Thankful Thursday | a green world
This week, I am thankful:
for all the green outside my hospital
The trees have almost completely obscured the streets and buildings out there now!
I love working on a unit with windows.
that my work schedule is much less heavy right now
From the 5th-12th, I had a very heavy schedule, but from the 13th-20th, I have only two shifts and no extra events (as in, no residency stuff). Yay!
As I always say, I love my job, but sometimes I really need a break.
This sentence from a recent Duolingo lesson seemed appropriate. 😉
for all the enjoyable socialization at my job
I know I've said this before, but I love having co-workers! 🙂 Self-employment is lovely too, in many ways, but after so many years of self-employment, I am having fun being part of a team.
for all the beauty on my walks
Speaking of green...I love being able to be out in it when I am not at work.
And I appreciate all the interesting flowers that are out there right now.
for health insurance through my job
It's open enrollment right now, and I just picked a plan, which reminded me that I am grateful that I have health insurance through my job.
There is something satisfying to me about giving my insurance information to an office, having them ask, "Who is the policyholder?" and then saying, "It's me!"
I am providing for myself, and I like that. 🙂
that it hasn't been very hot this spring
So far, we have had a surprising number of cool days, and I am grateful. The hot weather can take its sweet time getting here, as far as I'm concerned.
What are you thankful for this week?
(And are you on Team Anticipation or Team Dread when it comes to hot weather?)
Team Dread for summer weather! We've had some hot days mixed in with cool, and lots of strong winds- typical Midwest spring!
I'm thankful
*my semester is over. And no one failed my class.
*track season is over. I like my kids trying sports, but it's always nice to stop driving all over the place.
*the grass we planted to fill in the spots where we ripped out tree/shrubs has grown!
*my HS son has one last day of classes.
* my prodigal son who came home to work and save money has done well so far. And he's funny and helpful around the house. Much better than I expected. ( not perfect mind, but we're working on it!)
* modern medicine, hot showers, fuzzy cats, rain, and rainbows.
I love warm but dread hot, especially at night.
This week I am thankful for a short break, because my few days at work made it clear that I hadn't fully recovered yet. So glad I was able to sleep in this morning.
Thankful our dear and young at heart cat only caught (and ate) one bird so far this spring. We keep a close eye on her and keep her in after dusk.
Thankful for my favourite smell of all, the hawthorn. There are many hawthorns skirting the water where I like to take a walk.
For steady rain in the past days, after a worryingly long dry period.
For the sun just peeping through at this moment, when the raindrops are still glittering on the leaves in our garden.
JNL,
Thank you for watching out for your cat when she's outside. Our cat (Mr. High Maintenance aka Lafayette) stays indoors, but we have a stray cat that we think a neighbor feeds (cat's name is Nala) - anyway, Nala hangs out at our house a lot, and I suspect she's the one who catches and kills birds that come to my feeders. This doesn't happen a lot (that I know of), but I've considered taking down my feeders. On the other hand, I selfishly like watching and photographing the birds that come to my feeder. Not sure how to handle this.
The Audoboun Society here in the USA advocates putting a bell on your cats' collars to help the birds make a timely getaway before they are consumed.
Our cat is 14 now, but when she was younger we would give her three bells, to no avail. Her skills are impressive, honestly. She now wears a fluorescent collar and we monitor the hours she is outside. She is happiest when she can go outside, but we avoid the dusk and dawn when the birds are feeding. We have never had a "cat flap" so she cannot enter or leave the house without our help. She has learned to communicate with us (verbally and nonverbally) about what she wants ("humans, the sun is out and I want to be too!")
Team Dread
I'm probably in the minority but I love hot weather, mostly because we don't get a lot of it where I am! I only love it if I'm near water to swim in though 😉 My birthday is in summer so I might be biased.
Thankfuls:
1. I forgot to say this last week, but there was a beautiful full moon, and I went for a swim in the sea as it rose. It was magical! The moon was called the Flower Moon and it was a pinkish gold.
2. I went to the cinema with my friend to see The Devil Wears Prada 2 and had a great time. The film was a lot of fun! I bought the book Yesteryear, which is going to be made into a film also starring Anne Hathaway, and really enjoyed it.
3. Today is a public holiday and I'm enjoying a day off work.
4. It rained yesterday but I went for a walk in the park with an umbrella and enjoyed the fresh air and seeing the rain falling on the lake.
5. I went to some botanical gardens at the weekend which I hadn't been to before. It was a beautiful day and the gardens were stunning (and free to enter!).
