Gracias

The upcoming Thanksgiving holiday got me thinking about what I'm grateful for (besides 2 days off of work!), and since Katch posted a list on her blog, I thought I would too.

1. My patient, wonderful, hilarious, intelligent husband

2. Harper - who is always excited to see me when I get off work (I tell myself it's not just because he knows when I get home he gets to have dinner)

3. My awesome, crazy family who I get to see very soon!

4. My education

5. Ramen/Cup of Noodle (I can't explain it, but it's true!)

6. Allergy Medicine

7. OBAMA GETTING ELECTED!

8. My landlord paying for the heat

9. Living in a place with 4 seasons (ask me again in 2 months)

10. Freedom of speech - and you all know I use it!

What are you all thankful for?

Puppies anyone?

It's been a tough week at work. Let's just say that I work at a place that is a less funny and more disturbing version of The Office. So, after a stressful week, it's only natural that all of us in the office have bonded over a live stream of puppies in a crate. I mean, who doesn't feel like all is good in the world while watching puppies sleep, romp and destroy their bedding? It has been on at least three of my coworker's monitors at all day (and yes, on mine as well) and fits of giggles erupt simultaneously when one of the six Shiba Inu puppies does something adorable. Maybe all our country really needs is to switch all of the television stations to a constant live stream of puppies. At least for a little while. Maybe I'll write my Senator....(although I'm not sure who that will be yet!).

For those in need of a pick-me-up or something to bond over, click here. Happy Friday!

Feeling Shiny

I've spent some time thinking about what happened on Tuesday night. The intense feelings of hope and wonder and pride have been with me all week and quickly erupt to the surface anytime I recall the inspiring Obama victory. If I am completely honest about it, I bawled like a baby when the newscaster announced, "Barack Obama will be the next president of the United States." The words still give me chills.

In 2004 I put more of my time and energy talking to people I didn't know about a change I felt we so desperately needed in this country. And I was heartbroken by the outcome. The drive home from volunteering in Denver with my husband and my mother-in-law was eight hours and it was dead silent.

This time around I didn't really do much in the way of talking to strangers, even though I would have loved to. I am proud that at least my husband got the chance to. But what I did do was talk to EVERY person I came in contact with about my feelings, my views. I had some really amazing discussions. I feel I grew closer to some members of my family - not because they felt like me, but because we were able to have such great conversations about it.

And so my hope is that this shiny feeling I have won't fade with the coming weeks, or even years. My hope is that we'll be able to take this magnificent opportunity we've been given and once again become the nation that our forefathers envisioned. A bastion of hope and an example of justice. And we have a leader who can lead us there, reminding us what is possible if we do what we know is right and then fight for it. Yes. We. Can.

I did, how about you?

Double Take

We had come back to our apartment (Eric and me, my mother, my sister and her three kids) after having had dinner and taking a trip to Underwater Adventures, an aquarium at the Mall of America, and the kids were going wild. As you know, we have a lovable 68-pound chocolate lab who adores company and little kids even more, so our small one-bedroom apartment was in chaos. Not having kids, we realized in about 3 seconds that it's not entirely childproof. Okay, it's not even remotely childproof. In the midst of all this chaos, my niece Madelaine points to a painting on our wall and says, "Diego!"


I was astounded. The painting she was pointing to was indeed a Diego Rivera painting. How could she have known? Were we in the midst of a child genius? We all sat dumbfounded for a minute before my sister busted up laughing.


Something Diego Rivera (1886-1957) could never have guessed was that this painting of Ignacio Sanchez resembles a certain lovable cartoon character - Diego of Dora and Diego, a show popular with the kiddies. A show popular with my niece.


Happy 2nd Birthday Madelaine.