Thankful

Wow. Well wasn't this challenge a surprise. Although I can't say I can complain. Our supposed limit was three weeks. I don't know how long it's been, and I don't feel like counting, but I can imagine I'm close, if not over.
My room number is 608. 6+3+8 (Since zeroes are threes for some reason. Honestly, Kara. At this rate I'll never understand math.) So if Google is right (Yes I looked it up instead of going through the trouble of thinking. It's a Saturday, don't judge me.) that means 17 things. Let's get started.

1. I am thankful for the cliched first choice but still important family. I wouldn't be where I am or who I am today were it not for the three people who were suckered into living with me for eighteen years, sixteen in Garth's case. They support and make fun of me. They know my quirks and curiosities. They mock my incessant obsessions. And I wouldn't have any one else doing it.

Summer vacation, 2008. We all like this picture because we're all hot and sweaty.

2. I am thankful that my parents are still together. I'm not gonna lie: I was pretty screwed up in middle school and part of high school. But I would have been even moreso if I didn't have both my parents to lean on, together.
There's a story my parents told me. It was shortly after Garth started school. They went over to a family friend who worked as a counselor in a high school. They asked what they could do as parents to help their kids in school. And his advice? Stay together. No no, my parents said. We want to know what we can do. And the family friend said "I know. Stay together." They did. And I know that's saved me in more ways than I will ever know.

Spring Break, 2013. First time at Zombie Burger.

3. I am thankful for my location. My physical, actual location. Because of where I grew up, I experienced fantastic Iowa small town living. I experienced all four seasons. I grew up in a small town, yet I was never more than half an hour away from any sort of "city" experience. And because I grew up in Iowa, I get to pay in state tuition to the school I'm currently attending. A school that's best in the world for what I want to do. That's a blessing.

4. I am thankful for Pintrest and tumblr. For those of you who don't know, Pintrest and tumblr are social networking sites. Pintrest is mostly known for having do-it-yourself crafts and recipes, and I don't really know what tumblr is known as by normal people. But I do know that I don't use Pintrest as I described. I use both these forms of social media quite similarly: for the things I love.
And sweetie? I ain't gonna be pinning or blogging anything about how to make doilies. No. I'm the one who floods the dashboards with hundreds of pictures of fan art, screencaps. and snapshots of my favorite characters, fictional couples, movies, TV shows, and books.
I'm thankful for these because I know I can sit back and pin three hundred things at once if I want to. Some people stress while stressed. Me? I pin and reblog. And I'm thankful.

5. I am thankful for Netflix. C'mon. I mentioned social networking. You had to have known that this one was coming. I love Netflix and how I can procrastinate for hours on end like a pro. I get my Disney movies, my SuperWhoLock, my My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, my Mythbusters.
I get both my stuff aimed at kids, and the TV shows about stuff that goes boom.

6. I am thankful for my brother. He's my best friend. I've been able to talk with him throughout my life, even when I couldn't go to a friend or my parents. He's always got my back, and that means more to me than he will ever know.

August 2012, Navy Pier, Chicago

7. I am thankful for my past work experiences. Did I have the time of my life? No. But did I learn enough to choke a cow? You bet I did. At Casey's, I learned not to judge people, and to keep up a positive attitude, since it impresses pretty much everyone.
While working at the South Des Moines Veterinary Center, I learned about being a team player and the meaning behind the phrase "hard day's work".
These lessons have gotten me pretty far already. I can only imagine where they'll take me next.

8. I am thankful for my best friend. I met her a little over a year ago at a summer camp, and at the time she didn't quite know where she wanted to attend college. Thankfully, she chose the same school I now attend. I don't know what my life would be like if I hadn't met her. She's a complete joy to be around, and I love spending time with her. Be it after our astronomy lab or shopping for feminine delicates, it's always a fun time.

9. I am thankful for my church. Yeah, I go to the number one party school in the nation. (Which is all I ever seem to say about Iowa City. Maybe I should work on that.) But my church is fantastic. I love the people who attend, and Salt Company, the college ministry, feels like a second home.

10. I am thankful for the friends I have met. Let me tell you: I thought that I was a pretty hardcore nerd and geek when I came here. Then I met some of these people. And they have been SO nice and SO fun to be around and SUCH a help in the transition into college life.
So thanks Patsy, Leah, Erin, Ash, and Jey. I couldn't have done this without you.

Not an actual picture of everyone. An actual picture of all of us doesn't exist quite yet.

11. I am thankful for lists. I know that whenever I'm having a bad day, all I need to do is start making a list. And not "To Do" or "To Get". The kinds of lists I make are the kinds you would expect someone like me to make. I make lists of my favorite characters, my favorite fictional couples, my favorite friendships, and the like. I make sure to include pictures. They may not serve an actual purpose, but they sure do make me feel better, and for that I'm thankful.

12. I'm thankful for books. For story. The things in life that are my greatest temptation and greatest joy. I'm so unbelievably thankful that I am able to have such enjoyment from such masterpieces.
13. I am thankful for Mexican food. Because yes. It is that good.

14. I am thankful for Iowa's four seasons. Because they are all beautiful, and I can draw so many parallels to life with them.

15. I am thankful for the fact that I live in a society that empowers women. I live in a day, age, and country where women can run companies, run for office, or run to the supermarket in sweats and sneakers if that's what they want. I can get an education as a woman, and I am extremely thankful.

16. I am thankful that I am who I am. I am my own person. I am confident in who I am, and no one can take that away from me. I know that I shouldn't be ashamed because of who I am or what I love to do.

17. I'm thankful to be finished with this list. Because DANG, it took a while.