have benefit form this feeling, or begin in a situation and wavering a bit. These situations are the ones from which we grow, and move forward, as we search for stronger balance and assurance in our life.

Day 132

I am so thankful for awesome senior t-shirts. The cool kids that make them. And the fact that they perfectly match my awesome 80's fabulous sunglasses. How could you not be thankful for all that is creative, rocks, and is neon green!?


Thanks Linds for the sweet shades!

Day 131

I am thankful for time with friends, sweet potato fries (yes at Sputnik) Horse Feathers, and most importantly the enthusiasm, energy, and passion from my peers! Now that I am officially finished with school I see this ever present looming desire to crawl into a hole, become a hermit, and do nothing! But I can't! I know I can't! I have to avoid that call and pull, and my friends and peers are keeping me back. And for this, to them, I am thankful! Have you ever been pulled to, and called by that soft and inviting voice of hermitism? Enticing I know! But when that voice is calling after you have just graduated and there is little on the immediate "to do" list it can be a slippery slope! Thankfully I have some enthusiastic friends pulling me back and keeping me motivated!!

Day 130

I'm done! I'm done? I'm done. Today was the day I turned in my enormous document chronicling my main unit plan I taught, and summarizing the past four years of my education. All in one formal, qantitative document. Done. This document feels rather incongruous in keeping with the education I have just received, but it's what I gotta do. It's tough when you have to just do what your told, keep the status quo, jump the hoops to get to where you want to be. But some times you gotta do what you gotta do. I really think that in the end this document has made me stronger, wiser, and more analytically aware as a teacher. And in typical fashion, I ruffled the feathers of some quo keepers through the process. But, in the end my supervisor was amazing, stuck with me, lead me and followed me on this last step of an amazing journey.

Today I'm thankful I'm done with the beast of a document I just turned in, and I'm grateful for Miki the supervisor who stood beside me!

Day 129

Sung to the tune of happy birthday: happy mothers day to you, happy mothers day to you, happy mothers day dear moms, happy mothers day to you! Today I am thankful to all those good moms out there making awesome little people participating in our world. Notice the emphasis on good? Yes there is definitely a difference between good moms and, not so good moms. The good moms generally make good kids, the kids that teachers love. The, shall we say less good moms, make the less good kids. The kids that can make a teachers life. . . tiring. Don't get me wrong, there are exceptions to the rules, but generally. . .

I am also VERY grateful for my mom today. I literally would not be the person I am today if it was not for her! She has always been there for me through everything life has thrown my way. Always there cheering me on, pushing me forward, holding my hand, supporting my steps, what ever I need, she is there!! Like any good duo there have been up's and down's but I have always known through anything my mother was always there for me being the best possible mother imaginable! Thanks MOM!

Day 128

I am thankful for BBQ's. For veggie kabobs. Grilled pineapple. And feeling validated in the choice of my educational path.

I am going to "take the high road" here and not specify the reasons why I feel my education so much better than other options out there. To speak my mind may come off as rude. Just know, and my peers I know you know, the education I am finishing up here is incomparable!

Three cheers for grilled pineapple!!

Day 127

I feel so grown up. Like a real adult, a mature grownup like in the movies! And, for this I am thankful. It is so fun to feel like a grownup! I am grateful for new friends I am making these days, and that I am being invited to bar-b-q by candle light and enjoy delicious healthy food! To spend an evening having wonderful, and hilarious conversations, drinking wine around the table; nothing compares! While these feelings may not last for ever (maybe I will be ok if they don't, can't be an adult all the time!) I am enjoying begin an adult while it lasts!

Day 126

I love when I have a student SO excited and enthusiastic about a project they can hardly contain themselves! And, I am thankful when they share this enthusiasm with me. (Especially when it is a lesson I have made up!) One of my students in my Watercolor class is really excited (as in comes early, stays late, and is loving all things watercolor), and exciting me about his project! I can't wait to see it done, and see the result of all his hard work. When students are so excited, it makes me excited to be teaching them! I am grateful for this passion, and when my students are generous enough to share!

Day 125

Happy Birthday dear Daddy, Happy Birthday to you!! Thankful for my Daddy, and that we were able to celebrate his birthday today! His real birthday was last week, but today we were able to get together as an amended family to celebrate with him. At the ever delicious Interstate Kitchen and Bar. It was nice to get together with my dad, sister and hubby enjoying the company and food for a good night!

Day 124

Where does the time go? How do things happen to pass by so quickly? Today just happened in a bit of a daze. Tired, glazed over, and maybe still a little concerned from the ER events of the previous day this exact day just happened in a bit of a blur! But perhaps no big event is a good thing. A day that slides by can be a relief sometimes. No big things, but again many little things to be thankful for. Very grateful for little mini cupcakes. Vanilla cupcakes with a light chocolate ganache, a carmel cream icing with a small piece of carmel with a little pit of salt on top. Totally Amazing! Who cant love a salty sweet combo? Do you typically crave sweets? Salty perhaps? Maybe the savory? That is definitely more me. I love and crave savory. Thankfully. Because that is what I love to eat! Yep. Savory is a flavor. Don't believe me, you can look it up (my internet is just too slow apparently at the moment to actually look anything up before we all lose any patients we may have). So, what, I am thankful for delicious savory flavor combos, the cup cakes they come on, and that there were few to no major events for the day!

Day 123

1.2.3. Kind of cool number for a day! The 1-2-3 day of the year.

Today I am thankful to be back home sitting next to a snoring husband. This afternoon I had the unfortunate experience of having to leave school, and rush home to find a very, very sick Will whom I had to then rush to the ER! He had been so sick all morning, and unable to keep any liquid down, that he became severally dehydrated and all his muscles were spasming and cramping! Once we got to the ER and he was in with an IV things got a little better. 1 CAT scan, 2 doses of anti-nausea medicine, 2 pain drugs, a negative on kidney stones and a negative on appendicitis, and 7 hours later we are home! With mesenteric adenitis. What ever that really means? Im just thankful we are all well, feeling a little better, and home to rest and sleep in our own beds!

Things should be looking better tomorrow!

Day 122

I am so thankful for my new little nephew Jacob William Douglas! I am very very grateful that he was was born completely healthy, and that is mom (Meredith) is also healthy and doing well!


Here is Will with the little guy, he is definitely a proud uncle! Very exciting to have a new addition to our family, we are all so thankful, proud, and excited about everything the future holds for Jacob!

Day 121

Everyday we come into contact with beauty, light, and love. But too often we are caught up, or distracted, by the mundane details bickering and conflicts in our lives to notice. Today I am thankful I was abel to let go, notice and recognize this fact. Learning to recognize the insignificance of holding onto negativity, and opening my eyes to see all the beauty light and love that exists in this world. Thank you Nancy for helping me.

Day 120

Im grateful for Fridays. Easy days at the school. Free dinner with mom. And Summer. 500 days of her to be exact. These are all things I am thankful for today. These days I am finding it easier and easier to find little things to be thankful for. Not every day has to have some big event to be thankful for. Little things definitely add up, and I think it is important to look at and notice the little things! Keep an eye out, there all around!

Day 119

Im just thankful that today is over, and that means I am one day closer to the possibly of being able to sleep in! That's all I want to do at this point is sleep in. It has been forever since I feel like I have gotten that luxury. I really can not remember the last time I did not set my alarm. I just hope that when the opportunity arises, I can actually sleep in! I seem to be having a problem sleeping in past 5.30, which I am really not liking too much. Im thankful this seemingly long day passed, work was done, and I am one day closer to a good long nights sleep. How late can you sleep in? Im thinking 9.30/10 would feel like a miracle! Here's hoping this day comes soon!

118

Oh man. . . I have to say, inappropriate or not, I am pretty grateful that I do NOT make sex noises when I am working out. Seriously. Don't pretend you don't know what I am talking about. We have all run into the person (typically a guy) who makes completely ridiculous noises with every lift of the weight while he is pumping iron. Maybe it is just me, but all I can think about while I am forced to listen to this is that the noises directly translate to the noises made during fornication. This is not a good thing.

