Thankful

I am so fortunate. Through the ups and downs of this year (and life) there is so much for which I am thankful.

My amazing, supportive family.
My friends who are there for me and love me for being me.
The doctors who worked hard to figure out what was wrong with me and how to fix it.
Losing my job which gave me the kick in the ass to do what I knew that I wanted to do.
Finally letting go of things and people who were not on my side.
The resolution of the major problem that hung over my head for 5 plus years.
Finally figuring out how to block Farmville, Yoville, Mafia and Cafe World updates on Facebook.
Each and everyone of you!!

What are you Thankful for?

The New

So 2 weeks ago my next door neighbors moved away. I am sad, but to be honest, they lived most of the year in South Carolina anyway. They were only in NJ a few weeks a year and they finally relocated permanently. So with the sad departure of good neighbors comes the influx of the new.

I don't know very much about my new neighbor. He introduced himself to me a few weeks ago when they were doing the home inspection. He is single (most likely divorced) man in his 5os. He mentioned that he had 3 grown kids and that he worked in NYC as an anesthesiologist. Of course, I don't remember his name, but did tell me that he was going to be living next door alone. In the 2 weeks since the closing there has been no moving truck or massive influx of belongings. Last night was the first night that I saw cars in the driveway over night.

I am strangely obsessed about this new neighbor. I don't live in a big city where you see the same nameless faces every day. I know all my neighbors. We have keys to one another's homes. We look out for one another and have a great bond.

I am hopeful that this new guy will fit into our neighborhood. I don't think you move to this kind of suburbia without wanting a certain type communal bond. He had mentioned that he searched a long time to find a home as perfect for him. I just hope that perfection extends to us having a perfectly neighborly relationship. But I am encouraged because each time I have run into him or anyone else leaving his house, they are super friendly and kind.

So, what sort of neighborhood do you live in? Do you know your neighbors or do you live among strangers? Or are you the mean grouchy "get off my lawn" kind of neighbor?

Tradition

On Thursday family will gather at my home for our annual Thanksgiving dinner - just as most of you will be doing with your families. I have planned my menu and I am serving a very traditional spread of turkey, mashed potatoes, candied yams, cornbread and sausage stuffing (dressing), corn, string bean casserole and creamed brussel sprouts. And lots of gravy. Oh and cranberry sauce. Then dessert will be apple pie, pumpkin pie and cheese cake.

The cooking and cleaning are a lot of work, but I don't mind. I love traditions and Thanksgiving encompasses everything that I enjoy.

So what are your plans for the holiday? Will you be watching football? Participating in Black Friday sales? Putting up your Christmas decorations? Hanging with family members who you cannot stand? All of the above?

The Good and The Bad

Here's a confession. I hope you are sitting down. I can't believe I am going to say this...

I AM NOT PERFECT.

Yes. It is true. I screw up. I am dramatic and over-reactionary. I hurt other people's feelings. I gossip when I shouldn't. I act like a fool when a better person would be civilized. I smoke and drink too often. I eat too many carbs and not enough veggies. I prefer watching TMZ to World News Tonight becuase it is more entertaining. I sometimes break plans and fib about why I am not showing up. I don't recycle as diligently as I probably should.

But in general, I try to be a good person. I work hard. I am mostly kind and loving to my family and friends and even strangers. I am generous to those who I love and those who are less fortunate than myself. I will drop everything to be by your side if you need me. I am passionate about my job even when it is mundane paper pushing. I will show you compassion if that is what you need even when I don't think you deserve it. I will bake you cookies for absolutely no reason at all.

And even if I am not the person you may want me to be, I am the best person I know how to be. I am not always pleased with my flaws, but they are as much a part of me as the good things. So stop trying to change me.

What I've Been Watching

Thanks for all your care about my knee. To be honest, I feel better and the infection seems to be clearing. It still hurts and feels weak, but the pain is not terrible anymore. Tomorrow is my MRI. I have had surgery on this knee twice before and I am not looking forward to having a problem.

