Totally Tardy Thanksgiving "Thankful Thursday" Tuesday!

"We can only be said to be alive in those moments when our hearts are conscious of our treasures." -Thornton Wilder

Since it was Thanksgiving I thought I should do an extra special post, at least that is my intention. So this week I will write awesome thanks for people that I have not written about yet. Sigh 42 words into it and I am already bored. For anyone who isn’t in this one, I do love you and I do think that you’re awesome. I just need to have someone to write about after Thanksgiving too! =) This took much longer than I had expected.

So here we go…


Liz – drives me insane! She is my best friend but the woman is right up there with Corey and Debbie on the let’s drive Autumn nuts scale. Don’t worry; she feels the same about me. As with the rest of the people in this post, there are a billion reasons why I should be thankful for Liz and I will never be able to name them all (although she would love it if I did). For starters, Poopie knows what I need to say to her without me even saying a word. Most times, she knows what she needs to say in response and sometimes (more often than she deserves) I want to step on her toes for it. When I speak in code, she is usually the first one to figure out what I am trying to say.

I am one of those people who believe that you have many soul mates in a lifetime. Some of them are with you from the get go and some of them you don’t meet until later on in life. Liz is a soul mate of mine. We are two halves to a whole. We have put up with each other for almost a lifetime (for real, 21 years) and that alone is something that the both of us should be grateful for as we are hardly easy people to handle. We have had some less than great times and we have had more than excellent times. We both know when we need to stay quiet and just listen; we know when to speak up when the other’s words have failed her. We do not tolerate seeing each other get hurt but we also bite our tongue even when it kills us. Actually, that last part is a lie. We really don’t bite our tongues at all. That’s probably how we get into half of the trouble that we get into.

I am grateful for Liz because she offers me help when I am far too stubborn to ask for it. By offering, I mean she just does what I need to be done without asking because she knows that I will say no. She will see an oncoming heartbreak and just wait it out instead of telling me to steer clear because she knows that I won’t listen. For times that she does tell me to stay away and I don’t listen, she will never say, “I told you so.” (That is very important to be a friend of mine.) She knows when to use a verb instead of preposition with the most important sentences in my life. I am grateful for her because I can give her a look or breathe a sigh and she knows whether or not to go all counselor on me.

She is someone I can be completely shallow around and it’s okay because she’ll be shallow too. It happens to the best of us. Liz will tear anyone down if they try to bash my character. Most people know well enough not to say anything about Liz when I am around as my words are bigger than theirs. When I found myself in a tough time (that lasted/is lasting years) I know I can call her at 5:24 a.m. because she will be awake by then and she will know how to clear my head. She’s also threatened to run people over with her SUV for me. In that case, she should be thankful for me because I was the one to think clearly and say “No, Liz, I don’t think that is the best idea you’ve had.” Hindsight, I guess a little tap with her bumper would have brought me justice. Perhaps the reason I am most grateful for Liz is because when I need to listen to bad music (and sing along to it) she is always ready with a drink in her hand and quarters in her pocket.

Krissy – is a special one. Sometimes you really wouldn’t even believe we are friends. Most times, we don’t get along. We hardly ever see eye to eye and when we do it’s because we’re annoyed with each other. But if there is anyone in the world that has my back, it is this girl. No argument, distance, or time can ever make me think otherwise. Like Liz, I have a billion reasons why I am grateful for Krissy stumbling into my life.

Sometimes, it’s for pure comic relief.

Krissy (aka Micka or Narkles) might be my best entertainment of all time. The things that she does sometimes are absolutely hysterical that even comedy writers couldn’t make it up. She dances around in a Michael Myers mask which probably isn’t funny to you but I can still watch the video and laugh just as hard as I did the first time. Narkles is one of the reasons why I can laugh at most things that go wrong in life. For example, she was diagnosed with narcolepsy on my birthday. I found that humorous. She came out of the doctor’s office and said, “Well, I have narcolepsy.” I laughed right in her face. You might find this rude, but she didn’t. To be honest, if the roles were reversed she’d laugh in my face too. Krissy is far from an idiot (honestly, she’s smarter than she gives herself credit for) but if anyone has done something a bit on the stupid side (but funny) it’s Micka. I am laughing as I am writing this because all of these memories of laughing “WITH” Krissy are flooding my head. She’s a trip to know. If you don’t know her, I’d work that out and meet her. Just like Liz, I think Mick is a soul mate; it makes me laugh just as I type this.