Today I had the unfortunate experience of working out near a gentleman who, well. . . based on his breathing patterns and, shall we say rhythm, is not as good as he thinks he is in bed. Sorry dude. So what am I thankful for? Im thankful I have the presence, consideration, and am self aware enough not to make a fool of myself as I am working out! I mean really, does the weight get lighter the louder you exhale? Do you actually get stronger the faster you exhale? Does staring at your self in the mirror and making an ugly face make the work more effective? All I am asking is that those who read this take their headphones out for a moment and listen to make sure they are quiet as they work out, and while your headphones are out take a listen, I am sure you will see what I am talking about.

Really? Sometimes that is all I want to say to these people. Really?

Day 117

Pretty thankful/greatful to my dearist Will. For without him I would no be sitting here wrtiting out my post for the day on my new iphone!! Thank you my love for my new toy! Love you.

Day 116

Monday Monday, la la la lala, so good to me, . . . . Oh Mama's and the Papas, gotta love some classic music! Especially when it is about the day you are having. Although I can't really say the lyrics of the song relate to the day I have had, I like to sing it none the less! Thankfully today was a very productive and busy day! Nocking the items off the To Do list and plowing through to the finish line! The end is in sight and now is the time to go full steam ahead, and finally be done. Don't you just love the days you are really productive? Somehow motivated by an unrecognizable energy your not familiar with. Somehow lots of work ends up getting done, the day is great! Don't get me wrong, as I have previously said I am definitely fond of days of rest when you slack off, take some personal time, and basically do nothing. But today, Im thankful I got a lot done and am powering through the to do list and it feels great! Monday Monday so good to me. . . . .

Day 115

Im thankful for the return of old friends. It is always so wonderful when friends form the past return and it's almost like they never left! Today some old friends came back into town for a little visit, and I am so thankful we were able to get together! Our friends, technically Will's old roommate from his freshman year of college (Mike) and his wife (April), now are living in Hawaii while Mike is stationed there. On a visit out here while taking a little time off before Mike's next deployment. Sometimes seeing old friends can be awkward, like too much time has passed and you are now different people. Today however, was just like the conversation kept going from the last time we were all together some two and a half years ago! Thankfully we were all abel to get together, and it fell into just like old times. Hopefully, we will be able to come together again in the near future and it will still be just like old times!

Day 114

Sometimes there are days when you need some white noise in the background, something you can follow along to in the background and check in with on occasion; a steady stream of old replaying movies that can suck you into relaxation and TV enjoyment! Today Im thankful there was a steady stream of old movies on various channels to keep me entertained as I worked in and out on various projects throughout the day. It's kind of nice to be doing homework, cleaning house, or any other mundane chore we have to do, and have something entertaining you in the background. A story to check in with when you need to sit and rest for a few. There is always room in the schedule for a day of hanging out, chilling out, and all the while multitasking as your getting stuff done, thankfully that was today!

Day 113

Groupon. Join the group. Strength in numbers, and when the numbers are saving, that's even better! Im thankful my sister found herself an awesome groupon at the ever delicious The Counter and shared it with Will and I! Know what a Groupon is? Basically a coupon that is available only if a certain number of people group together and agree to buy the groupon! So, enough people joined the group and we got a $30 gift card to The Counter for $15. These things offer serious savings. So, I highly recommend to all that you check this website out, and join the group! You'll be thankful you did!

Day 112

Yet again I am thankful for the amazing opportunities I am being granted, and specifically the wonderful people I am meeting along the way! Even more surprising to me is the caliber of people in my company. I feel honored to be working and collaborating with such smart, thoughtful, poetic, and overall wonderful individuals. And not only do I think we are working toward wonderful things with our projects, but also developing friendships. I am thankful for E.P.I.C. project I am a part of developing, the people I am working with, and the great things before all of us. How wonderful to see where we go, thankfully we are in such strong partnership.

Day 111

Not only is it Day 111, a great day for binary code, but it is also art show time! When I was in school I didn't remember there ever being an art show. These days it seems every district, and in some cases individual schools has an art show. I suppose I am thankful for these shows, they give students recognition and praise for their abilities. Perhaps encouragement and confidence as they venture forward. I guess my hesitance and reservations lie in the question of whether or not they really need these shows? Clearly many of us succeeded to become prosperous and happy individuals without even the notion of an art show. But, they do seem to be good for the kids that participate, and especially the ones who win! So for now Ill say I am thankful that there are these shows for our kids to participate in and be a part of. But, I have a sneaking suspicion I may have a different opinion if I had to organize one! Until then. . .

Day 110

I worked hard, I did my best, and in the end. . . . I won! Well, in my mind at least I won! I got a job!! I am so incredibly thankful to have a job, at a school I love (well Im pretty sure I will love) with great people, doing what I love! I am so incredibly thankful to be the future art teacher at the new Denver School of Science and Technology Green Valley Ranch campus! So glad this stress has ben lifted and I can go into the summer with a lighter and fuller heart!

Day 109

The previously mentioned blog, the one sharing in my problem of procrastination (aka blogcrastination) not only shares in my disposition, but also is an awesome blog. Teacher Sweaters is a blog in which my fellow teacher documents what she is wearing each an every day to teach at school. Not repeating a single outfit! Quite a feet, to a problem I find my suffering with almost every morning. To be a teacher, in a school which expects you to dress professionally is tough. Some days all I want to wear are jeans and a sweat shirt. Not to mention the struggle trying not to look like I have been teaching elementary school for 40 years in sweaters that look like craft throw up, or too professional like I'm in a corporate ladder climbing office building. It's tough! I find her determination, and awesome outfits absolutely inspiring! Humm, perhaps I can shake off my blogcrasitination and do it with style!

Day 108

Im not the only one! Found a friend with a blog, the title for one day was Blograstination...! Oh man is that ever the adjective for me. Much like procrastination, but for blogging. Bloggier. Thankfully, I am no the only one often finding myself in this situation. Glad I have found myself a descriptor!

Day 107

Things are changing. Things are happening. This is exiting. And I am so very thankful to seemingly be a part of this progression.

The field of art education is changing, pedagogy is becoming more progressive, there are new ways to look art education. Looking beyond aesthetically pleasing products, to the process. To what the students learn in the process of making their art. Learning to think critically, develop 21st century thinking skills, and all the while learning to think creatively. With an aesthetic product in the end to boot! This is where art education is headed, slowly but surely. And I could not be more thankful to be riding the crest of this wave of reform. Today I was excited to attend the Colorado Arts Education Summit. See some glimmers of change in the distance as they begin to shine bright and guide others. That and I got free Chipotle!

Day 106

I am very thankful for the kind hearted generosity of my dear friend Sarah. Today, ok well technically like Monday or so, she got me a ticket to go with her to Citizen Cope. The reason, an early graduation gift, a celebration, a well needed and deserved break. To her, for this gift, I am so very thankful. I had a great time sharing in the experience of this live show (coincidentally each of us with our significant others, which made it even a little better!). In the bigger picture, Im most thankful that Sarah and I are friends. We have actually known each other for quite some time. But only in the last nine months or so have we truly become good friends. Amazing how big events and transitions in life can bring people together, and hopefully this friendship continues well into the future, so our lives can mellow out a little and we can just chill and relax together outside of a live show. Thank you my doll for your truly kind heart, love, and generosity.

Day 105

What a day. Yeah, I could say I am thankful for the experience I had, that it was a time to learn, and that I am thankful it happened. Looking on the positive side of things and keeping up that sunny disposition. But really, Im thankful I didn't cry, and didn't lose it as a result of said experience.

Oh man was I pushed by a tough, tough teenage girl today. I think she would probably agree when I say, she sure can be a bitch. And today I was the receiver of that attitude. Honestly, I should have expected it. Karma can be tough to take. I was one of the queens of being a bitch in high school. My group and I were known for making teachers cry and/or walk out. So today when I was faced with this little stinger I shouldn't have been so rattled. But I was. Thankfully I don't know if it showed that much, and I definitely held it all together! Im thankful I pulled it off, hopefully with a little bit of grace, and didn't let everything show!

Sure it was a learning experience, there were many things to be learned. But really, I probably could have done without our confrontation! Next time we have class together. . . . we will see what she brings. And hopefully I can take it. Actually, I know I can take it. Bring it on!

