The Thanks Ranks is Now All a-Twitter

Greetings, Friends of The Thanks Ranks. How have you been?

I have been well, in a period of adjustment. I don't know when this all happened, but all of a sudden, I'm the mother to a 4 1/2 year-old pre-K Big Boy, who's a budding tech geek that I have to fight for time on the computer ("It's my turn, Mommy! Can I get on the computer now, pleeeeease?!). Remember "Thankful Thursdays at 3:00"? Well now, it's "Thankful Mondays through Fridays at 3:00" that find me in the carpool line to pick him up from school, 'cause if I'm any later than 3:15 p.m., he's headed to aftercare and I'm being charged a fee.

I'm also running around after Baby Girl, who's not so much a baby anymore at all, but a 2 year-old toddler with a personality that fits her Leo birth sign to a T. This girl is fearless, knows what she wants, tells you about it (yes, she is TALKING!) and goes for it. Naptime is not nearly as frequent or long as it used to be, and now we're entering the brave new world of Potty Training. To say she keeps me on my toes is an understatement.

Then there is Hubby Honey--my rock who challenges me to explore my best self. We have laughed, cried and hustled together over the last 5 months since he was let go from his job. You want to see what your marriage is made of? Try living in this current U.S. economy not having bankable steady income from either of you coming into your household and see how you manage and relate to each other... Tested, we have grown stronger than ever. And through it all, I remain grateful that the hand of God has been over us and optimistic that we will come to a triumphant "for richer" completion of this "for poorer" journey.

And finally, there is me. The Thanks Ranks was created at a time when I was struggling to define my personal purpose and direction. I am pleased to say that over these last almost two years, clarity has slowly but surely come. And I've been busy acting upon what's been revealed to me, with favorable results that are almost terrifying. But I'm feeling the fear and doing it anyway. And the practice of writing on and maintaining The Thanks Ranks has been instrumental in preparing me for this new stage.

So in a time where "Change" is a word of hope and optimism that has been a key theme, I find "change" occurring as it relates to necessary adjustments being made to the time (or lack thereof) I devote to The Thanks Ranks.

I have been trying to determine what that change should look like, as being grateful and adding things to The Thanks Ranks is not a habit I want to abandon. Plus, this blog has become a means through which I've made and kept up with friends. So I don't want to lose that either.

Jott, my last blog post, has become a "not", given their latest news of charging per post. Thanks, but no thanks. See paragraph #4. :-) But I've discovered a new tool that just may be the ticket: Twitter.

With Twitter, I am able to post "mini" blog entries--of 140 characters or less. Just quick little blurbs, long enough to let you know what I'm adding to The Thanks Ranks at the moment, with a link to more details if applicable.

So I invite you now to the top left corner of this blog, where you'll see that "The Thanks Ranks is All a-Twitter". There, you'll be able to see my real-time additions, and even click on the link that will lead you to the entire host of what I'm grateful for during any given period.

Welcome to The Thanks Ranks - Reloaded. I've enjoyed our journey together, and hope you'll continue along with me as I tweet about my gratitude through Twitter.

Much love and gratitude to you all. 'Change' has just been added to The Thanks Ranks.

Jott.com

There's a way I can blog from my mobile phone! Jott.com.

Oh, this is going to make my blogging life so much easier...

I tried it earlier this a.m. and there's a bug with Blogger I've got to figure out (oh, who am I kidding... Hubby Honey's going to figure it out for me--LOL), but once that's taken care of, I'll be Jotting away!

So for providing an easy way for me to reconnect and stay current with my TTR peeps, Jott.com has just been added to The Thanks Ranks.

Soledad and CNN

Getting ready to watch "Black in America" on CNN. I live for these kinds of conversations/dialogues. Don't know what to expect, but watch today and tomorrow. If you want to talk about it, consider me a willing participant.

A conversation that's been a long time coming on a national stage has just been added to The Thanks Ranks.

Laughter!

My children crack me up. First of all, I'm not nearly on the computer as much as I used to be, because now, I have to share it with Big Boy, who tries to muscle me out of the way, so he can, "do his work". Lately, his "work" consists of checking out Pixar's Wall-e site. He can't get enough of it.

They're really coming into their own personalities now, at 41/2 and oh-so-close-to-two years old. And I'm realizing that, as they're getting older, there's a whole lot less crying going on at any given time in my house. Now, they can actually articulate what they want or need or are unhappy about, without the wailing and gnashing of teeth. Ah, I can see sweet peace on the horizon... almost didn't think I'd see the day.

Lately, there have just been silly sayings, songs and actions that lead up to an all out chucklefest between us. Baby Girl tries her hardest to be the loudest among us with her exaggerated, "AH HA HA HA HAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!" Her attempt launches Big Boy and me into a whole 'nother fit of laughter.

I'm savoring these moments between us, because I know, from what the experienced folks tell me, the period will come when they'll be too cool to laugh themselves silly with their Mommy. Instead of tears from laughing so hard, there will be eyerolls at such "lame" behavior.

So until that time, I'll fully embrace the belly laughs. They're good for the soul, they've been long overdue and they've just been added to The Thanks Ranks.

Bella - The Movie

I'm drawn to this for reasons obvious to those who know me. The reviews are mixed, but folks at Toronto International Film Festival liked it in 2006, so I'll add it to my NetFlix list and check it out anyway. What do you think?

How did I miss this anyway? Oh well, Diane de Beer, SA film critic, for bringing this movie to my attention, you've just been added to The Thanks Ranks.

Happy 4th, my fellow Americans, and an equally beautiful day to the rest of you fine folks.

Writer Mama: Christina Katz

While in Baltimore this past weekend, I by happenstance (but then again, is there such a thing?) found myself in Books-A-Million before heading to the airport. While looking for a playwriting book, I instead came across this one:

Writer Mama: How to Raise a Writing Career Alongside Your Kids by Christina Katz.

I almost had to pick myself up off the floor when I discovered it in the stacks. This is precisely the topic I've been recently tossing around in my brain, with a moniker similar to the one I've been crafting for myself. Cue the "Twilight Zone" theme music...

Needless to say, I got the message that this was the book I needed to buy, and it's chock full of really useful information. It's too good not to share with you now, if you too are into this kind of thing.

Christina Katz, for writing the how-to manual to help me profitably pursue my writing interests and afford my goal of being freely available for my kids, you've just been added to The Thanks Ranks.

Oh, and happy 38th anniversary, Mom and Poppy! You're still smokin', and I love ya for it! :-)

Bridal Shower Buddy Bliss

I've been out of pocket the last few weeks working on a couple projects, one of them being putting the final touches on the planning for my dear friend's bridal shower that took place this past weekend.

A much appreciated getaway to my old beloved stomping grounds from college days, seeing some of my buddies (I'll be back in September to see the rest of you, I promise!), all the pieces coming together the day-of, Kim and crew at Country Inn & Suites, returning to Hubby-Honey and the kids with limbs and the house still intact and FUN have just been added to The Thanks Ranks.

Bride-to-Be, I hope you're not upset by my putting you on blast, but gratitude is gratitude. ;-)