giving thanks | day twenty - twentyfive

day twenty - my personal trainer

I cannot even begin to describe how much I love my personal trainer. she is such an excellent source of motivation for me and she is, hands down, the only reason I walk in that gym at least twice a week. she knows what she's doing, and she's starting to know my body as well, knowing my limits and what I'm capable of. she always pushes me passed my own personal limits and she's so encouraging. she really believes in me and she's constantly praising me on my abilities during my workout sessions. she assures me that I'm doing a great job and kicks my ass on a weekly basis. I wouldn't be as confident and motivated as I am today if it weren't for her, and for that, I'm thankful. 

day twenty-one - our bed

there is no better feeling than climbing in bed at the end of a long day. I love my bed more than most people love their children, and that is the damn truth. I could spend an entire day in my bed and not feel the slightest amount of guilt for it. we have a king size bed with a pillow top, a big huge comforter, and literally seven hundred pillows. it is the most amazing bed in the world, and for that, I'm thankful.

day twenty-two - Ambien

I guess this kind of goes along with day twenty-one, but I would NOT sleep if it weren't for Ambien. it's the only sleep aid medicine that I've found works for me. yes, I know there are probably a million other deeper rooted reasons for my insomnia, but Ambien is what gets me through it at the end of the day, and as long as I can get a good night's sleep, I'm a happy girl. I've tried a lot of other drugs to help me sleep, but Ambien is my soul mate. I get the best sleep ever when I take it, and for that, I'm thankful. 

day twenty-three - vacations

I don't think anything more needs to be said, but I guess I should elaborate a little further. this is what vacation means to me: 

white sand

no work  strong drinks  

yummy food  sleeping in  work-free  

cheesy souvenirs  loved ones  time for rest 

waves  reading books  week off work 

relaxation  memories made

blue water

a week long vacation is what I look forward to every single year, and for that, I'm so very thankful.

day twenty-four - Miss Es-cop-aye

how lucky am I to have a vehicle to call my own? I mean really, think about it. back in the old days of the Oregon Trail, you had to take a covered carriage being pulled by oxen... animals that often didn't make it. and if your ox DID make it, at least one of your family members died of dysentery. I'm so grateful that I have a car, and a nice car at that... well... nice to me at least. it's nothing fancy, but I love my Escape (pronounced as shown above, like Dory from Finding Nemo) and she's always been good to me. it's just nice to have that convenience of being able to do whatever I want to do and go wherever I want to go, and for that, I'm thankful. 

day twenty-five - Thanksgiving

I'm incredibly grateful for this holiday. obviously, a lot of the celebration for this day is about the food, but it's also about family. it's about finding the little (or big) things in your life to be thankful for and celebrating your blessings. it's about being with the ones you love for an entire day and appreciating them for being a part of your life. it's chaos in the kitchen, football on TV, and laughter. 

and let's face it, it's about the food. oh my god, the food. if I were on death row for some reason, and I had to choose a meal to be served to me as my LAST meal, it would be Thanksgiving dinner, and that says a lot. turkey, mashed potatoes & gravy, green bean casserole, stuffing, and pumpkin pie. nom.

Thanksgiving is a day for being grateful, and I'm so fortunate for many more things than I listed here on the blog. I'm thankful that I'm even able to share my luck with you all. <3

giving thanks | day nineteen

 

I'm thankful for nights like this one when Sean is out for the night. I love having alone time and having the house to myself. it's my time to watch all the TV shows that Sean doesn't like, read my book, and just relax. it's also prime cuddling time with the Bear, because normally, he's a daddy's boy. 

 

Friday night, I had a ME night, and for that, I'm thankful.

giving thanks | day eighteen

today, I'm thankful for all the boys in my life, specifically my four brothers. I've never been much of a girly girl, and that's because I grew up with ALL boys - I have 18 first cousins between my mom & dad's sides and only 5 of them are girls. needless to say, I grew up wrestling in the dirt and playing cops & robbers. we'd hike through the woods and try to catch frogs in the creek. it was always me and the boys growing up, and although I was the only girl, I felt right at home with them. you couldn't tell me that I wasn't a part of the boy's club, because I fit right in with my messy hair and raggedy clothes.

I absolutely love having brothers. they mean the world to me, and I don't know what I'd do without them. they're rough and tough for the most part, but they have the biggest hearts of anyone I've ever met. they'd do anything for family, especially their big sister. we fought a TON while we were growing up, but we get along great now that we're adults. after we grew up a bit, we gained two more siblings - Tommy (who is almost 11 now) and Wyatt (who is two and a half) - two more boys to have fun with!

the bond I have with my brothers is like none other. nothing can compare to the way we communicate with each other. there are things that no one understands but us, and we are fortunate enough to share memories that no one else will ever experience.  we have a shared sense of humor and sometimes we are the only ones to laugh at each others' jokes. we've seen each other at our best and our worst, and we'll ALWAYS have a special relationship.

I'm so thankful to be part of such a large family, and I hope to have a houseful of boys of my own one day.