Day 104

I am thankful for all the role models I have had in my life. The good, the bad, and the ugly. I think sometimes we are miss guided into thinking that roll models should bee good example setters, people too look up to, aspire to be like. But, really aren’t the best exemplars in our lives those we observe, acknowledge faults in, and then try not to emulate? Why is copying someone, better than being your self and making right decisions and choices to become your own strong individual? Im thankful for all the various roll models I have had in my life, the ones I have looked up to, the ones I have looked at and know exactly how I do not want to be. All of them. We should try, I think, to look at everyone around us and not only reflect on adapting positive traits that we observe in others, but also try thinking critically about the world around us and making change from the negatives we observe. Roll models don't all have to be super stars, we can learn from every one and look up to them. Try it.

Day 103

I am thankful that I have a place to go to join with friends, to relax, converse, eat and enjoy one another’s company. On a good day when I am lucky at this establishment there is also a person to be there who doesn’t know me at all, but does. I don’t even know this fellow’s name, but when I walk in I feel at ease to see him there, and I know before I can turn back around there he will be there with my drink in hand ready to say hello. Now this may just be good bartending, he remembers my face and my drink, but that to me is enough to say your there, and that you care (at least just a little). It’s comforting. Comforting to be remembered and feel at ease knowing you are some place familiar. I am thankful I have found this place, and live near by, and that my friends also enjoy meeting me there! Now if only I could get my husband to like it too!

Never and, or ever been to Sputnik? Should check it out some time. As I have mentioned before, who doesn’t love happy hour? And a pretty darn good menu selection, and on a weekend after a night of far too much fun, who doesn’t love a breakfast bowl of delicious craziness? Mmmmm. French fries for breakfast!

Day 102

Honestly, don't you like it (just a tiny little bit) when your in a group, doing anything in which you are with other people that should supposedly be on your same level. But then someone does something that makes them look a little like a fool, and helps you look even better!! Guess I supped to say that its not funny, or not good to see others do things that just make them look a little foolish. But seriously. . . kind of nice when it helps you look a little better to eyes of others. Not going to lie. You know would feel the same way too sometimes, and it's nice, and natural. Really, if I think about it there are several / plenty of times in which I have also been the fool to make others look better. So today, thankful I was no looking the fool and today, that pleasure went to someone els!!

Day 101

I am so thankful that I live in a city in which I can loosen the locks, blow off the dust, and slide open the windows in such a beautiful time of year! Im glad that I live in an area that I can open the windows, breath in the fresh air and feel refreshed and cleansed. I couldn't emerging living in an environment with highly polluted air. Where I couldn't see off in the distance; I could only see as far as the smog and contaminants let me gaze. Where my lungs felt clogged, and it burned to take a deep breath. It is unfortunate that any one, any animal, has to live in such situations. Many of us are very fortunate to live where we live, I feel especially lucky. And, one of the best times of the year to breath in this fresh air and get it circulating through your house is now!

Day 100

Day 100. I am thankful that it is day 100! I can't believe I am almost 1/3 of the way through this project, made to triple digits! I can hardly believe how fast this time has been traveling by! Wow, what a year so far. . . and I think it will only continue to get better!

Day 99

Isotropic - īsəˈträpik; -ˈtrōpik - having a physical property that has the same value when measured in different directions. Often contrasted with anisotropic. Our days, the weeks we live, the calendar we all rely on to keep us scheduled, measures our days in the same value. 24 hours. 1440 minutes. 86400 seconds. All in a day! We measure out days isotropically looking both forward, and back, in two different directions. This is a concept that seams to be around me, and in my head a lot these days. Looking forward, and measuring out my days and schedule from as close by as tomorrow, and as far away as years. And here I look back. Distinctly measuring out my time spent in days. Sometimes I get behind, and my days get lost among one another. Thankfully, I have a touchstone isotropic.org. Informs you of more than you ever wanted to know about what ever day it is. And many other evenly measured things I don't really understand at all!

Day 98

Anyone else ever watch Rachel Zoe on Bravo? If you don't, and you care at all abut fashion, jewelry, or creativity at all your missing out!! Ba-nanas! As a fan, I have become a subscriber / member of Mrs. Zoe's daily fashion report. And really. Who wouldn't be thankful for a juicy little nugget of fashion and beauty right there in their e-mail every day!?! Love it! Yes some times, ok most of the time, the items Rachel reports on are outrageous, or phenomenally way to expensive!! But a girl can dream right? That's half the fun! I am thankful for the little bits of the big life I receive from Mrs. Zoe every day!


How can you not be thankful for these Titanic Pumps Alexander McQueen!?

Day 97

I am so very thankful I am beginning to create a strong network of peers and friends in the field. And more importantly, I am thankful they trust in me, have faith in me, see potential, and want to recommend me for positions to work with them!! This gives me such confidence and hope in a strong, successful, and most importantly a happy future! I am thankful that others think of me when they think of "someone I would recommend for this job" and I trust that eventually the right recommendation and job for me will line up providing for me a future job! Thank you to all I know, to those who have helped me network my way in, and to those who think of me, recommend me, and promote me in a very competitive field!

Day 96

I feel like I was duped. I was hooked into attending a meeting with promise's of money and food. Shouldn't have been such a sucker. Don't you think I would have know better? I was told I would learn about loan forgiveness and eat free pizza. Turns out it was just promotion to join the national education association, and I have a sneaking suspicion there was some union promotion in there too. But, at least I got to see some friends, and had a little of an adventure! Have to look on the brighter side of thing sometimes, and learn form your mistakes. Right? So next time I wont be lured by such promises. And really, why was I so excited by a cheep greasy slice of pizza? Ugh. As I said though, at least I had friends there! The shining stars in my miss adventures, and disappointment in realizing I was duped!

Day 95

Oh Monday. Actually kind of glad you are back. Nice to see you again. I have missed my weekly schedule and structured daily routine. After a week of somewhat crazy and hectic spring break time I am thankful to be back to more routine schedule, and I am excited to actually have a "normal" week at my high school! Do you crave habit and routine as most humans do? I do. Although I do grow tired of the routine and often need to change it up, there is something comforting about predictability. Welcome back structured schedule, nice to see you again!

Day 94

Oh goodness. As I slept last night, I awoke several times in the middle of the night. Why? I am not quite sure. But each time I had a little mini freak out as I realized how much work I had to do before Monday. This was Saturday night/Sunday early morning!! I had a lot of work to do incase you didn't guess. So, in the end I am very thankful that I was abel to bust my but, get all prepared and ready for school Monday, and even take care of a few things around the house! I can't say that I got done everything I should have. But, I got done enough. Ever fall behind in the work load of life? Not so comfortable a place to be. Thankfully at the end of today I am in a little more comfortable place then where the day started.

Day 93

Saturday, oh Saturday, how I love to see you Saturday!! Sometimes I have mixed feelings on Saturdays. But. . . . . this Saturday, nice to see you. Granted, you came too soon, and came too fast. Im not actually ready for it to be Saturday, but I am going to act like I am, I have been looking forward to you all week!

Day 92

I really wish that I could post a video here for you to see. But, alas I do not know how to take a video from YouTube and bring it to here!!?? SO I will just provide for you a link, and you can see it there for your self! Click, and check out The Temper Trap, Sweet Disposition. This song has been everywhere for me the past few days, every time I drive my car, I hear it. I even heard it in the exact same area on the exact same street. I love this song, have for like a year, and I am pretty thankful that it appears to be stalking me and making me smile every day!

Day 91

Who isn't thankful for trivia night? I love trivia night and I was completely reminded of this fact tonight. Much thanks to my friend Kyle! I love the way that completely random questions of arbitrary nature can bring together a mixed cocktail of people and equal a lot of fun!! Denver trivia seems to be a pretty happening scene, something you could partake in nightly if you so choose! One group that puts on trivia at a variety of locations is Geeks Who Drink which is definitely a tricky bunch! Tonight I was just at Choppers, I don't know who does their trivia, but we did alright this time around! Anyway, thankful for trivia nights, the fun and challenges that arise, and the fun/random groups they seem to bring together. Plus, when else can I apply my knowledge that alligator gender is determined by temperature, and the biggest shark in the ocean eats plankton??

Day 90

Who ever invented flavored coffee creamer, Thank You!

