Count Your Blessings

Every time. Every single time I'm looking forward to sleeping in-the one day I have to sleep in-my dad calls around 7 or 7:30, just to chat. I was up late last night, and today have to work even though its Saturday and I really want a break, so I meant to sleep in and then go to the all-you-can-eat pancake breakfast at 10:00, and my dad calls at 7:30 to tell me about electricity and the progress they are making on the bathroom. Ai me. The funny thing is, I do the same thing to him. My parents get up early. Generally before 6 AM, every day. They are always up. But the rare occasions I decide to call them in the morning, sure its no problem because they're up anyway, they are in fact in bed, sleeping blissfully. Its probably good, sleep is not so important, right? Its just my mental state thinking I get to sleep, and when I'm denied that it takes a minute to accept.

But I do accept it. I love my dad so much, and I love talking to him, and I would never not have him wake me up on Saturday morning just to shoot the breeze, because that's what makes our relationship great. And that's also what leads me to be sitting here, writing this post at 8:23 in the morning on the eighth of November. I thought about getting back in bed. But then I thought-I have a few random thoughts, maybe I'll jot them down. So here we go.

Yesterday was a great day. The 7th. Good number. My job, which has been frustrating me, did not frustrate me, and the weather was beautiful. I played with two cute kittens who lifted my spirits. I also saw two little mini-tornado's swirling leaves around. The first was incredible. It started out circling the leaves on the ground, and then, just like in Twister, the leaves started rising in the air. I stood mesmerized. The second made me curious what its like inside a twister, so I jumped in it, and it promptly calmed into nothing. But I was happy.

I went to a great hockey game. I'm very into hockey right now, thanks to a great friend who goes with me every game. We have the best mindless banter I've ever experienced in my life. As good as I get with my family, brothers and all, I think due to the fact that we know each other less well, so its always a surprise what the other will say. He seriously has the best comebacks for all my ridiculous statements, like "your mom was a siderail." I believe his response to that was "she's never been a siderail in her life." He refutes so well what I say that all I can do is laugh. Anyway, I enjoy it, and I discovered that the food is really cheap! I always expected it to be expensive, like at the movie theater, but no. Cheap McCheaperson. Then there's the dancing. Its partly an attempt to stay warm, and partly this new phenomenon that I just gotta groove, can't keep it to myself, so with all the music, I'm hopping, jumping, twisting, singing, lettin it all hang out, so to speak. And I love it. And I've even gotten my friend to sing into the microphone for me. So good times.

I also have been thinking about how happy I am right now. With my life. It's odd, because I don't know what's up with my life, where its headed, or even where it will take me after April. But right now, its delightful. I feel more comfortable here than I ever have before. I love my roommates so much, and get along with them so well, my house feels like home, and I have friends. Good friends. Friends I eat Sunday dinners with, friends I jam with, friends I sit around and do nothing with, go to shows, games, square dancing, watch movies, plan sleepovers and fort-building, friends I am myself around and feel perfectly accepted. Friends who talk about Albania, and know just what that amazing experience was like. Honestly, every night in my prayers I thank God for my amazing friends and for being so blest by them, because every day something happens that makes me happy, cheers me up, and gives me reason to thank Him. That is neat to me.

I also have time. Not a lot, but not the stress that at every minute, I should be studying, reading a textbook, working on this assignment. That's lovely. I am planning on going back to school, and it excites me because I'll always love learning, but for now, the freedom and leisure is great. I don't use my time to work on any of the numerous projects I have to do, but I have it all the same.

By the way, I just applied to work in Alaska this summer. I hope that pans out.

And I think that is all. Thank you Dad for waking me up to enjoy this beautiful morning and have a little time to recount how blessed I am right now. Last words: my turtle is amazing. Over and out.