Gratitude Post

20 Things I'm Grateful for This Week (in no particular order):

1. For H. For being my friend and the cruise director for our ever-expanding circle. You make my life better.

2. For Frank. For working so hard and making me a part of things.

3. For Jack. My comedy partner. It's so great to have someone from that world who I trust completely. Working with him is a blast. He always boosts my confidence. If I don't talk to him 6 times a day, something is wrong.

4. Substituting at Butler High School. I love it. To be told that I am good at it by the teachers and the staff is such a great feeling. I've made some new friends this week and I will be filling in for 2 weeks as a Social Studies teacher when he is out on paternity leave. I am really excited about it.

5. I'm grateful for my college degree which enables me to teach.

6. For Terri. For making my family a part of her family and including us in their lives and always thinking of us on the holidays. It means a lot to us and takes the sting out of missing my family in NY.

7. Laughing with my sister Audrey on the phone this week. I think we can talk about TV all day long.

8. Frankie still gives me hugs and kisses everyday.

9. For my black and white gingham Mary Jane wedge Keds with the red lining. They are adorable.

10. Performing at the New Carlisle Eagles last week was a blast.

11. For my friend, comic Mark Eddie, for making me part of his show and believing in me.

12. Lindsey standing on my bed and watching herself shake her groove thing to "Shake Your Groove Thing."

13. Billy Joel's "The Bridge." I listened to it on my walks this week. A great album. "Getting Closer" makes me feel good.

14. JD's custard in Englewood right next to Uncle Stan's Assisted Living place. When I bring Uncle a vanilla custard, it makes him so happy.

15. My Facebook friends. Old, new and everything in between. I love it there.

16. Watching good movies with the kids...Monsters Vs. Aliens is funny! Go see it. We came home with 3 catchphrases. ("What the flagnon??!!")

17. Poetry. Neruda. Frost. cummings and the rest. I love the power of words.

18. The car only needed oil. Oh, and a new door handle. So I don't have to roll down my window to get out of my car. Although, man, did I ever look classy.

19. My washer and dryer. After working all week, I had like 8 loads of laundry to do today. So much better than beating the clothes against a rock.

20. The song "I'm Not Who I Was" which touches me in a way I can't explain. It's all about grace and it's beautiful.