5.
Your full moon swim sounds magical, Sophie.
We saw The Devil Wears Prada 2 as well, and enjoyed it-it’s fun, with a great cast. I heard about Yesteryear (and that Anne Hathaway bought the rights to it and will star in the cinematic adaptation) so I added it to my library holds. Initially, it was several months wait and I thought I might source it in a physical library or even a thrift store before my hold came up. But apparently it’s very buzzy because my hold came up within a couple of weeks! I’m sure my library purchased more copies. I’m glad to hear you enjoyed it- I’ll be starting it very soon! Im looking forward to it.
I was too impatient to wait at the library! There were over a hundred reservations on it. I had a few quibbles but overall I thought it was an excellent book.
I was pretty close to just buying the book at my local indie bookstore, but we have so many books and I’m trying to only buy books I know I want to keep. That being said, I started listening to the Unselected Journals of Emma M Lion and they are an absolute delight!! The first two have been so wonderful I’m contemplating a Libro FM subscription to keep listening as the next books have looooong hold times!! Not frugal, but at least digital titles don’t take up as much space and Libro FM is a platform I can support 🙂
For Yesteryear, I'm number 201 on 35 copies at my library. I have so many books to read that it's nice to look forward to receiving this one later. Patience is a virtue!
I don't buy books very often and it was from an independent bookstore, so I justified it!
Makes perfect sense! I enjoy supporting independent bookstores and have gotten out of the habit, sadly.
Team anticipation, hot weather cannot get here soon enough!!
I'm grateful:
*That my preschooler had a great year, and for his co-op preschool that made it possible.
*That we leave on our first child-free vacation EVER next week and that my in-laws are able to come stay with the children (we are a blended family so have never been child free)
*For the sunny and beautiful weather on the horizon
*For my husband's doctor's appointments coming up. I hope they can help him with his migraines.
I love cool weather, and dread the super hot Summer days. I’ve had to create a strategy to deal with it when I’m at home. Do outside things mostly before 11an and after 3 pm!
Gosh your walking area looks amazing, Kristen!
I'm thankful for:
• Limes. I've really, really been enjoying squeezing some lime into my ice water.
• Hair gel. HA! Seriously, though with the humidity, my wavy/curly hair goes straight Ronald McDonald. Gel kinda helps.
• Loose socks. In cold weather I wear toe socks, but I have a pair of super loose diabetic socks and they're just so cozy.
• Evening rain. I am from Oregon and rain there can be unpredictable, so it's nice to be somewhere that during the rainy season it's usually in the afternoon/evening- it helps me plan things and it cools things down.
• Clouds. There have been some great storms lately the clouds are really...dramatic.
Limes-- I've been thinking I need to buy limes more often because I never have one when I need one, but when I get them, they sometimes go to waste. I know I can zest and squeeze them, but I keep them too long thinking I will use them fresh.
Clouds-- yes! We saw some beautiful ones in our travels to and from Minnesota. Clouds are a fun driving/riding entertainment.
I have had good luck with true lime/lemon packets so I can have those dehydrated juices whenever (or as backup for unexpected "need.") 🤓
I’ve frozen lime wedges. I just pull them out a bit before I need them and they’re perfect! We love limes with some cuisines and I’m a lime person with tonic water or water.
Shelly,
I love looking at the clouds! This morning as I was driving to work, it looked like a big gray "wall" of clouds was retreating. Pat of it was catching some of the sun's rays, so it had a sort of sun-glowing rim. So pretty!
Well, not quite either team. I really dislike the cold. But I'm not a great fan of 90 degree weather either. I like the 80s and 70s. I also am not a big fan of AC, but I live with many folks who cannot stand being hot at all.
This week I am thankful--
*to be home. Driving, driving, driving is no fun.
*that my boy graduated, and graduated well. On the very day of his graduation, he was offered a job teaching for the year at his church's school. He'll be teaching Latin, and that makes me very glad I require learning Latin in our little homeschool.
*that my other college boy is home for the summer.
*for the coffee I'm about to drink.
*that I live across the country from half of my family. This is the very first time I've been thankful for this because it was no fun growing up so far from my beloved Oma, aunts, uncles, and cousins. However, my cousin needed to travel to NIH for testing and an experimental thingy. I was able to visit her yesterday, and, according to her mother and my other aunt, it was a very appreciated thing. If I didn't live only a couple hours away, she would have had no visitors. Another wonderful thing is that she'll be here for the weekend.
