Thankful

Yes, I am thankful.  I am thankful for the obvious things:  family, friends, and my dogs.  I am also thankful for some of the simplest things that maybe we take for granted on a daily basis.

I am thankful for memories, for my children are grown and we are making new memories, but I do love to go into my memory bank and think of the time when I was their world, because they will forever be mine.

1993

I am thankful for my parents.  They have an awesome relationship.  They encourage me every day, even now, as an adult.  I would be lost without them.

I am thankful for the love of my life and I am thankful we found each other with enough life left.

I am thankful for my siblings. There was a time when I wasn’t sure I would have any (I was an only child for 10 years.)  Love you guys!

I am thankful for my Aunts, Uncles, Cousins, Nieces, and Nephews.  Life would be boring without you!

I am thankful for medical science.  My family had quite a few medical issues this year and I am thankful for the doctors, nurses, and hospitals that took care of us and made us healthy again.

I am thankful for love, hugs, and kisses for without them we would all be angry, sad, and frustrated.  So hug, kiss, and love someone today…it’s free and it feels great!

I am thankful that I have a job and that I am able to work. (Although, if I could retire and write for the rest of my life, that would be good too.)

I am thankful for my past and what it has taught me and where it has taken me.

Most of all I am thankful for having “enough” to be thankful for.  I have enough love, strength, faith, knowledge, health, happiness, and eagerness to live my life the way I want.

My wish for you is that you also have enough to be thankful for.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Susan

My Top Five Charities

This time of year is a time for giving.  I try to give all year long, but people are more generous at this time of year.  I have done some research and these are my top five worthy charities this year.  I have included links to their websites.  Please donate to one if you are able to.

St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital

I cannot imagine the range of emotions a parent goes through when learning their child has a catastrophic disease such as cancer.  This hospital not only treats the patient, but also treats the family.  I am sure you have already heard of St. Jude’s, they are highly advertised.  Do you know exactly what they do?  The following is their mission statement and a link to their website, where you can learn more and make a donation.

 

“The mission of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is to advance cures, and means of prevention, for pediatric catastrophic diseases through research and treatment. Consistent with the vision of our founder Danny Thomas, no child is denied treatment based on race, religion or a family's ability to pay.”

 http://www.stjude.org/waystohelp  

The Sato Project

I came across this charity completely by accident.  Have you ever heard of “Dead Dog Beach” in Puerto Rico?  Neither had I until I stumbled upon this organization.  The stories of the dogs that are abandoned on this beach and left to fend for themselves, have puppies, fight, or die are horrific.  This charity was founded by Chrissy Beckles, a champion amateur boxer who is literally fighting to save these pups.  Check out their website to make a donation or maybe even add a new member to your family.

http://thesatoproject.org/

Team Boom 4 Tripp

This story caught my eye on Facebook.  It is about a family who tried very hard to have a baby and finally did.  When that baby was about two years old he was at daycare playing on the playground when a huge limb fell out of a tree and hit him directly on the head crushing his skull.  This miraculous child has survived surgeries and is the light of his parent’s life.  The family uses 100% of donations towards Tripp’s care and so that his mom is able to stay home and care for him, they also sell items on their website and donate a percentage of their proceeds to other worthy charities.  Check it out.

http://www.teamboom4tripp.com/

Tie the Knot

Tietheknot.org is an organization dedicated to marriage equality.  This is a subject close to my heart; as it is to many in this country.  Tietheknot.org was created by Jesse Tyler Ferguson (Mitchell from Modern Family) and his husband Justin Mikita.  The site sells neckwear and donates the proceeds.  “Tie The Knot was founded to benefit foundations that support marriage equality. Every day, these organizations fight for millions of Americans right to be married”

www.tietheknot.org

Toys for Tots

Ok so pretty much everyone on the planet has heard of Toys for Tots.  I have included this organization in my top five simply because it is an awesome organization and it is one of the easiest ones to donate to.  You either drop and unwrapped toy in the many donation boxes in stores and malls around the country, or you can visit their website to make a monetary donation.

http://www.toysfortots.org/

Times are tough for many people out there.   If you can, please donate, it doesn’t have to be to one from my list and it doesn’t have to be a lot of money.  I find that donating and giving back makes my heart feel good.

I know there are many more charities out there.  Please feel free to add your personal favorites in the comment section.

Thank you.

Till we meet again…

Susan

Just thought I would share this with you, it made me laugh.  Enjoy your day!

My Favorite Things

Around this time of year we have all these celebrities doing shows on their favorite things.  Oprah started this, years ago, and then gave all of her favorite things away to the audience. 

I got to thinking the other day about my favorite things.  Of course it goes without saying that the love of my life, my children, my parents, my siblings, the rest of my extended family members, and my friends are my very most favorite things in life, but I thought I would list some of the not-so-obvious favorite things in my life.

