Thankful Thursday

Well folks, here we are again.

Another Thursday.

Another moment to reflect on things we are thankful for.

It's been a tough last two weeks for me, ups and downs and haves and have nots and what not.

So this week I am thankful for the the haves.

I have a great family.

A really, awesome, fantastic family.

(youngest member pictured here as representative)

I have a wonderful best friend.

(Yes, you)

I have lots of people who care about me. 

People who want me to succeed

People who want me to be happy

And really, isn't that what life is all about??

Elsie P

PS - What are you thankful for today?

Thankful Thursday

Well, here we are again.

Another week has just FLOWN by. Like crazy fast!

I can't believe we're staring down the middle of the first month of 2011. Seriously, where did the last 13 days go??

As I posted last week in Thankful Thursday, I had a really wonderful friend here from out of town. He was preparing to go to Japan. And we had a wonderful time together. It was so nice to have another person around to enjoy the things that I like to do (and also to be there to keep me company during the things that I don't enjoy to do!!) So I am very thankful for that time.

*  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *
On Tuesday, I am going to start school again.
Lemme tell you, that's a bit of trip.
I'm still trying to wrap my brain around it and what it is going to mean for the next several years.
I am thankful for the opportunity and the financial stability I have to enable me to do this.

* * * * * * * * * *

I heard on the news this morning that a building downtown has been condemned. NBD right? Wrong. It's a big deal because that building houses a lot of low-income folks that can't afford a nicer place to live. It's a big deal because those people aren't necessarily -- or likley -- to be in a financial position to stay at a hotel for a few days before they are able to locate new housing. And it's a BIG DEAL because the high today is -21 degrees Celsius. With the windchill, it feels like -32. That's a big deal.

Elsie P

PS - In that last rant, I was trying to get across that I am thankful for the roof over my head.

Thankful Thursday

It's baaaaa-aaack!

After a brief hiatus, Thankful Thursday has once again returned to grace the pages of Real Life.

And I will endeavor to do this EVERY Thursday going forward. 

Yaaay! 

So, what am I thankful for today? 

Well, I have a very (new) dear friend of mine here to visit.

He is making his way to the far east to embark on a journey of epic proportions. 

Well, I don't know if you would think it's epic, but I sure do!

He's headed here:

To study this:

In case your geography is a little rusty, that would be Kyoto, Japan...which isn't exactly where he's headed...Japan yes. Kyoto, not really. 

And the sport pictured is Kendo The Japanese Art of Sword fighting. 

Cool, huh?

And! He bought me a Christmas present (which was totally unnecessary, btw) and it's beautiful.

It's a Swarovski crystal that is designed to reflect negative energy away.

So, I am thankful for this guy today.

Thankful that he would stop in and visit before he disappears for an indeterminate amount of time. 

See, our friend group resides in another province roughly 2600kms away from me. 

So he's said all his goodbyes to the rest of our group but I was unable to attend his going away ceremony. Graciously, he tacked on an extra few days to his journey and stopped in here, leaving family and friends behind, to spend his final days in Canada with me!

So don't I feel special!!

Elsie P

PS - What are you thankful for today?

Thankful Thursday

Oh.

Hi.

I didn't see you there.

How ya been? I know, I know, I haven't been around.

I'm sorry.

I'm back, though...

And no, I didn't forget about you.

I have been busy and I have so so so many things to write about.

And so many blogs that are in draft status right now.

I promise, I will finalize and post.

I promise.

But today is Thursday.

And I am supposed to be thankful today .

So, what am I thankful for today?

Well, my job.

And the people I work for.
And with.

They really are some of the highest calibre folks I've ever had the privilige of calling colleagues. Or co-workers. Or teammates.

And our COO is second to none.

Well, mayyyybe to the CEO ;)

ANYWAY, I digress.

Here are the top five things I am thankful for about my job:

5. The Paycheque.

It's not outrageous and huge, but it does come every month. And has done so for the last 2+ years. I know that a job shouldn't be all about the money, but let's be honest, it helps. And it makes a difference.

4. The recognition.

Everynow and then it's nice to hear, "You're doing a great job," Yesterday, I heard not only that but also that I have a greater potential that has been noticed by upper management and that they'd like to work with me to get me to achieve my potential within the company.

3. The Opportunity

This one you'll be scratching your head over once I finish my other posts. But, I've learned that when one door closes (Or one opportunity vanishes in to thin air like clouds burst up by psychic warriors) another opens in an unexpected, more lucrative way.

