It's been a few weeks since my last post but I'm back and I'm feeling good.
I'm also feeling grateful.
For what you may ask?
SO MANY THINGS.
In fact I set out to make a list of 5 things I feel grateful for but turns out 12 is my thankful number.
In no particular order.
(though as they say the best is saved for last)
Music
I don't think anyone can say that music doesn't make them happy.
It can bring back memories long buried... devastating, joyful, mournful, exciting memories.
Even those niggling naive feelings you had during your teenage years.
One incredible woman who has seen me through all of this is Ms Difranco.
She truly makes my heart ache sometimes but also makes it sing when it's ready.
-----------------------------------------------------
My Brain
Now please be assured this isn't an egotistical thing.
I'm not sitting here smugly massaging my temples and thinking up ways to rule the world.
I'm just thankful that I have control of my own brain.
A quote I read the other day stated
"Science. Because figuring things out is always better than making shit up"
A quote I read the other day stated
"Science. Because figuring things out is always better than making shit up"
Documentaries are swell.
As are books.
I like to exercise it.
Feed it.
-----------------------------------------------------
Career
Everyone likes to bitch and moan about their job.
I'm no different.
But believe it or not I am so grateful for it.
Besides the usual bad eggs I generally work with decent people.
It's interesting work and they pay me well to do it.
I often need to remind myself of this.
---------------------------------------------------
My Liver & other important Organs
I am amazed at what the human body can do.
Specifically my liver and kidneys.
The sharp jabbing pains often remind me of what they are putting up with.
Both organs must rejoice when I go onto graveyard shift as it means an alcohol free week.
I'm terrible to them but I aim to be better.
------------------------------------------------------
Seasons
Come on, who doesn't like seasons?
And more to the point season changes.
Summer... Autumn... Winter... Spring.
An intense reminder of all that is good in this world.
It brings back seasonal scents and memories and can give you much needed goosebumps.
Summer - sunblock, cold beer, camping & sorbet.
Autumn - crunchy leaves, pretty afternoon skies & appreciating the last of the heat before winter.
Winter - campfires, soup, snuggling, hoodies, electric blankets & ugg boots.
Spring - excitement, budding flowers, freshness & that first hint of the summer the to be.
----------------------------------------------------
Travel
I love exploring.
Who doesn't want to see the world!?
Gah! I need to travel more and more and more.
There are two things that freak me out.
1. How much there is to see
2. How long it takes me to accumulate annual leave
The floating city was amazing...
well I suppose the whole of europe was amazing.
well I suppose the whole of europe was amazing.
Europe beers... Generally bigger than your face.
Remembered to look in my own 'backyard'.. Ooo Queensland you do show off.
----------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------
Food & drinks
Fooooooooooooood.
Wine.
Hand in hand, yes?
In my little awesome world yes indeedy.
My partner and I have always had a predominantly vegetarian menu in action since we started dating.
Tis not a bad menu.
Yummmmm.
Stuffed tomatoes (thanks Suzie)
Berlotti bean casserole
Ye ol' nemesis and love... wine.
Red or wine, I do love thee.
-----------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------
Gay Community
This is one I'm very thankful for.
Mainly because, you know, no one likes to feel like shit.
Shit is what I feel like when I read, hear or witness the uneducated and bigoted
opinions from all the homophobic folk.
Um, no I actually didn't choose to be gay, but thank you very much but for telling me
that I did you ignorant fucking jerkface.
So I must say that it simply feels lovely to be surrounded by positive and accepting people.
My gay community includes not only the queer but also the queer friendly as
heterosexual friends & family play a big role in this.
I suppose I appreciate this community much more these days
due to the public push for equal marriage rights.
Many are against.
I don't know why so many people are against it but they have to be either scared or purely hateful.
Perhaps both.
One thing I do know is that they cause so many unwanted tears and intense hurt.
LGBT youth are 8 times more likely to commit suicide.
And 6 times more likely to suffer depression.
I would consider myself part of that statistic.
Hating people for being in love?
Doesn't that sound literally insane to you?
I feel like I'm rambling now but lets mull it over.
