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.