Ok, and I am thankful I was able to see things from a different perspective today as well! Going to an art museum with three 3 year olds and a 2 year old gives you a much different perspective on the art there! It's pretty interesting how things I can sit and stare at for ever, they will breeze by just because they are in a big open room and feel free to run!! Then they will see something they like, stop and be intrigued by what I think is nothing special. It's the small things, the simple things that we often neglect to notice, and need some smaller eyes to help us see.

Day 89

Today is Wills Birthday!! Pain and simple I am SO very very thankful that Will was borne! He is an amazing man, and I so very fortunate to call him my husband!! Thanks Will for being borne, and thanks to Wills parents for making him!!!

Day 88

Um, some times in out lives little things are big things right? Right! Im thankful that for the second night in a row I have come up with, and excited a successful and delicious dinner!! Dinners, as I have mentioned here before are hard, and a two night victory is worth celebrating if you ask me! And I introduced WIll to the delicious world of falafel and he likes it!! Add that to the lit of dinner options!! Yeah!!!

Day 87

So, so, so, so, so, SO, so, SO, SO very thankful for the kindness, and thoughtfulness of others out there in this world!! Today I was playing frisbee golf with the aforementioned Kathryn and my cell phone fell out of my pocket!! Since we were outside, in soft grasses and mud I did not hear it drop! Needless to say, some awesome guy picked it up and started to investigate how he might be able to return it to me! Thank goodness!! Ironically / smartly he tried calling "Home" which is my home, the home I grew up in a child but have no lived in in nine or so years! So, Dad got the message, and I guess called my phone (this random guy) back and told him to call Will to try and hunt me down. Well, Will was at work, and got the message, he learned from random guy I was playing frisbee golf and deduced that I was most likely with Kathryn playing such an activity. Then he hunted down her number using six degrees of separation and I finally talked to Will on Kathryn's phone. I learned some random guy had my phone, and that he would hold onto it till Will got off work and we could meet up with him to get it back! Sheeesh!! Thank you random guy for putting forth that initiative and helping me get my phone back!! Good things I am sure will come your way!

I just have to say that meanwhile on my end, people were shocked at my calmness! I realized at he end of the course I might have dropped my phone, but I wasn't sure. It could have been in the car, or in the house. . . . But I told my self, "things will work out, it will all be fine where ever it is. Don't stress. It will com back! And if it doesn't than I get a new phone!" Sure enough it all worked out, thanks to the goodness of others in this world!!

Day 86

I am very thankful for one specific awesome friend in my life today! She is a relatively new friend (in the grand scheme of my life thus far) but also a best friend. She is a friend I know I can always count on, and she is an amazingly beautiful woman! My friend Kathryn can always make me smile, make me wonder, and most importantly she teaches me to better enjoy this life I have been given! And, she is a supporter and allie in the live of vegetarianism! I am so thankful we had class together, and became friends, I value the role she plays in my life, and am so thankful to know her! Hopefully, if all goes as planed, we will remain friends for a very long time have many more wonderful experiences together!!

Day 85

Um. Lots of things. Little things. Big things. Many things make me thankful. Today I am thankful for my wonderful and amazing friends, and the new friends (aka boy friends) of these friends. Always comforting when you meet a friends significant other and really truly like them! Im also thankful for the wondrous ways in which the world works once again. Tonight at the going away party for my friend (Michelle, who is moving away with her new and awesome male friend Joe) I found on the floor in the bathroom a hundred dollar bill! I thought about it, and discussed it, and in the end left with it. Thank you world! And finally Im thankful for the great fortunes of my sister! We looked at a potential apartment for her as she moves down to Denver, and it was awesome!! I am so excited for her, her new job, moving to Denver, and potentially having this awesome apartment!!

Day 84

I think I am just going to say that I am thankful for the experience I was able to have today. I finally had my first "official" interview today, and Im going to say it went well, well enough, not amazing, but well! Life is all a learning experience. I think that today I learned a lot. I learned that I really liked the school I interviewed at, and that I really want that job, and I learned that I need to be confident, think things through, and do the best I could. Which is exactly what I did today! So I am thankful for the experience I had today, that I feel good about it, and the potential job that lies before me!

Day 83

Wow. Yet again things seem to be working out quite well! Thank you mother nature. Thanks for snowing really hard at p.m. rush hour yesterday so that they would cancel school today. And thanks for only snowing a little this morning, and then being beautiful and sunny. I loved it. Also, thanks for giving me a great day off of school so I could get lots of work done for my interview tomorrow. I'm ready! So thank you mother nature, and world, for working things out so kindly today. Greatly appreciated. I love you.

Day 82

Today I got to go visit my alma mater, the University of Northern Colorado. The other UNC, the smelly UNC! But I was really glad I got to go, it was a very interesting experience to go visit there with a bunch of 11th graders. Perspective college students. Perspective UNC students? It was interesting how much, and how little, had changed in the past 6 years! There are completely different dorms on top of where my science class was, but yet my dorm looked like it hadn't changed at all. I was thankful to here the students different perspectives of the campus, and the college. Perhaps I am a little bias, but it really was a great school to go to! It was great though to see that these kids are really starting to figure out what kind of school really suits them. Some kids shared my like, thought it was perfect, and loved the campus. While others thought it was too small, there weren't enough diverse people. Guess they are looking for the more outrageous people of CU Boulder! It's good to hear different perspectives, and I am thankful I was able to share the experience with my new students. Plus, we got to change up the schedule, and we got free lunch, and we made it home just before the blizzard. Perfect!

Day 81

I am thankful for all the great goodness and kindness the universe has been granting me these days. These months. I feel so lucky sometimes, so thankful for the little things that I am granted on a regular basis, thankful for the big things, I just have to say thank you world. Today I was driving home, it was dusk, and there off in the distance I saw something sitting at the corner. Sure enough it was a police officer with his radar checking for speeding. Crap. What was the speed limit. I looked around, 30. What am I going? 30!! Thank you world!! I feel so lucky today and many days, to be receiving such blessings, and I am speechless aside form thank you. Thank you to the powers that be!

Day 80

So, so, very thankful for the generosity, and partnership I have found with my love. The one I call my husband. Will. Sometimes I accidentally call him my boyfriend, and I don't think he likes that very much. Sorry Will. I truly love him, and feel so lucky every day with him. I am thankful for the partnership, friendship, and companions ship we have found with one another. Sometimes in this union I am reluctant, or hesitant to succumb to the "what's mine is yours, what's yours is mine" adage of marriage. Perhaps it is that whispering feminist voice planted in the back of my head, planted I believe by my education but thats another thanks for another day. Regardless what or where it comes from I am sometimes hesitant to buy into this sharing. But all and all in the end I am very thankful that we are there for each other. There as a team, to work for and help one another. Are you part of a team or partnership anywhere in life? Sometimes these partnerships are about give and take, coming together, and being there for each other when we are needed. I am thankful for Will and that he is always there for me in any way he can, when ever I need!

Day 79

Im thankful that today things happened. So much better than the predicted boring weekend day I had thought was going to happen. Got to enjoy a delicious lunch at Moe's Bagels, then a movie, both with my mom and dear, moving away, friend Michelle! After that I had a birthday party to attend, and thankfully I was able to catch up with some friends I had been missing over the week. So if you had asked on Wednesday what I was doing this weekend, I may have not sounded to excited, or had much of an idea of a plan. But things turned out to be pretty good, and I actually had a fun filled day!

Oh yes. I saw Alice in Wonderland in 3D. Very good. More the Through the Looking Glass story, but very fun and beautiful to watch!!

Day 78

There is this show, well actually there are two. These two shows reinstate my faith and trust in MTV. OK I don't put any faith or trusts in that channel, but maybe now I don't despise it and think the "music" television channel is worthless. There are two shows, and today I was watching one in particular, that made me smile, and think, and when I thought about it I thought it was really good. I felt thankful there are finally a few decent shows on this channel teens think they should watch and like!

What are these shows you may ask. Well, I particularally like "My like as Liz" and the other is "The Burried Life". They are actually good shows. Liz is a funny, smart, and witty individual relating to real life, and real issues. Today I heard this quote while watching, and I thought it could not have been more appropriate.

"You can't ever predict what it is going to feel like when the day thought would never come finally arrives."

Thanks Liz.