*that, because of my face therapy in the same area, I was able to ignore GPS in a very traffic-y time and find my own way to NIH. Also, I'm thankful that it was easier getting out of the complex than it was getting into it!
*that flying boy successfully completed his long cross-country flight. For his funny stories about differences in flight traffic controllers. And now that I'm home from traveling for the graduation, I will eat more veggies; I missed them. For the very kind hospital staff taking care of my cousin. That two special babies were born this week in my sphere--- and another is on the way later this month. Did I mention that coffee that's ready?
Oh- I am team anticipation but only for dry, hot weather. If it's humid- dread.
I am on Team It Is What It Is.
It's been a tough week, which I guess means is more important to find things to be grateful for.
For the friend who took me to my colonoscopy. And then rearranged their sked a bit when it was moved to two hours earlier at the last minute.
Really, really grateful that the procedure was moved and not rescheduled, given that id done all the tedious prep.
That I gave in to the impulse gift for this friend. They were absolutely delighted and that may have been the best part of the week. (We've been friend a long time and buy gifts at random times.)
For my new friend, who is easy to be with and a good listener.
For my PITA dog, who can be hugged and used as a pillow. Most dogs at best put up with that; mine actually likes it.
The colonoscopy prep is definitely not fun. I’m glad you’ve been finding support during a rough week.
Pills or Suprep - nuts to old school which of course is what Medicare pays for. Husband told his GI that didn't care what Suprep costs (pills next time). I still work and if I am retired by his next one, we have the $.
I had the OTC prep and thought that drinking a quart of miralax in crystal lite wasn't hard at all. I was glad not to repeat the not eating part.
I am glad you had a friend with you to make the appointment more bearable
I've decided that the colonoscopy I'm due for next year, when I'll be 71, will be my last. For the one after that, I'd be 76, and I believe you can start refusing procedures like colonoscopies after age 75 (at least in the US).
Team Dread! The sun really blasts my house. My curtains stay closed most of the summer in an attempt to keep the house cooler. It's depressing! The only good thing about the temps getting above 80F is swimming.
I'm very happy the Women Build clinic went well last night. I've been working really hard on my social anxiety and agoraphobia, and am so grateful that my anxiety levels have gotten to a more manageable level. Younger me would have had a full-on panic, shut down and hid at home. Current me felt a little nervous and did it anyway. I got to hang out with some great women and help teach others how to caulk a bathtub. Kristen used to use a phrase "you don't need whiskers to do that". Our group of women helping women to learn building and home maintenance skills is a good testament to not needing whiskers to get the job done.
I am thankful, too, for all the green in my life. The tall, mature trees on my street are bursting with fresh green leaves. The grass is vibrant emerald green. It's invigorating.
I am thankful that my family, although stressed right now with money and employment issues, are all well.
I am thankful that I have insurance that is enabling me to get treated for a number of pesky health issues.
I am thankful that our country's political upheaval isn't worse than it is. I'm reading a memoir about the Nazi invasion of Poland, which was, of course, horrifying.
On a smaller scale, I am thankful that our weather is cool, and I don't need air conditioning yet.
The parallels are frightening.
Sophie in Denmark,
I read On Tyranny by Timothy D. Snyder, where he draws many comparisons between the rise of Hitler and his regime in Germany, and our current political situation here in the US. Truly frightening, but also a very good read. He also has a substack.
Last night, Tom Hanks was on Colbert.Tom Hanks has put out a documentary about WW2. They played a clip and it was about the Polish people getting ready for the Nazi invasion. I think the entire documentary series will be on Netflix or the History Channel. I'm not sure, but I definitely want to see it!!!!!!!
I am on Team Anticipation for warm weather and Team Dread for when humidity comes with it.
Agreed, I love hot weather but not the humidity which comes with it!
Ugh, hot weather. Team Dread. I think it's the humidity that I fervently dislike. When we have vacationed in the southwest, I found the heat much easier to tolerate. But we live in the midwest, and humidity is a reality. Last summer I found neck cooling tubes (stick 'em in the fridge for awhile and then pop one around your neck--the neck fans would be too annoying for me, but these are nice and quiet) and ahhh, a little relief.
Now it's time to make up for my grumbling by being thankful. The most exciting one is that my son and future DIL have picked a date--Memorial Day--to get married. He has been hired for a full-time, permanent, with-benefits position (he's been working field season gigs), which is a big deal in the current work climate, so they can move ahead with their (quiet, private) wedding plans. They have located an apartment online, so the pieces are falling into place.
