August 20: Wheel of Fortune

 Today I am thankful for Wheel of Fortune,and Vanna, and Pat, and re-runs. Pleasant pastime, and demarcation to separate the times of day.

I am grateful for children and their honesty. I am grateful for music as a form of expression. I am grateful for people who care for others in tangible ways, conversations and hugs and promotions.

Enough said. My cup runneth over.

August 19: public libraries

 Today I am thankful for public libraries. One gave me respite between the barrage of duties at work and the barrage of duties at home today. 

I am grateful the full moon has peaked. I don't know why, but I feel better after it has. 

I am thankful for the tool of cronometer. So useful when I avail myself of its information on what I'm consuming.

Keep fighting the good fight!

August 18: DH's encouragement

 I'll let DH have the headline, since he let me put his picture in. Today I am grateful for DH's encouragement during the weekly grocery and goods shopping.  I typically go alone, and was surprised it took a full hour at the first store. I went for one item and bought nearly $90 worth of stuff. I texted him that I was done with the first store, cheering myself along with a muscle emoji 💪. I was elated to receive a 2-emoji response from him: kissy face and thumbs up 😘👍 My elation told me this was a harder trip than usual - sometimes I don't know what I feel until I get feedback from others. My emotions inconvenience others, I've learned, so if I don't perceive/express them, I get through the world better most of the time.

Today I am grateful for menopause and no longer having the inconvenience (and more) of the monthly cycle. Good riddance.

Today I am grateful for the ability to see, and read, for my impulse book purchase at store number one.

Not my genre, murder mystery; and I typically prefer nonfiction. But continuing to read on Poverty by America just seemed like more negativity than I can handle at the moment, although the facts are impartial facts. But it's depressing to see just how the structure of the U.S. hurts so many.

So I picked this up, intrigued by the plot of a high powered attorney having to defend their spouse against a charge of murdering his side piece. We shall see!

It's raining here today, so a good day to read a book. In fact, even as I wanted to overthink my purchases and needed to use the restroom, life-experience-woman inside me said, "you have to go now" and I listened. The first raindrop fell ad I shut the trunk on my purchases, and the first lightning flashed before I slid into the driver's seat. Whew! 

Home and DH helped bring in the groceries and I expressed my gratitude to him directly and said he's in my blog today and could I use his picture. I expected a no, so snapped the book cover first. I am grateful to my father for teaching me things about photography. I am grateful to google for cross-devicing the photos. I am grateful for the ease of use of phone cameras.

Okay, time to go read!

Have a good day - hugs and love, Ace

The Barbie Movie, grocery store deli, and intuitive eating

Today I am thankful for the Barbie movie. Last year, it kept my spirits up, and was a fun and entertaining wild ride for me. I thought it would be an easy holiday gift for DH to get for me ... BUT he was hospitalized and the holidays did not go as planned. I finally picked up a copy for myself this summer, and watched it again. While it was still entertaining, it hit different this summer: I found it problematic, to be simultaneously rejecting AND reinforcing stereotypes, and I missed my neighbor from times gone by with whom I could have had a lengthy discussion about it.

Today I am also grateful for the grocery store deli, preparing foods to a greater extent than I would, so I could have a tasty lunch. I am grateful for intuitive eating, which had me pair a fresh apple with the pasta salad I purchased.  Makes me feel at least a little balanced with my consumption.

Have a great day!  Hugs & love, Ace

August 16: Television

 Yesterday I was grateful I could quiet this almost ever-present noise in our household.

Today, the cable provider was out for several hours. Absence makes the heart grow fonder!  I am thankful for the routine of the TV noise once again being available to us, providing structure and conversational fodder.

I am thankful my dear sister survived the morning walk with her young dog. Whew!

I am grateful for the insight and intelligence of my DD, who called a personal assessment for my job "workplace astrology". Humorous, and somewhat accurate IMO.

I am grateful for the coworkers of decades ago, who called my attention to the inaccuracies of self-reporting my traits. That's how I tested as an ENTP when I'm actually an INFJ, for those of you who speak Meyers Briggs.

So thankful for the weekend's rest, which is sorely needed. ttyl 💚

August 14 & 15: Forgiveness and persistence

Yesterday I was grateful for forgiveness. I forgave myself for not being able to do a blog. The dog and the man pushed me to bedtime early, and I grudgingly went, then slept like a rock. I have to admit their assessment of my condition was correct.

Today I am appreciating the persistence of my coworkers. One confided approaching their breaking point. A little later I was worried they had reached it; so grateful they returned!  Just getting coffee.

Right now, I am thankful for the mute button. I can momentarily relieve myself of the television sound so I can get this typed.  Until tomorrow, I hope!

August 13: Home

Today I am thankful for a physical place to call home. A place to rest. A place to restore myself.

I am thankful for couch blankets to keep my toes warm.

I am thankful for brain downtime. My thought work has been taxed thoroughly this week, and it's only Tuesday.

Until tomorrow! 💙