My brother’s millennium-eve puppy, Newton, enjoyed almost 12 and a half years of Frisbee and tennis balls, and a few years of wrestling and playing with Mara while mom & dad took care of her. His favorite thing ever was chasing things in the front yard…except maybe for the toast crumbs that Dad would dust off into his bowl every morning. (Silly side thought – Dad, what are you going to do with all those crumbs now?)

Godspeed, Newton-dog. I hope there’s someone around to throw Frisbees for you all day long and snuggle you every night, and wake you up with toast.  We’ll miss you.

Just thought I’d share the good news Since that’s what’s been keeping me busy enough to not post, run, bake, knit, or play my guitar. I can’t wait to get back into all of that again.

At least for 6 weeks, until I start the first of my 3 MBA classes.

…Bring. It. On.

So I’m supposed to be writing a 7-page paper that’s due tomorrow night. But it’s totally gorgeous outside and I’m easily distracted by the weather, and sudden snack cravings, and…well, and anything really. Let’s be honest, I focus best when I’m down to the wire and there’s no time left to be distracted.

At any rate, I was actually attempting to clear working space at the kitchen table, when I had a fun idea for a trail/snack mix to use up some of the things in the cupboards and make room to put things away (off the table…see? it’s all connected). So I dumped the kettle corn in a big mixing bowl, emptied the ¼ bag of semi-sweet chocolate chunks on top of it, and threw in a couple handfuls of sliced almonds. And it’s kind of awesome

Maybe whole almonds next time…it could use some more crunch, and the flavor intensity of the whole nuts would be higher. Still! Not bad for a distraction snack!

So this week has been fun. Thursday I headed down to Atlanta for a Friday training session. If you’re an IT person and you haven’t heard Malcom Fry speak, you’re missing out. He’s an exceptional presenter.

While I was there I got to spend some time with a very good friend – despite a bit of storm-induced stress, very good to have had that time. It made me miss some of the friends I used to see there (hey there, Alaska, Louisiana and Hawaii! you treat my friends nice now, you hear??). It made me remember to put some stationery in my purse so I can write letters more often. It made me have a lot of great songs about Georgia stuck in my head. And it made me truly appreciate the rare occasions that I get to see some people who are very important to me.

Don’t let the rare visits be the only time you let those important people know what they mean to you. Lord knows our time is precious and busy, but that’s all the more reason to reach out to those you love and tell them they’re on your mind, making you smile, and filling up your heart.

I’m trying out RocketPost blog software. Let’s see if this works better than the WP interface that I can’t see the visual editing tools for anymore!

pretty peace lily at golden gate park, soft focus

Aside from a few issues with image uploading…it’s ok so far. Little slow.

And yes, I am procrastinating a midterm. How did you know?

I can’t believe it’s been a month already…

29/30 – Tuesday, what a great day to go back to work! Thankful to settle back into a routine, and to not HAVE a routine to stick to in the evening!

30/30 – Where the heck did November go? Thankful that I’ve had so much to keep me busy this year, and that I’ve accomplished what I have. Guitar, knitting and crochet, photography and baking and school and a new role at work and new friends and old friends…It’s been an amazing year, and I’m thankful for the ups and downs, and the shot at proving to myself that I have the brains, the guts, and the strength to pull it all off.

Wow I really did get that far behind at home…My only excuse is family and finals, but I was thinking of my “thanks for today” things each day!

24/30 – Thanksgiving day!  I still have to pick just one thing? Huh…I’d  have to say, thankful for getting in on Wednesday night and being the first to arrive, so I had time to help Mom out with some of the dinner prep and cleaning. Yes, really, I’m thankful for the chance to run the vacuum cleaner: it means I know I was useful for more than just eating.

25/30 – Ahh, Friday. Standard TGIF – plus it doesn’t even feel like Friday! Mostly I was thankful to have the whole darn day to work on finals, and still have a chance to play with one of my awesome nephews and spend some time with my grandma.

26/30 – Super thankful for the chance to catch up with an amazing bunch of old friends. Nick, Tina, Phaedra, Lauren & Andrew – you guys rock, I’m so pleased to have seen you all again!

27/30 – Absolute last day of the semester – finals due at midnight! Wait…that’s midnight EASTERN time. Must not forget that means 11 MN time! Thankful my laptop clock doesn’t automatically change time zones, so I could just work off of that, and SO so so thankful to have finished both finals and the hardest semester so far!! Thankful also for 2 months off of classes to relax and work on other projects, and for the fact that next semester is the LAST ONE for my MSIT degree! *happy dance* (yes, I DID just do a little Snoopy dance in my seat on the plane…WHAT???)

28/30 – I know, it’s way early, but I’m already up and I’m already in a thankful mood! Thankful for my folks for bringing me home for a dose of family time that’s so hard to get when you live far away. And thankful for technology – gotta remember to turn on Skype more often at home so that I can talk with everyone and see their beautiful smiles.

For a (mostly) smooth flight and a big hug from my mom! Totally, wonderfully grateful.

22/30 – Thankful for a 2-day workweek! I’m so excited to head home to MN tomorrow for time with my family and some of my good friends.