I wouldn’t be a lame-o blogger if I didn’t list the things I’m thankful for! So here we go!

1. Long suffering husband, Jeff. Ten years ago this week, we were preparing to be married on December 1st. I’m still thankful that Jeff didn’t take my dad’s offer of his gassed up minivan filled with maps to Florida 😉

2. Parents. I still spend nights lying awake, wondering what on earth I will do when my parents are not on this planet with me.

3. Friends. Since my biological family is small and rather far away, I have strived to create my own family made up of friends. I have never subscribed to the “blood is thicker than water” idea, given that I have seen some “blood” relatives do some horrible things to other “blood” relatives (not in my family, but in the course of practicing law and teaching). It is nice to know that I have people and places that, when I have to go to them, they have to take me 🙂

4. Community. Some days, Ann Arbor bugs the shit out of me. I don’t abide poseurs, entitled attitudes and/or smug people and A2 has them aplenty. But for the most part, I love it here and wouldn’t live anywhere else.

5. My ‘hood. It is no secret that I don’t like my house. BUT I love my neighborhood! I would rather this be my situation as opposed to loving my house and hating my ‘hood.

6. My job. Most days, I love my job. Despite the shit you read in the paper, there are some damned fine kids at DPS. They show up every day in their uniforms, most neatly pressed and clean (some of the kids wear white shirts every day and I marvel at the cleanliness). Some of the kids have moved around a zillion times, have shitty homes, no dads, no moms, they all have to look at the burned out houses and gang tags, they may read about how much everyone hates Detroit and how they are all bound to fail…but they keep showing up. If you had seen how cute my cheerleaders looked in their light blue and white (fight, fight, fight, big blue and white!!) uniforms and matching bows, you never would have known you weren’t in some wealthy suburb (well, except that the team has all colors, creeds, nationalities!!!). Most of these kids are just…kids. And if some politician fucks with them, I’ll rip off his/her head and shit down their neck.

7. My brain. I am blessed with a quick thinking mind, both verbally and in writing. Sometimes this gets me in trouble as that little filter that we all have runs about 3.5 seconds behind some days. Nevertheless, if I ever lose my gift of glib, I will cry.

8. The craft beer/homebrewer family. As my friend ET said on her blog, it is a 95% asshole free industry. I would say the say the same of the homebrewers and craft beer drinkers I know. They are a friendly bunch who will welcome anyone who isn’t a total douchebag. I love these people.

9. Buddy. My dog turned 12 in September. He is definitely in his golden years but he still greets me at the door with all the energy and excitement of a puppy. He sleeps next to me every night (and in fact is curled up next to me taking a nap right now) and when he looks at me, I know that he knows I’m his mom.

10. Social networking. I have met so many amazing people online (including my husband). I never would have met most of these folks if not for that magical thing called the Internet. I am grateful.

Happy dead bird day!