Went to see Rent with Nancy yesterday. We had seen it on stage when it came to Philadelphia and loved it. On the way to the movie theater, we were talking about some of the reviews we had heard - that since it was most of the original cast, it was difficult to believe that they were young bohemian 20-somethings...that NYC is a lot safer and cleaner today...that people are living longer with HIV now, etc.

Sometimes, I think you have to suspend your disbelief.

I had no problem with any of those things. I thought the movie was wonderful - in some ways perhaps better than the stage version. I love the music, I love the cast. And I love the story. It resonates deep within me. Maybe it's the discontent, the righteous indignation...maybe it's this group, forming their own family - not through blood but through love and caring for one another. All of it just makes sense to me, more so than so many other things.

There are so many things I have to be thankful for this year; I don't know where to begin!

1. A NEW JOB! I have been searching for some time now and had become mighty discouraged lately. My field is fairly narrow and as I didn't want to relocate, it was difficult to find many openings. But on Monday I was offered a job with a great organization. It's kind of scary leaving after being in my current job for six and a half years, but change is good - right? Change is good.

2. My family. My parents are always there for me, no matter what. And I have some great aunts, uncles and cousins I'd like to see more often.

2. My friends. Old, new, cyber...they are always there to laugh with me, lament with me, set me straight when my thinkin' is stinkin'. I love you guys!

3. My church. It is amazing to me how much I have changed and grown in the last five or six years. I still have a long way to go but I know I am on the right track now!

4. My youth. I learn something new from them every time we're together. I couldn't ask for a greater group! Last night, we worked at a place called Manna on Main Street, making placemats for their Thanksgiving dinner today and Christmas cards for the elderly. I was so proud of all of them, taking time to serve others.

5. My cats. I know some of you non-animal people will think I'm nuts. But my three furries are always waiting for me when I get home. They sleep with me at night and comfort me when I am low. Norm especially! He is my sweet boy.

6. My home. I am so blessed to have found this apartment. It's in a great location and my landlords are wonderful. There is nothing about it that I would change!

7. My job. I'm thankful that I've been employed at the same place for as long as I have. I've met a lot of wonderful people there and learned a great deal.

8. My car. I'm happy I found a safe, reliable car that's comfortable for me. It was a leap of faith to trade in my old one and start anew but it was the right decision for me.

9. My health. Although I struggle with my back and my fibromyalgia, I know that I am so much better off than many. I just joined the Y this weekend in hopes of keeping it that way. Wish me luck!

10. My grandmother. Even though she is no longer with us, I am thankful for all the things she taught me about people and how you should treat them. I don't think I realized what an impact she had on my life until she was gone and I am sorry for that.

11. That I am thankful! It's so easy to see the glass as half empty and that's something that I have to work hard not to do. But I know that I am truly blessed in so many ways - and how can your gratitude NOT spill over then?

I wish you all a very happy Thanksgiving. Be thankful for what you do have in your life - don't focus on what you don't, even if just for today.

Each year, around this time, I begin my descent into a holiday funk - usually running from Thanksgiving through to my birthday in early February. It's a combination of things that contribute...but being single with no children and an only child in a family that does not associate with the extended family very much is high on the list. It's so easy to feel left out and alone when it seems like everyone around you has someone to share the holidays with and enjoy. Kind friends have tried to include me in their family events but I always end up feeling like I don't quite belong.

This year, the descent began around Halloween, which is record early. So in an effort to try to ward the funk off, I am hereby boycotting my own usual efforts to fake holiday festiveness. I will not:

*Force myself to listen to holiday music, hoping that it will put me in the "holiday spirit"
*Watch holiday movies (for the same reason stated above)...though I don't think I can boycott the annual showing of A Christmas Story...and Christmas Vacation does make me laugh
*Go to the mall until the swimsuits return to the racks (which, really, is January)
*Spend hours creating and sending cards most people probably throw away anyway
*Debate the merits of a Christmas tree, put one up and then immediately take it down, as I often do
*Hope that this year will be different, and something miraculous will happen that will make the holidays wonderful fun

I will still purchase gifts (online!!) for those I care for, though this year's pocketbook is a little light. But I will do so in the spirit of reminding them that I love them, not because it's the holidays and I feel like I have to...and remind myself that it is the thought that counts, not the cost or quantity.

I am so excited! I applied for a volunteer position taking photographs and working on the programming for the workcamp we are going on this summer and I've been selected! Last year was great and I just wanted to play a more active role this year. AND that also means I am not going to be on a crew. I'll be driving from site to site and working with the programming team instead. As much as I enjoyed the physical labor (and I'm only a LITTLE sarcastic when I say that - it actually was good), this is more up my alley. What I would really like to do is be the MC, who runs the evening program each night. But you had to go to Colorado for a week's training to do so...and I thought maybe this position was kind of a first step. I'll be working with the MC so I can see what he/she has to do and if it would be a good fit for me in the future.

