Current location:	home under the holiday lights
Current mood:	grateful
Current music:	kitty purrs and Deep Thoughts

Stories and other things for which I'm thankful
Sheesh, it's almost December already.  How'd that happen?

Anyway, new story up at the Keep and the glacis journal.  It's for the Mentalist, Cho/Jane, fun of the anti-insomnia sort. (nc17 slash, of course).

My modem's trying to die (have to turn it on and off a half dozen times before it actually connects) and my hard drive is about to die (sigh) so my email's been iffy and my brain's been drained by techie pain.  Which, because I'm apparently a masochist, led me to think of all the things for which I give thanks.  This, because I'm apparently a sadist too, led me to want to share them with anyone crazy enough to read my ramblings.

So.  Things for which I shout THANK YOU in an internal silent mental sort of way:

My friends.  Who still like me even when I turn hermit for months and pop up at odd hours burbling enthusiastically about nonsense.  I have the most fascinating family of friends.  I love you!

My cats.  The reason I come home at night (and sometimes, the reason I go to work in the morning).  Three very different bundles of furry fury who show me they love me in a myriad of ways, from head butts to whisker kisses to graciously puking on the carpet instead of in my shoes.

My job.  A neighbor was recently laid off with one week's notice from a job she'd worked faithfully for 28 years.  While I may sometimes bitch about the daily grind, I do enjoy my work, the people I work with and for, and the dual facts that I have tenure and a down-turned economy is job security for community college faculty.

My health.  I can still work, talk, think, see, hear, feel, create, type, walk, breathe and teach.  I need to lose weight, and various organs are grinding a little painfully, but the temple has not yet crumbled.  Yay!

My past.  While I may not have my Mom, or Dad, or any contact with surviving family (this is by choice), the memories of the good folks who loved me, supported me, kicked me in the butt when I needed it and hugged me often, give me the strength and pig-headedness to live and enjoy my life.

My faith.  Yes, I have one, and it's not the majority in this country (or anywhere, really), but following the Path had given me a peace I couldn't have without it.

Fandom.  Thousands of people, most of whom I've never met, that I already like.  Bonding over pretty men doing slashy and/or angsty things (usually to one another).  Fans keep me as sane as I get.  Plus, fannish fabulousness was a big part of my thesis.  Did I mention (as I seem to blurt to everyone I meet) that I finished my second Master's degree (in communication critical studies) and did my thesis on Stargate (specifically gender role displacement using Daniel as the focal point and how fans make meaning of his embodiment of the third gender)?  Well, if I hadn't, I have now. (snicker)

My fellow vets, and all the active duty folk putting their lives on the line every day (and night) in the hell spots around the world.  The economy wouldn't be tanking so badly if we weren't flushing billions of dollars down the toilet on undeclared wars on two fronts, and the waste of lives is incredible (military and civilian).  My thoughts and prayers are with the service people and their families this Thanksgiving.  Thank you.  More than I can say.  May the good Goddess grant you a homecoming sooner rather than later.

My freedom.  So much could go wrong, and is, for so many people.  I've got a life filled with blessings (see above for some of the greatest) and I am thankful for it every day I breathe.

And finally, Dreyer's coconut fruit bars and diet coke, because everybody has to have an addiction.