much to be thankful for

everyone has gone to bed at my parents' house on westmoreland circle. it is the night before thanksgiving, and we are all here: my parents, my sister and her family including the 18-month-old, and myself. it's the first time i've been home in a few months. it's always nice to be here. i just have less responsibility when i'm here.

anyway, i just finished a phone conversation with rachel, who is still in jackson. it's the phone conversation we always have before we fall asleep in distant beds. in some small way, i think it simulates our pre-bedtime conversations concerning the day past and the day ahead. that simulation seems to lighten load of being apart.

all of these things have inspired me to write a list of things that i have to be thankful for. i have a wonderful life. the list could be hundreds of items long. but, i'm going to keep it to 10, because i am tired and ready to go to bed. so, here they are...in no particular order...

i am thankful for:

1. true love and how lucky i am to have been in the right place to find it. and to have found a person that reciprocates it in every way imaginable.

2. being born into such a loving, supportive family who i am lucky to be able to have a bountiful thanksgiving dinner with

3. my amazing cast of friends both in jackson and elsewhere

4. a new leader and hopefully a new direction for our country

5. the fact that the only part of my life affected by the current "financial crisis" is my 401k

6. being an adult that is capable of caring for myself and others (when the need arises)

7. the abilities and talents that allow me to take my life in whichever direction i choose

8. being able to live a comfortable life when so many are unable to do so

9. everything in my life that has created this person that i currently identify as myself and the space for that person to continue to grow

10. a future of endless possibilities limited only by the choices i make

to anyone who reads this blog, i wish you a happy thanksgiving and challenge you to make your own list. we are all more blessed than we realize.

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found

so, i just got home from seeing the second Daniel Craig interpretation of James Bond in Quantum of Solace.  It was good, but not nearly as good as Casino Royale.  I blame it on a lack of character development.  That's not why I decided to post though.

While searching the internet to avoid clearing off my bed to go to sleep, I have come to realize that I have failed to mention one of the most important things going on in my life right now...possibly the most important...

Rachel

We are very close to entering our fourth month together!  I can't believe it either, but I'm fairly sure that she is the best thing that has ever happened to me.  Since there are only 2 or 3 people that actually read this blog, I'm sure you guys are aware of this.  I just want to put it out there for the world to have the ability to see.  

I can't remember a time in my life where I have smiled so much and so enjoyed being alive.  If you are a friend of mine on Facebook, you have no doubt seen pictures of our conquests together in the past few months.  This weekend, she is in Mobile for work, and I miss her terribly.  We've been apart for longer, so I think we can both make it through the two nights without each other.

Anyway, just wanted to mention her.  The picture above is one of my favorites of her!

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convergence

I've witnessed this phenomenon once before in my life.  I have yet to find a name for it, but there should really be one.  It happens at sunrise or sunset when the sun is really low on the horizon.  A low cloud can cast a shadow that, due to perspective, converges on the opposite horizon.  Very cool to see.

If it's unclear in this picture, the sun is actually setting behind me.

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