November.

I haven't written anything any more beautiful or inspiring than a grocery list in days. I did start one of those obnoxious Gratitude journals though. The ones where you write a one sentence something at the end of every day, saying what you're grateful for.

It lasted for two days, and then was abandoned like a one night stand you accidentally got pregnant.

Right now I guess I am grateful that it's November.

I love November. Nights are chilly and soup recipes are abundant. Lainie's birthday comes up, and it's time to start planning for Christmas and Thanksgiving. I love Thanksgiving. The food and the lazy casual feeling of the day. Just lounging around, eating snacks and appetizers, waiting for a meal of epic proportions to be ready, and then eating that, and then sleeping. And I think you can always tell who really loves you, and considers themself your family, by who stops by on Thanksgiving. The ones who don't need an invitation, who don't over think it, they just drop by for appetizers and bring wine, or they come for dinner because they know you made plenty of food for everyone, or they come over around dessert to fill you in on all the drama with their family that holidays always seem to bring, and you laugh together over pie and the last couple glasses of wine, while everyone else in the house naps on couches, floors and wherever they could find a place to lay down.

November is like my new year. I clean out my closet, I throw things away. When we want to have a little fire in the backyard, the scraps of last year's tragedies make perfect kindling.

It's time to clean up, clean out, and look forward.

I am grateful for November.

...

And just because you didn't ask, some more things I might be grateful for right now....

My new dining room table and the fun things the kids and I have already found to do at it.

Good music I've never heard before.

Halloween visitors.

Hot showers.

3rd quarter profit sharing.

My car, for staying alive this long.

Netflix.

Pumpkin pie.

Pumpkin coffee.

Pumpkin scented candles.

Lainie, for giving me a birthday to celebrate this month.

Bill, for still being there.

Jack, for making me laugh.



Little Things

Sometimes it's the little things.

Like going to bed knowing the kitchen is {for once} spotless and clean.

Wearing your favorite boots every day this week, because why not?

A song coming on unexpectedly that you haven't taken the time to listen to in years, and how it makes you stop what you're doing and just listen. How often do I do that anymore?

Stop, and just listen.

Fall creeping in slowly, and the mornings getting colder, which somehow makes me want to get up earlier to stand outside in thick socks with coffee, and enjoy the feeling of shivering.

I'm such a weird person...

Text messages that make you smile, books that make you cry, 4 year olds that make you laugh, 8-almost-9-year olds that still let you kiss them goodbye in front of their friends even though it's uncool.

Piping hot showers before bed, that cleanse the skin and the soul and turn my tense muscles to butter.

For the first time in my life, not over thinking everything.

Having a half day at work tomorrow and knowing that I'm using my extra free time to buy a dining room table {finally}.

Oh, and let's not forget: the beautiful picture of Mr. Dempsey at the top of the post.

Goddamn it I love dark haired smoldery men in trench coats and other general East Coast winter attire.

It's the little things y'all. 

Happy Thursday.