Random Act of Gratitude #145: A Meteorological Gift

We've been having chillier and drizzlier weather lately, but today we had the gift of a near-perfect autumn day. The sun was shining, at work we had our lunch outside in a conservation area, and it was just a smashing day to be in the great outdoors enjoying everything about the weather. Even at night, I was able to spend some time visiting out on the porch in the cool, but by no means cold, evening.

Aaaah. Small blessings.

Random Act of Gratitude #144: So Long, Farewell

There's been an old air conditioner on my back deck for a ridiculously long time. It wasn't mine. Long story.

Suffice it to say that a certain friend of mine who is quite the "get things done" type came and took it away.

See? I'm grateful. Thanks, Jesse!

Random Act of Gratitude #143: Workplace Community

I know I've said it before, but I like the community in which I work. The staff is like family (even my bratty sister whom I love and adore) and those who come with their ACTUAL families make for a great place to spend one's workday. (Well, most of the time anyway. There are those days ... Haha!) Really, though, one could do a lot worse. I work hard, but I believe in what I'm doing and I'm glad I'm doing it there. Lots of people can't say that, so it would be wrong if I didn't appreciate it.

Random Act of Gratitude #143: Tin Roof Sundae Ice Cream

Tasty, though rare in Canada.

Sometimes it's the little things for which one should be thankful.

(How funny that we never think to just make it ourselves.)

Random Act of Gratitude #142: Family Reunion of the Miniature Variety

A couple of weeks ago, my entire Canadian family got together with four members of my Old Country family, for the closest thing to a family reunion we've ever had, as far as I am aware.

Today I met up with two aunt/uncle sets, one from here and one from England. It was lovely to sit down to lunch, to chat, and laugh, and generally give them cause to think I'm nuts. I do have quite the fantastic extended family, though there aren't many of them I know. (I've got to stay in good with the Brits so I can stay with them if I ever get over there. Haha!)

Random Act of Gratitude #141: The Porch

My porch isn't anything impressive unto itself. It's not in great shape, it features no porch swing or impressive architecture. It doesn't wrap around the building and have room for a lovely jam session with a down-home junk band. There's no lazy beagle slumbering under my seat, or a shotgun propped up against the doorjamb.

But I love me my porch.

It's my favourite place to sit and read in fine weather or when the rain's falling (so long as the wind isn't blowing too sideways). But even this isn't the best, best thing about my porch.

My porch is a place for gathering. This year, more than ever, it's been a place to sit with friends, to chat about anything and nothing, to laugh more uproariously than the neighbours can understand, and to generally spend time in the presence of good people. Three distinct visits were had on my porch today alone.

I like my humble little porch. That's all there is to it.

Random Act of Gratitude #140: Johnny McModem's Handiwork

My modem has not been operational for about a week now and -- surprise, surprise -- this was due, in part at least, to chuckleheaded work on the part of the Internet Service Provider with which I deal. I managed to keep myself connected at least part time through a neighbour's wireless signal when it was available, but finally I'm back up and running, thanks to the arrival of a tech guy (dubbed Johnny McModem) who resolved the blunders of the desk jockeys who had come before him. Thanks, Johnny!

Random Act of Gratitude #139: Payday

It's true that some months, payday is more appreciated than others, but at the end of the proverbial day I'm well aware that I must be grateful simply that I have a payday and that they come regularly. My bills get paid, my house remains in my posession, as does my car, and my belly is full. There are so many in this country, on this continent, and throughout the world, who cannot say that with the consistency with which I am able. I suspect that many of us could do with a reminder to be thankful for our paydays.

Random Act of Gratitude #138: A Good Year

Well, the more calendar-conscious among you will have noticed that exactly a year has passed since my last post. I didn't stop posting because I stopped being thankful -- or because I stopped having anything for which to be thankful -- but because life ran away with me.

I'm quite sure that I could have filled the interim with gratitude on a daily basis, but in lieu of that (besides, my memory's not that good), I've decided to pick it up where I left off, albeit a year later, and continue. Suffice it to say that there really were many great things that happened in between. Christmas came and went, spent with family and friends, and there was much eating and jollity all around. I had the pleasure of playing The Mute in a charming little show called The Fantasticks, a large group of small actors made me proud in a show I wrote, I said, "See you later," to another group of graduates and students that had worked their way into my life's history, my parents retired, and I spent a nice portion of the summer visiting reading and spending time with people I enjoy, even when taking a course I didn't enjoy.