1. My dog, Buster, whom I love with all of my heart.  He has never once judged me or gotten angry with me.  He is aging and I will be very lost when he no longer roams this earth (or the house, under my feet)
   
2. Coffee.  I know there are many people who would list this as one of their favorite things.  My coffee habit is more of an obsession.  I see nothing wrong with this.
3. Music.  Pretty much any music (other than blues or jazz).  I cannot live without music in my life.  I have basically been this way since way before people were carrying boom boxes on their shoulders. (If you don’t know what this means, you are way too young to be reading this blog haha.)
4. Chocolate.  This needs no explanation.  If you are female you know what I am talking about.
5. Sweats. Sweat pants to be exact.  They are my favorite article of clothing.  I know this makes me sound lazy.  I am not lazy.  I just love to be comfortable.  I will never forget the day I found “dress” pants that feel like I am wearing sweat pants.  It was an awesome day!
6. Campfires or fireplaces.  I just love the smell of a campfire and the sound of a crackling fire especially on a chilly fall evening.
7. Football.  I love watching football on Sundays.  There was a time where I would have done anything to avoid the TV on Sunday.  Now I cannot wait for football Sunday and am so sad when the season is over.
8. The change of the seasons.  I know plenty of people who would love to live in a climate such as Florida’s or California’s where it is normally warm and sunny.  Don’t get me wrong, warm and sunny are wonderful but if I didn’t have the changing of the seasons I would die of boredom.  I love snow storms and by the time I am sick of snow storms we are headed into spring.  I also love summer but by the time I am just about sick of the heat, here comes fall.  See how that works for me?
9. Magazines.  I just love reading and magazines are my favorite thing to read.  I think it is because I never get bored with them.  There is so much information in a good magazine.
10. The final thing on my list of favorite things this year is Facebook.  I know, ho hum boring.   I love keeping in touch with relatives and friends I wouldn’t normally see very often if even at all.  I have made many new and interesting friends through facebook.  Plus, who doesn’t like Candy Crush?  Ok, maybe that is a little over the top, but it makes me happy : )  Don’t even get me started on how much I love Pinterest.

What are some of your favorite things?

Till we meet again,

Susan

Vanessa…

There I was, in the deli this morning, like many mornings.  I was getting my coffee and ran into a customer of mine.  A very nice man who manages property for another customer of mine, he looked at me and said I have been meaning to stop in to tell you, Vanessa passed away.  My immediate reaction was “Oh my God!”  I was shocked and very sad.

Vanessa was an awesome person.  Very sweet and friendly with a cute British accent.  I remember when she first called to have some work done at her house (I am a secretary at a plumbing company).  We chatted like old friends from that very first call about eight years ago.  When I was first separated and moving into an apartment, Vanessa gave me some of her furniture that she no longer needed.  I thought this was very generous of her because Vanessa and I have never actually met in person.  We only had two or three phone conversations a year during the last eight years.

Vanessa had cancer.  She battled it for years.  It started as lung cancer.  She went through treatments, the cancer went away, the cancer came back, and she went through more treatments.  I guess this last time the cancer came back it came back in more than just her lungs.

I am very sad about the passing of Vanessa.  I feel very badly for her husband who has been helping and taking care of her for the last few years.  I feel badly for her other family members and her friends.  I will miss her voice on the other end of the phone.

My hope is that she didn’t suffer and that she had her loved ones there with her in her final moments.

Rest in peace, Vanessa you will be missed. 

Until we meet again

Susan

If you read my "About" page, you know that one of my interests is camping.  We camp at a seasonal site from mid-April until mid-October.  We try to never miss a weekend but sometimes life doesn't always cooperate.

This past weekend was our first in a couple of weeks and I was so surprised at how the leaves had already changed into brilliant crimsons, yellows, and oranges.  Another one of my interests is photography, I play around with different shots from time to time.  It's so much easier and more fun to do now that everything is digital and I don't have to bring a roll of film to the store and pay for it to be developed!

Anyway, the above picture seems appropriate for today.  I love this country I was born in, although it's currents state is sad to say the least (and no I don't like to discuss politics).  I still do love this country and am proud to be American.  I have no choice but to believe things will turn around because they have to for us to survive.

Here are some more scenery shots from this beautiful fall weekend...

Oh, how I love the fall.  Maybe because I was born in the fall.  Yes this past weekend I celebrated my last 40-something birthday.  I am good with it as long as I keep surrounding myself with all this beauty :)

Until we meet again....

Susan

So I just read an article on fall fashion trends.  Normally I wouldn’t pay attention to the runway styles.  I just look for clothes that flatter this 40 something body without offending anyone.  Anyway, there are a few trends I definitely will not be wearing, but some I am happy to see.  Here is my take on what forecasters are saying is “in.”

Patchwork Denim -  This sounded interesting to me so I did an Internet search and found that some of the items are actually cute.  Then I realized this fad would make sense.  In the last few years, denim that has had holes sliced, cut, and torn into it was the fashion.  Now you don’t have to buy new jeans to be in style, just put a patch on your torn ones and you are good to go.  No real investment required other than some fabric to use as a patch.

Leather everything – The problem with this?  Ok well, lets start with the price, leather anything (real leather, that is) is expensive.  Beyond the price, leather clothing is not made for everyone.  I am not sure how you feel but anyone who is not perfectly fit for spandex (this includes me), should not be wearing leather.  Lastly, for the women in any stage of menopause, leather will make you sweat.  Enough said.

Slouchy beanies and baseball hats – I never knew baseball hats went out of style and slouchy hats?  I am not a hat person, but on the right person they can be cute.

Pajama Pants – Are for bed.  Can I get an Amen?

Lug Shoes – Shoes and boots are now being made with lug soles.  Originally designed for better traction, are now made to exercise your legs and are the dressy answer to Reebock’s toner sneakers.  I wonder if they work while I am sitting here typing?

There are a few things that hit the runway that I will hopefully be adding to my closet like a poncho, a blast from my past!  I used to love my ponchos when I was a kid and the new ones look comfy and cozy. 

Is there anything you are looking to add to your closet this year?  I would love to hear about it.  Feel free to post a comment.

Until we meet again

Susan