Thanksgiving: Day 30

Ok...last but certainly not least.  Today I'm extremely thankful for my parents.  Tonight, Mom cooked Thanksgiving dinner for Daddy, Christie, Alex, Ryan, and I.  It was a wonderful dinner!  You knew it was good food when the dinner table was quiet!  ;)  Anyway, I am so thankful for my mom and dad.  I literally wouldn't be here if it weren't for them.  :P  They have shown me so much love and given me so much support throughout my life and continue to do so.  I don't know what I'd do without them.  I could go on about how awesome they are, but I want to keep this post brief.  All in all, I love you both, Mom and Dad, and I'm so glad that I got to spend this weekend with you!

Thanksgiving: Day 29

Today, I'm thankful for retail workers.  This year, many retailers opened at 8:00 PM yesterday evening.  I was saddened by this considering that yesterday was a holiday and many individuals didn't get to have Thanksgiving dinner with their families and had to work instead.  Anyway, I know many of my friends who had to work last night, early this morning, and even throughout the day.  I went shopping today, but not at sunrise (thank goodness!).  I am thankful for all of the retail workers who had to work yesterday and today so people could get some Christmas shopping done and have great shopping experiences like I did today.

Thanksgiving: Day 28

Today, I'm thankful for Thanksgiving Day!  I love this holiday because it brings family and friends together and we eat! ;)  It also inspires many people to think about the things that they are thankful for, just like me! 

Thanksgiving: Day 27

Today I'm thankful that the university closed its offices today.  Ryan and I took a chance and came home to Nashville last night hoping that they would close the university today due to weather.  Classes were canceled yesterday for today early yesterday morning, but the alert stated that the offices wouldn't close until this morning at the earliest.  And they did!  :)  Thank goodness.  I have an extra-long holiday weekend. :)

Thanksgiving: Day 26

I'm thankful that Nashville and Johnson City are not too far away.  I'm able to drive (really ride because Ryan does the driving) just a few hours to get back home for the holidays.  I'm glad that I don't have to fly!

Thanksgiving: Day 25

Today, I'm thankful for Bernina In Stitches.  I've completed my Beginner's Sewing class this evening.  Granted, I haven't finished my project yet because I still have quite a bit of "homework" left.  I was hoping to bring it home for Thanksgiving to show my parents and sister.  Maybe I'll get it finished tonight, who knows.  Anyway, I'm thankful for this company because they offer these classes and they are super helpful!  My instructor's name is Donna and she is awesome.  I'm so thankful for her too!

Thanksgiving: Day 24

Today I'm thankful for my Grandmama's bread.  Some of you may remember my post about my Grandmama's bread from 2011 (the link is in this sentence if you want to read it).  Anyway, this week, I made 15 loaves and a couple of "poppers" because I didn't have another bread pan.  I made them because the undergraduate Chapter of the fraternity had their annual Thanksgiving dinner.  I knew that the Brothers would consumer several loaves and I knew that a lot of people would ask for one.  I ended up giving away all but one loaf!  I'm glad I was able to keep that one loaf because today I have felt awful!  I think all of the festivities yesterday really wore me out.  Anyway, being able to have her bread really gave me some comfort.  :)

Thanksgiving: Day 23

Today, I'm thankful for Suzanne Collins, the author of the Hunger Games.  Tonight, my SAAC Brothers and I went to go see The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, the movie.  It was AWESOME!  It was even better than the first movie in my opinion.  Readers, you know that I'm not much of a book reader, but this was a series that I was captivated by and I finished all three books in a matter of days.  Now that the movies have come out, I'm compelled to read them again!  (I know, who am I??) Anyway, if you haven't read the books, DO IT!  If you haven't seen the movies, GO SEE THEM!  They are awesome.  :)

Thanksgiving: Day 22

Today, I'm thankful for my seam ripper.  A seam ripper is exactly what it sounds like.  It's a sewing tool that rips seams.  As I've mentioned in some previous posts, I'm learning how to sew.  Part of learning is making mistakes.  (I'm made quite a few today.)  Anyway, thankfully, I have a tool that allows me to make mistakes, learn from them, go through a little bit of tedious work to start over, and fix my mistake.  I'm glad I learned about this tool; otherwise, I would have thrown my garment away days ago!