The other cool thing is that I can still room with my girls. You have the option of semi-private rooms with other volunteers or rooming with people from your youth group. I had such fun with the girls last year that I don't want to miss out on that part this year!

So now a few challenges...how do we raise the money to get there (we don't do fundraising at our church in the traditional sense) and how do we get to the location. There are at least two other adults going...David & I have to be there a day earlier than everyone else and we both have to have cars. I've been having wild ideas of everyone coming down a day early and the other leaders entertaining the youth until they can check in on Sunday...but we'll have to see. We'd have to factor in hotel costs then....well, there's some time to hash that around...

But anyway, yahoo! I'm so happy to get this position!

Yay! I have been discharged from physical therapy after three long months!! This has totally made my day. Especially since, starting next week, I have scheduled other things for my p/t nights. What perfect timing!

So today I'll start with gratitudes instead of laments!

Gratitudes
1. Sprung from p/t
2. Saving $40 a week in p/t copays!
3. My mom's advice on zicam is making my cold more bearable
4. It's almost Friday
5. I'm actually somewhat caught up on all my backlogged work projects!

Laments
1. I have 86 loads of laundry to do tonight
2. I have science experiments growing in my fridge that need to be disposed of
3. It's not Friday yet
4. It's not Friday yet
5. It's not Friday yet

: )

First things first, always listen to your mother. My mom recommended Zicam for my cold yesterday and I blew her off with a litany of all the herbs, vitamins and cold meds I was taking. But by the time I got my sick self home last night, I was really under the weather. So back out I ventured to Walmart, and picked up some Zicam. I'm not 100% better but well on my way. YAY MOM! (And yes, I will apologize and let her say she told me so!)

So on to the subject of this post. I found this on Heatherly's blog and she swiped it from the Muse and gave permission to swipe it, so I did! And I give you permission to swipe it too.

Cell Phone Meme

1. What is your current ringtone? Switch by Will Smith
2. What is your current wallpaper? A close up of Norman
3. Do you own a picture phone? Yes!
4. If so, what was the last picture you took? A white and blue Christmas tree. It was one of the things on our youth group scavenger hunt list at the mall. Note: scavenger hunts are illegal at the mall. So is picture taking...sigh.
5. Go to your text message inbox and type what the 10th message is. I erased them all. But the last one I had was "hi" from Mike
(The Muse must be really tired. She forgot #6.)
7. Go to your missed calls. 5th missed call...who is it? No clue, I think it was a wrong number
8. Who was the last person you spoke to on your cell phone? The guy at Outback when I ordered dinner last night
9. What service do you have? Cingular
10. At this very moment, how many bars do you have for your service? It shows three but I know that's a lie. I have no signal in here
11. Who's on your speed dial number 5? I don't have speed dial set up. But the most called would be Michelle.
12. Do you have voicemail? Yup
13. What does your voicmail message say to callers? Hi, this is tricia. I'm not available to take your call right now. Please leave your name, number and a short message and I'll get back to you as soon as possible.
14. How many contacts that start with the letter D do you have? 9
15. Who do you call the most? Michelle, Kym, Home, Mike, David
16. How many text messages do you get a month? Not many...but more since I set up yahoo to email me breaking news...
17. Can you send pictures? Yup
18. What are the last 4 digits to your number? 1721, which holds no significance to me
19. Go to your sent texts, what does the eighth one say? It's a picture of Norm (do you see a theme here...hmmmm.)
20. What about the 15th? I don't have a 15th
21. Who's the last person that you called? The guy at Outback
22. Last person that texted you? Mike
23. Last person you added to your contacts? Dani's new phone
24. How many minutes are on your plan? Not a clue
25. Do you like your phone? Yes, it is great

More than you ever wanted to know about me and my cell phone...

I am so weary! It has been a few whirlwind weeks, culminating with a botched Halloween Alternative event Monday, a drs appt yesterday where they told me I wasn't sick enough yet for an antibiotic but should be by next Monday so I can call then, and an overflowing toilet leaking into my (newly kind of finished) basement. So last night was a marathon of cleaning.

It has been a banner week so far! I am hoping the rest of it is completely uneventful. I NEED completely uneventful!!!!!

I'm going to swipe something from Joyful Mayhem to try to adjust my attitude here - laments & gratitudes:

Laments
1. Being sick
2. Plumbing problems
3. Cat throwing up on my new shoes (which one, I do not know but that was my joy this morning)
4. Not getting enough sleep (apparently ever, for I am always tired)
5. Not being able to visit Kym and baby Josh since he's been home because of the lingering sickness

Gratitudes

1. I haven't totally succumb to my cold yet
2. I ordered Christmas presents for the kids today
3. I have some Christmas ideas brewing for the grown ups too
4. Youth group is moving to Wednesdays so my Sunday evenings will be free starting this week
5. I'm starting a home group at my house next Monday, so I'll only have to be out one weeknight most weeks instead of three or more.

Ah, that's better. Things are not always as bleak as they seem. Sometimes you just need a reality check! : )