It truly was a good year.

Random Act of Gratitude #137: A Director's Faith

Despite my original expectation to not at all do Grease, I've ended up doing just that. Ha! (Long story.)

In the end, I must express my gratitude to Kent, the director, who has cast me in the last role I would ever expect to be playing. It's not the role itself for which I'm thankful (I'm not ungrateful for it, but I would have been happy with anything), but rather for the fact that Kent has faith in my ability to, as he puts it, play outside of my physical type. I'm always open to a challenge when it comes to performance, so let the games begin!

Random Act of Gratitude #136: The Company of Friends

I had a smashing evening today and was blessed with the company of several friends.

First, it was the customary dinner at the home of Betsy and Co. (And a special thanks to Mike for the smashing meal.)

Then it was off to see '9' at the movies with several others, followed by a most enjoyable gathering at Ye Olde Jack Astor's, where additional friends joined up later.

So, thanks to Betsy, Mike, Jade, Ben, Jackie, Jeff, Kevin, Sonya, Chris, Kathie, Paul, Stacey and Stacey, Mel, Jeff, Laurel, Sarah, and Jesse. (Did I miss anyone? I'm writing this after some elapsed time and am a bit of an idiot at the best of times...)

Random Act of Gratitude #135: One Week Gone

The first week with kids has finished and overall things have gone well. To me, that's something for which one should be thankful.

Random Act of Gratitude #134: Arby's Girl

I was going to write today's entry in honour of Glynnis's birthday today, but between yesterday and today, I started worrying that if I did that, people whose birthdays weren't acknowledged here might get their noses out of joint, perceiving that as a slight which wasn't intended at all. Suffice it to say that Glynnis is a friend and colleage worthy of gratitude and we'll move on. Plus, giraffes are funny.

Yet another fast food experience brought amusement and a miniature smile to me today. I need to eat more fast food, because clearly it brings a lot of joy into my life.

I hadn't intended to pick anything up tonight, but having had a little after-work snack and then going to Betsy's to look at some music, and then running to Business Depot to exchange labeller tape, I was a bit hungry and driving past Arby's so there I ended up.

The girl behind the counter took my order, looked up and said, "Is that natural?" It took me a moment to register what she meant, and the pause was long enough for her to recognize it.

"Is that your natural colour? I really like it."

(For those not in my immediate vicinity these days, my hair currently has a red sheen to it thanks to my random acts of dying which I do from time to time on a whim.)

"No," I replied. "It's just my back to school hair."

Off she went to do other things, and then, upon returning, she asked, "So where do you go?"

"Pardon me?"

"Where do you go to school?"

At this point, she was my favourite person in the world for preferring to think that I was attending school rather than teaching it ... for well over a decade. So that's why I replied:

"You're my favourite person ever. I teach."

She looked a little surprised, and then recovered. "Oh. So, where do you teach, then?"

Thank you, Arby's Girl.

Random Act of Gratitude # 133: A Lunch in Exchange

I was going to make this entry about my good friend and director John, whose birthday it is, but since I just wrote about him (albeit briefly) a few days ago, I won't dwell too much upon the gratitude I feel for having had the chance to know and work with him over the past several years. He's truly a smashing individual and I'm always thankful that our initial working relationship segued into a great and valued friendship. It's also good that he'll always tell me what he thinks about me when it comes to performance and won't bother buttering me up. Ha!

But that's NOT what this entry is about! Instead it's about the lunch that Sarah provided today as a thank-you for the soup I shared with her yesterday.

On the menu:
* a delicious tuna and pickle sandwich
* some fresh sliced peppers, including the elusive orange pepper
* Big Turk.

Thanks, Sarah. You could have had that bowl of soup gratis, but since your lunch was WAY better than the one I gave, I guess I owe you an Oreo McFlurry or something.

