Day 181: Navigator + Important Talk

Today I learned...

...that I am pretty good at being a navigator in the car. 

Today I am thankful for...

...an important talk with my hubby.

Day 180: Juice + Safe Car

Today I learned...

...that Juice is totally on to us. She knows we are going away on vacation and she doesn't like it one bit. 

Today I am thankful for...

...a car that is goof enough condition to get us to Maine safely. 

Day 179: Respect + Sneakers for Rick

Today I learned...

...that when you tell someone you can't do something, if that person respects you, she will not ask you to do it.

Today I am thankful for...

...Rick finding sneakers that don't hurt his feet (chronic pain) after weeks of searching. 

Day178: MLL + Coworkers

Today I learned...

...that More Love Letters is coming to my hometown on Saturday and wanted me to meet up with them, but due to vacation plans, I can't. :-( 

Today I am thankful for...

...coworkers to vent with and laugh with.

Day 177: Mascot + Peace with the Past

Today I learned...

...that YouDee, my old mascot at UD, is the #1 weird but awesome mascot. :-) Read an article that made me laugh.

Today I am thankful for...

...the responses to my Wednesday video on Making Peace with the Past...and I am further thankful to my friend Jenn for coming up with the topic.

Day 176: Known + Dinner with a Friend

Today I learned...

...that my eating disorder recovery videos are more well-known than I thought. Apparently they are watched frequently in treatment centers and residents know who I am. That is so surreal to me. And so cool.

Today I am thankful for...

...dinner at the fabulous Panera with a friend who usually makes me laugh.

Day 175: Water + Books

Today I learned...

...that drinking lots of water really makes me feel good.

Today I am thankful for...

...good books to read. I have so many waiting in a beautiful pile!

Day 174: Packed + Dresses

Today I learned...

...that I'm nearly packed for Maine even though we don't leave for a week.

Today I am thankful for...

...pretty dresses to wear on vacation.

Day 173: Hilarity + TV

Today I learned...

...that my mother-in-law is still hilarious.

Today I am thankful for...

...the small tv we had at home that we could install for her at the assisted living facility. Hers broke and she needed a new one, but we had one! 

Day 172: Defensiveness + Vacation Plans

Today I learned...

...that being defensive does not serve me well. 

Today I am thankful for...

...having enough money to take a vacation. We really need one since it's been more than 3 years and June 30 can't come quickly enough...but as we plan and buy last minute things like snacks and towels and boogie boards, I'm happy we CAN. 

Day 171: Rick's Video Debut + Double Downton Abbey

Today I learned...

...that Rick will be a guest in one of my videos this summer. He finally relented. 

Today I am thankful for...

...double Downton Abbey. Rick couldn't sleep, so he said, "Want to watch another one?" DUH! The answer is always yes! 

Day 170: Teamwork + Love

Today I learned...

...that teamwork is a beautiful thing.

Today I am thankful for...

...Downton Abbey, The Language of Flowers, and my cats...one on my head and one in my lap to be exact. I turned to Rick and said: "Look, your whole family is in one chair!" And he came over, kissed me, and said, "Aw, everyone I love is in one pile." :-)

Day 169: Atmosphere + Bravery

Today I learned...

...that a new atmosphere can make a huge difference. 

Today I am thankful for...

...the bravery I see in each woman in the group I lead. 

Day 168: Outside Videos + Cookies

Today I learned...
...that filming my Wednesday video outside is more fun than filming it inside.

Today I am thankful for...
...huge, delicious chocolate chip cookies for breakfast at work - provided by my newest co-worker.

Day 167: Tired + Close Parents

Today I learned...
...that after walking over 10 miles in NYC, talking a mile a minute, and riding a bus, I will still be tired after 9 hours of sleep.

Today I am thankful for...
...living 15 minutes away from my parents.

Day 166: Solutions + NYC Conversations

Today I learned...
...that talking about something doesn't mean a solution arrives... it means the talking can actually BE the solution.

Today I am thankful for...
...a beautiful day of a thousand conversations with Jenn in NYC.

Day 165: Cologne + Weekend Plans

Today I learned...
...that Rick does not like the Nautica cologne he's been wearing for about a year. He is on a mission to find a new cologne he will like better.

Today I am thankful for...
...a beautiful weekend ahead of me full of friendship and family.

Day 164: Rainbow + Video Comments

Today I learned...
...that Rick chased a rainbow once...in a truck...with another guy. And they found the end of it.

Today I am thankful for...
...the very beautiful and kind comments from people on the video I posted today.

Day 163: Rain + Roof

Today I learned...
...that I am really tired of the rain, even though I know it can be a good thing.

Today I am thankful for...
...a roof over my head that keeps the rain off of it! Even though we have 2 leaking spots in our roof, I'm happy we have buckets in the crawl space to collect the water and I'm happy that the damage is quite minimal!

Day 162: Rick Laughs + Texting

Today I learned...
...that Rick can almost always make me laugh.

Today I am thankful for...
...texting within the workplace. :-)

Day 161: CD + Mom Love

Today I learned...
...that the love song CD Rick created for us to listen to on our drive to Maine is pretty darn cute.

Today I am thankful for...
...a mom who volunteers to visit my house regularly to take care of my kitties when we go away. 19 days until vacation! I can't wait!

Day 160: Cat Appreciation + Walk

Today I learned...

...that Tumbler and Juice probably sense a veterinary social worker when they see/smell one. My friend Jennifer met the kitties today and while Juice seemed unimpressed, she was most definitely present and didn't run in fear. Tumbler on the other hand, rolled his little head around in glee while Jennifer petted him and seemed fairly content with life. 

Today I am thankful for...

...a nice summer walk with a friend, even if it was quicker than anticipated!

(Tumbly & Juicey awaiting my friend's arrival)

Day 159: Early to Bed + Hubby TLC

Today I learned...

...that an early Saturday night is a good idea sometimes. 

Today I am thankful for...

...a husband who takes care of me, cleans for me, and looks out for me.

Day 158: Happenings + Time Off

Today I learned...

...that a lot can happen overnight. 

Today I am thankful for...

...time off from the world.

Day 157: Problem-Solving + Official Facebook

Today I learned...
...that even when solutions aren't clear, talking to a friend about the problem helps immensely (and gets the wheels turning!).

Today I am thankful for...
...dinner with an MSW friend which led me to the decision to create an official "public figure" Facebook page to separate my personal life from my professional life. The dinner was great and so was watching the "likes" for my new page go up, up, up right before my eyes in a matter of minutes. How powerful! How grateful I am!

Day 156: Friend Adventures + GPS

Today I learned...

...that I will meet up with a friend this weekend.

Today I am thankful for...

...my brand new Garmin GPS and the hilarious conversation (by text)

with my best friend that followed its arrival. 

Day 155: Fear + Eye Health

Today I learned...

...that the women in my group are experts at overcoming their own fears, especially if they push through discomfort. 

Today I am thankful for...

...the clean bill of health my eye doctor gave me and my bothersome eye.

Day 154: Healing + Eye

Today I learned...

...that healing can happen from afar.

Today I am thankful for...

...my right eye feeling better after hurting for a few days.

Day 153: No Panic + Garmin

Today I learned...
...that I can drive somewhere unknown without any panic symptoms at all, which is a big deal for me. :-)

Today I am thankful for...
...the purchase of a new Garmin GPS for my car! Yay!

Day 152: Emotions + Sunshine

Today I learned...
...that my hubby is sometimes more emotional than he lets on. I thought I was the only one who got teary picking out cards at the store, but today he did too.

Today I am thankful for...
...sunshine and errands with Rick! It's the little things!