Fresh!

Promotion at new job, "new" used car, feature in a calendar for the new year, new perspective... all just in time for 2008, has just been added to The Thanks Ranks.

It Is December, Right?

I hesitate to consider the implications, but the sunny 75 degree weather we've been experiencing here in metro Atlanta has just been added to The Thanks Ranks.

Hellooooo??!!!

When is too long away long enough?

Being able to take a moment to log in and say, "Hi! I'm just fine. Thanks for asking, how are you?" has just been added to The Thanks Ranks.

New Week for the Weak

A new, "normal" week that has returned me to my senses (because really, leftover lemon cheesecake from Southern Sweets Bakery for breakfast, and as an accompaniment to lunch and dinner, with snacking in between, is NOT a sensible thing) has just been added to The Thanks Ranks.

Well, that, and the fact that there's no more left... :-)

Gobble, Gobble

In the U.S., it's THANKSGIVING DAY!

What's not to add to The Thanks Ranks? We should all have a list today.

Have a blessed holiday. A big hug to you from me.

(Happy Birthday, Renard!)

Perfect Combination

The pastry chef at Whole Foods, who intuitively knew even before I did that a pumpkin chocolate cookie would make me smile in the midst of holiday hustle, has just been added to The Thanks Ranks.

Show and Tell

OK. I went and did it. I got a job. Hubby-Honey is not going to get to Yankees Fantasy Camp in '08 by me just wishing upon a star. OK, maybe he is, and I will, but now I also have a "Plan B".

And I'm just so excited about it, I can't contain myself. Why? Well, because I created a "wish list" for everything I was going to want in a job, given my somewhat reluctant decision to go back to work. And I'm telling you, it was pretty "unrealistic" criteria. So I didn't think I'd be working any time soon, or if I was, not necessarily in a wholly fulfilling way.

But amazingly (or not so much, as I'm starting to see more and more), such a position and company have been led to me, and my desires have been met--exceedingly and abundantly over all that I had hoped.

So it's back to work for me, but in the familiar surroundings of my home office, doing what I love to do most: promoting great people, places and things and getting the privilege of experiencing them firsthand. For a publication. Within an arena in which I'm voraciously interested. I couldn't be more delighted.

I say all this to say, indeed, in whatever area of your life you care to address ideal circumstances, make a list, check it twice, bypass the naughty and wait on the nice. Perfect plans are coming to town.

I'm here to testify. Gregg and Chris, for detecting my light and wanting to connect it to yours, you've just been added to The Thanks Ranks.

Ever the Little Big Sister

My brother's safe return home after spending the last week in Hong Kong has just been added to The Thanks Ranks.

Have a great weekend!

Today on Thanks Ranks Radio (11.15.07)

Here's what was referenced and added to The Thanks Ranks:

* Kellie's addition: Finding "Free To Be... You and Me" on iTunes

* The Thankful Tree idea from fabric shop co-owners Katie Metzger and Catherine Clark, of the Brooklyn General Store

* The New Food Lover's Companion by Sharon Tyler Herbst, now in its Fourth edition

* The goodwill and good word generation at FreeRice.com (let's get with honoring our agreement, U.S.)

* Pat Marcus at WABE 90.1 for identifying and offering to pass along my thanks to Emily Wood for sharing the quote that has ever-changed the way I make decisions about how I chose to spend and conduct myself on any given day.

* Stella of the Brotman Medical Center and Roxy of the Skull Base Institute for the positive update on Sahar Gayton, a mom undergoing brain tumor surgery mentioned in last week's show.

* Oh, and btw, Hubby-Honey and I have been married almost 6 1/2 years, not 5 1/2 as I glibly stated. I knew that... ;-)

If you so desire, you can click on the player to the left to hear this week's show in its 30 minute entirety. For earlier shows, check out the Thanks Ranks Radio archives at blogtalkradio.com.

Adults Don't Know Everything

"There is! There is a chocolate-covered M&M on the toilet!" Big Boy kept insisting. I assured him there wasn't, as (a.) I knew we didn't have any in the house and (b.) I'd just been in the bathroom and would have surely noticed it. But he wouldn't let it go, so I agreed to return and let him show me.

And then he pointed to it. Do you see it? ;-)

For the morning chuckle, Big Boy's astute observation has just been added to The Thanks Ranks.

You're Beautiful

For the cautionary tale you've become that just may save another grown woman or a young girl--though I wish it hadn't had to be--Ms. West, you've just been added to The Thanks Ranks.

R.I.P.

And Julie: Happy Birthday, Friend.

Not Just a Shopping Sale Day

For all the freedoms I enjoy, veterans: you've just been added to The Thanks Ranks.

Yesterday on Thanks Ranks Radio (11.08.07)

I'm not perfect, and so can you. :-)

Here's what was referenced and added to The Thanks Ranks:

* My dear children for lending the soundtrack to the show and my life

* New Thanks Ranks Radio Friends and fellow blogtalkradio.com show hosts Minister D, Evangelist Linda and Sexy Morenita

* Sahar Gayton and her story of fortitude and gratitude

* All of you who have expressed interest in and support for the "No Dining Out Month" challenge" Hubby-Honey and I have undertaken

* Green Restaurant Association for their Certified Green Restaurant Guide and Atlanta certified restaurants My Panini and Radial.

