Gratitude

Nicki and Todd

2006-09-09T08:50:00.000-05:00

Today Nicki and Todd are getting married. I'm very happy for both of them, but especially happy for Nicki who was my first roommate and friend at Stout! She really deserves to be happy! And since Todd is the guy for her, I'm thankful that he finally figured out what he needed to do! :)

My New Niece

2006-09-07T12:07:00.000-05:00

I don't know her name yet, but I'm sure she's cute. I'm meeting her tonight.

Long Weekends

2006-09-04T08:53:00.000-05:00

Why are we so productive on a long weekend? I'm not sure, but we are, so I'm just glad we have at least 3 each summer!

No Pressure and Packer Pride

2006-08-28T21:00:00.000-05:00

Today I'm thankful that I'm not being graded on this gratitude blog, because I am slacking big time!

I'm also thankful that I'm a true Packer fan and will cheer for them through it all, because else it would look to be a very long season. But it won't be, because they are my favorite team and it's probably my last season to watch Favre!

Sarah

2006-08-24T18:34:00.000-05:00

I have this really good friend named Sarah! Looking back at pictures and memories, I am reminded of how much having such a good friend like Sarah means to me. (It's her birthday today too!)

Scrambling

2006-08-19T12:07:00.000-05:00

Today I'm glad that we are able to scramble and meet our commitments even though we forgot about them! Chad lost all his appointments that were on his phone due to rain last week. So even though we weren't planning on the DirecTV guy being here or going to a wedding reception today (we thought it was tomorrow), we'll scramble, but we'll still make it!

The good news is now we have tomorrow free!

Constructive Criticism

2006-08-17T20:14:00.000-05:00

Yesterday, I got some really really good advice/criticism from a co-worker. He was very good about explaining where he thinks I could grow and gave me some advice. That type of advice makes me really want to try and be a better employee. I've definitely had "the work blues" so even though things aren't great for the company right now, it was a good push for me.

Down Time

2006-08-13T11:21:00.000-05:00

I love love love having time to putter aimlessly through my house. Sure I could do something more productive, but I don't always want to.

Security

2006-08-10T21:27:00.000-05:00

I'm so thankful that British officials were able to uncover a crazy terror plot.

I'm also thankful that I'm not dealing with an airport today. Unfortunately Chad is. He's trying to get out of Chicago.

Also I'm thankful that I had a good day at work, and a day off tomorrow!

Patient Co-Workers

2006-08-09T16:02:00.000-05:00

Today I was covering our helpdesk at work. (Just for the application I support, not for someone's computer being broken). But even so, I was stumped every time. I'm just glad that the people on my team are patient enough with all the emails I sent to day. I was just the messenger. Someone would call and I'd send out a mass email asking someone to help me with the answer. Thankfully, someone responded every time!

(Today was one of those days when I needed to stop and think about the positives!)

My Trusty Toyota

2006-08-07T14:00:00.000-05:00

This weekend I was sooo thankful that last year I was so concerned with gas mileage when I bought my car. I traveled 650 miles this weekend (the first long trip in my car) and was pretty happy to have averaged almost 34 miles to the gallon with gas prices over $3/gallon!

Good Ol' Days

2006-08-04T13:15:00.000-05:00

I spent last evening catching up with Lisa, Rebecca, and Steph. It's been a long time since we all worked together at Retek, but we're still all good friends, and it's always great catching up.

Great Neighbors

2006-08-02T15:45:00.000-05:00

We couldn't ask for nicer neighbors!! And it's just a nice feeling to know that the people in your neighborhood are concerned, community-oriented, and genuinely friendly people!

Rain

2006-08-01T08:25:00.000-05:00

We finally got some last night!! Yeah!! And the high heat has broken!

Rain and Drought

2006-07-30T07:59:00.000-05:00

I was just reading an article about the drought here in the Midwest, and I am so thankful that my job is not so directly affected by the weather. I am lucky. But it's so important to keep the farmers and farming communities in our prayers. It's a risky and tough business when the weather and rain so greatly affect their livelihood.

Busy Weekend just got Easier

2006-07-28T10:51:00.000-05:00

I had a busy weekend planned with not landing until 6 pm tonight and "entertaining" my niece and nephew all day tomorrow and then flying out again on Sunday, however... I was just told to cancel my travel plans for next week, so I will be home next week again! Yahoo!!!

Different Perspectives

2006-07-27T13:16:00.000-05:00

One interesting thing about traveling is that I come in contact with different people and get insight into different perspectives, ideas, and beliefs. And it's interesting and hopefully helps reduce some of my ignorance.

