Okay, how the HELL did I miss that Spider and Jeanne have a blog? It's at the link, for my friends who also didn't know. Oh yeah, and I'm grateful for it. http://stardancemovie.blogspot.com/

Today I am grateful for the inner strength I have gained over the years that allows me to realize, when I'm behind on NaNoWriMo because life got in the way, that not writing for a couple of days does not make me a failure, only a person who will have to work harder for the rest of the month to meet the goal.

I'm grateful that I long ago learned how to get by on four hours of sleep when the sleep fairy fails to visit me on a work night.

I am grateful to our veterans who have served our country in their many capacities, and also to the many, many civilians who also serve in underpaid, underappreciated jobs that are critically necessary to our society. Teachers, nurses, child care workers, social workers, librarians, police and fire officers, I'm talking to YOU!

I am grateful that the voters in my city and county saw fit to fund sane(r) drug policy and school infrastructure in this latest election. The COMBAT drug tax has seen my city go from "the meth capital of the world" to a liveable, workable working class city with a great deal of history and character. It has funded alternative courts for mentally ill and addicted criminals, and several excellent treatment programs.

I am grateful for the internet and the online culture it has spawned, that allow me to send virtual ((hugs)) and ((tickles)) to friends across the globe from me who are having a bad day.

I am grateful that my youngest son gets a day off school today (teacher planning day) so that he can get a break from the stress of junior high. I hated junior high, and he's following in my footsteps.

I am grateful for thrift stores, where I find great bargains and where people who cannot afford to shop elsewhere can find completely acceptable work and fun clothes, furniture, and miscellaneous necessities.

As promised to Tonia yesterday, I am grateful for fax machines. Sounds pretty prosaic, but a fax machine made a very difficult situation yesterday much better.

Today I am grateful for paved, well marked and maintained roads and safe vehicles, brought to me courtesy of local, state and federal government, and the good folks at the various companies involved.