Day 77

This week just happened. I feel like the week happened to me, I was just along for the ride but wasn't actually living the week. Sure there were moments when I felt present, like I was actually there and in the moment. But for the most part the week just flew by in a blur, that swirled around me and just happened. But, I think today for some reason or another I woke up. Realized I need to be taking the the bull (life) by the horns and steer (see what I did just there, yep. I did say that). Ever had things just happen, and then you think to your self, "wait, what just happened? Was that light red or green? Im driving any way, hope it was green. What was I thinking about?" Im thankful something woke up in me this afternoon and that I hopefully don't fall back into my haze!

Day 76

I found this quote, and I am not sure where I got it from, I copied and pasted it onto a sticky and neglected to cite it. But I like it, makes you think. What do you think. I don't know if I agree 100%, but it is interesting, cyclical, as nature and the world is.

"To love is to suffer. To avoid suffering one must not love. But then one suffers from not loving. Therefore to love is to suffer, not to love is to suffer. To suffer is to suffer. To be happy is to love. To be happy then is to suffer. But suffering makes one unhappy. Therefore, to be unhappy one must love, or love to suffer, or suffer from too much happiness. I hope you're getting this down."

Day 75

So today I spent the majority of my day hanging out in high school. Then, right after that I jumped right into hanging out with preschoolers! So fun to be back with some little guys! Thankful that I can still find some time to reconnect with the sand box, diggers, and dump trucks, dirty hards and slobber kisses! So, while I am working on settling into my high school, I am thankful I have had a chance to reconnect with preschoolers and enjoy the sand and sun of this afternoon!

Day 74

Yeah for high school! No really. Yeah for high school! Today was my first day student teaching in high school, and I am a little excited. A little. I loved the kids at The Odyssey School, and I will definitely miss them terribly! But, I am really thankful for having some time to spend with older kids too. They are SO incredibly different. And right now I am looking forward to meeting them, teaching them, and seeing what it's like being in a high school art class on the other side of the fence. Being the teacher that is instead of being the student! Remember high school? Wish me luck, because these kids might be tough. But I am excited, and thankful to be back in high school!

Day 73

Can this be true? Well it is on the internet, so it must be. But really, I this is real, and from another's heart. Feels ironic, and serendipitous, curious and comforting. Today I am thankful for knowing I am not alone, click on HERE and check out Valerie's Blog, not mine, hers!

Day 72

Oh man. For today I am so thankful for all, well most of the, people that are going through the same program that I am! Today I went to a crazy, crazy kind of lame kind of cool, job fair. Boy oh boy was I thankful that I had some friends there to laugh with, keep me company, and banter with about all the charter school mayhem around us! For me this event was about getting experience interviewing. Checking out the charter school seen in the area. And getting my name out. Hopefully my friends that were there to actually get jobs found success! For me I just wanted the experience, and I am so thankful that I had some people there with me!

Oh. And again I am thankful for those it's a small world moments. My webs of life just keep getting more and more intertwined. Weird, and fun!

Day 71

Saw this Friday night on my way to bed. Sorry to all my baby momma friends out there, but. . . really this is awesome. Hilarious. And sometimes true! Click here, and Ill talk you to the Youtube video. SO thankful for these two hilarious women!!

Day 70

Im so thankful that I am establishing myself to a point where I am in the position to help others with there networking. Random a little, but truthful. For as long as I can remember I have understood that things in life come to you through who you know. Maybe it comes from growing up in small town? No, I think networking, and turning to those you know happens everywhere. For so long I would tun to others for connections, networking, growing stronger and coming together. Some of best things that have happened in my life have come to me through others I know. Finally, and thankfully, now I am in a place that I can help others network, I am building a strong enough base that I can finally connect others and start bringing together people in positive ways!

Day 69

Right now I feel a little like I am drowning. But some how, thankfully I am able to keep getting little breaths of air that keeps me alive. Hopefully soon Ill start to tread water, keeping my head high above the water. And then Ill start to swim!

Day 68

One way, or reason, Im thankful in this new situation for my family is the flexibility proximity can grant your schedule. I like that I can call up my mom, well technically she did call me, but I can call her up, say hey and then meet up with her for dinner to catch up! Before when she lived up in the mountains that would never have happened. And today, I was able to spontaneously meet up with my mom and share a meal and conversation. So thankful for this, for this closeness, and who doesn't love spontaneous dinners. Almost as good as spontaneous poetry!

Day 67

Im going to be honest, but not completely forthright, sorry, some things better left unknown. But today, my guilty pleasure is back, and I am so very thankful! I believe I have mentioned my gratitude for my DVR, my tool and aid in time management and efficient TV watching. Well, finally it's number one show to record is back, my guilty pleasure. The show I watch, but am reluctant to admit to watching. The show I wish I could be a character in, or an actor on. The show I follow, and look forward to each and every week. Is there something you watch, alone or with close friends, that maybe you don't readily admit you watch. Something you feel slightly embarrassed about watching? Sure maybe I can pass it off as "research." Something I watch to, um, better relate to high schoolers, or something like that. But who am I kidding? I watch the show because I am hooked, and it is addicting, I have been sucked into being interested, it is my guilty pleasure. I am thankful it is back!

Day 66

I am so, so, so very thankful for my dear Will. And specifically the fact that he took on the responsibility this season of doing our tax's! Today I was very lucky to be able to head up to the mountains with my sister, and today our mission was to get her tax's done. With the assistance of Pop's, a.k.a. Daddy, of course. Listening to them up in the computer room, looking through websites, (is it just me or are things provided to us via the government completely un user friendly) calling friends, trying to get things figured out. Then. . . my sister and I started looking at her state tax's. Pain in the ass! At one point sitting at the table I felt like saying, "How many Wilkinson's does it take to do one persons simple tax's?" Ugh. Really there not that hard, just require following tedious mind numbing directions. They are just a pain to do, plain and simple. So grateful my hubby took on that responsibility and took care of that annual annoyance for us this year!

Day 65

When I got married there was one thing I wanted, well ok 2. A life of happiness and love, and a Kitchen Aid! The main reason I wanted to register for gifts, was so that some one would get me a Kitchen Aid, and sweet accessories to go with it! Fortunately, my amazing and awesome Grandmother Dede (Alphield if your not one of her grandchildren) caught wind of this want and vowed to get me (I mean us, but you know it's just for me) one for the occasion!!

Today we had a bit of a dessert party / game night extravaganza and I used my Kitchen Aid all day getting ready! Im so thankful for my Kitchen Aid, and my dear Dede who got it for me! Ever since I was a kid I have wanted one just like my grandma has. I remember going over to her house as a kid and spending all day baking cookies, filling the dining table with cookies as we scooped, sifted, rolled and cut all day long. Today I am thankful that I have those memories, and that love and patience for baking from scratch And I am thankful I had my Kitchen Aid to stand by me through my adventitious adventures in the kitchen today!

Day 64

So, some may reference Day 61 and recall that although my neck piece did not make it into a gallery show I was glad that I submitted it and that I tried. Well, today would have been the opening night of the show. There were many gallery opening, pretty decent First Friday extravaganzas, and I decided wear my neck piece that didn't get into the show! It was questionable weather or not I would wear it, or even if I was going to go out. But in the end, I rallied dressed it up and went out on the town! And I am so thankful that I did! You may wonder, did I go to the show wearing the piece that didn't make it in? Heck yeah I did! I really like proving people wrong, sticking it to the man. I thought it ironic that I literally had people trying to buy it off my neck at that show, had someone talking to me bout getting it into a fashion show, and passing out business cards left and right! I'm sorry gallery that the person who juried your show was a little naive to all that is art, and you guys missed the opportunity to take 30% from my sale. Too bad for you, awesome night for me. Maybe one day galleries on Sante Fa will open their eyes to postmodern 21st century art. OK I'm done being mean. Im thankful I went out, and hope to wear my piece again some time soon!

Day 63

Today, being a Thursday, I am pretty thankful that it just so happened Will and I have he same day off! Relatively rare these days that we both actually have a same day off let alone that it is on a week day. If you ask me week days are much better days to have off than weekends. Well, OK maybe one weekend day and one week day off is the ideal. You can get so much more done during a day off on a week day. Running errands always seems to go smother. Trips to Target are basically impossible on a weekend if you value your sanity and patience. It is just so much easier to shop at a the grocery store in the middle of a week day compared to a weekend day. Seriously.

