Just Can't Get Enough

There's something brewing in the air--something stirring that makes me want to go off on a political rant or at least a thoroughly academic discussion of some type. My opinions are just waiting to spew out at any given moment. But after the excitement going on lately, I am even more compelled to refrain from lecturing and merely keep on keepin' on with the fun stuff. That, and I'm a little on the lazy side. Okay, a LOT on the lazy side.

I thought I had an odd day, but it was nothing compared to this.

So tonight I drug my husband up to Muncie for another skating adventure. For some reason, I'm addicted now. Steve had never been roller skating in his life, so it was an interesting trip, to say the least. I held his hand for 4/5 of the night, which is a great challenge when three year olds are whizzing behind, around, between...you name it. Our first mistake was going on Thanksgiving Eve. Three pre-teens were having birthday parties in addition to the holiday hoopla, so the place was PACKED, unlike the other night when Meg and I went. There were enough adults actually skating that they had an "18 and over" skate on which they played "Atomic Dog." Have I mentioned that is my favorite skate song of alllll time???? Without thinking, I dropped Steve's hand and screamed, "Hell yeah!" and took off, leaving him to fend for himself. I explained that I had to get air, and that I did.

Though we didn't win a fruit basket in the drawing tonight, I would like to note I won a Norbest turkey this week. Last Friday at 4pm, I was sitting here in my office chair, perusing the local newspaper when I saw 30 entry tickets to drop off at local establishments for chances to win turkeys. As I always do with newspaper contests, I thought, "Hmm, I've gotta get all over that." And then I saw that they had to be dropped off by 5pm THAT same day. Next thing you know, Steve and I are peeling our lethargic asses up, dressing our son, and heading out on a circuit to drop off entries for turkeys. I believe we got 15 turned in during that short time frame, but it was good enough because my name was drawn at Flying J. They called me first thing Monday morning with a blaring, "CONGRATULATIONS! YOU WON A TURKEY!" on my answering machine.

Claiming the actual turkey was an entirely different story all together, but I won't get into that big schpiel at the moment.

Just for the record, other things I have won through newspaper contests include:

--a car
--free groceries
--three novels
--various gift certificates
--free pizzas
--tire rotation
--$10 for 5th place in a cooking contest

In addition, I've also won a TV/VCR, eggcrate mattress, and microwave in other drawings. So needless to say, I never pass up a chance to win something.

As I sit here, I am losing my zest. I think a bubble bath is in order, but first, I must express thanks.

101 THINGS I'M THANKFUL FOR

1. God
2. Family--I'm summing this one up in one word or I'd be here all night with names
3. Friends--" "
4. Gas heat
5. Steve's job
6. Excellent insurance benefits
7. Modern plumbing
8. Diet Cherry Coke
9. My health
10. Bubble baths
11. American citizenship
12. Ruth
13. The roof above me
14. TBS
15. The Lifetime Channel
16. Ashley
17. That I'm almost done with college
18. Cheese, all flavors
19. TV Land
20. My Jeep
21. My church
22. Modern computers
23. Family health
24. My kitties--Zeus and Leila
25. My bed
26. Good music
27. The mail box
28. Kim
29. Credit cards
30. My cell phone, I think
31. Forgiveness
32. "Cookie"
33. Fast food
34. My memory
35. My memory foam
36. Television, sometimes
37. Warm clothes
38. The family who changes my oil
39. Farmers
40. Skating rinks
41. My luck, for the most part
42. That gas prices are still going down
43. Zoos
44. Fairly nice neighbors
45. That I can stay at home now
46. Alisa/Laverne/Jean/T.J.--The HFA dept. at IUE
47. Pens
48. Good smelling candles
49. Those vents that shut the draft off from the bottom of the house
50. Doctors--all kinds
51. Vacations
52. The sun
53. Financial aid, when and where it exists
54. Magazines
55. Freedom, when and where it exists
56. The Internet
57. POGO
58. My recliner
59. Cedar Point
60. My elementary school teachers
61. My experience as a teacher
62. Crafts
63. Running water
64. Various fonts
65. The neighborhood
66. Shoes!!!!
67. Finesse shampoo/conditioner
68. Highlighters
69. This number
70. Sticky notes
71. Poetry
72. My motorcycle
73. FOUR WHEEL DRIVE--this was vital to my survival this morning
74. Self-adhesive stamps
75. Instant Messenger and all the free messaging that keeps me alive on all-nighters
76. Roller coasters
77. Crosswords, word finds, word puzzles
78. Free speech
79. Maps
80. Fruit
81. Paddleboats
82. Second chances
83. Good books
84. Medicine
85. Chewing gum
86. Summer
87. Washing machines--I would have never survived in the primitive world without one of these
88. Showers--" "
89. Flowers
90. My upbringing
91. Museums
92. Cemeteries--I pray these still exist when my time comes, for I DO NOT want to be cremated
93. Parks
94. A wide array of foods on our grocer's shelves
95. Any form of celebration and/or the reasons behind such parties
96. Spontaneous fun, whatever it may be
97. Colored paper
98. The military
99. Sales
100. Love
101. All of life's little pleasures not mentioned here that may be taken for granted on a daily basis but ultimately make the world such a beautiful place

**********HAPPY THANKSGIVING!************