well-dressed foolish ideas

I'm going to be cliché and shower the blog entry with thanks and love today. Don't hold it against me for being unimaginative. (You should totally be used to it by now.)

First and foremost, everyone, be thankful for the men and women in the armed services. They deserve more than thanks and respect. They deserve to be shown respect by everyone, regardless of political affiliation or philosophies. They deserve proper benefits, proper salaries, proper medical assistance. The ones that sacrifice their lives deserve to be remembered every single day. They deserve everything good and more.

My family doesn't have any kind of traditional "I'm thankful for..." speeches at dinner, but I'm especially thankful for the following:

• My immediate family is healthy and in decent shape after a rough couple of months.


• The fact that I'm happier with my life now than I was at the beginning of the year.


• My understanding friends.


• My cool and entertaining co-workers.


• My playful kitten - even with the climbing of the leg.


• Dinners in the company of good people.


• Sunshine in winter.


• Cologne.


• Scarves!


• Brilliant jokes and hearty laughs that make everyone present giggle.


• Not working crazy hours all summer long.


• Packages in the mail.


• Being able to sit in my flat, alone and happy, relaxing on the weekends.


• Digital cameras that are constantly available to capture comical and heartwarming moments.


• Snow!


• Walks in Vienna. At night. In the snow.


• Knee-high boots.


• Over-the-knee socks. (Hot!)

Most of all, I'm thankful that life is in progress.


To all of you Americans... Happy Thanksgiving! Have some mashed potatoes and gravy for me, please! (Oh, how I miss mashed potatoes and gravy on my mom's china in her dining room.)

To all of the non-Americans... Well... Happy Thanksgiving, too! Hope your Thursday leaves you giddy.