A reason why I am grateful for Micka is because she waits to tell me things until she feels I am ready to know it. You may think this is a “God” complex but it’s more like an “Aud Will Flip So Don’t Tell Her About This Yet” complex. She really saves the world a bunch of trouble by doing this. I am grateful for her because we can speak to each other in a way that I can’t with my other friends. Many, if not most, times I have to be really mean to her because that’s how she listens. And most times she has to be rude to me to get something through this thick head of mine. She can make me change my mind on things that I never thought I would. Or at least she is one that is able to reason with me the most. That’s impressive because I am quite stubborn and if someone can change my mind, they deserve a medal.

Mick is an aspiring nurse. I say aspiring with a light heart because she has wanted to do this for so long but just got distracted by other things. However, I always saw the nurse quality in her. How could I not? I have been her number one patient since we were eleven. When I lived in the States, but not at my mom’s, and fell ill to a point where I was too sick to get out of bed, it was Micka that would be the first one at my apartment to help me out. She could go to the store before she came over and get the things I would need or want in order to get better. There aren’t many people that can do that. She’s someone that takes the time for me whenever I need her and that is something I can never stop being feeling grateful for. Oh, and she has a beautiful daughter, Lily, that I simply adore more than life itself.

Another reason I am grateful for Narkles is because she is the one that always has my back. Not that my other friends do not, but if can rely on anyone to help me or defend me or to tell a waitress that my order is wrong, it’s Krissy. From calling her in a middle of a crisis or if I need her to literally pack up my house and move it, she is always the one to say she will help and then actually help. There are many friends that say that they would take a bullet for another friend. When it comes to Krissy, I know she would jump in front of a bus for me. And then I’d push her back out of the way and we’d end up yelling at each other over who was going to get hit by a bus that day. Quite comical, then even more funny when you realize how true this idea is!

Katie - aka as Brennan, among other (not so nice) nicknames, I suppose you can say I met by a fluke. I knew of her well before I was friends with her. She was frienemies with Krissy and Liz. I met her through Krissy and did hang out with her a few times about ten years ago and then we disappeared from each other only to stumble back right when we would need each other the most. I happened to need a new roommate and as it were, she happened to need a place to live. It worked out quite well. The way our stories are similar is extremely eerie but extraordinarily useful when we have to figure out what the next move should be because more likely than not the other one had to make the same moves weeks before. Katie knows what it is like to be in the situations that I find myself in and her guidance through my latest mess ups, heart breaks, or simple mishaps is something that I am grateful for.

But, wait! There’s more!

As I have mentioned a previous post, I LOVE to laugh! What is better than laughing? Making someone else laugh! This might sound silly to some but I am grateful that Brennan laughs so easily. Nothing brings a smile to my face like when she wheezes during the 11 o’clock news. Don’t worry, she doesn’t laugh at horrible news, she laughs at my making fun of the horrible news production! I am quite positive that there wasn’t one day in our living arrangement that we didn’t laugh hysterically at something. Even on super awful, no good, very bad days we still found something to laugh about. Even if it is just one of us saying something that no one else would understand and laugh uncontrollably because of it, we are always laughing.

Of course, we have our lovedog, Delilah. What says best heterosexual life partner ever like a lovedog? I am grateful for her taking custody of the P.I.A. as I spread my wings in Liverpool. I know she is in good hands (and they always liked each other way better than they liked me).

