Gratitude

Thanksgiving will be over in just under an hour, and I'm about ready to go to bed.

I've wanted to do a Thoughtful Thursday post for quite some time, but usually by the time Wednesday is over, I'm too tired to think of anything. But today, I didn't have a lot going on. I slept in, cooked some food, made a pie, and spent time with family. Tomorrow will be more of the same, sans the food prep.

I find that I have plenty of reasons to be grateful, most of which might be considered "little things." For example, I'm grateful I caught the last few minutes of An Affair to Remember just now. I'm grateful my cranberry sauce turned out. I'm grateful for my gold shoes and some new rings I bought.

Then there are bigger things: I have job I absolutely love. In fact, most days I can't believe I'm finally getting paid to read and design books. I love my house. It's fresh and clean and warm. I'm grateful that I got to live for a whole year in the Avenues. I'm also in love with my car. Sometimes it's strange to think that I even have a car.

I have a family I adore. Seriously. They make me laugh until I can't breathe, and most importantly, they make me feel safe. I have great friends. They add the best spice to life. Honestly, to know me is to know that 95 percent of my anecdotes start with something like this:

• "One time, my cousin and I . . ."
• "Little Brother said the funniest thing . . ."
• "I was talking with my sister the other day, and . . ."
• "Can I just tell you why my parents are the coolest?" (This question is rhetorical.)
• "Last time at book club . . . "
• "My nephews and nieces are cuter than yours because . . ." (I usually only imply that last one. People would get offended if I just came out and said such a thing. It doesn't it make it less true, though.)

Most of all, I'm grateful to know what life's all about. I'm glad to know that even though right at this moment I may not enjoy everything I hope for, sooner or later I will. And trust me, I have quite enough to be getting on with.

And yes, I know I ended that sentence with a preposition. It's okay: I'm off the clock.

Why I love Movie Monday...

How do I choose my movies for Mondays? Generally speaking, the video must make me tear up, laugh out loud, drop my jaw in awe, or simply make me smile until the muscles in my cheeks get sore.

Today's video did the latter, and was brought to you by friend David.

Hee.

Good reads.

I've decided to celebrate my triumphant return to the blog-o-sphere with a week's worth of Austen themed posts. Remember yesterday's Emma post? Yeah, I do too. It happened like it was 10 minutes ago.

Anyway, here's a book I believe to be a Tuesday-worthy Treat.

Nevermind how gorgeous that cover design is. This book contains essays from writers like Virginia Woolf and C. S. Lewis on various aspects of Jane Austen's imperfect genius. I can't wait to get my hands on a copy. Christmas is a-comin'!

Image found here.

A big "I missed you!" hug

The other day I saw one of my favorite former roommates. When I knocked on the door and she answered, our conversation went like this. Imagine our tone of speaking in about a b above middle c.

Both (in unison): Hi! How are you?! Good!

Then there may have been some jumping, squealing, and hugging.

That giddiness is exactly how I feel right now as I'm writing this post from my laptop, at home. I have a retroactive Monday Movie and Treat for Tuesday planned, but I have to grab some breakfast and head off to work.

Still though. I'm sooo excited to be back.

Because I missed you.

BBC One has my unswerving devotion.

Every now and then I go through an Austen Renaissance of sorts. Something or someone will remind me how much I love Jane Austen.

This time the someone was my old roommate Alicia, who posted a link on my facebook wall, introducing me to the newest addition to the BBC One literary adaptation library.

Feast your eyes, lovelies:

Now, I will forever love the Gwyneth Paltrow version from my teenage years, but seriously folks, there are no words.

It doesn't hurt that the three potential suitors--Mr. Knightly, Mr. Elton, and Frank Churchill are all glorious to behold.

I just can't wait until they show it on Masterpiece Theater, because then it will be available on Yankee-friendly DVD, and I will buy it.

Also? Happy birthday, Mom!

I miss you!

I've decided I'm almost to the point where I'm going to sacrifice my home time during lunch hour to stay at work to blog. I miss it that much. Things happen, and sure, I'll let the peeps on twitter know when things happen, and while I think I'm darn clever in 140 character or less, it's just not the same.

So, maybe twice a week on Tuesdays and Thursdays, I'll post pictures, or links to funny videos, or short yet entertaining essays, and then you all can comment on them. Deal?

Also, I'm getting ready for NaNoWriMo. I know. I've said it before, but this is the year. I don't know what it is about reading for a living, but I am getting a ton of ideas for novels/movies/web series/etc. and it's exciting. So, be ready for exciting things.

No, I haven't fallen off the face of the earth.

But I HAVE moved to Springville to a lovely new apartment really close to work. My books are unpacked and shelved according to spine color, and I've shaved an hour and fifteen minutes off of my commute.

The only downside: we don't have internet yet! As one might imagine, this cuts deeply into my blogging time, and I miss it deeply. I have videos I want to share, treats I want to show you, pictures I want to feature and food I want you to be jealous of. But no, we might have to wait longer for any of these things to happen.

Best ever.

Okay, for today's Movie Monday, we're going to take a little field trip.

All aboard, everyone, and head on over to my sister's blog. There's a fantastic video where my little nephew is Living Up his birthday. I mean, really, it's all kinds of cute and all kinds of awesome.