Finding Love

2006-07-26T09:14:00.000-05:00

I am so happy for a friend of mine who has recently met "the one". Love is grand. And I am sooo happy for her!

Fun Team

2006-07-26T09:12:00.000-05:00

I am happy that even though I'm traveling for work, at least I'm with enjoyable people!

Evening In

2006-07-22T09:39:00.000-05:00

Last night Chad went off and picked up pizza for dinner and dealt with the pushy person (with a good political cause, but very push) at the door. Then we watched a movie. A great Friday night! What more could a girl want after a long week of work!

Quick Week

2006-07-20T21:21:00.000-05:00

Sometimes time flies too fast, but this week was the perfect pace at work. It's Friday tomorrow and the week didn't drag.

PS. I'm also thankful for Napoleon Dynamite. Always good for a laugh!!!

Reading Time

2006-07-20T05:59:00.000-05:00

I was actually in bed early enough where I wasn't falling asleep and I had time to read. Yayy!!

Air Conditioning

2006-07-18T10:23:00.000-05:00

I must say I'm so thankful these days for Central Air. I know there are a lot of people who don't have this, and are having to endure this heat. I can't even remember how Sarah and I handled it in the summer of 1999 with A/C. Must have just been a lot of shopping, going the gym, and hanging out at the Neighbor Boyz.

Looking Forward to my Day

2006-07-14T07:26:00.000-05:00

I love the days when I have fun plans and I wake up excited for the day!!! I'm so thankful it's Friday and I have plans with my nephew, niece, and sister-in-law this afternoon, and my friend Dano this evening. AND Chad is coming home tonight too... for a whole week!!! Life is Good!

A Push

2006-07-13T21:56:00.000-05:00

I've been struggling at work with a report I've been working on, and today I finally got a push from the person who is overseeing the request for the report and he showed me what I needed to dig into. And although I think I uncovered a BIG problem, I feel like I made good progress!

Library

2006-07-13T06:32:00.000-05:00

I love the library. I can't believe all the people that buy books, when we have this great service. Saving me from spending my dollars at Barnes and Noble.

Rain

2006-07-11T21:36:00.000-05:00

It rained a little today. It was nice not to have to worry about watering my flowers tonight. Now I just have to pray for the farmers and hope they get enough.

Vacation Time: Family and Friends

2006-07-10T17:21:00.000-05:00

I've had another long weekend and some really great time spent with family and friends! Really a good way to "wake" up and help prioritize life.

Fun Neighbors

2006-07-05T16:53:00.000-05:00

Last night we saw a great fireworks show from our front yard. It was so nice to be able to enjoy that without the crowds or getting in our car!

Opportunities

2006-07-04T08:05:00.000-05:00

Happy 4th of July! As messed up as our country can sometimes appear to be, I'm still thankful to be born and raised a United States citizen.

Holiday Weekends

2006-07-03T08:22:00.000-05:00

I love the long weekends (especially 4 days). Gives me a time to work and feel productive, but a time to enjoy the weather and time off too!

July 1

2006-07-03T08:20:00.000-05:00

The one year anniversary of owning our house makes me so thankful that we're able to afford this beautiful house!

Friday

2006-07-03T08:17:00.000-05:00

We went to the Twins-Brewers game and sat in a section with a group of families where many of the children appeared to be undergoing chemotherapy or some sort of treatment (many didn't have hair). And they were all so happy to be there.

Makes me so thankful for my health, but also for organizations and medical centers designed for children.

Patience

2006-06-29T21:41:00.000-05:00

I'm not the most patient person, but today I was so patient when I went to U-Haul to get some propane for the grill. I think it was because I felt so bad for the people who were trying to rent trucks and for the guy working there. I was just glad not to be in their situations at that moment!

Quality Time

2006-06-28T21:16:00.000-05:00

I'm thankful for times spent with friends, especially like tonight when I went for a walk with my friend Kathy. Exercise and catching up at the same time!

Book Club

2006-06-27T22:34:00.000-05:00

I love it when my book club meets. It is always so much fun, even (especially?) when we don't discuss the book!

The Rain

2006-06-26T20:59:00.000-05:00

It rained this afternoon, while I was doing my shopping at SuperTarget, but it was enough that it made pulling the oversized weeds out of some of my landscaping much much easier! Plus our lawn really needs it!

