A Thankful HodgePodge

I've been telling myself for weeks - maybe even months - that I would do another Wednesday HodgePodge with Joyce (from This Side of the Pond - a lovely lady I "met" through this very blog when I became an expat in Hungary for two years. She was an expat herself and therefore we have had a lot to discuss. Plus, she's just a super sweet lady, and you should all go visit her blog and participate in the HodgePodge!). So, here we go, it's about time!

1. Turkey: Love it or Leave it? White or Dark? What about leftovers?

I love turkey on Thanksgiving (and Christmas, too!),

and I'm totally a white meat person - the dark just doesn't taste quite right.

And, leftovers? They're totally the best part!

Who doesn't love a Thanksgiving sandwich the day after -

turkey, stuffing, cranberry? It's the bee's knees!

2. Run a 10K or climb a mountain - day after Thanksgiving?

Seeing as I spent the summer doing this,

and I'm in NO shape to run a 10K  right now,

I'll take "Climb A Mountain" for 1000.

3. Have all these social networks made your relationships better or worse?

This is tricky.

I've stayed in touch 

(and reconnected, for that matter)

with a lot of people that I don't think I would have otherwise

because of social networking.

But the quality of some relationships?

Not nearly as good as if they were reliant on 

more personal forms of communication.

I wish more people would write letters,

or pick up the phone,

or drive an extra hour,

and be together.

4. How do you find and/or express gratitude in your life?

Not nearly well enough.

I always try to say "thank you" when one is merited,

but is that really enough?

There are things I am thankful for everywhere,

from the place I live,

to the people I know,

 to the work I do,

to the things I am able to do

(both physically and financially and more),

to the places I am able to go,

to so much more.

How do you say,

or express,

or show,

thankfulness for that?

It's something I need to work on.

5. All things Black Friday

The fact people started camping out last Friday

just goes to show how crazy our culture has become.

I shop in person,

but you probably won't see me out this friday.

6. What Black item in your wardrobe is your favorite?

I honestly have no idea.

Maybe my Carolina Fencing fleece? 

It's black and I wear it a lot.

7. What do you appreciate about your life today?

Everything.

But if you're going for something more specific:

Today?

I am thankful for how close I live to my parents

and how often I am able to see them and talk to them.

As an only child, and a daughter,

and a child in general,

my parents mean the world to me 

and I am beyond thankful

for the amazing relationship I have with them.

I'm a really lucky kid.

8. Random Thoughts

I just bought this sweatshirt:

http://www.unitedbyblue.com/store/index.php/women/shirts/after-sandy-hoodie.html

Proceeds (100% of them) go to help Sandy Relief Efforts,

and it's a pretty cool company and a pretty cool shirt.

I'm excited to get it, 

and to know that, in a little way, I was able to help.

Source: 4shared.com via Roxanne on Pinterest