A Month Of Thankfulness...Day Thirty

Day 30 of thankfulness: Today, I am thankful for the local library system that has computer access that allowed me to complete this last day after my Internet went kaput. I'm also happy to report that I added 50,286 words to the second novel I am currently working on that is part of a four or five part series. I did complete #NaNoWriMo this month which is 50K written words in the month of November if you didn't know. This morning my Internet went down; my power blinked on and off for three hours and the water has been shut off while they fix a leak in the bathroom. Mom--as level-headed as always--says "Nothing like a challenge on your last day." Challenge is right. After a few choice words and several items tossed across the room, I came to the realization that today is the last day of the month. Thank heavens it's December 1 tomorrow and not the 31st; I've run out of things to throw.

A Month Of Thankfulness...Day Twenty-Nine

Day 29 of thankfulness: I am thankful today for the staff and clerks that have worked during this holiday weekend and hope you have been treated well. I hope you are able to spend some time with your own family before the craziness of December kicks in. Remember, with out someone to stock the shelves and run the registers there wouldn't be any holiday season at all. So thanks for all that you do. We're all grateful!

A Month Of Thankfulness...Day Twenty-Eight

Day 28 of thankfulness: Today, I am thankful for everyone that comes by and takes the time to read this blog. It's been something different this month--it was harder than I expected to come up with something different every day--to be thankful for without sounding like I was repeating myself. Today is considered Small Business Saturday and as an independent writer, I guess I am my own small business. Here are the links for Scrunchie-Fried and Reflections On A Middle-Aged Fat Woman if you are looking for a gift for someone. Who doesn't love humor? And it's the perfect bathroom reader, short essays for whatever the occasion. Also, don't forget that December is almost here and you know what that means here on the blog: Yep, it's time for 12 days of dieting. Stay tuned! And buy my books!

A Month Of Thankfulness...Day Twenty-Seven

Day 27 of thankfulness: Today, I am thankful for a day at home, away from the madness of Black Friday, to enjoy my leftovers in the comfort of my own home.

A Month Of Thankfulness...Day Twenty-Six

Day 26 of thankfulness: On this Thanksgiving Day, I am thankful for the opportunity to spend the day with my family and friends to share a bountiful meal. If you live in this country, you are one of the lucky ones. Give thanks today and every day. Happy Thanksgiving to all of you!

A Month Of Thankfulness...Day Twenty-Five

Day 25 of thankfulness: On this day before Thanksgiving, I'm grateful for the opportunity to do one of the things that I love to do best: Cook! (And taste test everything along the way.) Happy cooking!

A Month Of Thankfulness...Day Twenty-Four

Day 24 of thankfulness: Today, I am grateful for the doctor working in the ER Department nine years ago that told me if I didn't stop smoking I would have to carry around an oxygen tank for the rest of my life. As a smoker, I had chronic bronchitis, cleared my throat all the time and every morning spent ten or so minutes trying to cough up my lungs. I was a two-pack-a-day smoker and spent what now seems like most of my day with a live flame four inches from my face. I enjoyed smoking--the socialness of it--at least it was social in the beginning. When I started smoking, you could smoke most anywhere. By the time I quit in 2006, you couldn't smoke anywhere, even outside in some locations. We smoked on the way to dinner. We smoked before, during, and after dinner. We smoked on the way home from dinner. No wonder a lot of smokers are so thin; they smoke a cigarette instead of eating the smoked salmon. At least I did, anyway. That doctor wrote me a prescription for the medication Chantix which I'd heard about. So, I smoked a few cigarettes on Thanksgiving with my Aunt Phyllis outside at Mom's house and told her of my plan. She wished me good luck and on Black Friday I laid down the cigarettes for good. That was nine years ago. (I did cheat two times, once on the 4th day and another on the 12th day.) I'm grateful for being a non-smoker, so if you want to give it a try, why not start on Black Friday; it worked for me. I'll be seeing Aunt Phyllis on Thanksgiving; she's trying to quit smoking too. I'll remind her of our conversation and wish her the same. Good luck, Aunt Phyllis! We're pulling for you.

A Month Of Thankfulness...Day Twenty-Three

Day 23 of thankfulness: This morning after the first hard freeze of the season I am extremely grateful for my entire heating system process. From the furnace, to the ductwork and the pipes that carry it in the house. I'm even thankful for the gas company--although they've given me problems on and off for 20 years--the gas always gets here. I do live in an old and drafty house. Last night relaxing in my recliner that sits right in front of a big, drafty window, I had on thermal pajamas, a sweatshirt pulled over that, two cats and a wool blanket. And I was still cold. Either it needs to warm up or I need to turn up the heat. Raised in a household where the furnace was never touched by anyone other than a parental unit, and that was done so grudgingly, I think there's a better chance that the weather will warm up. Stay warm!

A Month Of Thankfulness...Day Twenty-Two

Day 22 of thankfulness: This morning I wake up grateful for the opportunity to fulfill a childhood dream. Growing up in southern Ohio, my family and thousands of other families enjoyed the beautiful Christmas displays assembled each year at Rudd Christmas Farm. Now, in celebration of that, I have my own display--not nearly as large as that--but enough to fill my entire front yard. This large Santa is twenty feet tall; this year's newest addition. If you're in North Georgia in the next month or so and see this big guy make sure you beep the horn when you go past so I'll know it's you. I'll be sure to wave back!

A Month Of Thankfulness...Day Twenty-One

Day twenty-one of thankfulness: On this weekend before Thanksgiving I am thankful for a varied set of cookbooks containing years of delicious recipes to share with family and friends. The problem is deciding which dish to prepare; there are so many to choose from. Happy baking!