A rapist or murderer have more basic rights than I do.
To put it into perspective either could even get married while still in prison for that crime.
Meanwhile gay couples, no matter the length of commitment are still denied.
That's clearly fucked up.
Gay love is still love afterall.
Right?
Yeah that's right.
------------------------------------------------------------
Mistakes
This is true.
I really am grateful for all the mistakes I've made.
I hate that it is sooooooo cliche but I'm being genuinely honest here.
Mistakes in trusting people, mistakes in not trusting people.
Errors in judgement, errors in accepting bad behavior.
Just human nature to live and learn and forgive.
And how will you learn anything without making fuckloads of mistakes along the way?
---------------------------------------------------------------
Friends & Family
Could not function without my friends and family.
Don't get me wrong though both can be hard at times... but I think the good definitely outweigh the bad.
My family are an odd mix.
You have the overbearing, the naive, the drunks, the stubborn, the fake, the lovely,
the awesome allies and the escapist (that's me).
Sometimes it's good sometimes it's bad.
I love my family and often feel I neglect my daughterly/sisterly and auntie duties.
But one thing I learnt earlier on in the year is that if you lose one of them it hurts.
Kinda real bad.
I must make more of an effort as I know if I were to lose another
it would be too much to handle.
Friends are similar to family in the way that you can't live with em, can't live without em.
But I share more with friends.
I guess it comes down to that old saying that you get to choose your friends but not your family.
Ain't that the truth.
Friends choose to stay in touch.
Sometimes it isn't easy either... sometimes you even fall out.
Even if at some point or another I have a friend or two that I'm needing space from.
Doesn't mean deep down I don't still love them like family.
Because lets face it they are.
--------------------------------------------------------
Pets
Ooooo yes I know I have spoken before of pets and how one may have a low IQ.
But here I go again letting everyone one how great pets are.
My first pet was a sweet kitten named Aida
She was gentle, sweet and unfortunately an explorer.
While on holiday for a week my ma took care of her.
One of my nieces accidentally left the screen door slightly ajar and Aida escaped and was hit by a vehicle.
My silly mother decided to break the news after I had just fainted and hit my head.
I had returned and was literally in the waiting room waiting for a CT scan when she told me.
I cried. More the point I cried front of people. Strangers. in a waiting room. Wasn't good.
My second pet as an adult was Maibe.
She was an ever so gentle looking psycho cat.
But soooo pretty.
Yet so crazy.
(I'm trying to upload photos from my phone but having no luck dammit)
When my ex Wendy and I broke up Maibe moved away too.
But I'm still in touch with her sister and Maibe is doing just fine :-)
Being a typical lesbian of course I acquired another cat.
This one I named Merlot
He was wonderful!
He lived with me through 5 different homes but in the end it was a bad idea to bring him into our street.
Our horrible creepy neighbour informed us that his scary staffies would kill our cat as soon as they saw him.
We kept Merlot as a prisoner in that house but he didnt seem settleed at all.
Didn't help that this douche lets his flightening dogs off leash in our front yard.
Anyway a friend of my partners was in need of a feline pal so Merlot got lucky and went to live with him.
Merlot is now completely spoilt.
Now we have puppies.
One I have already introduced you to... Yoshi.
I love this dog.
To the moon and back.
This little one below is Luna
She is such a precious lilttle thing.
I also love her to bits.
She is different to Yoshi in the way that she is a tad more chilled.
Instead of trying to knock you over with excitment when you get home she just wants you to hold
and cuddle her.
And will unfortunately cry until you do.
-------------------------------------------------------------
Candice
Well now, everyone has that one person (even if you have'nt met them yet) who will make you feel
outright fucking blissfully happy.
I FOUND MINE PERSON.
We met 8 years ago and while there was serious intense chemisty
we didn't start actually dating until 5 years ago.
Gahhh. I can't even begin to express the gratitude.
She gives me everything I need.
And everything I never had.
To mention just a few...
acceptence
constant pick me ups
cuddles
understanding
snapping me out of it when I most need it
forgiveness
touch
appreciation
But most of all consistant fucking love!
Grateful in a nutshell.