Thanksgiving: Day 21

Today I am thankful for my wonderful, super awesome sister, Christie!  Today is her 24th birthday!  Christie and I have always been close and continue to be close today.  I'm so thankful that I've been able to grow up with such a great person!  I have had so much fun with her while traveling, shopping, and even just being lazy at home.  :)  I love our little Google Chat talks when we both aren't super busy.  I can't wait to see her next week.

I love you, Chica, and I hope you have a fantabulous day!

Thanksgiving: Day 20

Today, I'm thankful for the Epsilon Xi Chapter of Phi Sigma Pi.  Tonight, we inducted Lambda class, celebrated the new chapter of four new Alumni Members, performed a new adoption ceremony, and even performed our first ever Chapter Service Key ceremony.

Ryan and I were awarded the Chapter's first Chapter Service Keys last night.  It was truly a surprise!  Another surprise was that I held it together throughout the hold ceremony with only glassy eyes.  :)  Receiving this award is truly an honor and I'm so happy! 

Epsilon Xi made my college experience so wonderful and brought me so many friends (even across the country)!  I honestly don't know who or where I would be without my Brothers and this Chapter.  It was great knowing that I've been able to give back.  I love you all, Brothers of Epsilon Xi!

Thanksgiving: Day 19

Okay...this one may be a little strange...I'm thankful for my dad's ability to "stick".  I use this term in the medical sense.  When people get their blood drawn or have an IV started, the medical personnel "sticks" them.  Dad has always been "a good stick".  I remember one time I was at the doctor's office to get some blood work done.  I was maybe in high school, if I remember correctly.  Anyway, the nurse stuck me about ten times until I fainted (I'm a fainter when I give blood for some reason.  The sight of blood doesn't bother me at all.  I think it has some subconscious thing about my skin getting pierced.)  Anyway, I got very angry because she stuck me so many times and "dug" for veins.  I yelled at her to get Daddy out of the waiting room.  She went and got him and I told him that she was incompetent and that he should try to stick me instead.  Before she really could object, he found a vein and stuck me the first time with no problems (and without me fainting again).  It was great.

My sister had a recent experience like this.  Many of you may know that my sister was admitted into the hospital tonight with a 3 mm kidney stone.  After she was admitted, the nurse prepared to start an IV on her.  Apparently, she couldn't find a vein and she said that she was "not used to sticking young ones".  Thankfully, Daddy was there and was able to stick her and start the IV as to not put Christie into too much more pain.  So, yea, a little odd, but I am thankful that Daddy is a good stick because he has saved my sister, my mom (I think), and me from horrible sticks!

Thanksgiving: Day 18

Today was a really rough day.  It's amazing how much stuff piles up when you are out of the office for training on a Friday (the quietest day of the week in the Chemistry Department).  Anyway, I'm so thankful for my loving boyfriend, Ryan.  It was a rough day, but he was so sweet and kind throughout the day, even if I was snappy.  He even pushed back his work out time so he could come home and just sit with me and I tried to relax from the craziness of my day.

I don't want to get into too much of the mushy gushy stuff, but really, Ryan is my rock.  I'm so thankful that I have had him in my life for well over a decade (and as my sweetheart for a little over a decade).  He's my bestest friend.  He keeps me grounded and calm.  I love him so much and I cannot say enough how grateful I am to have him in my life.

Thanksgiving: Day 17

Today, I'm thankful for my best friend, Justin.  We met back at the Carnegie Hotel and we've been best friends ever since.  The inspiration of this post is the fact that we have spent just about all afternoon and evening together!  First, we went to a Phi Sigma Pi Initiate event, then played volleyball.  After the games, we set off to our annual tradition: Magical Night of Giving.

My first year at the hotel, Justin invited me to go to Magical Night of Giving at the mall.  We had dinner then shopped til we dropped (really, until Electric 94.9 announced the winners of all of the door prizes at the event).  Anyway, we have gone every year...dinner and then the event.  Tonight, we started off differently by shopping first then dinner second.  We had so much fun as usual and got many of the gifts that we needed to buy.  :)  We even managed to go into Kitchen Collection without buying a single thing!  lol.

Anyway, I'm very thankful that we have been friends for so long and I'm so excited to see what the future has in store!

Thanksgiving: Day 16

Today, I'm thankful for sweatpants and baggy t-shirts.  :)  Weekends are so nice because I can really wear whatever I want that's comfortable, even if it is just sweatpants and a baggy t-shirt.  I don't know what it is, but it's always so comfortable!