Although (like the others) there are a billion reasons why I am thankful for my Brenizzle, I think the reason I am most grateful for her is because she tells me when to remove my head from the place where the sun doesn’t shine and that isn’t because I am being rude, it’s because I am being an idiot. She gave my great advice (once). She said, “Aud, sometimes you just need… you just need to shut up.” Often times that goes through my head and I realize I do need to shut it. (NOT THAT OFTEN THOUGH.) And she also tells me the truth in the funniest yet nicest ways. Because our stories are similar, we get each other in a way that our other friends can’t, which is a good thing; no one wants to have a story like one of ours. We don’t judge either from our past or current mistakes and that is worth more than anything. I know that I can tell her a story that some other friends would be exhausted of hearing by now and she would listen because she has been there. Her experience in my story has me grateful beyond a point of measurement because it reminds me that I am not alone. Sometimes, that’s really all someone needs.

And then there’s the whole used to be my roommate and she was my longest running roommate idea. For real, I have had many roommates and Brennan was my favorite. So here is a quick gist of some of the funny and serious things I am grateful for with Brenizzle: She often made me nuggets and fries and sometimes even Stove Top stuffing; she often skipped around the house smacking her arse and singing; when I would be freaking out about school and telling myself I couldn’t do it she would say, “Aud, you got this;” she participated in Halloween parties even though she hates Halloween; she often takes time to explain things to me that I don’t understand ( I am quite naïve); she almost fought a man at a bar one night for me; she never said a word when I would be in the middle of a project for school and had papers all over our living room floor; she joins me for DMB concerts; lastly, she doesn’t mind that I gave her the rudest nickname!

My nana - is one of the most amazing women I know. If there is a woman who can burst from loving people so much it is Nana. She has made so many sacrifices for her family that she should be given an award or declared a saint or something. I knew I would miss her while I was here but I didn’t imagine that I would miss her so much! I am grateful for her for so many reasons but I think the biggest reason I am grateful for her is because she never stopped being a grandma. It doesn’t matter that I am 27, if I were to see her right now she’d ask if I was hungry (a billion times until I ate something) and make sure I didn’t need any money. Not to mention she would totally be hollering at me for not wearing a jacket and I’m sure that she would tell me I need to pull up my pants.

Nana has wisdom that I will never expect to have and will probably never fully recognize but that doesn't mean that I am not grateful for it. She is one of the smartest people I know. She deals with brainy matters. More importantly, she deals with matters of the heart. I suppose that is what makes her such a great nana. She can help heal a broken heart with a few words and make me laugh with just a face. I can talk to her for hours and will feel better by the time we are done. She doesn’t let me feel silly for crying and waits patiently between the sobs so she can hear the whole story. Then, she will think of the best way to help me. Nana has so many stories to share it’s always nice to sit and listen to her tell me a story (even if it’s one I have heard 26,000 times).

Nana always told me great things as I was growing up. One of my favorites is “you can’t be broker than broke,” which always comes to mind at the most appropriate times. The one thing that Nana has told me since I was little is that “there is always someone who has it worse than you do, Autumn. Don’t forget that.” This has always stuck with me, especially when I am on the verge of a pity party. There isn’t a day goes by that I don’t hear Nana’s words play in my head. So for Nana introducing me to the reality of situation early on in life is something I find myself most grateful for.

Jacob – is my favorite person on the planet. No, in the universe! It’s funny how grateful and happy I am that this little boy is in my life. Although, he had no control over it, he came in to our (my) life just in time. I went to a fortunate teller in November '06 and she told me that a fake blonde was going to have a baby. I couldn’t think of any fake blondes I knew so I had imagined it was going to be my brother’s girlfriend (who highlights her dirty blonde hair). I was excited and laughed as I told my mom the exciting news. I pretty much forgot about it until months and months later.

My sister, Phaedra, texted me the following January or February and told me “It’s a boy!” “Are you getting a dog?” I responded. Apparently, I was the only one who didn’t know she was pregnant, very possible since I was in the middle of Westside Soap Opera. However, I am pretty confident that there was no one more excited for this little boy to get here than me (besides, his parents). Like my brother's girlfriend, Phae also had to highlight her dark blonde hair.