This has been a stressful week, as we moved my daughter home from college a week ago and spent Monday and Tuesday moving her in (a two-day move-in due to very sparse move-in details from her housing coordinator) to her summer housing. There was a lot of unnecessary chaos because of the lack of communication, but we all survived and lived to tell the tale. I'm thankful that she has moved in, that she has a pleasant roommate, and that she gets this opportunity to do paid field work in her chosen career path.
I've been very grateful for my bed, as well as for having reheat-and-eat meals available!
Oh yes, the humidity is the WORST.
This week I am thankful for….
• The amazing concert my husband took me to last night. I sang and danced the night away and my heart is full.
• The special book outing/day date I had with a good friend on Saturday. We visited two bookstores (one that is the setting for The Sentence by Louise Erdrich) and a romance bookstore. She’s a librarian and we are both bond over books.
• A lovely Mother’s Day spent with people I love.
• All the green outside my windows.
• My watercolor class. I’m doing better than I expected and having a lovely time.
• My wonderful coworkers. They make going to work easy.
Did you actually go to Louise Erdrich's bookstore? I'm jealous--that's on my bucket list! That's so cool!
I am thankful for the weather today -- perfect spring weather.
For strawberry season and the first sighting of peaches.
That my house is filled with flowers right now.
That I get to work from home in a quiet house today.
I dread the hot weather. We've had a surprisingly cool spring here too (and I'm thankful!), but the hot weather is on it's way.
Today I'm thankful that I slept reasonably well for a change and have some energy this morning. I'm thankful for flowers blooming in the garden. I'm thankful that my cats are happy and healthy and having fun with the new toys I got them. And I'm thankful that I can work from home and also be part of an online team. It's just the right level of socialization for me.
I really enjoy summer, as we are in Northern California & save for a few days where it gets hotter than I like, it's pretty great here. Minimal humidity, and not too extreme on the heat.
Things I'm grateful for:
1) DH made me a delicious Mother's Day dinner
2) Made a bunch of progress on projects at work
3) Caught up on a class I'm taking
4) Listed & sold things on eBay
5) That DS19 successfully navigated his backpacking trip at Yosemite & is having such a great summer. He starts work in a few weeks, so this is his "vacation" time.
If summer here came with minimal humidity, I'd be ALL in!
Rain. So happy for rain.
My mom's continued good health.
A great garden space to provide yummy veg
My kitties. My pup and all the farm animals. Their antics are gut busting.
Where did the week go?
Not sure if team dread because I love a few hot sunny days a week. What I don't want is the oppressi e heat and humidity combo that sucks my energy dry. If I could have May and September weather all summer I'd be happy. I too love the green.
Team anticipation. Up in the mountains, we don't really have a "spring." It just is Winter in varying forms up until the end of May. I REALLY would love to take 90-degrees right now!
Also, I bet your summer days are nicer than ours. I'm imagining low humidity!
Phoenix AZ area is team /it’s already here/ …high of 97 F today (and was above 100 Tuesday evening as we left the gym). Thankful for AC everywhere (and for low humidity)!
Team Dread for the hot weather.
I am thankful that you are OK. When I didn't see your post yesterday, I worried!
I am thankful that it's been cool enough to sit out on my patio and read.
I am thankful that when Snuggles ran out of the backyard, he came back after a few minutes. I didn't chase after him. Guess he got bored.
I am thankful the vet said Snuggles is nice and healthy. He now weighs 61 pounds!
I am thankful people tell me I look good for my age (71) and seem surprised when I say I'm that old.
I was coming off a very long string of days at the hospital, and my mind and body were COOKED. So, I didn't write a post yesterday. 🙂
I thought as much, and good for you to give yourself a break!
Team dread for hot weather! I love to swim and I love warm days, but where I live (a populated part of Canada!), we have some of the biggest temperature swings in the entire world (regularly -30 degrees celsius to +40 degrees celsius) and it's a suffocatingly humid heat. I am totally fine with 20 degrees (68 degrees F) but can live without the other oppressive nonsense. My dog doesn't like it, my toddlers don't like it. I am always shocked by people who do, but they seem to be people who like to be like lizards... those who lay in a chair or on a rock or on a dock. I am super active and can't breathe in the very high heat. Love to my lizard friends, glad you have your season! I will take the other ones!
