Thanksgiving 2013

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone! I hope everyone had an enjoyable weekend. It was a bit lackluster in the Olson household. We are putting off having the full Thanksgiving spread until after Christmas when Jesi is home; it felt silly to make all that food for three people. But we got all of our sides ready and waiting in the freezer from Dream Dinners. Instead, we made flank steak, deviled eggs, and broiled brussel sprouts, onions, and bacon. It was super delicious... and we ate it on Saturday! Haha!

We spent our Thanksgiving doing nothing! Well, I say nothing, but what I really mean is that Dad worked putting molding in the craft house, Mom went through all the Black Friday ads, and I wrote a paper/researched curriculum for reducing test-taking anxiety. Then we enjoyed the traditional Jack in the Box Thanksgiving dinner. I enjoyed not stressing out in the kitchen.

It's been really great having a long weekend with no work or class to really get some work done. I have only two weeks left in the term (yikes!!) and I have yet to make any of my finals study guides. I also have a big group project for my Foundations of School Counseling class. We'll be presenting the project on the last day of class to a fake school board that will consist of people from the community like principals, real board members, etc. You know... people who will hopefully want to hire us in the future. I'm really loving the project; but it is also really stressful. I've pretty much given up on maintaining healthy eating habits until the end of the holidays.

I've also been able to spend some time this weekend making Christmas cards, wrapping presents, and getting ready for the holidays. I hit a few of the Black Friday sales and managed to get a sparkly silver tinsel tree for my room as well as some white Christmas lights to hang around the ceiling. I've always wanted to have a room with lights around the ceiling and now I will!

And, since everyone has been doing it (and because I love making lists), I wanted to make a list of 20 things I am thankful for this Thanksgiving:

1. Family: I love my family (crazy as they are). They are my best friends and my biggest support.

2. Friends: Although my social life is crap (thanks, grad school and work!), I still have some wonderful friends out there that I really wish I could spend more time with.

3. Graduate school: I know, right? Why? What I mean to say is that I am grateful to have the opportunity to attend graduate school to go into a field I am passionate about with a cohort of fabulous people

4. Hulu: And all forms of online video streaming. Thank you for helping me watch Korean dramas, Xena: Warrior Princess, and other fabulous shows to help me keep my stress levels at yellow (sometimes even blue!).

5. My job: I am so happy to be employed and even happier to work with such fabulous coworkers and customers. Seriously; I have never had a retail job where I have so few complaints about customers.

6. My bosses: I know I was already thankful for my job, but I seriously have the best bosses: Dina (the store owner) and Annetta (the store manager). They are totally supportive and wonderful people. They are totally spoiling me for all future bosses.

7. Text book rentals: Now I don't have to store or sell all my textbooks at the end of the term! I just return them!! Except for the really good ones. Like the ASCA National Model... or Making DATA Work. Those ones are seriously fabulous.

8. Facebook: It has its problems (boy, does it have its problems!), but I love it anyway. I love being able to have quick peeks into all my old friends' lives and connect with people easily.

9. My Chromebook: I got a little Chromebook last year and it makes my life so much easier. It is super lightweight and I can take it to school, take notes, write papers, research in class, check email, etc. at school without having to find a computer lab. I love it so much.

10. My new room: I love it. Love love love. I can't wait to put up my curtains and lights. :)

11. Christmas music: You might recall my post about Christmas music from when I was in Korea. I am listening to it right now. It just makes me happy, okay? Even in July...

12. Cute things: Thank you, cute things, for making life a little more adorable and happy.

13. Trimet: I take the max train to school and while I sometimes dislike the max, I really am happy I don't have to drive to school.

14. Modern medicine: I love having easy access to Advil, Claritin, and all sorts of wonderful medicines that help keep me functioning. This includes local urgent care facilities that help sew my finger back up after I cut it instead of my avocados...

15. Portland: It's weird and I love it.

16. Portland State University: It really has some great people there and a nice campus.

17. Drawing: I miss you; I promise that I'll try to make more time for you.

18. My phone: I can easily get in touch with people, check the internet for things when I'm not at home, it's really awesome.

19. The Church: How fabulous is it that the Gospel is all around the world? I can go to the other side of the globe and have a support network right there.

20. My privileged existence: Seriously, people. I am ridiculously privileged in a million different ways. From loving parents (who feed me and let me live with them while I go to grad school) to teachers and friends who have supported me. Thank you, all!