Everyone was hoping that Jake would be born on the 4th of July. I thought it would be cool but at the same time I thought that he wouldn’t be the only one with that birthday. But he didn’t come on the 4th or 5th or 6th. Jacob decided to make his debut on Earth in the early morning of July 7th, 2007 (777!!). I pushed for him to be called Lucky but no one would have it. (However, I call him Lucky.) Hours after I got the phone call that the baby was born, I got a picture message of him and from then on this boy was the coolest boy I would ever know. I am pretty sure that I didn’t know what his name was until later on that day (I could be wrong) but as soon as I learned his name, I loved it.

I met him the next day and I loved him from the start. From that moment I found it hard to separate times when Jacob wasn’t around. I know that he wasn’t alive when I was fourteen but I find it next to impossible to think there was a time when I didn’t know him. It’s odd when you think about it. In 24 hours, I went from not knowing him at all to loving this little guy more than I love The Beatles (that’s a big deal). I find I am just telling you the story of Jacob and not why I am grateful for him.

As I said earlier, Jacob came just when the world needed him. By the world, I really mean me (but the world is lucky to have him). I was in the middle of a funk when he arrived and if anything or anyone pulled me out of it, it was Jacob. Honestly, I didn’t think he was that cool until he was like 9 months old. I can say that because I think he is the most awesome person in the world now. He didn’t even really do anything. But Jacob brought back a joy and optimism to me when they were missing my life. He is funny! Sometimes the things that he comes up with are just too hysterical. The sense of wonder that Jacob has for the world just makes me smile. He wants to know everything there is to know about anything and he doesn’t take "because" for an answer so he definitely assists me with gaining patience with things I would be impatient about with other people. For that I am grateful (I am sure the people around me are grateful for that too). I can go on and on about the reasons why I am grateful for but I’ll just give you a simple sentence. I am grateful for Jacob because his existence makes me want to be a better person in order to make his world is a better place.

What are you thankful for?

Thankful Thursday!

It is impossible to feel grateful and depressed in the same moment.   Naomi Williams, Body, Mind and Spirit

Another week has gone by (and it was a rather interesting one) and the winners of the What is Autumn Grateful For This Week Contest are...

Living Pieces of History - For some of you The Beatles are no big deal.  For this writer, there happens to be no bigger deal than The Beatles.  So when I meet people from Beatle history it sends me into a crazy cool excitement that can't muster anything else out of my mouth besides a 'thank you.'   It has happened a few times.  I've met John Lennon's half-sister, Julia, who is absolutely amazing (and I did say more than thank you to her because the shock wore off).  At BEATexpo last November, I met Sid Bernstein who is credited with bringing The Beatles to America (which proved very influential to my non-existent life).  And most recently, I met Joe Flannery.  He was a guest lecturer in my class on Monday night. I did not know he was going to be in that night and I was running late and a mess.  I get into the classroom and Flannery is sitting there in a suit.  Whateves.   It took a while for it to kick in, but the moment Lennon's name came out of Flannery's mouth, I was in awe.  The story that he told brought tears to my eyes (it wasn't sad, I am just a dork).  I am grateful for the opportunity to have met him (I did tell him thank you too) and more importantly that he tells his story to a select few and he tells the truth as best as he knows it.  There are some things that he said that I wasn't really in a rush to agree to, but he also told light-hearted fun stories of The Beatles and of Brian Epstein from before The Beatles existed.  The man is 81 years old.  Just think of all of the life he lived without the famous people in it.  There is nothing more entertaining or educational than sitting at the feet of an elder.  This elder just happens to have the keys to a past that I am insanely interested in.  Think about it, he was around before George Martin or Ringo were around! I couldn't get over how lucky I was to be there.  

My Past -  I will not be too long on this section as I will end up sounding more bitter than thankful. While I was in class last week, I found myself thinking about a big person in my past. This time of year always does it to me. But when I think to every last detail of how I ended up here. It's almost creepy how I wouldn't be here if he wasn't a part of my life for the time he was a part of it.  Regarding the fact that I am here, I am thankful for knowing him. I will end it here as I feel a bitter bile taste rising in my throat. (Is bile the right term?) 