I'm with you on Team Dread. I hate hot humid weather. My favorite weather is near late spring/ early fall.
This week, I'm thankful for/that ...
• A great Mother's Day. I'm grateful to be a mom to 3 beautiful girls. I felt so loved and appreciated.
• A wonderful husband who constantly encourages me.
• The beautiful Spring Snow Flowing Crabapple Trees we have in our front yard. They flower at the end of spring/ beginning summer for just a week or 2. Seeing them bloom makes my heart happy.
• The chance to catch up and get a lot of things done I've been putting off.
• Having self control and not doom scrolling or being sucked into social media right now.
This is a good week to remind myself that there is plenty to be thankful for, as I am kind of focusing on what I’m not thankful for right now!
1. My husbands heart ablation for atrial fibrillation was successful on Monday and he is recovering well. Being told to “take it easy” for a full week isn’t his cup of tea, but he is doing as advised.
2. Thankful that the hospital put us up in a hotel overnight so we didn’t have to drive 80 miles home after he was discharged at 8 pm. He wasn’t feeling the best at that point.
3. Thankful that the construction team who tore off our back deck and found significant rot were able to pull it all off and do a good repair on the area. (Not thankful for the rest, but this is a thankful post)
4. Went to dinner last night with 14 ladies from my HS class, and had a nice meal, and lots of fun and laughter with these people from 50 years ago. We do this about every 3 months, and each time it’s just as much fun!
5. Thankful for the pretty birds who visit our feeders, make beautiful birdsong and remind that I live in a beautiful place.
Kristen, enjoy your well earned days off. And for the record, I am grateful for warm temperatures, but not humidity. I live in a cold state, and our 90 degree days are few and far between, so I just go with it!
Yay for a successful ablation!
I've had quite a few patients with afib before and it is wild to listen to their hearts and feel their pulses.
I dread summers because of the heat and humidity. But I am thankful for my air conditioner.
I am thankful for:
1. The first day of summer break with my son which means no alarms to wake us. Hooray!
2. A lovely, sunny but not too hot day
3. The plentiful food options that are available in my kitchen
4. A cozy bed that is my favorite place to read and sleep.
5. The new screen door for the deck that allows air flow and bird song in, while keeping my dog where he belongs. 😄
tina@the-miles.org
I'm late to the thankful party this time because I've had a dispiriting day--no major crises, just a lot of little PITAs (and I don't mean the flatbreads). So I'm thankful that this day is over and there's a new one coming up!
As for Team Dread vs. Anticipation re: hot weather, I'm on Team A at the moment, given the cold, dank, rainy, depressing first half of May we've had in Central NY. But I'll probably be switching over to Team D if we get the near-90-degree temperatures they're predicting for next week.
Aww, I'm sorry to hear about your aggravating day! I hope tomorrow is way better for you.
Team Dread, for sure. I'm also doing a trip to Columbia in two weeks and it will be hot and humid, especially when we get to Cartagena. I hope I don't melt.
Tram Dread, but I also don't like being cold, so maybe I'm too picky ha. I am grateful to live in a region that gets both hot and cold each year, with my favorite seasons spring and fall in between.
Also grateful:
- For my anniversary yesterday. Now I have been married longer than not (in years of my life). Wow!
- That today is graduation for my students. Both anticipating the event and will be glad when it's over. I miss those kiddos already though!
- For reminders and affirmations of how it's worth it to invest time and energy in young people. Even when they're (intentionally or not) pushing all the personal "buttons" for my irritation that can be found.
- That summer break is now 1 week away!
- That today I have some time to kill in between events so I'll visit my friend at her store and get some awesome food from the restaurant next door. On the frugal front, I do have my lunch packed!
This week I am thankful . . .
That I am starting to come out of this cold. Luckily only one other family member got this same cold, but I am immunocompromised due to being on breast cancer drugs, so I get everything that even one person brings into the house. After three days of not being able to get out of bed, I am finally up today. Thank God for acetaminophen and rest.
That I am still under consideration for a couple of a jobs, and that I have 2.5 months until I have to do something drastic so that our family has health insurance. A friend unexpectantly got an offer for the same postdoc I am finishing up (he had already gotten a rejection, but then not enough folks accepted their offers!), which is giving me hope. Something could still come through any moment.
For my husband, who not only covered every household and child-related task while I was sick without question, but also brought me every meal and talked to me to keep off the boredom. We will celebrate 23 years of marriage next week, and I thank God everyday that he is in my life.