Giving Thanks...

Dear Lord,

I have much to be thankful for today and I want to take a moment to thank you for what you have bestowed upon me.

Thank you for a loving, respectful husband and your guidance as we navigate this new chapter in our relationship.

Thank you for my family and the love and support that they constantly provide.

Thank you for Charlie, whose constant friendship and affection I must learn to deserve.

Thank you for genuine friendships and surrounding me with so many people who extend to me your love and caring.

Thank you for my health, even though I don't always remember to appreciate it.

Thank you for my job, which not only provides, but is a constant reminder to me of all you stand for, which teaches me more than I ever could have imagined, and which fulfills me like no other career could.

I have a lot to be thankful for this year.

Holidays are here...

I'm so excited. This is by far the best part of the year! Family, friends, turkey, decorations, cozy fires, hot cocoa....extra pounds, spending money, stress...woot! ;)

This year it's even more special because we've got another holiday to add to the list -- anniversary! After we chow down on our turkey and have our post-thanksgiving feast nap, Damon and I will be packing for a short weekend away at an undisclosed location. I'm surprising Damon with a paper gift that leads to the special spot. Hooray!

Happy Thanksgiving to all of you and please remember all that we have to be thankful for this year. And pray for/remember those who aren't as fortunate.

I'm a bad blogger.

I've been trying to include photos in every post, but I gots nothing this week. Like most weeks. Bad blogger, I am.

Friday - tutor kids, dinner with the in-laws for MIL's bday. Too.much.food.
Saturday - cooking all day, pre-Thanksgiving feast at J's house. Too.much.food.
Sunday - church with S, M, and Baby, dim-sum with Damon's whole gang, then back home for lots of couch time. Too.much.food. And no exercise.

See a recurring theme? :P Ouch.

Despite the overwhelming caloric intake, it was a great weekend. I'm so happy that Thanksgiving is here, the holidays have now officially begun, and I have a bounty of great people to celebrate with. Three cheers!

(Oh and ps at some point today I will update cooking blog with Thanksgiving eats).

NYC photos

Okay, Midori, Day 1 photos are up. More to come, hopefully :)

Click to the flickr...

What a drag.

We're back home now. Boo. We've been in and out of sleep all day -- I guess the red-eye flights, 4 nights away from home, and endless walking and sightseeing are taking its toll. But wow, what a trip that was!

It was nice to come home and cuddle up to Charlie but what I would give for another week away. There's something about being on vacation that's such a break from life -- I love that feeling of being away from responsibility and obligation. Oh well.

Last post.

Regarding the election, I promise. I'm just so moved by everything that's happened the past few months it's hard for me to stop talking about it. Anyway, this was beautiful.

Breaks my heart.

Way to go, California.

You put the rights of hens, calves, and pregnant pigs over the rights of people and their preference to LOVE.

I am so proud to be an American, and yet so disheartened to be a Californian.

Unbelievable.

First they came for the communists, and I did not speak out--
because I was not a communist;
Then they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out--
because I was not a socialist;
Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out--
because I was not a trade unionist;
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out--
because I was not a Jew;
Then they came for me--
and there was no one left to speak out for me.

To Prop 8 supporters....to people who didn't speak out...

When it's your rights on the line, I hope you remember what happened at the polls today.

I don't care WHAT you think about gay marriage. That's not the point. The point is, that you are an AMERICAN. When you go to the polls, you are an American, first and foremost. And as an American, you have the responsibility to hold sacred what this country stands for -- freedom.

You have the extraordinary ability to believe and follow your faith because this beautiful country allows it. But when you took your faith with you to the polls today, you took away that freedom from others. You have the freedom to follow your Bible, your church, your God, and what have you. But this country, this AMAZING place, is not ruled by YOUR Bible. We are not governed by YOUR God -- you have the freedom to believe what you wish, just as others have the freedom to believe what they wish.

I voted today not as a Catholic, but as a person -- as an American. And I'm proud of that fact, but saddened by the ignorance and apathy of the rest of my state. Unbelievable.

To those of you who voted yes on Prop 8, or who didn't vote at all -- shame.on.you.

Barack the Vote!

I voted today. Did you?

I am so excited by this election. So many major possibilities for this country tonight. Here's hoping that the right decisions are made. The right people are supported. The right ideas are pushed.

Barack the vote! Vote NO on hate (8)! Yes we can!

Sunny????

I just looked up the weather forecast for New York while we're there. The forecast for Sunday when we get in is SUNNY with a HIGH of 52 degrees?!?

Seriously????? I'm going to be a popsicle.

Cloudy days

bum me out. All I want to do is curl up into a ball and stay in bed all day, but then I'm wasting precious time.

Vacation so far has been good -- I haven't really felt like a lazy bum yet, although I do stay in my pj's for quite a long time :) Honestly, though, I've been keeping busy -- I'm tutoring some of my kids every day after school (save for Mondays), developing a new program for teaching, planning for next year, organizing a very messy house, cooking, cleaning, and finishing up my online course.

This week is going to be a bit of a whirlwind -- on top of all of the above, we're going to the Carrie Underwood concert on Wednesday, dinner hopefully on Friday to celebrate (albeit belated) Kelly's birthday, two birthday parties on Saturday, and leaving for NEW YORK CITY on Sunday! I've been so consumed with writing my final paper for class that the trip has literally crept up on me.

And please please PLEASE don't forget to vote on Tuesday! It's an incredibly important election this year with SO.MUCH at stake. We all need to exercise our freedoms and vote for what is in our best interests as a society and as a country.

Kisses!