* Todd from Arango's Roofing

* My 365 day anniversary celebration with fellow 365 Plays/Days enthusiasts

If you so desire, you can click on the player to the left to hear this week's show in its 30 minute entirety. For earlier shows, check out the Thanks Ranks Radio archives at blogtalkradio.com.

Have a great weekend!

Full Circle + Five

For bringing my anniversary day to a celebratory creative end, Bridget, Alex, Roz, Danielle and S-LP: you've just been added to The Thanks Ranks.

What's In A Year?

I don't believe it, but 'tis true...

If you look to the left column of this blog, and scroll down, down, down, past the 'Blog Archive' and all the months of 2007 listed, you'll get to '2006'.

And if you click on that, and scroll all the way down, down, down, you'll get to an entry that says, "Tuesday, November 07, 2006".

And that, dear friends, would be the very first post of The Thanks Ranks, which means that today, November 7, 2007, marks The Thanks Ranks' first anniversary.

I can't believe it. First of all, time has flown! As I've taken some time to re-read the earlier posts, I'm amazed that it's been a year, or almost a year, that the things detailed occurred. Can't be--it all seems like just yesterday!

But on the otherhand, as I read, I consider the interesting "evolution of me" that has occurred. As is documented, the genesis of this blog sprouted from a muddled head in a clouded space that had just enough presence of mind to grasp gratitude. That time and that person do feel far removed now.

So when I reflect upon this past year of my Thanks Ranks experience, I can say that I still don't know where it's going, and what's to come of it. And that's OK. It's not meant for me to get ahead of it. My job is to simply continue logging one entry at a time.

What I do know is that through this exercise I have received an amazing gift in discovering that I can find the "story" in the simplest of things, and that alone has given me a tremendous sense of clarity.

The "bestest" is yet to come, because this year has been the best. I highly recommend, "giving thanks a try".

The collective lesson in gratitude from the past 365 days and all that has blessedly occured in my life as a result have just been added to The Thanks Ranks.

Thank you for joining me on the ride.

Boogie Wonderland

Today's impromptu dance party with my children courtesy of DJ KC's groove masterwork has just been added to The Thanks Ranks.

How Inspired!

Hubby-Honey and I are always challenging ourselves here in our humble little household. Taking on "make us better" tasks to see what we're capable of keeps things interesting.

For the month of November? Aside from social obligations that are already established or may come up, Hubby-Honey and I are not going to eat out. No take-out for lunch at work for him, no on-the-road-with-kids-on-the-fly stops for me, no, "It's the weekend! Let's go to (insert desired eatery here)!" for either one of us.

Nope. Even if it means nothing more than peanut butter and jelly sandwiches on our best china, this month, the only food we'll be consuming is that which came from our grocery/farmers market shopping.

This isn't something that I've ever taken on in the history of... well, my life. Where am I going to find the inspiration to come up with ideas for every meal for every day for 30 days?

Enter The Dinner A'Fare and Super Suppers. They're competitors in their prepare-ahead meals industry, but no matter to me--they're a font of recipe ideas!

I've simply checked out their menus for the current and future month, and come up with options that I think will work for our family, given my organic modifications and relative comfort around the kitchen (you may recall, I'm a culinary school dropout--that still puts me further ahead of the cooking game than most).

So far we've been so good. We just might be able to do this. At least now the meal prep is becoming a joy and not a joy-killer to the foodie in me. Maybe I'll go back and get my culinary degree yet--NOT!

But in the meantime, for providing me a vista to success, The Dinner A'Fare and Super Suppers, you've just been added to The Thanks Ranks.

Now if you'll excuse me, I've got some panko coating to do on some tilapia filets for tonight's "Pan-Asian Tilapia with Five Spice Panko Crust".

Bon appetit!

Day 14

Baby Girl's fever having broken with no sign of the chicken pox has just been added to The Thanks Ranks.

Have a great weekend!

Today on Thanks Ranks Radio (11.1.07)

Here's what was referenced and added to The Thanks Ranks:

* Kellie's addition: Mr. M.M.--her, "thoughtful, really great boyfriend," and the good people in her life

* The good people in my life and Chocolate Pink for making my birthday memorable

* Halloween 2007 being a candy-fueled wrap, and the treat of paying off Hubby-Honey's car

* November 1 and the countdown to Thanksgiving

* Heat on chilly mornings and my fantastic jacket find

* My children's pediatricians and my beloved poxed brother

* Encountering the young ladies of the Coretta Scott King Young Women's Leadership Academy and playwright, author, activist Eve Ensler at the Going for the Goal Luncheon last Friday (not Thursday as I repeatedly stated)

* TED and its ideas worth spreading (if you're using Internet Explorer and the video above isn't loading, click here to access the Ensler video)

If you so desire, you can click on the player to the left to hear this week's show in its 30 minute entirety. For earlier shows, check out the Thanks Ranks Radio archives at blogtalkradio.com.

Baby It's Cold Outside

There's a chill in the air this morning. The ability to heat our home with the flick of a switch (and having a home in the first place) has just been added to The Thanks Ranks.