Any way, I am thankful that both Will and I happened to have a Thursday off to spend together. Today was a busy day, but a wonderful day. We got to go to the Denver Art Museum and check out their really fun and exciting current exhibit Embrace! Then we got delicious and locally awesome Ice Cream from Sweet Action Who doesn't love them some Sweet Action? And all this was done minus much stress and frustration from the influences of others. Mostly. It was just so nice to park close to every thing, and not have to wait in lines and feel crowded every where. Lets hope the future brings more free time during work weeks!

Day 62

Spring is coming, which basically also means that shortly there after summer and fall come! What happens in Fall? School starts. So my main goal is to have a job in fall, a job in which I am an art teacher teaching at a school. So today I applied for two different jobs. And I am thankful that (a) I applied for the jobs, and (b) that there are jobs to apply for! Things are though these days, or at least thats what the news keeps telling me. I am excited to see what the fall brings, and am very excited to see where I am going to head from here! Student teaching is fun and all, but I am thinking having my own classroom will be even better. Who knows where Ill end up, there are a lot of roads appearing before me, so hopefully I pick a good one!

Day 61

I am thankful that I tried. Today I found out that a neck piece I had made was not selected to be in a gallery show I submitted it for. Yeah Im a little bitter that I was not selected, that the woman who was the juror of the show was to lazy and ignorant to put effort into selecting meaningful pieces. That she has little understanding or consideration for the potential of art in the 21st century. But really who's to judge. I am pretty proud that I tried. Back in September I had a hard time convincing myself that I was even an artist. So to be inspired by an idea, a single word really, and go to the effort and have the guts to follow through with that idea and submit to a gallery was a pretty big deal for me. Have you felt that rush and really challenged your self recently? Feels pretty good, you should try it. I really think in the end it is worth it to take that leap. Even if you fail, you probably won't be any worse off than before you tried! Just try. Im thankful I did.

Day 60

As previously mentioned (yesterday) I received a free dinner tonight that I did not have to think about, plan for, or shop for!! Yeah! Thanks Canada for winning. I hate planning and thinking up dinners! Tonight we had catfish, a fish which I honestly think I may have only ever had one other time, and tonight it was pretty darn good! So, right now I am thankful for that first person down South in one of those wide slow moving rivers who stuck their arm in a whole and pulled out a catfish! Someone had to do it. Imagine being the lucky idiot who first thought "maybe if I stick my arm in this fishes home it will get really mad at me and bite me. Then once I am bit I can pull my arm out with the fish stuck on my hand!" Wow. Great idea, weirdo! These days it is more of a hobby to catch fish this way, noodling is what they call it. Going out in the swamps and sticking your arms in holes hoping to get bit! Hours of quality entertainment. But, Im pretty thankful that nut job centuries ago who did this, and now tonight for dinner I had Cajun marinated catfish and am full and satisfied!

Day 59

No offense to any of my fellow Americans, U.S. Olympic junkies, and overall patriots, but. . . Im pretty thankful that Canada won the gold mettle today in the final day of the 2010 Olympics! Sometimes it's kind of fun to go against the majority, root for the other side. Not that I am really anti-American, but in all honesty I had a hunch that Canada was going to win and so I listened to my gut and bet that they would win. Sure enough my hunch was right! And what did I win you might ask?? Well my friends I don't have to think about or plan dinner for tomorrow! Figuring out what to do for dinner has become quite the thorn in my side these days, and so, Will and I bet on the gold metal game; loser has to take care of dinner tomorrow. Now that I think of it, should have bet on dinner for the whole week! Glad I listened to my gut, bet against America (no offense US hockey, good game) and don't have to think about what to do, or go to the store for dinner tomorrow!

Day 58

Oh man! Plain and simple, after falling five days behind, I am so thankful to finally be caught back up! Hopefully I can take this as a lesson, and try not to fall so far behind! Yet, after reflecting on the last week, it certainly was a busy week, and a good week! So maybe it was good looking at the week all at once as a whole, but really I think I prefer reflecting on each day as it coms and taking this blog thing one day at a time!

Day 57

I am so incredibly thankful for all the amazing exchanges that occurred throughout today. Today was a very amazing and exciting day. There were so many exchanges and confabulations that occurred today, and they were all so positive, energizing and positive! From my husband, to my professor and mentor, to my peers and friends, and even if possible the way I interacted with myself. Every time I had any exchange of any sort with any one, things always went well, were amazingly positive and just overall filled with love. What a wonderful way to go through the day! And, for this I am so very thankful all these exchanges/interactions, big and small, that I had with every single person I came across today! What a lovely day!

Day 56

Lately I have been busy, really really busy, and so I am thankful that I am not longer going to be as busy and will finally have my "after school" time back! Some may remember back on Day 48 I mentioned I was teaching an after school art program. While I loved being abel to participate as a teacher, go to so many interesting locations and work with such a variety of students, Im really thankful to have that time back; if not to do homework and plan for my regular students, then to just relax! It was hard being at school for 8 or so hours, then going and teaching a mini lesson as quick as I could for 2 hours! I loved working with those kids, but am really, really, glad it is over! Ever stretched your self thin with obligations, not having any time for your self except to sleep? Isn't it great when that's all over!?!

Day 55

Blah, blah, blah, kids, kids, kids, and Im not even a mom! But seriously who can't be thankful for kindergardeners? Sure they can really push your buttons, and having a bunch of them in the room all together can be a bit overwhelming on occasion. But at the end of the day one of my favorite things about being at an elementary school right now are those little guys! Those kids are hilarious!! They are such little adults sometimes, I just love sitting and talking to them while they are working on their art. To hear their stories and what there work is about, to see their amazing imaginations and creativity come through, or to just hear what's up in the world of a kindergardener is such an enjoyable experience! Do you remember kindergarten? I only remember little snippets of what it was like in kindergarden, what the room was like, who I was in my class. I wonder what it would be like to go back to that class and see what we were all like back then? Kindergarten is such a big part of growing up and being a kid, and man am I thankful for the time I get to share with those kids, they make me smile and laugh each time I get to see them!

Day 53 & 54

So I am going to combine two days here, there will still be one thing I am thankful for fro each day, but the two days are better presented together. Easier for both me the writer to and you the reader to read!

Currently at my school I am part of an amazing experience with my seventh and eighth grade students, and a project stemming from Redline gallery. I am very thankful to be part of this project and having the experiences I am as a result. For this project we are working with artist in residence Gretchen who does amazingly beautiful abstract pieces. For me I am working as a sort of facilitator, communicator between my two middle school classes and Gretchen as they work together creating contemporary and innovative projects. In this project we are asking the students to connect to their classroom study of the Israeli / Palestinian conflict and big ideas that emerge from that conflict. This is tough, no matter who you are, especially if you are only in seventh or eights grade. To think about ideas and concepts from this topic, internalize them, reflect on abstract art and come up with a creative artistic response, huge! And on my students behalf, I am thankful they are able to be a part of this experience. For some of them they are excelling and truly pushing themselves, beyond comfort. Im thankful they are a part of this experience, and I am thankful to also be guiding/facilitating for them through this process. I feel I am part of something big here, and I hope that at least a few of them can also see this too!

Day 52

My car? I feel a little shallow, or materialistic saying I am thankful for my car. But in all actuality I am pretty thankful for my car. And all the schizophrenic qualities that go with it! Crazy as it is, I feel that it allows me to go places I other wise would not venture to go. Gives me more time to sleep in in the mornings! I would have to leave so early if I had to take the bus. Ugh. And it gives me more freedom to do things more on my own schedule, not the bus schedule. What is the materialistic object you are thankful for? Your car, phone, tv. . . . . So many to chose from! I think it may be wise to recognize we are thankful for these things. They can come into and pass out of our lives so quickly! We should be thankful and show are appreciation for these things like our cares, because without respect they may soon be gone. Maybe I should go clean out my car?

How is may car crazy? Here are the top three ways my car is crazy: 1) You must pull the drivers handle 3 times before the door will open. 2) To lock the drivers door using the keyless entry you must rapidly hit "unlock, unlock, lock" to get it to actually lock. and 3) after exactly 60 min of driving, my radio automatically shuts off! Ok and a small one for the road, pretty sure my clock runs on a slightly shorter than 60 second min. about every week I have to add an extra min to the clock because it starts running late! Random stuff!