Thanksgiving: Day 15

I'm thankful for nurses.  No, I'm not a nurse and I never wanted to be a nurse, but I am very thankful for them.  Today, Ryan and I took a CPR/AED and First Aid training course that was led out by MSHA nurses.  Let me say, they did awesome, primarily because they were so patient!  There were a lot of questions asked the required the nurse to be very patient (yes, I do believe there are things as stupid questions).  Anyway, this is just one example.

I've met and worked with several nurses.  I have several friends who are becoming nurses.  The amount of knowledge, skill, and patient that they need is great.  Most of them are compassionate.  There were a few nurses that I worked with that helped me learn quite a few life lessons.  Had it not been for the doctors that I met while working at the hospital, I may have pursued my career path in medicine because I knew that I would have wonderful assets on my team, nurses. 

Anyway, so if you have an encounter with a nurse, be nice and say thank you.  They may or may not hear that very often.

Thanksgiving: Day 14

Today, I'm thankful for my singing voice.  Okay...here's the inspiration...Glee.  Yea, yea, I know, it's Glee, but I have enjoyed the show.  Granted, I never really wanted to be a Broadway singer or even the next pop star, but I do love to sing.  Most of my current friends don't know that I sing.  I sang in my middle school choir.  I would have continued in high school, but I had to choose between flute or singing and at the time, I wanted to focus on my studies in flute. 

Now, I mostly sing...in the car.  Adele, Joss Stone, Melody Gardot, and artists like them are in the genre that I like to sing.  There's a jazzy, blues feel to them.  I love that.  To me, that kind of music really showcases the artists voice (not the incredible ability of some sound studio technology). 

Anyway, watching the last episode of Glee just reminded me how much I love to sing and how I wish I was confident enough to sing more.  Unfortunately, I'm in an area that isn't conducive for individuals not pursuing a career in singing (or a student in general) to sing.  Oh well.  Maybe one day the university will actually start up that Faculty/Staff ensemble. 

Thanksgiving: Day 13

Today, I'm thankful for genuinely, kind people.  It's been a very rough week so far having students come to the office upset because they couldn't get into a class that they "needed".  However, occasionally, I'll get a kind student who is super nice, even if I couldn't help them right away.  I also have Brothers who are very kind, even if we disagree or even if I ask a ridiculous favor.  :)  So remember, be kind to people.  Ya never know what kind of day or week they are having.

Thanksgiving: Day 12

Today, I'm thankful for the fact that I have food in my fridge and that the reason that I'm hungry is not because I don't have a choice, it's because I'm too lazy to go get something to eat (or I'm trying to lose weight).  SAAC and many of the classes in Chemistry have brought in lots of food for the ETSU Holiday Food drive.  I talked with one of the individuals who is assisting in the organization of the drive and she said that she was so happy that our department has helped out so much.  She also said that there are over 90 people who have already asked for a Holiday basket from the food drive (the food collected in the drive is put into baskets and given away to faculty, staff, students, and other community members in need during the holiday season). 

Thanksgiving: Day 11

Today I am thankful for our country's veterans, active duty military, and their families.  I have been blessed to be living in a country where individuals proudly serve the country to fight for my freedoms, even if they don't know me.  My grandfather was a veteran and my dad served in the military when he was about my age (feel free to click the links to see pictures of both of them in uniform).  I have also had the privilege to work with a Marine and be good friends with someone who served in the military (who currently works on the VA campus) and an army wife who has been so strong for her family.  Thank you all so much for all that you have done!

Thanksgiving: Day 10

Today, I'm thankful for lazy, weekend days.  These past several weekends and the weekends in the future are going to be very busy.  However, today I was able to stay home and just be lazy with Ryan and Butch.  I know, a short post today, but I just wanted to post about being thankful about lazy, weekend days! :)

Thanksgiving: Day 9

Today I'm thankful for smoke alarms.  I know.  This is kinda an odd thing to be thankful for, especially in this "time of thanksgiving", but really sometimes we overlook the small things.  Anyway, here's the inspiration for this item that I'm thankful for.  Mom and Dad went to Gatlinburg this weekend.  To make a long story short (plus it's really funny when you hear it from Mom or Dad over the phone), the inn keeper tried to start a fire with logs and newspaper...in a gas fireplace.  LOL.  Anyway, as expected, that didn't turn out so well and a log broke the glass door of the fireplace and smoke went everywhere.  Thankfully, a big fire didn't start in Mom and Dad's room and that the smoke detectors alerted everyone in the building.