A Month Of Thankfulness...Day Twenty

Day twenty of thankfulness: This morning I wake up thankful for a good report from the doctor. As someone that manages multiple chronic health conditions on a daily basis, good test results are challenging to achieve and when I do it makes the meanest doctor I've ever had smile. Slightly.

A Month Of Thankfulness...Day Nineteen

Day nineteen of thankfulness: I'm thankful today for the  medicine that is available to me and millions of folks that need it on a daily basis. Also, for the medical professionals that provide care and support for the sick and disabled and often go way beyond the call of duty. So the next time you see a nurse or doctor, say thanks!

A Month Of Thankfulness...Day Eighteen

Day eighteen of thankfulness: I'm thankful today for my two cats, Wally and Ralphie, who show so much love and affection that I know one of these days they're going to speak aloud and say "I love you." (Wouldn't that be awesome?)

A Month Of Thankfulness...Day Seventeen

Day seventeen of thankfulness: I am thankful for my mother, not just today, but everyday, that she is still with me and has one of the best minds of anyone I have ever met. Love you!

A Month Of Thankfulness...Day Sixteen

Day sixteen of thankfulness: After a weekend of sad and depressing news from around the globe, I am thankful to have the opportunity on this chilly Monday morning to begin my workweek and continue on with my journey in this life. Sadly, many others won't.

A Month Of Thankfulness...Day Fifteen

GinaBarreca.com Day fifteen of thankfulness: I am grateful today for the beautiful words by my friend and fellow writer, Gina Barreca, who captures what most of us feel about the tragic events in Paris. The OP-ED  is from the Hartford Courant yesterday. Please read and share: http://www.courant.com/opinion/op-ed/hc-op-barreca-paris-city-of-international-light-1116-20151114-column.html

A Month Of Thankfulness...Day Fourteen

Lonely planet  I had to turn off the television last night. The news reports of the events in Paris were so sad; my good thoughts and support go out to all of the families involved. Day fourteen of thankfulness: I am thankful that I live in the United States, am protected and feel safe in my own home. Goodness and light will always prevail.

A Month Of Thankfulness...Day Thirteen

Day thirteen of thankfulness: I am thankful on this Friday the 13th to be off the roads after a trip to Atlanta during rush hour and construction work on the highways. Plus, a clean bill of health for mom who had a colonoscopy today. And of course we celebrated like we always do with a visit to Red Lobster. There's always something to be grateful for. And there are only thirteen days until Thanksgiving; not that I'm counting.

A Month Of Thankfulness...Day Twelve

Day twelve of thankfulness: I am thankful today for everyone that reads my words and comes back to visit on a daily basis. I'm working on the second book (my 4th, actually) Return To The Middle in a series I am doing and am nearly half finished with the first draft. It's something I'm really excited about and can't wait for you to read.

A Month Of Thanksgiving...Day Eleven

Day eleven of Thankfulness: I am grateful for everyone that has served our country and especially my father, Harold G Palmer. Happy Veteran's Day. Miss you lots!

A Month Of Thankfulness...Day Ten

Day ten of thankfulness: Today, I am especially thankful for a weather forecast that includes more sunny skies than rainy days. At last. It has rained 14 out of the last 15 days so the sunshine will be a welcome reprieve.

A Month Of Thankfulness...Day Nine

Day nine of Thankfulness: I'm grateful that I woke up this morning to enjoy another rainy day in Georgia. (That's about it. The rain has been here fro week.) Oh, and I still have some awesome chocolate chip cookies yet.

A Month Of Thankfulness...Day Eight

Friend and I had a terrific time at our cooking class at Le Cordon Bleu in Atlanta yesterday. If you ever have the opportunity to go do so, you'll meet some new friends and prepare some really good food. Day eight of thankfulness: I am thankful for good friends, fun times and the best damn chocolate chip cookies I've ever eaten, all enjoyed in one memorable day.

A Month Of Thankfulness...Day Seven

Day seven of thankfulness: I am thankful today for the opportunity to do something that I have always wanted to do. I will be taking a baking class at Le Cordon Bleu cooking school in Atlanta. Watch out, Julia Child, here I come. P.S. I'll be happy to share any leftovers...if there are any!

A Month Of Thankfulness...Day Six

Day six of thankfulness: I'm thankful today for the birds chirping away outside on another dreary, rainy North Georgia day while I am inside staring at a blank computer screen typing this message hoping that more words will follow.

A Month Of Thankfulness...Day Five

For Christmas last year, I received a gift certificate for 12 water aerobic sessions at a local indoor pool. They are good for one year so today I attended for the first time. Day five of thankfulness: I'm thankful that I didn't drown during water aerobics this morning and I kept up with all of the people in the pool who all were about 20-30 years older than me.

A Month Of Thankfulness...Day Four

It's another cloudy and misty day in the North Georgia Mountains but I'm still thankful. Day four of thankfulness: I'm thankful that I went to the polls and voted yesterday even though there was only one issue on the ballot. Not many people get that chance.

A Month Of Thankfulness...Day Three

November is Diabetes Awareness Month. Day three of thankfulness: As someone that has suffered from diabetes for nearly 20 years, I am thankful that I have the best care and access to the best medicine....yes, even the needles...that is available to the public. Many don't.

A Month Of Thankfulness...Day Two

Day two of thankfulness: I am thankful that it has finally stopped raining. It's time to start putting up the Christmas decorations.

A Month Of Thankfulness...Day One

I thought I would do something different on the blog this month. On Facebook, several of my friends always share what they are grateful for during the month of November to celebrate Thanksgiving. So, I'm going to play along. Day one of thankfulness: I am thankful to have a roof over my head and enough food in the pantry and fridge to keep me fat and sassy. I'll be doing this all month, so feel free to add your own thanks in the comments. Gianetta