BUT on to different subjects. There have been 2 television interviews that have intrigued me this week. First, is the Sarah Palin interview on Oprah and Barbra Walters and 20/20. Second is the Janet Jackson interview on GMA and the ABC Prime time special.

Everyone knows that I am not Sarah Palin hater. In fact, before really knowing much about her, my natural intuition was to stand behind her because the media was not treating her fairly. I hate how the media can "railroad" someone and basically destroy their life or reputation - and I will naturally defend that person.

After having heard the recent interviews, I have gained a lot more respect for Sarah Palin. It was interesting learning what she was thinking and what she was limited to say. I do not think she would make a good president at this point - and probably not at any point, but I don't think she is a laughing stock. I see a lot of myself in her personality. I approach business, negotiations, courtroom appearances, etc. with an honesty and openness that often makes me appear flighty. I have had plenty of opponents underestimate my abilities because of my easygoing and almost flippant personality. And I think that many Americans did that Sarah Palin. (Of course, that is not to say that there aren't legitimate reasons to disagree with Ms. Palin's politics or morals - I can respect that. But I am confident that MOST Americans don't fall into that group.) I am looking forward to reading her book and learning more.

The second interview that I found interesting was the ABC interview with Janet Jackson. She speaks publicly about her brother's death for the first time. For me, Michael Jackson was a tremendous talent and influence on the world as I know it, but he was a total freaking freak. And that freak part turns me off. No matter how talented he was, my only interest in Michael Jackson was as a train wreck. But Janet Jackson personalized her brother for me as no one else has since his death. She talked about he was goofy and how they had inside jokes. How close they were and how often the spent time together. And how sometimes when the phone rings, she still thinks "Mike is calling me back". In the end she made me see beyond the freak and realize that he was a brother (and a son and a father). Janet expressed the closeness and love she had for her brother in a way that made me feel sorry for writing him off as just a freak.

The balance of Janet interview is tonight on and ABC special and Sarah Palin will complete her interview with Barbra Walters on Friday night on 20/20. I will be setting my DVR for both interviews.

Pain In The Knee

I spent all day whining that I had swine flu. But after a consultation with my doctor, it doesn't seem likely. He seems to think that my fever and chills have to do with my knee. I have had a lot issues with my knee over the years and I twisted it on Friday night. It is reddish and swollen and pretty hot to the touch. So it is my doctor's opinion that I tore something and an infection is brewing. This doesn't sound all that logical to me, but whatever. He put me on antibiotics and I go to the orthopedic doctor on Thursday. Until then I am sitting with a bag of frozen veggies on my knee and trying to convince people to wait on my hand and foot. Have I mentioned that I am a total disaster and cannot walk?

In other news, I have been on a soup making kick. Over the weekend I made Italian Escarole and Bean and Broccoli Cheddar. Both soups were delicious! I guess I never really realized that how easy soup is to make. I am going to tackle tomato and beef later in the week.

Also on the agenda for this week is a visit to Cracker Barrel. See, I am a deprived person. I have never been to a Cracker Barrel. And I know that is totally my kind of place. I love that anything that country and kitschy and cheesy. So I am planning to do lunch there this week. The closest one is a little over an hour away, but it is worth the ride to cross this off my Bucket List.

So what is on your agenda for the week? Any soup making or MRIs of the knee?

Update

Had a great weekend.

Deathly ill today. Fever. Chills. Headache. Sore throat.

Carry on without me.

Good News

Yesterday was big day for me. I was graduated to biweekly blood treatments. I had been going at least once a week for months (and often more than once a week if they couldn't administer two things I needed at the same time). And now I only have to go every other week. Of course, this come with the caveat that I take my oral meds 2 times every single day. I generally remember to take it in the morning, but I am really, really bad with remembering to take it before I go to bed. You would think that at 35 years old I'd be capable of taking medicine regularly, but you'd be wrong. I put a post-it on my bathroom mirror and set my iphone alarm to beep at 11 each night to help me remember. Let's hope this works because the less I have to be stuck with needles the better.

So fess up. Who else is really terrible with remembering to take medication? Am I the only irresponsible freak?