Giving of thanks

I have a friend who wants to change today's holiday to "Genocide Celebration Day" -- and while I think that's more historically accurate -- I'm going to indulge the Hallmark faction of the public by declaring the things for which I'm thankful. After all, isn't it in our country's genes to take an awful event and turn it into something good?

So anyway, here goes:

- I'm thankful for my health. I've had ups & downs with my back since 2002, but I feel that overall I don't fall into the victim trap -- It's hard work, but because of that I've stayed pretty darn healthy.

- I'm thankful that so many of my friends have found love as Tyler & I have, and I'm thankful for all of the new babies -- recently born and some still on the way! I think all my friends are "pretty awesome," and I'm glad that most of them have found "equally awesome" spouses. Hooray us! for creating super-couples and populating the Earth with our super-babies.

- I'm thankful for the 2008 election, for re-igniting the passion for political and social involvement that lay dormant within me since college.

- I'm thankful for discovering all of the great writers and bloggers out there that continue to educate me and challenge me everyday in areas of politics, religion, economics, and all things interesting.

- I'm thankful for friends and family that challenge my own beliefs so that I may more fully form and understand what those beliefs are.

- I'm thankful for reconnecting to old friends from high school & college.

- I'm thankful for my dog, Daisy, for being so freaking awesome.

- I'm thankful Obama won.

- I'm thankful for the Olympics. I don't know why, but I LOVE the Olympics.

- I'm thankful that my car's "extensive oil leak problem," potentially costing thousands of dollars to fix, WAS covered under my Car Max warranty. It will only cost $50 to fix.

- I'm thankful that, despite my brother moving thousands of miles overseas, we've grown even closer & have stayed in far better contact......I guess I should be thankful to Google Chat for that one.

-I'm thankful for HBO & AMC for giving me great TV options (Mad Men, True Blood) until Lost returns in January. (Hooray!)

- I'm thankful for Mike Smith, Arthur Blank, and Thomas Dimitroff for drafting the best rookie class in NFL history.

- I'm thankful for Matt Ryan, Michael Turner, Roddy White, John Abraham, Jerious Norwood, Harry Douglass, Curtis Lofton, Chauncey Davis, Keith Brooking, Harvey Dahl, Sam Baker, Chevis Jackson, Chris Houston, Michael Jenkins, Brian Finneran, Michael Boley, Jonathan Babineaux, Jason Elam, Michael Koenen, Ovie Mughelli, Todd McClure....and I'm sure I forgot someone, but you get the point. (If you don't, watch the video 2 posts below.)

- I'm thankful for good health insurance; I know how rare that is in this day and age.

- I'm truly thankful for Tyler's job. He searched for months in 2007 for a position with a commercial real estate developer and was not sure if he should take his job with Steel Inc when offered. (Because it wasn't on his 'career plan') Something told us to accept the Steel Inc job, and I can only thank 'divine intervention' for that because I don't know what else to thank. Commercial development in Atlanta tanked this year due to the economy and credit crisis, and as a result developers laid off employees right & left. Steel Inc., on the other hand, is thriving; and we're doing A-OK as a result.

I guess I have quite a bit to be thankful for. I know 2008 has been a tough year for so many people, and I recognize how lucky we really are. Thank you for letting me indulge my sentimental side and lay this all out on my blog. I guess my final "thank you" would be to those of you who do read this thing & stay on me to keep posting.

Happy Thanksgiving. Happy Genocide Celebration Day. And Thank You.