Grazie/Gracias?

I speak Spitalian these days (def: Spanish/Italian), so it's really hard to choose which to use. Not that I usually choose anyway, because what comes out just comes out. Which is usually a painful blend that I just get called spanish curse words for. Thanks, WaWa!

So I feel the need to acknowledge the time spent away from the blog world, as it has been many moons. Foremost on my list of excuses for not writing is the beast that was Spider Woman and the ensuing madness. Don't fear. This shall be short, and in the next four days I shall tank out one of the heftiest blogs known to man. Get excited. Or scared, either one would be appropriate in this setting.

Via the inspiration of It's All Happening, I felt particularly inclined to make a 'thankful for' list...here's my shot.

Kevin Mueller, His Mom and Aunt.

I do believe that words are incapable of expressing the gratitude I hold for these three people. They were selfless enough to make a thanksgiving dinner for three of us who didn't have Thanksgiving homes in the city. Amazing women, killer friend, and mind-blowing dog. Not to mention Texas football, wine, and pumpkin pie. Who can beat that combination of singularly majestic things?? No one, that's who.

The Family.

Whom, honestly, I miss more and more each day. It really is odd how much I want to be back in Twin Falls for a bit. Winter break can't come sooner, especially with all the upcoming work (more on that soon)! Regardless, I love my family desperately, and we have traversed a rocky road and persevered, and for that I am eternally thankful.

My Friends.

I'm honestly unsure how I would still be alive without you. As much as I mean this figuratively and charming and cute, I also mean it literally, for those who've been there. You are my sustenance, my inspiration, and my daily source of happiness. If it wasn't for you all, I wouldn't ever have lived the life I am living now and, for that, I don't even know how to express the love I have for you. I can only hope many more days of wild rumpus are ahead of us.

Music.

This is just a general comment: I love music. If music had not ever been invented I would not be the person I am today either. And I'm not talking show music, children, I can survive perfectly well without that on an hourly basis, but rather I mean music music. It teaches us how to feel and it says what we've always been thinking in ways that are exponentially more eloquent than we could ever hope to articulate. Keep making music! Do it! Every day!

And to directly thieve from Faustyna's blog: (in no particular order)

Decorating for christmas...whole coffee beans...pandora...drawing...phone calls to Mom...'what if,' the game...good conversation...getting it...good wine...candles...unexpected friendships...mischief...ornery text messaging...doing nothing...to-do lists...the dollar store around the corner...central park...penny, the dog.

I love life. And I don't think it's right to ever stop loving life. It's much too brief for that.