Day 51

So I was brushing my teeth today and I suddenly realized that in the last few months there have ben several instances in which people (slightly older people) have commented in how lucky I am to have grown up with fluoride in my water! Random. I'm not really too sure how I feel about chemicals being pumped into may water for me to guzzle down in 8-10 glasses of water each day. But that's besides the point. I see where these "adults" are coming from, that there is proof that my teeth are much stronger, healthier, and better of. I love, well really like, my teeth and for them I am thankful! My parents worked very hard nagging me to brush as a child, and spent a good clip of money making them straight. For all this I am thankful. I really would prefer not to imagine what it would be like not to have teeth, or maybe only have 7. Dentures freak me out, their weird. SO maybe I should take a little better care of my teeth. Really who brushes twice a day and flosses every nigh? Ill try harder to take care of these little wonders, cuz today I'm pretty thankful for them!

Day 50

Have you ever been talking to someone, then realized you both have a friend in common, went to the same summer camp, grew up vacationing in the same place. . . . have some crazy "it's a small world" thing in common? I love that! I love that moment when you are talking to someone, realize you were at a meeting with their friend, and are going to their gallery for a completely other friends show! Well, not that that specific incident has actually happened to anyone other than me, but hopefully you know what I am talking about. I'm really thankful for those moments, when things come together and the circles we live our lives in eloquently collide with others. When I realize that I am somehow even more connected to someone through small instances of coincidence I feel a bit of purpose to our knowing each other. I love that feeling of connection, realizing what a small world it is, and I am thankful for those instances we realize the intertwining paths our lives take us uniting us as a stronger whole.

Day 49

So, obviously education, teaching most specifically has become a very large part of my life these days. And so yet again I am finding myself thankful for something involving teaching, sorry all who are not interested in this genera, but this is my life right now! I am sure each and every one of us is a teacher in some way, if not formally in a school or classroom, then to others in your life. Maybe at your work, do you help people figure out how to unjam the copier? Are you a parent, or a sibling that has in some way taught your family? Do your friends come to you for guidance and advice? We are all teachers in some way or another.

Today though I am particularly thankful for one specific aspect of education, and that is the process of revision or adaptation and the chance we have for change each time we teach a lesson. Whether you teach something and then put it away till next year, I am certain it will be better the next time around. Or you are able to teach something 5 times in a row, and each and every time we teacher it, it gets better and better. We weed out what did not work, try new strategies, and adjust the way we teach till we are the best we can be. And once you have reached that point, I think it is time to start something new, but thats just me!

So no mater where you are, or what you do, some how I think you are a teacher. Take a moment to reflect on what you teach. Maybe things didn't go as planed last time you taught it. How could you adjust that the next time you are faced with the same situation? I'm thankful we are granted this process to reflect, and improve, really helps us improve and grow as teachers!

Day 48

I think today that I am thankful I am getting to see the other side. So many times in our lives we are only shown one side of a perspective, one opportunity or option and we rarely research or are shown what is happening on the other side. Do you ever just go along with something because you are too lazy to figure out the other side, or forage a new path in the other direction? That work is hard! For me where I am right now, I am student teaching in an amazing school! A school with wonderful teachers, which amounts to a school with equally wonderful students. Im in an environment that fosters respect, inquiry, and excitement and passion for everything, especially education. Don't think I am at some Pleasantville school, sometimes I run into a brick wall here, no teaching is ever going to be 100% perfect. Then it would be boring. But, today I saw another view. On the other side of the coin I am working teaching some after school programs, for kids that are at completely different schools. I don't know anything about these schools, but I feel I can generalize a little. They are predominantly, or all, shall we say "at risk" students, or maybe you would say "free and reduced lunch" kids. They are coming form low income homes, families that most likely don't look like the Cleavers, and schools that are tough. Teaching them is a whole different story! The firsts time I went in teaching them it was an up hill battle! But now that I am thinking about it, I am thankful I am having the opportunity to teach them. That I see this other side, and don't become jaded by my current situation! It helps me see what the majority of teaching might be like out there, and helps me appreciate the amazing current situation I am in and see the fortune I have been given!

Day 47

Am I beating a dead horse? Today I am really truly very thankful that I had yet another day off to finish working on things and start to feel a little more caught up on life! Today I was actually very productive and it really felt good. Maybe the house is sill a little disorganized, however, the work load is definitely looking a little smaller! Feeling productive helps me feel better about myself, like Im positively contributing to my life and to the world. Confident in myself and my position here in the world. So at the close of this day I am thankful I was abel to get school work done, prep for my real work, have a wonderful diner with friends, and even pick up a little around the house!

Day 46

I am so thankful that I was moderately productive. I am finding that I turn into a pretty bitter and frustrated individual when I do not live up to my goals of productivity. Although you may not be able to look around and actually think that the day was productive, sometimes productivity comes from chaos! Right? I hope. While it was definitely a struggle to do things today, doing nothing sounded pretty wonderful all day today, in the end things actually got done today! As I mentioned before this has been a long weekend, thankfully it is turning out to be moderately productive and not be a complete loss. Although I would prefer to look around and not see pieces of my bedroom and closet all over the table, at least things are happening. Hopefully the single remaining day of mini vaca I can finish out this trend and start the short working week in a positive and satisfied mood. I prefer that me over the bitter and frustrated me!

Day 45

I am thankful for love. Love is everywhere, and all around us, yes on Valentines day, but also on every other day of the year too. Sometime all we have to do is open our eyes, and our hearts to it and we will see that truly love is all around us. All you need is love, right? Really, from the beginning of our lives love is a very important factor in our lives. Im not overly optimistic, we are not all fortunate enough to be borne into love. But if in the unfortunate experience of not being borne into love, that lack of love is still an influence in your life. Thus, love effects your life no matter who you are, no matter what. But back to to positive! Love is every where in our lives, we are borne into the love of our families before we can comprehend what love is. Whether you have a significant other or not if you look around I am certain love is somewhere in your life. A best friend always there for you, a family member you know loves you by the look in their eye, the stranger in the grocery store you have yet to say hello to. Love. Even when you are scorned by love, feeling alone frustrated and angry, love is there. It fuels you to continue on no matter how much you hate it, in your heart there is promise of renewal and we venture forward in a quest of some unification with another.

I am thankful that we can find this connection with others, with relationship partners, friends, family, strangers, people everywhere, heck even pets! no matter if you love it or hate it, love is a present in your life and the pivotal moment in complete happiness is opening your eyes and heart to this love and accepting it! Not that I think I am fully to this point, if you ask me it is a life long journey. But of you look around today, I am certain you will find love somewhere, if not everywhere around you! XOXO

Day 44

I understand that not every day can be rainbows and butterflies. Cheery and smiling! Today was not bad by any means, a pretty enjoyable day over all. But in the end, I am really thankful that this weekend is a long weekend because I was not nearly as productive as I should have been, or wanted to be today. I just feel like I have copious amounts of things to do piling up before me these days, and sometimes I really just don't want to do any of it! Maybe I am just too overwhelmed, so it is easier to do nothing. Which just adds to the vicious circle giving me even more things to do! At least this is a long weekend, and I fully intend on taking advantage of this fact and getting more done this weekend then I did to today! Wish me luck! I think though that the threat of just adding and growing the "To Do" list is enough to get time to chink away at it on my coming days off!

Day 43

Today I felt thankful that the state of Colorado is finally advancing, moving forward, and changing their state standards for teaching visual arts. I know there are many that disagree with this change, that are going to have problems adjusting the way they teach when they look at the new standards, have issue with proving or measuring the learning of the students. But, in the end I hope they see that all all these changes are moving our state forward for the better. I'm really excited by the changes and hope they are accepted well! Fortunately for me I was able to sit down with some fellow educators and go through the standards, the structure of them, and brainstorm some applications today. I think that here I am in an ideal situation, I am in a progressive school, teach applying a progressive pedagogy, and am excitedly looking forward to having standards that will better support the way I already teach. I know this all sounds very educational, some or many, may have no idea what I am talking about. To me it might be like always choosing to eat the same kind of thing for lunch, people question what you are eating, ask a lot of questions, support you but don't really care to change themselves; there are others that eat the same as you, your not alone, but you are seen as innovative and progressive in what you eat. Then finally something comes along that everyone in the state had to read and follow, and in this literature there is back up that supports what you have been eating all these days for lunch, explains the benefits, and gives support to others as they embark on the journey of trying new and progressive ways of eating lunch. Hope this makes a little sense. Right now education is a large part of my life, and after my investigation today into the future, I am finally feeling supported! Thankfully.