Looking On the Bright Side / Remaining Calm in a Crisis (or something that resembles one) -  My old roommate told me this all of the time.  I just laughed at her because I think it's stupid to panic because then you make silly decisions, or none at all (which could be worse).  I remember one time when she was having a gall bladder attack and literally fell into my room one night.  She asked me to take her to the hospital.  I got changed and we left.  I stopped at red lights, looked and drove through if I was able to go through safely.  But I did not panic as she was screaming and punching my poor dashboard. This ability I would never imagine I would be grateful for! Yesterday, I proved myself wrong.  I dropped my phone getting out of a taxi yesterday.  I realized it soon after but the cab was long gone and so was my phone.  My friends dialed and dialed.  I called the taxi company who were totally not kind to me, left texts on my phone asking and telling the person that I will reward them (with what?) if they return my phone.  But nothing. But I didn't freak out.  I didn't go out and buy a new phone (it crossed my mind though).  I just tried my best to figure out a way to swindle a new phone out of Orange the least expensive way.  Although, I was bummed out about it, I didn't focus on it.  I watched funny videos on YouTube, talked to Krissy and Katie for years, and did other things besides dwell on what happened.   In fact, I focused on what could be worse!  I said to myself, "Aud, you didn't lose your money, your American phone, or your passport." and "You weren't robbed. You're healthy (within reason). You didn't die and all of your family is alive and well." I told myself it would be fine to sulk about it but there are a billion other things to be happy about- so that is what I focused on.  I went to bed early but I went to bed happy. 

The Italian Liverpudlian -  He brought back my phone!  Shani named him Mario, we can refer to him as that from now on.  He called Tasha and Shani this afternoon and said that he had my phone.  Why did it take him nearly 24 hours to hand it over I don't know.  I checked the usage and nothing was used. He might have liked my cool owl case and debated whether or not to keep it for that reason.  He met us at The Adelphi (how ironic for those of you who know me in real life).  Approached us with the phone (and my owl case) and I said thank you a zillion times over. I gave him a tenner, which I am shocked he took.  But he could have gotten way more than that in a store. Maybe he tried to do that in the 24 hours that he had with it. I don't know.  He told me where he found it and it's right where a man and his pit bull cut me off. I was so amazed that the dog was allowed on the bus that I watched the bus drive away.  I don't know how I didn't hear my phone fall but that doesn't matter. It's back. To you, Universe, I give thanks for Mario!

The girl in 1E, Tasha -  is the first flatmate I met on move in day.  I think right from the start we got on very well.  I am grateful for her for many reasons but the biggest one that sticks out is that she is a vegetarian. So she knows every kind of meat she doesn't want to have. I told her about my awesome red meat allergy and now she checks things out for me when I am unsure stuff.  It is also helpful because for once I am not the only person who needs to be complicated when it comes to finding places to eat.  Great joy! 

Tasha was also the first one of my friends to pick up their phone and call my lost iPhone (my phone's name is Theodore, btw). She also left a message. That part is entertaining because Mario didn't check one voicemail.  Tasha is always the one to help me sort out British things that I don't understand and the first one to offer constructive ideas and imput for other UK related issues. When Mario called her this morning to tell her that Theodore was found, I think she was more excited than I was!  She is also a quick thinker!  She left Mario a voicemail and told him he could also return my phone to campus security. I DIDN'T EVEN THINK OF THAT! So for Tasha's quick thinking, problem solving ability, consideration, and eating habits... and just for being her, I find myself grateful for this week. 

What are you wonderful people thankful for this week?

Thankful Thursday!

If you can't be content with what you have received, be thankful for what you have escaped. -- Author Unknown


Thankful Thursday let's do it up!!

