WOW! AM I REALLY HERE?

Holy Moses it has been way, way, way too long! So long in fact, that I couldn’t remember how to get into my blog. Since January I bought a new computer, had to get a new phone, and thank goodness had at some point attached the icon for Uncharted to the tablet I use for work, because otherwise I don’t think I would have gotten here today! Too many new devices to which I mistakenly never downloaded all of my apps. And well since I’m being honest, once I got here God only knows how I remembered how to put in an entry! We’ll have to see how this goes. I like to use a lot of pictures but I don’t know if I remember how to do that! I’ll give it my best shot though! But gee whiz it is great to think that everyone’s coming together for this anniversary! And that Kristi, God love her, has with her predecessors continued with the TTOT! I’m pretty secure in the notion that I can also throw out a shout out to my buddy Clark from the Wakefield Doctrine for keeping  in perpetuity, at least one of the BSOR/SBOR rules! Oh you know what rule I’m talking about Clark , don’t play coy with me!

Before I get going, let me try and pull out some of my favorite photographic TTOT memories. This way I’ll know if I remember how to do it and also it’s a Cheesy way to get my favorite photos out there again!

 

Zeb

Joulie

Bruce

Zoe

Daisy dyllon

Well I was able to do that but now I don’t seem to be able to put any new photos in there so I’m okay with it. I’m just happy to see the old ones. Just know that this next list comes without illustration but I don’t know that it needs a whole lot. WAIT, WAIT….I GOT THIS!!!! MAYBE…

So let`s get on with the thankfuls shall we?

* I have been more than blessed with my share of good friends over the years. I’m happy to report that since I have been absent from my blog, that hasn’t changed at all. I’ve made some really good friends over the past couple years. I feel really fortunate that I don’t find it difficult to meet people. When you find yourself Suddenly Single it can be a pretty daunting task to get out there and meet new people, or even just keep going with the old ones. Luckily the old ones have kept after me. And I’m really grateful for that. I think they all know who they are!

* Joulie. If you remember this crazy little mutt was a real challenge. She was, and at times still is, a serious barker. When I first got her all she did was walk on two legs, which unfortunately turned out to be causing a spinal deformity and a lot of pain in her hips. Don’t make dogs do that. I’m happy to report that we still have a ways to go but we’re going to make it! The pirate  will never see another shelter again as long as I have anything to say about it . And I’m really grateful for her . She’s turned into a really incredible  companion .  She is a little spooky smart  if you know what I mean… You know a little too smart.

 

Joulie

* A few people have asked, and I’m happy to report that my mom is still living independently as she heads into her 90s. I’m grateful that she’s healthy enough to live independently with family support. It’s nice not to have to worry on the same level that a lot of my friends with older parents do. Of course that doesn’t mean that I don’t worry at that level, it’s just I probably don’t have to, and for that I’m grateful.

* I moved into private practice a few years ago and if you recall I was terrified. It’s a really scary endeavor to go out on your own, but I’m happy to report it was a good move. I’ve had to do a little housecleaning and there have definitely been a few glitches, but overall- best move. And boy am I grateful that it worked!

* I would like a bigger place because just to have one more room that I could use as an art studio would be just awesome! However I’m not going to give up my idyllic surroundings unless the perfect place comes up. So yeah I still live in a pretty wild and amazing place. And yeah I’m still really grateful for it. There have been a lot of glitches over the past 2 years, but I’m sitting in the middle of a place that I really want to be. I couldn’t imagine moving back to a city at this point, or just even into town and losing everything that surrounds me outside of this house. Granted those two big bears in the previous pictures were on my back porch…but still…

 

* There have been what I think, is an unusual number of family and friends lost since December. And there have been times that it’s really hard to watch people you love suffer through those times. But I’m really grateful to feel part of something bigger than myself, especially at times like that. Grateful for all the support that I did receive, I’m grateful for having known these people, I am grateful for still being able to feel connected to them despite the fact that they’re not physically here any longer. I think things have really changed for me when I look back and see how I was struggling to feel less stuck in different parts of my life. Reflecting on these things now I realize how grateful I really am and how much I really moved forward in this time. Yeah my walk-in closet still gets messy but that’s not what’s important to me anymore.

*I’m not going to go into it but I had a life-changing experience sometime around Thanksgiving last year. It was like a brick was lifted from my chest. Was a really positive wonderful thing and it’s lasted right up to this moment. You know when something really great happens oh, give it a day or two and it’s kind of worn off. This one hasn’t. It’s been a real positive life changer that pushed me to work on some things that I really needed to let go of…it’s changed everything…and for that I’m really grateful.

* I’m just really grateful for a whole mess of things…

So thanks for sticking around and thank you Kristi, for keeping this going!  Now all I have to do is remember how to link it up.