Day 42

Im so thankful for my entire in-law family today! I am really not entirely sure how to express how lucky I feel, and thankful I am. I really feel like I have been fully accepted, sort of adopted into a family. How can you not be thankful when your invited over for diner, and end up sitting down to eat to the Black Eyed Peas? This occurred as a result of an on going joke within the family, a banter revolving around age, music selection and, well basically at what age you are no longer aloud to listen to certain music! Im thankful that we have this relationship, and that I am part of such a fun, loving, and welcoming family. Love that our dinners rarely run dry in conversation and are often filled with enduring teasing, intelligent conversations, and caring for for one another!

Day 41

I am really thankful I think for two sorts of things today, the people that at this time are charged the task of coaching me and giving me feedback, and the the feedback I am receiving. Although at times critiques, criticism, and feedback can be difficult to hear and process, yet when looked back upon is always rewarding. Or sometimes the feedback is great, a boost to the ego, a steady stream filling your self esteem bucket! Today I was fortunate enough to be the recipient of the later, and just at a time when I needed it! Don't you love when things come your way, just at the time you need them most? Today I was observed by my supervisor, and she watched a lesson I taught to forth and fifth graders doing printmaking. I planed, and had everything figured out, or so I thought. The class happened, we printed, ink was flying and art was being created. Successfully? that would be up to you. The class happened in a whirl wind, time flew by, suddenly I was frantically having kids clean up and trying to get them out the door. Then I met with my supervisor.

Feeling like chaos had just ensued, that there was complete craziness to the point my supervisor had had to interject with students, I was not so confident. Apparently from the outside, things had not been as intense as they felt. I received wonderful feedback, great support and a helpful fill to my self esteem bucket the kids had just been dipping from. There were areas for improvement, to not acknowledge such parts would be ignorant, but overall I felt a million times better about all that had just happened. For the feedback I have been receiving, I am so very thankful. I think I am often hard on myself, and to here I am on the right track and doing well is reassuring and motivating. Hearing the right thing when I needed it most today I am thankful for!

Day 40

I am so incredibly thankful for the amazing personal character I saw in one of my students today. Im thankful I was able to guide her through her personal struggle and see the strength of character and amazing personal quality present in a second grader! I don't think I have ever been so proud and inspired by someone so small. When faced with a drawing lesson she found challenging (mind you she is a perfectly capable drawer) she found herself hitting a self-imposed brick wall. She was stuck, not confident at all in her self and scared to try. A place I think we have all been and can understand. When I talked to her, she completely broke down, something very out of character. We talked, I tried to re-explain the lesson, but she was just too upset. So after she left the room, took a little breather, got a sip of water, she was back! Trying again, still unconfident, but trying again! I stopped by, to see how she was doing, and even though she was doing a perfectly fine job everything kept being erased and she was even more upset. I talked her through the lesson again, trying to instill some confidence with her, she started crying again, but was able to work; so I let her work. As the class came to an end and I was collecting the lesson she came up to me, a tear in her eye, and turned in a completed lesson! I knelt down to talk to her and she gave me a huge hug and broke down again, obviously still feeling unconfident, frustrated, and unaccomplished. The amazing thing to me here is that she finished, she persevered, she pushed through all those feelings of frustration and lack of confidence and successfully completed the lesson (maybe not to her standards, but she completed it none the less)!! Later that day I went to her main class and shared her experience with her and her homeroom teacher, we were able to recognize her for her amazing strengths and in the end she was proud of herself that day!

I wish we could all harness this personal character of strength and perseverance. Sometimes I really feel like I need to find these qualities in myself, sometimes I wish others could find these qualities in themselves. I am inspired by what I saw in my young student, and so thankful I was abel to watch her preserver!

Day 39

Im really thankful for the happiness of the present and the excitement ahead of my friend Michelle! May remember her form the beginning of this anthology, Day 2 I believe, and yet again I am thankful for all that is her. Maybe a bit jealous, definitely, who cant feel a little envious when amazing things are happening to those we are close to. Im really excited for her and maybe feeling a little like I can live a wee bit vicariously through her, thus I am excited and thankful for all that her immediate future holds! Im excited because she is a great person, and when you are good I think that good things come to you! You know, what goes around comes around? Great mantra, and very true. I think that when we live our lives with honesty and love, those gifts will be returned to us, Thankfully the universe is returning some favors and granting happiness. Today I am thankful for exactly that!

Day 38

Finally, a new closet!! I am so very very thankful that we (by we I mean mostly Will, not going to lie) are finally addressing the the totally inefficient closet in our bedroom. Not to mention we got all the hardware at 30% off, gotta love that! When we bought our place I had some reservations about the functionality of some of our spaces. The good thing about buying a place is, you can do what ever you want! How many times have you wanted to drill into a brick wall to hang something? Or wanted to paint a wall, but decided not to because of that lease? Thankful here that we own this place, and we can rip out the old awkwardly placed shelf and instal our own custom designed Elfa system in style and beauty! Sure that closet may have been a perfect size, maybe even large who knows, when the place was built. Too bad it isn't 1910 anymore. And two people with one little closet need to make some adjustments! I am so thankful we are finally doing this, (well. . . I guess I am also thankful Will is picking up the majority of the grunt work) and finally making this space ours!

Day 37

Im so thankful for the love, kindness, laughter, fun, generosity, and excitement that my sister shares with me! I am so thankful that she includes me, when possible, in her wonderful adventures, and now that our rolls in life are a little reversed, she is absolutely generous, loving and caring toward me! Sharon has a zest for life and an excitement and enthusiasm that is contagious, and I am so very thankful she includes me in many of her escapades. I love the time we spend together, it always proves to be fun, exciting and full of laughs! I love that we have grown up to be the sisters we are today, and Im thankful when we get to hang out together!

Day 36

Im relishing in the fact that I feel confident in knowing where I am and where I am going. I mean literally, like when I am driving around and am headed somewhere I know where I am going, and if I'm not 100% sure Im confident enough now to be pretty sure Ill find where Im trying to go! When I first moved to Denver, I had no clue where anything was, or how to get around at all! Growing up I thought anything outside of the mountains was Denver, and down town was this mess of one ways all a little bit crooked from the streets around them. While I still think this all is somewhat true, at least I am learning, or have learned, a great deal about the city and getting around. For this I am so very thankful! I used to be the one that had to call someone mid drive, totally lost and confused hopping they would be able to direct me to where ever I was headed. Finally, I am the one people can ask for help or directions! They may not be the best or quickest directions, but Ill do my best and feel confident in knowing where people are going. There are still some ares in Denver Im not completely sure about, that whole River North (RiNo) area, or up around five point, but other than that.... Im so thankful Im finally not the one calling for directions or to have someone look something up online mid drive! And, Im pretty thankful I haven't driven the wrong way on one of these one way's in quite some time!

Day 35

Im thankful that I am not going at this process of students teaching alone. That I have great peers and friend who are there beside me (well, at different schools but...) going through similar experiences and all of us are there for each other willing to share. The most important element here is that we are all there for one another to discuss and share, and I am finding in these discussions a stronger sense of who I am, who I want to be, and what kind of teacher I am building my self to be. I think it is wonderful that we are all so very different, and at different such schools. I think there is a right fit out there for all of us, and today I was able to really see this. We each have our own personal ways of dealing with situations. In seeing these differences, I am able to better se who I am. Do your peers or friends ever help you better see who you are? Maybe it was a big event in life that helped you define who you are. Regardless, I think it is very important to know how you have come to see who you are, to me this is am important process. Im thankful that all my friends are there with me, and that we are all so very different, and most importantly I am thankful that through the discussions we share I am finding the kind of teacher I am. I can grow and develop during this time into this teacher, and with the support of everyone around me become the teacher I want and intend to be.