{"id":98,"date":"2008-11-27T09:35:04","date_gmt":"2008-11-27T17:35:04","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/melissaruth.com\/blog\/?p=98"},"modified":"2010-06-24T15:09:35","modified_gmt":"2010-06-24T22:09:35","slug":"with-a-grateful-heart","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/melissaruth.com\/blog\/2008\/11\/with-a-grateful-heart\/","title":{"rendered":"With a Grateful Heart"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Chocolate<\/p>\n

I normally don’t write Thanksgiving posts because I am not particularly sentimental and I am not prone to cheese (except the delicious kind). But 2008 is shaping up to be a year where my life has not only changed a lot, but grown, and I have a lot to be thankful for, which I shall talk about in a very practical list.<\/p>\n

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  1. I have a job. It’s a stable job, and while it may not be what I thought I’d be doing, I am grateful that I have one, and that I like the people I work with for the most part, and I am good at it. Related: I got a raise and a huge vacation accrual increase in August, which allowed me to acquire #2.<\/li>\n
  2. I close next week on my purchase of a manufactured home. Yep, I’m movin’ on up… to a trailer park. \ud83d\ude09 What I spent on it is less than a luxury vehicle, and between space rent and mortgage, my monthly cost is less than what it will be to rent a one-bedroom apartment. And I will get two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a den\/family room, a laundry room, a living room, dining room, vanity area, carport, and a lawn! Not to mention storage units and an orange tree! I am excited (and nervous) to be undertaking this little adventure. In a couple years I plan to sell it for its actual market value (more than double what I paid) and use that money to buy a real house.<\/li>\n
  3. In 2008 I paid off my credit cards. While in the grand scheme of things, I didn’t have that much debt compared to a lot of people, but it was a lot for a single gal in California to carry. Granted, a lot of the stuff I bought was therapy for the very hard year I spent as roommate to the heinous (and stereotypical) Ireland Girls in 2003\/2004. I am thankful they eventually got arrested and deported. LOL<\/li>\n
  4. I have been pleased to be able to go on a couple of trips out of town this year. I had my first real vacation on my own, and I was able to visit my Texas girls for a whole week in June. I saw Sarah in April and was able to spend time with her new baby. I went up to Redding for my cousin’s wedding, where we battled the smoke from the Big Sur fire and discovered Del Taco. In September I went up to Big Trees with my dad where we hiked up to the Agassiz tree and were amazed by its 2,000 year span.<\/li>\n
  5. I’m thankful for Jason, who has let me live with him rent-free, which allowed me to pay off the credit cards that much sooner.<\/li>\n
  6. I’m thankful for my mom, who makes me clothes and purses and even a February Lady Sweater. And boy, can she cook!<\/li>\n
  7. I’m thankful for my dad, who helped me with the house purchasing and who I enjoy spending time with when we go for our walks at the Lafayette reservoir almost every week.<\/li>\n
  8. I’m thankful for my sister, who is smart and funny and patiently waits for me at Starbucks every time I visit her.<\/li>\n
  9. I’m thankful for my friends, who even though I don’t see them that often are some of the best friends a person could have. I do wish they lived closer. Now that gas is cheaper I will be able to make more trips up to Sac to see Malvina and Sam (if we can ever coordinate our schedules!).<\/li>\n
  10. This has been an amazing year for creative output, even though I haven’t really managed to get back into drawing (or beading, for that matter).\u00a0 That is something I hope to do next year when I’ve set up my studio and have room.\u00a0 But as far as fiber stuff – check out the 2008 flickr set<\/a> for everything I’ve finished.\u00a0 I mean, I taught myself to weave!\u00a0 I have so much more to learn, and I’m so excited to learn it.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    That turkey at the top of the post? The chocolate turkey?\u00a0 He was delicious.<\/p>\n

    Happy Thanksgiving everyone.\u00a0 I hope you have a wonderful day. \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n