2. The office space.

I love our office. Our building has had some issues, but our office is gorgeous. It's vey high tech looking. It makes me excited to come to work everyday.

1. The people.

We have an incredible culture here. And the people are what make it so. I wouldn't trade them for the world. WELL, maaaybe the world.

Elsie P

PS - What are your top three/five/tens for YOUR job?

Thankful Thursday

It seems only fitting that I post both of these at the same time.

I had done up a TT for last week, when I was in San Antonio*

(Wait, what?)
But instead of scheduling it to automatically post, I just left it as a draft.

Whoops.

So, here keep reading for today's Thankful Thursday post and check back through the archives for the post that should of been posted last week.

Today, I am thankful for the temperature being above -18 degrees C.

That's right folks, it has been a week of highs that couldn't seem to break through the negative double digits. It's been cold, to say the least.

But today, the last glorious Thankful Thursday of November, we have reached -1. And that's not even going to be the high. Nosirree! We're going to come above the freezing mark.

Yay!

I am also thankful today for my warm, wool coat, my olympic mittens and my mommy-made scarf.

All have done their job to keep  me warm this morning! (and every morning since the snow began to fall)

Elsie P

PS - For all of my American Friends, Happy Thanksgiving!!

Thankful Thursday

Welcome to the third Thankful Thursday.

Today, I have a number of things to be thankful for.

But we'll focus on one or two.

These guys. I work with them.

There are a few missing

there are a few that have moved on to new roles

in new companies

but all in all, these guys are great.

I had a phone call from my sister last night

She was un-enthused about her coworkers.

While, maybe on or two of them.

And it made me realize how thankful I am to have these guys.

This is the Galaxie Diner.

It's on my walk to work.

I stopped in there for breakfast the other day with

two of the guys I work with.

Did I mention it was 7am?

And still dark?

And an hour before they'd have to be downtown for work?

And I didn't even have to buy??

This is why I am thankful for those guys.

Elsie P

PS - There's a story that goes along with that first picture.

I'll post it next week when I dig up more photos.



Thankful Thursday

Two weeks in a row.

That's a good start, right?

So what am I thankful for this week?

Well, lots really! I've had a ton of stuff happen since last

Thankful Thursday

(which you're RIGHT I absolutely SHOULD blog about)

But I'd like to give a shout out to the following:

Today, I am thankful for:

This girl

who even though it was HER birthday

and I was flying in to surprise HER

decked out her apartment in all things pink

in honor of my arrival.

(She even had a cake*!)

This guy.

Who makes that girl in the last photo happy.

Most of the time.

Laughs and drinks with friends.

There is something so wonderful about being able to

laugh with a friend.

And a fantastic glass of wine doesn't hurt either! 

Ahhh. this moment.

That's a very close friend of mine, Vanessa.

aka 'Redhead'

She got married this past July to that cute guy on her right.

His name is Cory

And I introduced them.

This moment made us both cry.
She said she was fine until she saw me.

(In all fairness, I had travelled 2000 miles for the occasion

I can see how that's touching.)

I'm also thankful for the fact that someone

(whom deserves his own TT post)

had the presence of mind to whip out my lil pink Canon

and snap this shot.

This is a long lost friend now.

His name is Matt.

We used to snowboard together.

I miss him.

This moment.

Is. Hilarious.

We're all being so ... "us".

I am thankful today for all my great friends,

near and far.

Elsie P

PS - I hope to always be in your lives

in one way or another.

But not like, in an urn on your mantle.

Thankful Thursday

As previously discussed (previously being yesterday's post)

I am stealing today's post idea from another blog.

It's called

Thankful Thursdays

and it's something I think we can all take a moment

to think about and participate in.

I encourage you to tell me what

YOU

are thankful for today.

Or any day, really.

But because the alliteration lends itself to Thursday...

that's the day to be vocal about being thankful.

I digress.

Here is what I am thankful for this FIRST Thankful Thursday:

Okay, so I don't own this.

And I didn't even uncover him on some far corner of the interweb

Someone else did.

(You know "who whoo whooooo" you are!)

But I am thankful that something as simple as this

can make me smile.

3 Sisters.

Well, my two sisters, I guess.

I am thankful that we three are sisters.

Better?

Many a time I've been down and they've made me smile

Shu.

Shu.

Shu shu.

Shu shu

And I know that there are times that I make them smile.

Down or not.

I had the opportunity to work on this campaign.

And it's now over.

For that, I am truly thankful.

Elsie P

PS - What are YOU thankful for today??