Oh December!

For December, I'm
Excited: about Christmas and New Year
Worried: about travel plans and mad traffic

Watching: football, Revenge, Scandal, NCIS, Bones, Big Bang Theory
Reading: Siddhartha
Listening to: NPR
Creating:  wedding invitations, re-decorating, Christmas crafts
Cooking: soups and casseroles
Loving: the cold weather, which makes hot tea welcoming
Thinking: about how much work is about to fall in my lap in the next six months
Looking forward to: seeing family, parties!

 Today is World AIDS Day 

30 Days of Thankful: Day 30

Today I am thankful for taking on this project. Over the past 30 days, even on those days that I didn't post, I kept thinking of all the people, opportunities, adventures, things that I/we have been blessed with. After each post, I had a sense of peace, the type that comes from keeping a positive attitude. I cannot promise to always have a positive attitude but hopefully I will be able to re-direct my energy to people and things that do matter.

I am also thankful for UAB. No, my story with UAB wasn't one of love at first sight but it has grown on me. I met Tom here, got a degree here, and met some wonderful people here. UAB also offered me a good job, with amazing co-workers who become closer friends everyday and a supportive mentor. A lot of what I do now wouldn't have been possible without the International Students and Scholars Services (ISSS, they have a new name now). From handling my paperwork when I was a student to providing much needed advice with my green card application. And yes, I am thankful that I am a resident of the US. 

30 Days of Thankful: Day 29

I am thankful for Birmingham. It will always have a special place in my heart - where I went to school, where I met and married hubby, where I met many of my friends, including BFF Susie. It's also close to other places, including Baton Rouge and New Orleans, Nashville, the beach, and Atlanta (Ikea and an international airport!).

30 Days of Thankful: Day 28

I am thankful for our Christmas tree, but in the general sense, we have made our traditions. The Christmas tree always goes up the day after Thanksgiving. It has taught us to compromise since Tom loves lights on trees but I don't. So Tom gets the lights and I get an almost monochromatic tree (tress in the past have had all pink, all purple, or green and gold ornaments). This year, we are doing blue and gold.

30 Days of Thankful: Day 27

I am thankful for the post office/USPS. They offer a great service at a great price - I've never had issues with them. I love that I can affix a forever stamp on just about any correspondence and use a drop box (conveniently located in the basement of my building or outside of Tom's building). More importantly, even though it might take 7-14 days for mail to and from Mauritius, it still is the cheapest option for cards. Which reminds me I need to start working on Christmas cards :)

30 Days of Thankful: recap

Day 23: I am thankful for having what we need. Yes, we have wants but we didn't need anything and it was one more day to stay in instead of braving the crowds.

Day 24: I am thankful for my time in Baton Rouge and Louisiana in general. I learned about southern hospitality on my first day in the US on campus, when everyone greeted you and smiled. I learned about football and I love my LSU Tigers. I got to spend a short three years on one of the most beautiful campus and got a good education. I was introduced to one of my favorite cuisines, Cajun.


Day 25: I am thankful for a long weekend of doing nothing, except for reheating leftovers, watching football, and playing video games.

Day 26: I am thankful for my cold weather gear. Today marks my first walking to work day and I was sweating by the time I got in, thanks to a thermal top. Note to self, don't wear thermal tops to walk to work :) Tom introduced me to what we call snuggle socks, which are fleece/fuzzy socks. I have several pairs and they are great to wear at home although I have been known to wear them out :)

30 Days of Thankful: Day 22

Happy Thanksgiving!

May your stuffing be tasty
May your turkey plump,
May your potatoes and gravy
Have nary a lump.
May your yams be delicious
And your pies take the prize,
And may your Thanksgiving dinner
Stay off your thighs!

(http://quotations.about.com/od/specialdays/a/thanksgiving4.htm)

I am thankful for Thanksgiving: another year of the traditional potluck meal with Colm and Zak (who came back to Bham for the holiday!!!) and others. It's a great reminder of our friendships, our love for food and cooking, and of course an opportunity to watch football. I am also thankful for the meal since this is my favorite meal of the year and I almost always order a Thanksgiving sandwich when it's on the menu.

30 Days of Thankful: Day 21

I am thankful for World Market, especially at this time of the year: Electric Reindeer. At about $5 a bottle, their white zin and moscato wines are absolutely my favorite. We have been known to stock up by the case since Electric Reindeer is only sold in the late fall/winter.

30 Days of Thankful: Day 20

I am thankful for Craft nights. I am currently working on our travel scrapbook, wedding invitations, a drinks label board, and designing a label for Tom's creation: jalapeno vodka. It's great to relax doing something you love, in good company while sipping on favorite beverages.

30 Days of Thankful: Recap

Day 17: I am thankful for grandparents, both mine and Tom's. This weekend was marked by watching the Notebook, talking about my grandma (dad's side) who is a seamstress while I was at the dress alteration place, and actually talking to her on Skype on Sunday. I also received a nice card from Tom's grandparents for my birthday. It was very thoughtful of them.

Day 18: I am thankful for Costco. Some expert savers argue that warehouse stores are not a good idea, but I love Costco. On Satuday, I picked up their 6 quart Crockpot slow cooker with dipper for about $20. I wanted one with a digital timer and this was the same exact one that we had registered for more than twice the price. Crockpot cooking, here we come!

Day 19: I am thankful for Courtyard. The Packers game is not always on regular TV, like yesterday and two weeks ago. So on those days, I pack the Sunday paper and we head to Courtyard. The bartenders know us. We get unhealthy but oh so good food and pitchers of PBR and I get to read the paper and go through the ads.