(Oh my! It 09/09/09 today! What makes that even better is that each 9 is made of three 3s! So it's 3x3/3x3/3x3 or if you prefer 3,3,3/3,3,3/3,3,3! Woohoo!)

Random Act of Gratitude #132: A Fine First Day

I keep forgetting that I'm supposed to be back into a daily routine here. Sorry!

Today was the first day of school with kids, and a fine day it was. My class was filled with enjoyable stories, amusing anecdotes, and general good will. A pleasant time was had by all.

Random Act of Gratitude #131: Labour Day

Well, today was the last day of relative freedom for another summer. I did have work to do, and I did do some work, but overall the day had a feeling of relaxation. I spent some time reading, some time watching Veronica Mars (don't judge me), and grilling things on the barbecue before eating them.

Tomorrow, it's back into the fray, complete with early mornings. Ah well. If we didn't have the valleys, we wouldn't appreciate the hills.

Random Act of Gratitude #130: Bright-Eyed and Bushy-Tailed

Today I had a lovely encounter with a squirrel.

I was sitting on my porch reading and drinking tea, when a little rustle in the grass drew my attention. There was a little squirrel, darting about with a peanut in its jaws and seemingly scoping out some prime burial locations. Funnily enough, despite its frequent pausing and scratching, it never seemed quite satisfied with any given place.

Several times, it paused in its journey and looked up at me as if to say, "Seriously. Is there nowhere to put this thing?"

Shortly, its travels brought it into the porch where it faced me and tried to stare me down. It even did that little sit-on-its-haunches-and-be-cute thing for a while before finally meandering on its way, peanut still in hand ... er ... mouth.

It was the least nervous squirrel I think I've ever encountered, and I'm quite confident that the two of us now qualify as friends.

Go, little squirrel! I hope you found a good place to stash your peanut!

Random Act of Gratitude #129: More than 24 Years

Today is Keltie's birthday.

Keltie is among my oldest and dearest friends, given that I've known her now for almost 25 years. She moved to Kingston back when I lived there, also, and it took about thirty-five seconds for us to become good friends.

Part of what makes our story interesting is that a few months later, I moved away. We only lived in the same city for a short time, but all of these years later, our friendship remains. We don't see one another in person nearly as much as we should, but any time we get together, I am reminded of why she's so darned great.

Apart from Keltie's many smashing traits and qualities (including but not limited to wit, intelligence, humour, beauty, charm, and excellent vocabulary), she's also immensely talented. She is a smashing writer (and once wrote a personal essay about vomit that made me laugh uncontrollably and out loud in a dorm room) and a skilled artist (working in several media, including mask-making). She has also very successfully produced another human being, with the assistance of Andrew.

Just a few highlights of Keltie memories from the years? Swimming in John's backyard pool. Her ill-fated grade five romance with Bobby. Cassette letters (both solo and with the aforementioned John) involving such subject matter as "Making Hotdogs" and "Stop Hitting Me". Making me the envy of the university mail room by frequent letter-writing. The Three-Letter Word Game. Displaying feminine products in a restaurant. And, of course, general and frequent hilarity.

Happy Birthday, and thanks for all of the ways you've contributed to my life! I miss you. Let's get together soon.

Random Act of Gratitude # 128: Humor Ripped From Real Life

Really, I'm quite thankful for sites like this, which remind us that there are family photo skeletons in everyone's closets, and many worse than our own.

Random Act of Gratitude #127: Exuberant McFolk

Alright, too often, perhaps, I have expressed gratitude for workers in the fast-food industry, it seems. Ha! But it's so easy for someone who is funny, fun, or just plain pleasant to make one's experience more enjoyable.

Today it was a quick trip around the Drive-Thru and the workers at both windows were very personable and smiley (but not the plastered-on-smiley you get from car sales people). The guy at the second window, in particular, clearly spends a lot of his day laughing. I'd shut off my car while I waited (having been told that it would just be a moment for my special order), and after he handed it out with a, "Well, here you go. At least you know it's going to be hot and fresh from the old grill," he then said, "Wow! Your car is so quiet!" I'm quite sure he knew it had been turned off, but was basically amusing himself, which always works for me.

Really, as a message to everyone who works in service, a little personality and pleasantness goes a long way.