Cars- There is a difference between being too young to drive and being able to drive and not having a car. Those of you who know me personally know that I am always going somewhere. I can hardly stay home for a whole day and when I go somewhere "real quick" it's never real quick. Well, when you don't have a car you realize how lucky you are to have your car. This comes to mind every time I pay a taxi fare. I am grateful for my beautiful car every time I am hungry and I think how delightful it would be to get in my car and go to Wendy's or when I really just want to go for a drive. I'd be grateful for my car even if it wasn't beautiful. 

Kindness - On Tuesday my professor was kind enough to show me around Liverpool and the surrounding areas. By surrounding areas I mean he took me to Wales! I was in two different countries in the matter of hours! He knew about an American diner and that is where I found cheese fries! For real, cheese fries in Wales! It was great! It was so cool to see other places in the UK. He said that if my mom comes to visit again he will take us to Wales. Completely thankful that kind people like him exist in the world. 

Literature - There isn't enough I can say to express how grateful I am for literature. I dig new fiction, like Jodi Picoult, but I also like the classics. I am going to be the corniest person right now but I don't care... Books take you to a different world. You can get so involved in a book that you escape your reality just for a bit. I don't know anyone who could ever argue that books aren't  a great thing. 

Community - My second hometown  is extraordinary. On Wednesday Liverpool put on a fantastic show to celebrate the Christmas season! There had to be at least 1,000 people in city centre to see the lights turn on and there was nothing chaotic about it. There were no fights. There wasn't a plethora of cops on stand by. However, there was a sing-a-long to "Santa Claus is Coming to Town!" It was nice to be reminded of how Scranton used to be and it made me smile to know that the Scranton is on its way back to that, or at least trying to get back to that. 

Dan - is one of the two boys next door. I think it's safe to say that my whole flat is grateful for Dan. He does our dishes and takes out our garbage, which is awesome. But he really goes out of his way to make us feel good and expects nothing in return (he did get a pretty awesome Mexican birthday dinner though). He went through some nonsense a few years ago and he didn't let other people bring him down or turn into a jerk because of it. He's hysterical. He's incredibly kind to all of us and often leaves us love notes in our kitchen to read when we wake up. What makes me particularly grateful for Dan (besides the fact that he made my dinner tonight ) is that he has a knack of always watching out for all of us. We are all in a strange place (not one of us are from Liverpool) and it's nice to know that someone always has our backs. Oh, he also comes around with his ukulele to sing to us daily. We all know I am grateful for that to say the least! 

What are you grateful for on this fine November day?

Thankful Thursday!

There is always, always, always something to be grateful for. - Author Unknown

Here we are again!  Too bad I can't post as much in my other blog as I do this one.  I promise I'll catch up on The Beatles one.  As for this week, a few things came to mind that I realized I was lucky to have.

Fratelli's -  Some of the girls and I went out for dinner last Saturday night. We went to a pretty snazzy Italian restaurant.  By snazzy I mean I had to Google most of the meals to make sure I wasn't allergic to most of the food that was a part of the dish.  Good thing I did because I would have been allergic to most of it!  As I sat there, wishing someone would tell me what to order,  I remembered all my times at Fratelli's saying to Jen or Tracey etc. "Well, if you were to order something right now, what would you get?"  and they would just know what to tell me to order.  It's nice to have a place like that...  kind of like Cheers but instead of beer, it's food.  I like the homey feel at Fratelli's.  I mean, that could be because it really is like  second home (which might not be a good thing).  I just know that when  I was baffled at the menu at Zizzi's,  I just wanted to go to Fratsmellies.

Disney's Fairy Tales  -  Although I think the romantic side of love is pretty much for the birds, I do adore the comfort and memories of my childhood that fairy tales bring back.  I know that some of you think that Disney ruins kids and blah blah blah...  kindly shut your mouth. Let me enjoy my memories because I never thought that life was going to turn out like  Disney movie nor did I think that there was something wrong with the way all of the princesses sounded while they were singing.  I thought the enchantment and then realized that the imagination that Disney brought to already wonderful (or gruesome) stories is amazing. There is a Disney Store here and I smile each time I go inside of it.  I love seeing Snow White AND Tinker Bell hardly hurts my feelings to look at anymore. They all just make me smile and think of my younger sister, Christa.  And of course, seeing Ariel always reminds me of Liz.  Disney's like a comfortable pair of... socks.