Yes, smoke alarms are annoying sometimes and everyone loves fire drills (::sarcasm::), but I am thankful for them because they are really useful!

Thanksgiving: Day 8

Be prepared to laugh...Today, I'm thankful for Pinterest.  I resisted using Pinterest for a while when it first become a "thing" mainly because I didn't need another website to be addicted to.  However, I have gotten a lot of inspiration from it!  Recently, I made a dessert for SAAC's retreat that was a hit!  Thanks to Pinterest and one my my secret boards titled "Gifts", I already have some Christmas gifts done!  Speaking of Christmas gifts, if anyone wants to get me one (hehe), feel free to get anything off of this board.

Whenever I get my house, I have plenty of inspiration to decorate it.  If I build a house, I have plenty ideas!  Whenever Ryan and I finally get married, I'll have a ton of ideas for the dress, the ceremony, the reception, everything really.  :)  So, if you have a Pinterest, follow me and I'll follow you!  If you ever need any ideas for anything, Pinterest it! 

Just in case you readers haven't figured it out, all of the links are to something on my Pinterest. ;)

Thanksgiving: Day 7

Readers, by now, you should all know that I'm part of a Co-ed National Honor Fraternity, Phi Sigma Pi.  Today, I am thankful for my Littles.  For those who may not know what this is let me explain.  When a person wants to become a Brother of the fraternity, they must go through initiation.  To assist them through the initiation program and through assimilation into the Chapter as a Brother after Induction, they are given a "Big Brother".  I have been blessed to have a large family with many "Little Brothers" (otherwise known as Littles).

Anyway, I've been fairly close with all of my Littles.  My last two, Canaan and Mary Ann, are Littles that I probably keep up with the most simply due to proximity and because even after they completed the Initiation Program, we had lunch at least once a week.  I'm so thankful that even now I still keep in touch.  What's even nicer is that both Canaan and Mary Ann have been there for me to keep be grounded, focused, and even stronger in my faith.   :)

Thanksgiving: Day 6

Today, I am thankful for the fall leaves.  I'm not the biggest fan of cold weather; however, when I see the beautiful fall leaves, I can't help but smile.  The other day when walking on the sidewalk with Ryan, I wanted to go running through a big pile of leaves (he prevented me from doing so which was probably a good thing).  I'll be sad when they are all gone!

Thanksgiving: Day 5

Ok...prepare yourself...today, I'm thankful for my left and right brain. Some people may not believe in this theory, but go with it for me today if you are one of these people. 

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Anyway, growing up, I was fortunate to have people in my life that embraced using both sides of my brain (see image above for characteristics).  Many of my current friends may not know this, but aAlong with my traditional studies, I participated in musical education.  I started with the piano and was later classically training in flute.  I also participated in choir for a few years.  I painted all throughout high school and college.  One of my works is currently hanging in my office at work.

Anyway, back to where I came up with this as something that I'm thankful for.  This fall, I'm taking a sewing class on Monday evenings.  I've always wanted to learn how to sew and I always thought that Grandmama would be the one to teach me.  But going off to college kind of set that goal aside.  When Grandmama died, I got her sewing machine and all the things to go with it.  Now that I'm officially done with school, I have some time to learn. 

During my lunch, I went downstairs to the Chemistry library to borrow the large table to spread out and work on my sewing class homework, cutting the pattern pieces on my fabric.  I had only cut a few pieces out during class (I have lots of pieces for my project) so I still had the majority to finish.  I laid out my fabric and the rest of my pattern pieces to find that it looked like I didn't get enough fabric!  I started to panic and then the two sides of my brain decided to work.  The left brain in me said there has got to be a way to lay out all of these pieces to have enough fabric.  The right brain in me figured out how to fold one of the pieces on the fold to give me just enough fabric to fit the rest of the pieces.  Thank goodness!  After about an hour and a half of laying out, pinning, and cutting, I finished my homework.  So, I thank my brain because without the logical and creative thinking, I would have been frustrated instead of productive. 

