The first of the 44

Where to start?  Where to start?  44 things that I am thankful for in this most momentous year!  44 things that I love and are a part of who I am!

As this is going to be in no particular order, I will not begin with the obvious top choices of things like Lisa, God, family, coffee or Tina Turner. So...random, off the top of my head.......

# 1 - Enclosed spaces and comfortable nooks.

Yes, I know this sounds really bizarre, but I enjoy being in small, comfortable areas.  Claustrophobic?  Not me.  There are few things more comforting to me than finding a comfortable nook to settle down in to read a good book with a cup of coffee.  Every time I take the Myers Briggs (and I have done it 25-30 times), I rank way far over in the scale as an introvert.  No extrovert in me!  Being around a bunch of people totally wipes me out after a while, and I need to find some time alone to recharge and regroup.  And the best way is in some place cozy and sealed off.

I find it funny that I love the outdoors, so hiking and camping rank high up there in things I love, but after a long day out in the woods, I enjoy climbing in the tent because it seals me off.  No sleeping under the open sky for me! 

I would probably stay cocooned up somewhere if not for Lisa.   She loves big, open, airy rooms....so when we built our house, we have these large rooms with lots and lots of windows.  I have come to enjoy them somewhat, but can always retreat to my office with it's dark, green walls and closed blinds.  Of course, when I am working in there and Lisa comes in, she is always saying, "open up the blinds and let some sun in".  Love you dear!

So here's a nod to those corners and cubbyholes, those alcoves and hideouts!   I am thankful for snug places to retreat!

The year of 44

I am a terrible blogger.  Enough said.  I post only what amuses me.  And what amuses me usually has no interest to anyone else.  And I post infrequently. 

Ahh well, when I started this blog, it was a one year experiment to try out a bunch of different things.   Do I blog about my life?  Do I blog tips on things that interest me?  Do I blog goofy things?  It ended up being a compilation of many random things.  The one year experiment ended and I got bored with it.  My last post was the day before my birthday.

On January 15, I turned 44.  Now being 44 holds many advantages and many disadvantages.  The disadvantages include:

• that gray stuff in my beard.
• the "waddle" under my chin that I try to unsuccessfully make disappear when picture taking by stretching my neck (which results in being mocked by my children).
• the wrinkles that are growing longer and deeper on my face.
• the fact that I was once the youngest youth leader at my church and "cool", and now I am practically the oldest and only try miserably to "be cool".
• the age boxes I check on forms and stuff keep moving up.
• I have less time to procrastinate now on saving for retirement because it looms on the horizon.
• I now seem to prefer sleeping in a cabin than in a tent in the backwoods.

I could go on, but that would be pointless and ultimately unfulfilling.

Now the advantages....ahh yes, there are so, so many.  Getting older brings so many joys.  Rather than list them here, I will be blogging about 44 things I have to be thankful for, starting the next blog post and continuing until the 44 are all listed, in no particular order.  Hopefully I will make it through the list (see the first paragraph in this blog for why that might not happen.)

And to start the time off well, I will post some pictures of things that make me happy!

My piraty kids

Patrick, the Boy Wonder

Lisa and I

Rub a dub dub dub, three Wright brothers in a tub!

Me and my favorite chick.

Me, Lisa and the Queen.  What more can I ask for?