Cleaning

2006-06-25T20:16:00.000-05:00

I am thankful that Chad understands how stressed all this traveling is making me and is letting me hire someone to help clean every few weeks. And I'm thankful for my friend Heather who is going to work with that person to get them started here!! Yeah!!!

Naps

2006-06-24T16:09:00.000-05:00

I love days that I get a nap!!

Appreciative Words at Work

2006-06-23T20:44:00.000-05:00

As much as my job drags me around the country, I am really thankful for how much I am openly appreciated. Feeling like I am making a difference makes it easier to go to work when you really really don't want to get out of bed.

Craigslist

2006-06-22T16:09:00.000-05:00

Today I'm thankful for Craigslist, because in the last 24 hours I've found people to take stuff off my hands, so that I'm not just dumping! I got rid of our moving boxes that have been in the garage for almost a year, and I have found about 35 people who want my drapes!

Resourcefulness and Lessons Learned

2006-06-21T18:00:00.000-05:00

I'm glad my mom taught me to read the car manuel when something goes wrong, otherwise my car would have been towed to the Toyota Dealer this morning.

Unfortunately I wasted a lot of time before I did that. But I will definitely look there first next time something happens with my car!

Days At Home

2006-06-20T21:45:00.000-05:00

I worked today, but from home. Our phone line was dead yesterday, so I had to wait for Qwest to come out and fix it today. Luckily I have a job where it's not a terrible hassle to work from home when I need to be home. And it was exactly what I needed after the terrible night of sleep I got last night.

New Shoes and the YMCA

2006-06-19T19:31:00.000-05:00

I'm thankful for new running shoes and the YMCA (and Medica who pays part of our membership fee when we go 8 times a month). Hopefully this will be enough to inspire me to keep running and exercising!

Family Time

2006-06-18T20:16:00.000-05:00

I spent the weekend at my brother's lake home celebrating my nephew's 6th birthday. It was a great time and am so thankful for the time I got to spend with my whole family.

Smooth Learning Curve

2006-06-15T21:57:00.000-05:00

Today I was thrown into training a back-up for the woman that does the purchasing here in Riverside. I didn't know exactly what was entailed with purchasing, but it was a good day, and everything went smoothly and we (the backup and myself) learned a lot!

Yesterday

2006-06-15T21:55:00.000-05:00

I was thankful for days when work goes well and getting out early, so there is plenty of time for relaxing, working out, dinner, and more relaxing!

Nice Neighbors

2006-06-13T22:19:00.000-05:00

Chad and I have the nicest neighbors in Burnsville. They have been so great about bringing in our mail or garbage and watching our house when we are away. And today one of our neighbors gave us a wheelbarrow.

Date Night

2006-06-12T22:05:00.000-05:00

Chad took me to a movie last night. We had a steak dinner and then we went to see The Break-Up and he bought me pop and Sour Patch Kids.

Open Windows

2006-06-11T17:08:00.000-05:00

I am so enjoying this beautiful weather. I don't even know what the temperature is, but I love being able to be outside in short sleeves, but it's also cool enough to have the windows open.

The Farmers Market

2006-06-10T08:20:00.000-05:00

I love the farmers market and the Saturday morning market in Burnsville is back! Three cheers for locally grown fresh fruit and vegetables (and for Harvest Breads!) Next week I'm checking out the pork guy!

Have you noticed that I'm pretty thankful for my morning activities?? :)

Time

2006-06-09T17:28:00.000-05:00

I am so glad it's Friday. And even though I'm going to miss Chad this weekend while he's in Madison, I'm really happy to have some time to get some things done (meaning clean my house, catch up on some Netflix, hang out with Anne, and get some shopping done!)

My Yard

2006-06-08T18:09:00.000-05:00

I love going out in the morning to water flowers or after I come home from work and walk around my yard. I really am proud of it and how beautiful all the landscaping and plants are.

How corny do I sound, but it's true!

Early Morning Walks

2006-06-07T21:01:00.000-05:00

Today I took my first early morning walk of the summer. I am thankful for mornings when I have time to think and enjoy the quiet of my neighborhood before starting a hectic day.

Starting Out

2006-06-07T21:00:00.000-05:00

This is just a place for me to post what I am grateful for each day. I want to recognize so many of the gifts I have in my life. Really a great way to focus on the positive in my life, because I know I am very lucky, but sometimes I lose focus on that.

And I know I could write this down in a notebook, but I just think that by posting it out here, hopefully it'll remind others that we all have something to be thankful for. It's easy to take things for granted.