Thanksgiving: Day 4

Today, I'm super thankful for sick leave.  I'm feeling quite under the weather today.  I'm just bleh.  I think my body is just over run because of the awards banquet from Friday (that was a long work day), too much fun at retreat, and the volleyball games last night.  Thankfully, I have some sick time so I can stay home and rest.  Hopefully tomorrow I will be back to normal and ready to be productive!

Thanksgiving: Day 3

I am thankful for my body's ability to stay active.  As many of my reader's know, I've been trying to lose weight throughout the year.  I've been fairly successful so far.  :)  Part of losing that weight (at least for the second half of the year) is exercising.  Mostly, I've been doing yoga.  That has helped my strength and flexibility tremendously.

This month, I'm starting a couple of new things.  There are two reasons.  One, I need to vary up my exercising routine beyond yoga (even though I love it).  Two, I hurt my wrist last Tuesday at yoga doing the crow pose (I held it longer than I should have).  So, one thing that I'm doing is running.  I have always hated running, even when I ran track in middle school.  But I have so many friends who love running and are in great shape.  My friend, Justin, started running using an app on his phone and was fairly successful with it, so I've decided to try it for myself.  I've complete day one last week, but I'm starting over again because of all that's gone on.  Hopefully I'll be able to get running consistently.

Lastly, I'm playing intramural volleyball.  I played a couple of years ago on Phi Sigma Pi's team, so I'm playing again this year.  I played two games this evening.  We lost our first game (it was 7 against 4, which was my team), but didn't get creamed.  We won our second game! (7 against 5).  Now some of you are probably thinking, you have a hurt wrist and you are playing volleyball.  Well, I was planning to sit out on the games, but it turns out we had several people show up late or not at all.  To prevent our team from forfeiting and playing a fine, I played.  The second game, I was able to tape my wrist, so it doesn't hurt right now.  We will see how I feel in the morning.

Anyway, I'm super thankful for my body because I feel like I'm physically more capable of staying active than I was during my undergrad.

Thanksgiving: Day 2

I am thankful for Phi Sigma Pi Southern Appalachian Alumni Chapter (SAAC) and its members.  This weekend, the Chapter had our retreat.  It has been wonderful so far!  It's nice just to be able to get away from everything and just spend time with my Brothers.  Last night, even though it was super late, we were greeted by our Brothers, ate awesome food, and played cards.

Sleeping in was awesome today.  Yummy food, card games, and even talks about future events and what not have been the highlights of today so far.  I love being able to be a part of something even after I have graduated.  :)

Thanksgiving: Day 1

One thing that I've always wanted to blog about during the month of November is things I'm thankful for in honor of Thanksgiving.  However, I have always forgotten about it and remembered about half way through the month.  If you know me, you know that I don't like half doing things, so I never posted about it just half way through the month.  Anyway, I will post daily about at least one thing that I'm thankful for and I encourage others to do the same!  These are in no particular order and will probably relate to something going on in my life that day.  So here goes...

I am thankful for students.  Without students, I wouldn't have my rewarding, full-time job at ETSU.  I wouldn't have fantastic friends in the Philippines.  My days would be incredibly boring.  I would have never found my closest friends. 

I wanted to share a few experiences that have made me very grateful for students.  This past week, it was "Thesis Defense" week in the department.  There is one more this afternoon and another later in the month.  Nervousness was quite apparent this week, so I did my best to provide encouragement.  The best thing about the whole week is seeing those graduate students right after they have passed their defenses.  They all have smiles ear-to-ear and many with tears of joys in their eyes.  Like I told Ryan last night, I love having the graduate students in the department, but I lovingly tell them that I would only like to see them for two years so they can go on to bigger and better things.  Three so far have completed that last step toward graduation.  :)

My second experience that makes me thankful for students is with two of my fraternity Brothers.  Yesterday, I was able to have lunch with one of my Littles and coffee with another Brother.  Both are still college students, and one is graduating this December.  Being able to have deep, mature conversations with both of them made me realize how blessed I am to have both of them as friends.  

Lastly tonight, the Chemistry Department is celebrating our most outstanding students who have done well in their studies and/or demonstrated excellent teaching abilities.  Even though I do not have a hand in their education as far as teaching, I am so proud of each of these students.  Chemistry is not an easy subject, but these students have excelled in specific disciplines of Chemistry and teaching Chemistry.  I just think they are awesome!

So, if you see a student, encourage them, celebrate them, and be thankful for them!