Thanksgiving

This is Bob's favorite holiday and becoming one of mine as well. I take care of the food planning for 6 of us, for 5 days - and I love it! Bob and I do most of the cooking as well. This year the weather seems to be fighting us for traveling to our usual place, but we'll get there, just slowly.
I am very thankful for some things despite my lack of employment.
I'm thankful...
for my supportive spouse
for friends and family
for my house
for having great former co-workers
for my computer that keeps chugging after 8 years
for my pets
for my garden
for my cute little car
for unemployment checks
for internet job searching
for good health.

Davis

We returned from Davis last night. I even made it without crying, but knowing that it will most likely be our last trip down there was hard. Our trip to Ashland this summer was nearly perfect, but we needed to see a few more people and say goodbye to some dear friends one more time before they head off on their next adventures (Ecuador and Austria). The weather was amazing, the food yummy and the friends were awesome. From transporting us around to feeding us to great conversations and hugs goodbye, they were wonderful. Maybe it was easier to leave because I know that wherever they end up, be it spread out in the US or on 3 continents, we'll see each other again one day. But until then, thank goodness for the internet!

Fall

Fall in Oregon means...
beautiful colors












and this year it meant hunting for tasty mushrooms in the woods















and cider bottling.

Cozy Office

Bob and I are currently working in the same 12 x 12 room, our backs to each other. The french doors are closed keeping the rest of the house outside, the dog is on the rug behind me and the sun is pouring in the window. The buzz of our computer fans compete only with our keyboard tappings. He writes his dissertation while I simply surf for work. It was almost a picture perfect office until I mentioned that part.
I am grateful for spending time at home with my husband or with my nieces, in-laws and parents. I keep thinking about why I am unemployed, what the bigger picture is. Is it so I am compassionate for the less fortunate, is it to rely on something bigger to provide for me, is it humbling (yes, yes and yes) is it to discover some new potential (I hope), or is it something big in life will change and I will need this time (ie. a death or injury in the family is what I fear). then again, maybe I'm reading too much into this and it is just my turn.

I believe...

...only 60% of Americans vote and of that I think only 30% vote regularly and the other 30% are easily persuaded people that are upset (2008 democrats, 2010 tea partiers). Why doesn't everyone vote?
...health care is a human right, Pregnancy is NOT a pre-existing condition.
...the FDA and EPA need to have stricter standards.
...the wealthy should be taxed more, the middle class should be lowered.
...Clinton got us in trouble almost as much as Bush, but no one noticed because the economy was strong.
...the rest of the world is laughing at us because we can't fix our problems, yet we try to fix others.
...the next two years could be bad, but it is 2012 that really worries me.