Snoozing cuddly puppies, sunshine and grading. Perfect day. Except the grading thing. http://yfrog.com/20yss0j

I am full of lists lately. Sorry, it’s me being a lazy blogger, but I think it’s a good way to ease back into blogging after such a long hiatus. I’ve seen a lot of lists today of thankfulness, and I had to chime in, so here’s everything I’m thankful for:

• Finishing my master’s: I’m four days away. Did you know that? In four days I will defend and know the fate of my degree. No matter what happens, I don’t regret anything. I worked hard and learned so much. I’m a better journalist, writer and person because of these last two years.
• My hubs: John has been wonderful the last two years, particularly the last six months. He’s been a single dad to our two puppies. He’s done everything I’ve asked of him and more. He’s put up with all of my drama and stress. I owe my sanity to him.
• My parents: Without them I wouldn’t be who I am. They are great role models and have also helped me maintain my sanity the past two years.
• The holidays: Hot chocolate, fuzzy socks, fires in the fireplace, the weather, the music, time with family. I love everything about this time of year. It’s the only time of the year when I’ll put up with snow and cold because it just feels right.
• The opportunity of tomorrow: Graduation means that a new chapter is a bout to start in our lives, and I’m so excited for the endless possibilities. Everything’s wide open right now, and I’m my heart is so full with excitement!

What are you thankful for?

Tomorrow, I will be finished with my internship. On Sunday (hopefully before), I will send my committee my project report. By Monday, I hope to be finished grading my class’ final projects. And then I can rest (until November 29 when I defend before my committee but that’s another story). I can’t help in the fleeting moments between to do list tasks of all the things I want to do when I’m done. So here’s a list, a wishful list, of all the things I want to do with my free time:

• Clean my house. For serious. It’s a shameful place right now.
• Cook dinner and bake treats.
• Do my part in caring for our puppies. I’m a slacker puppy mom who’s thankful for an understanding husband.
• Workout. Don’t snicker, this is a WISH list.
• See Harry Potter. I’m pretty sure I’m the only person not going to the midnight showing. biggest. pouty face. ever. BEST. HP MOVIE. EVER!
• Read books and catch up with my magazines.
• Blog more for myself instead of a publication.
• Dive head first into finding a job.
• Just breathe and enjoy my life and my little family who I’ve missed so much in all the crazy.

Timeturner / Sparks

Tomorrow night, the first half of the last installment of the Harry Potter films will be released.

I (and others my age) had a very special bond with Harry. The first book of his series was published in the US in 1998, the year I turned ten. Which means that through the course of the series, Harry, who receives his life-changing letter to Hogwarts at the age of eleven, and I grew up together. We began together as children, and we end together, now, as adults.

there’s more to this article. keep reading…

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Hey guys, it’s been a crazy period of time at work again…super long days, an insane amount of stress and things to be done. BUT no sob stories here, because I’m on vacation for a few days! This post has been kicking around the drafts folder for a while, as it was fraught with more of those big-concepts-fitting-into words difficulties (which is seeming to happen quite a bit with the hitchfest posts). But now, sitting on the couch in my lovely little casa, seemed like a good time to get this one out there.

We don’t often talk about flexibility in our culture. We talk about staying true to yourself, about sticking up for your convictions, about having the courage to not give in…especially among women. We live in an age of growing backbones, of fighting for what we believe in, etcetera etcetera.

And while those things ARE very important and very good…some times there are other things that are better. This engagement period has been one of those times. Where courage has taken on an entirely different form — the courage to let go.

there’s more to this article. keep reading…

Went from writing a massive research paper to grading tests. Such is my life for the next five weeks with a short break for turkey.