10/17/11 That’s All Folks

I’ve spent the last year really looking at what I have to be thankful for. The previous year and a half/two years had been really hard for me. I left a fiancé. I almost lost my house. I couldn’t afford to turn on the heat. At a time when I wasn’t sure what I was going to do or how anything could get better or how I was going to make it to the next paycheck, I decided to not focus on the negative. I decided I was not going to focus on the stress and the anger and the loss. I was not going to feel sorry for myself when there were people who actually had already lost their houses, who were without jobs, who were without a support system or resources. I vowed to take a look at my life and understand how really precious it was and how good I had it. Instead of looking in, I decided to look out. Family, friends and anonymous donors, nature, food, and random experiences small or large all helped to make my life better. I am so honored to be surrounded by the people who love and cherish me. I am better because of them.

I am thankful for you.

kk

10/16/11 Annie Got Her Gun

Today was our last matinee performance. It was a good run that was very well received by every audience that came. Today was no exception. This whole weekend has been sold out and the audiences loved it. It was a good run and I will miss seeing some of the people I have really grown to appreciate and look forward to seeing. A lot of people drift apart after shows as they get involved in other projects and I really hope that I am able to carve out time to see the people I will most definitely miss.

I am thankful for my experience with Annie Get Your Gun.

kk

10/15/11 Harvest Time

Today Jason and I went to the pumpkin patch. We had roasted corn on the cob and caramel apples. Oh we got pumpkins too but the caramel apples were the real draw. Just kidding. Kind of. We took the tractor hay ride out to a far field and walked through the pumpkins. They had so many to choose from! We each for a perfect one before we headed back to the market for some produce and the aforementioned apples. I went to the pumpkin patch with my mom and younger sister two years ago but that was the first time I had really gone and we didn’t make it last year. And Jason had wanted a special dad and Ethan day last year so I didn’t get to go. This year was very fun and I am glad we were able to go.

I am thankful for my visit to the pumpkin patch with Jason.

kk

10/14/11 It’s That Time of Year Again

Cora Avenue is one of the best streets to drive down in the fall. The leaves are so beautiful to watch as they turn color. I just noticed them turning to yellow today. I will be excited to watch them continue to color the sky as they change with every day that passes. My favorite drive used to be the one to the Tualatin Country Club but I don’t drive there anymore and Cora is right by my house and I take it all the time. This is the one thing I love about fall. Pretty trees.

I am thankful for Cora in the fall.

kk

10/13/11 Squash

Not the game, but as in acorn. Jason made some acorn squash for us to eat tonight for the second time. He just kind of made it up before and was astounded at how well I cleaned out my rind. I had never had it before. It looked like it was full of butter and brown sugar and was going to be deliciously bad for me despite it being a vegetable. No such thing. It was cinnamon and other spices with a little bit of honey. Pretty good for making something up on the fly. Jason takes such good care of me. I am pretty spoiled. How am I ever going to cook for myself now that I know how much better he is at it than me. I’m good with special occasion stuff but not really daily sustenance. I can do breakfast and lunch but I always get a little lost around dinner. I am so lucky.

I am thankful for acorn squash.

kk

10/12/11 Waxing and Waning

Our office has a hot wax “machine”. I don’t know what else to call it. You melt the wax in this container and then put your hands in to warm them up and make your skin nice and smooth. We got it as a present the first winter we were hired I think. I used it once then and haven’t since. I’m not sure why. I don’t think it is usually melted and ready for use. Today it was and I did both my hands. It was very hot for the first two dips but then it felt very nice to heat up my hand and it was fun to peel off. I think I will have to do this more often. I like playing with wax and this seems much safer than playing with candles.

I am thankful for the warm wax spa treatment I gave myself today.

kk

10/11/11 DMV

I met my friend Renee Rugh today to catch up on what is going on in both of our lives. I haven’t seen her in months and I am going to be a bridesmaid in her wedding in November. It was definitely time to meet up. She had forgotten to renew her license and her birthday had been here and gone several weeks ago. We were going to go to dinner and instead to went to DMV first. She was maybe going to have to take the written test again and although my stomach was eating its own inner lining I took her there and decided it was really the only thing to do for a friend. We would eat eventually. Luck was with us today because the woman at the counter said she didn’t have to take it. She paid the money, got her photo taken and I think the whole process took less than 10 minutes from the minute we walked in the door to the minute we walked out. Pretty amazing. It made our night that much better. I kind of felt like we won the lottery. Should people be that excited about a visit to the DMV?

I am thankful for a quick trip to the DMV tonight with Renee.

kk