Catch Up

So I've been a little stressed lately, with my old crappy job and applying to grad school and impending winter and blah blah blah. I wanted a way to really focus on the good things I have going on for me, and this is especially fitting for the month of November. So I decided to come up with one thing every day that I'm especially thankful for - I know its cheesy, but if I write it down that means I had to think about it, and if I had to think about it then I know I'll feel better. So, like it or not, you are being subjected to 30 days of what makes Shawna happy. Now, I'm a little behind, I think I've only actually posted one day on time, so today you get a whole slew of happiness. And you know what? I feel better already :)

Day 1: Long walks. I love long walks. We walked about 5 miles on Nov 1st, from Columbia University in upper Manhattan all the way to Union Square. That's over 100 blocks. And though my legs hated me afterward, it felt gooooooooooood. Plus it was so nice to see parts of the city I had never seen before, like St John's Cathedral, the largest cathedral in the world. (Side note: this is admittedly quite sad, but if I felt any religious affiliation it would definitely be to Catholicism. And not because I believe in the doctrine, but because the places of worship are big and old and beautiful and I'm a sucker for that combination.)


Day 2: My family. I spent an hour and a half on the phone with my Dad last night. I heart my dad, I lucked out in the father department for sure. I can talk to him about anything, and sometimes I don't even have to talk because he knows exactly what I'm feeling. I miss him and I can't wait to give him a big hug when I get home!


Day 3: Arizona. I'll be back in 3 weeks and I'm so looking forward to predictable warm weather, sunshine, driving, my family and friends, my car, cooking with my old things, my neighborhood, and all sorts of other Arizona-y goodness.


Day 5: My new (ish) job. So much better than before.


Day 6: Love. It's this big, awful, wonderful, complicated thing and a lot of times it sucks but at the same time who would trade it for anything? Not me :)


Day 7: Leaving early every Friday. I don't think this one needs explaining.


Day 8: The internet. I made the most delicious soup for dinner on Saturday night - Potato Broccoli Cheese. I found a few recipes online, combined them according to my taste, and whipped it up in no time. And it was delicious. Without my little Dell and an internet connection I would never been able to do that, since I own exactly 1 cookbook and it's not actually a cookbook, but a Betty Crocker pamphlet that I'm pretty sure came free with a Betty Crocker purchase. So thank you, internet, and all you other internet users that share your recipes with me!


Day 9: SUNSHINE! The last few days have been miserable. Rainy. Cold. Bleak. But surprisingly warm - in the 60s! What? So I've been stuck in my little apartment, sprinting every time I have to go outside so I don't get soaked. And I've had to run on the treadmill in the basement, and rain + basement = uber humidity = gross. But today the sun is shining and I'm looking forward to a run in the park this morning and maybe a long walk later :)