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!