Shoe You - Shoe U.

Kendall of Macy's at Cumberland expertly assisted me as I selected and purchased a pair of shoes. When the transaction was complete, he directed my attention to my receipt and asked me to go online to www.macys.com/tellus and rate my shopping experience with him. In fact, he wrote his full name on the receipt, asked me to use it, and to give him the highest ranking with each of the criteria presented once I got online.

How many times have I been asked to do such a thing by a sales rep at any given store? Plenty. And I have the best of intentions to do so, but then life happens.

But last night, because of Kendall's unequivocal boldness in telling me exactly what he wanted of me, darned if I didn't go online and do just as he instructed. I'm sure he'll gain something from it as a result.

For reminding me to operate in boldness and ask for precisely what I want (what have I got to lose?), Kendall, you've just been added to The Thanks Ranks.

Altagracia

Happy Birthday, Julia Alvarez. Your novel, How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accents, is a favorite of mine. Your words evoke a vivid imagery that make travel to the Dominican Republic possible by just a turn of the page. The chapters both enchant and leave me in stitches. For the cultural lessons and simple pleasures received in reading your work, you've just been added to The Thanks Ranks.

I Got 99 Posts and this Bit is One -- Hundred

Happy Monday! Hope your new week is off to a great start.

This entry is the 100th post of The Thanks Ranks (counting some in draft form that have been written but not seen the light of day). I don't think anyone is more surprised than I!

For me this is a tangible lesson in how far you can go toward a goal by just putting one foot in front of the other, taking one step at a time. If someone had told me back in November when this project began that I'd have to write about 100 things I was grateful for in the form of blog entries with a March 26, 2007 deadline, I would have likely said, "Whoa... I don't know if I can do that... Where would I find the time? I can't just list them? What would I say? What would I write about?!"

And to be honest, those thoughts did cross my mind. But in just simply thinking of it as something I'd set out to do on an as-much-as-possible daily basis with weekends off for 'good behavior', I said, "Just do it!" And now I lift my head up and look back to discover it's been done 100 times. I'm ready to go tackle another 100 more. No pressure. Just one post at a time.

What task or project are you facing that seems so daunting that you can't figure out how to get it done, so you've not even started? I encourage you (and myself, on other fronts) to begin today, with just a simple step. And then tomorrow, take another one--a nice, small manageable step.

Let's make a deal. You commit to starting out on something you've been wanting to get going on for awhile, and I'll commit to letting you know when (God willing) I've hit post #200. Let's see how far you can travel on your "Journey of 1000 Steps" by that time, and we'll celebrate together. What do you say?

Consider the wise saying, "How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time."

Proverbial elephant, knife and fork--I'm wiping my mouth, taking another morsel, and for the lesson, adding you to The thanks Ranks.

Yes, I'm Still Grateful

Hi Thanks Ranks Reader Friends!

I've been under under the weather since Saturday, and my entire family has fallen suit in a domino effect. Taking care of myself, to take care of them, to doing "just one thing" that I have on my calendar, turns into a relapse, where I'm sick again.

At first it was the chills and fever, then a cold, and now, I think allergies. But usually, I get a case of the flu once a year, and this year, due to a flu shot, I really do believe I have been spared. So I take this time as being simply that--"just my time" to take ill.

For all of you who have attempted to check in with me, know that although there haven't been any posts to The Thanks Ranks this week, I have indeed experienced things for which I am grateful. They include:

A surprise visit from Denise by way of Tuscaloosa, AL; a helpful tip that I successfully employed from Sienna for taking care of pimples with Colgate; the finds I found at Finders Keepers; a sunny Atlanta afternoon enjoyed child-free on Debby's new screened in porch for a couple of hours (thanks to Bridget and Shawn); and the discovery of Amy Winehouse.

I say to them and to you--for your kind concern--you've just been added to The Thanks Ranks.

Fly Kingfisher, Fly!

If you live in metro Atlanta and you're familiar with the stretch of road called 'Rockbridge', you've GOT to check out The Kingfisher Cafe. It's a relatively new foodie oasis in an otherwise barren culinary wasteland.

Hubby-Honey picked up some take-out of Fall-Off-The-Bone Baby Back Ribs and Pesto Chicken Panini last night that had us doing our family's traditional 'Happy Dance'. On a warmer evening we'll plan to stay awhile and incorporate The Kingfisher into a date night. I'm already eying the Smoked Mozzarella Ravioli.

For your labor of love, co-owners Buffy Davis and Talcott Printz, you've just been added to The Thanks Ranks.

Oh, We're So Over It

For peace provided from a fresh perspective, Robert M., LCSW, you've just been added to The Thanks Ranks.

La Dia Con Mia En La Biblioteca

Ms. Mia--we had fun with you and friends today during the "Time for Tales" hour of stories, activities and music. You've just been added to The Thanks Ranks.

Swimmin' with the Fishes

It occurs to me just how many of my dear friends and family are born between February 19th and March 20th.