Yes,

Socks -  can really make or break your mood.  I am grateful for the love/hate relationship that I have with the comfy little feet snuggies. I only say love/hate because when I wake up roasting in the middle of the night I curse the heat hoarders for being on my feet. But,  I have always loved socks. I love fun socks and I love my Puma socks.  For real, if you do not own a pair of Puma ankle socks then you have no idea of what you're missing out on. Think of Uggs, only cheaper.   I only noticed how grateful I am to have the cotton wonders this week when I was waiting around Liverpool One for a friend and I decided to wear flats without socks. Well, the day went on and I got a bit chilly (we were waiting to go to a movie).  I thought that I could go back to the flat where I would have to pay for a cab ride there and back (not at all sensible) or I can go into a store and just hangout there for a while.  Then, the almost smarter side of me said "Dude, just buy socks." I did. I purchased cute little owl socks with my student discount (just in case my favorite relative sees this) and put them on as soon as I left the store.  Warmer IMMEDIATELY.  You chuckle, but unless you're Christa (who goes without socks regularly in the winter) take two hours and go outside without socks and wear flats.  It's November, it's probably chilly wherever you are.  Find out how lucky you are to have socks too!  Go to Marshall's or T.J. Maxx and get yourself a pair of Puma socks and you'll think you found a pot of gold.

Generosity of Others-  This last week I have acquired free tickets to see the private viewing of the Alice in Wonderland exhibit at the Tate Museum, an awesome purple scarf that I claimed I was going to borrow, and apparently I have a t-shirt on its way from PA(I don't believe that one).  Oh, and a hoodie that is awesome but entirely too small so I see no point in stealing it. All of these wonderful acts and people I am grateful for!  All of these things have been donated by other people and those people thought nothing of it.  That is nice.  I used to think that I was never rewarded for my good deeds (didn't stop me from doing them though). But, I realized as I was folding shirt number two of Matt's yesterday that I do get it back... just not in the same way that I give it.  This is fine because I don't need it in the same way that I give it!  As I had the nerve to ramble on about Pay It Forwards and how I never get it back, I didn't take the time to realize that flatmate and I were in the cab on our way back from Hope Park so I can get my free tickets.  Sometimes Autumn Rose is a fool.  Not often though.

My friend, Shani Lane -  Shani is one of my flatmates and also one who I am closer to.  It may be because we share a common "bond" of missing little relatives at home or it may be because she thinks I am just as awesome as I think she is, who knows.  I just know that I am so grateful to have met Shani.  She is ridiculously kind, generous, and selfless.  These characteristics were highlighted in Shani this last Monday when everyone wanted her artistic talent as we were scrambling to have our make-up done for our Halloween party.  Shani (who wasn't even completely ready herself) took almost two hours (I think an hour on me alone, seriously) to help B, Amy, and myself get ready.  She donated her time and also her supplies!  My first Halloween in Liverpool was a success because of Shani.  She took the time to help me organize which costume I would wear (you know I had two, right?) and then did my hair and eyes.  To add to it, she also took the Halloween window cling things and made an "A" on the inside of my cabinet in the kitchen, which completely makes me smile.

Then we have the non-Halloween Shani awesomeness.  Shani is always there when I need to talk to someone.  Even if it is after I accidentally dropped her birthday cake face first on the floor.  When I am acting silly and find myself irked about the past, she's the first one to help me sort through it.  That alone is worth more than I can ever repay her for.  I cannot imagine not knowing her (or B) and I am incredibly grateful for running into the few mistakes that have landed me in Liverpool.


So my friends, what are you grateful for?


I'd be grateful if one of you actually wrote something instead of just taking the Lazy Man's way out and "liking" the link.