Pisceans--you've just been added to The Thanks Ranks.

Happy Birthday, Lisa and Taylor. Happy 'Birth Day'--literally--Newest One to Kirsten.

Defining 'Silver Lining'

Relief that comes from a decision being made--even a disappointing one: you've just been added to The Thanks Ranks.

Happy Birthday, Bridget!

Cheers for Teachers

Back to doing my due diligence in mapping out an educational game plan for my little ones, I couldn't help but reflect upon teachers who made a difference in my life.

Ms. Behrmann, Ms. Laskowski, Ms. Gardner, Mr. Belz, Mr. Bingham--I want teachers like you for my children when they "grow up". You've just been added to The Thanks Ranks.

A Pause for the Cause

Out and about early this morning, I became aware that I was braking behind an old familiar acquaintance.

The #2 MARTA bus was letting folks out at the precise stop I used to disembark from to go to my job at City Hall East when I first moved "carless" to Atlanta in '93. For awhile, I managed to live, work and shop along this route.

As I sat and waited for 'The #2' to begin its slow and laborious crawl up the road, I looked in my rear view mirror at my sleeping little ones and was reminded of how far, on so many levels, I've been blessed to come. But as Maya Angelou said, "I wouldn't take nothing for my journey now."

Life, you've just been added to The Thanks Ranks.

I've Got Something Good for You to Do This Weekend

Want to do something spiritually uplifting for yourself this weekend, while helping out a wonderful little cause that I know would really appreciate your support? Here you go:

I happened across The Ultimate Gift movie last week after researching stories for Thanks Ranks Radio.

The movie, based on the best-selling book, tells the tale of trust fund baby Jason Stevens. "When his wealthy grandfather dies, Jason expects a big inheritance. Instead, he receives his grandfather's crash course on life, complete with twelve tasks – or 'gifts' – designed to challenge him in improbable ways. It sends Jason on a journey of self-discovery and forces him to determine what is most important in life: money or happiness."

Intrigued? You can check out the trailer and additional film clips here.

My grandmother gave me a number of gifts, both while she was here, and after she departed in 2004. The greatest of them was the legacy of being a Godly, loving, sane and supportive woman.

When she passed away, a small non-profit called Adopt-A-Grandparent Program allowed me to channel and process my grief in a productive way. I'll be forever grateful, and whenever I have the opportunity to support them, I do.

So with the opening of The Ultimate Gift during this "Weekend of Giving" (March 9, 10, 11), I think it fitting to humbly ask that you go see it, and gift Adopt-A-Grandparent Program with $1.00 from your ticket purchase.

How? It's easy. Just purchase your ticket online. All you need is Adopt-A-Grandparent's promotion code 500552.

1) Visit www.FoxFilmFund.com and insert your zip code. A list of theaters in your area will appear.

2) When you click on the theater nearest you, you will be directed to either www.fandango.com or www.movietickets.com and you'll be able to enter the promotion code in the area that says 'organization code'.

The Ultimate Gift movie has been booked in approximately 850 U.S. theaters to date, so you're bound to find one near you.

How can I not support this endeavor? Know what one of the movie's 12 "gifts" is? Gratitude!

Post a comment or shoot me an email letting me know that you plan to do this, and I'll gladly add you to The Thanks Ranks.

Remember, the code is 500552.

Hair Apparent

Naeemah,

This evening, while looking at some pictures of me with Big Boy when he was a Baby Boy, it occurred to me just how long my hair has gotten over these almost three years since I first been locking it. I have you to thank.

Now with the addition of Baby Girl, being able to go "from zero to 60 in 7 seconds" when it comes to styling my hair is a godsend. So you've just been added to The Thanks Ranks.

You, as well as a lesser known 'eminem' who've I've been wanting to applaud for some time now, for his terrific taste in women. ;-) Happy Birthday, sir!

Gee's, That's a Pretty Stamp

I love these postal stamps. They add a splash of color and pop to my stationery that makes my envelopes themselves a work of art. Who wouldn't want to open their mail and find out what awaits inside? It brings me joy to use them.

USPS Art Director Derry Noyes and the talented, ever-resourceful Gee's Bend quilters past and present, you've just been added to The Thanks Ranks.

Sandy Springs Civility

To Paul, for kindly servicing Hubby-Honey's watch, and to the other helpful staffers and security at LeeBrant Jewelers...

And Corey at Whole Foods, for helping me identify and select a suitable iron supplement alternative to 'bovine red blood cells' (eewwwww....)

You've just been added to The Thanks Ranks.

What a Week! TGIF

It's been a few days, so I have much to share. Too much to write, so why not listen?

Due to a tornado watch complete with terrible rains and storming, Thanks Ranks Radio did not air yesterday. So I'm going to dish today, on TGIFriday. Still appropriate, right?

Listen at 3:00 p.m. live, or catch the archive.

Bright, bright, Sunshine-y Day, you've just been added to The Thanks Ranks.