I'm more of a tomboy than a princess, 

and for that, I'm thankful.

giving thanks | day fifteen - seventeen

yep, totally cheating by combining three items of thankfulness in one post. but I really need to catch up and guess what? it's my series, so I can do what I want. I find it better to be thankful for little things I can include in one post than to not be thankful at all. ;)

day fifteen - contact lenses/glasses 

obviously, I cannot see without either of these things. in fact, my eyesight is terrifyingly close to being blind. my contact prescription is -5 and legally blind is -8. freakay. one day, I hope to get laser eye surgery, but for now, I have to rely on my contacts and my glasses to allow me to see. I'm thankful that I even have them though, cause I'd be screwed without them. 

day sixteen - makeup products

I love experimenting with makeup - especially eyeshadow and eyeliner. but mostly, I love makeup because it makes me feel pretty and more confident. I know that I look okay without it, but come on... who thinks they actually look better without makeup? not this girl. I don't wear too much, but the little that I do makes me feel awesome. 

day seventeen - hair products/equipment 

luckily, I've been blessed with good hair. it's not too out of control and I can deal with it on a daily basis without doing too much to it. but I really feel like it looks and feels better when I use product in it, whether it be smoothing serum or curl gel. also, I couldn't imagine not being able to blow dry my hair or straighten it when I want to.

all these items help me to feel pretty and more confident on a regular basis. and for that, I'm thankful.

giving thanks | day fourteen

day fourteen 

I'm thankful for my home. it's amazing to have a place to call your own... I'm honestly still kind of shocked that I OWN my house, even though I've owned it for four years now. I'm also lucky that I own a house that I can afford... there are tons of people out there who, whether it be through their own faults or just life's misfortunes, are losing their homes left and right. 

not only am I grateful just to have a place to live and provide shelter, I'm thankful that I actually LOVE my house. it's been a lot of hard work to get the house in shape, and a lot of people probably thinking I'm crazy for putting so much money into a 60 year old house... but I'd rather enjoy where I live than complain about other peoples' mistakes. 

I have the opportunity to make it MINE, and I love that. back when I purchased the house, you would just think it was a typical rental - hand me down furniture, white walls, builder basic everything. now that house screams MandeeFoFandee and my personal style is all over it... from the green living room walls to the new bookshelf waiting to be put together. 

I've realized making a house a home is NOT an easy task, and it takes a lot longer than you think... we're moving slowly in phases, but it gets a little closer everyday.

although it's a pain in the ass to be a homeowner, I wouldn't trade it for the world. some people never have the good fortune to own their home, but I was lucky enough to be given a chance. 

and for that, I'm thankful. 

giving thanks | day thirteen

 

just in case you couldn't tell, I'm eternally grateful for the written word and modern literature. hell, I even love not-so modern literature. 

I love sticking my nose in a book for days at a time. in fact, I don't think I'll ever be able to buy an e-reader like the Kindle, because I love physically having a book in my hand. I love the smell of pages in a book, whether it's a new or old one. I love the way a book ages over time, and the pages are bent and the spine is a little wonky. I love being able to read the same passage over and over again, even highlighting parts that I love (yes, I know I can do this with a Kindle, but that's not the point).

I mean think about it... there would be NOTHING without books. there would be no schooling, no subjects to learn. there wouldn't be religion, no bible to study, read, and/or interpret. no guides on how to take the perfect picture, build the best birdhouse, or learn the French language. you'd basically have to do everything by memory, or by what someone else tells you to do. personally, I think reading is much easier... and more interesting.

books allow me to escape reality for a short while, and live in another world... a fantasy world... a world I'd never even be able to imagine if I hadn't picked that certain book. they allow me to learn about everything from history, to science, to design... anything I've ever dreamed of knowing, I can find in a book. 

and for that, I'm thankful. 

HAPPY TUESDAY!

giving thanks | day eleven

today, November 11th, 2010, on Veteran's Day, I am thankful for every single person who has, or is, currently serving in our military. so thank you to all who have paid the ultimate price. thank you to those who have spent months away from their families to serve for their country. thank you to those who have missed holidays and birthdays because you were out there keeping us safe. thank you to those who are still fighting at the front line for complete strangers. I am beyond honored to have several Vets in my family, including my late grandfather and every one of his sons (my uncles). 

we take so much for granted these days, including our freedom, which wouldn't be possible if it weren't for those of you out there willing to sacrifice everything for our country. 

and for that, I'm thankful.

my Pop-Pop (Jack Gordon Albert) is on the bottom right

Happy Veteran's Day! 

eta: I scheduled this to post last Thursday, but I guess Blogger decided to be a See You Next Tuesday and not do it. so it's late. insert sad trombone. 
 

giving thanks | day ten

today, I'm thankful for modern technology (specifically the Internet), because I get to be cheered up with cute emails like these while I'm working my ASS off and my lovely government employed husband is laying on the couch. what? I'm not bitter. 

obviously, I'm thankful for technology and the internet for TONS of other cool reasons too - keeping in touch with old friends or forgotten family members via Facebook, the ability to chat live with people and make the workday go by faster, being able to buy something with one click and have it shipped right to my door, sites that allow you to watch movies or TV shows, etc. 

what I really wanna know is... how did people plan their weddings before the internet? can you tell me that? seriously, I found EVERYTHING for my wedding by using the web. no phone books or maps for this girl. it was all Google and Mapquest directions. 

I mean I could go on and on about everything that can be done with the internet, but then we'd be here til next week, and I know ya'll got shit to do.

I'm so grateful that I live in a time period where everything is attainable and right at my fingertips. for that, I'm thankful. 

giving thanks | day nine

 

music. 

I am SO thankful for music. 

I grew up listening to 90's alternative and a little country as well, and I like to think I have a pretty eclectic taste in music nowadays. I honestly don't know what I'd do without music... it feeds my soul. seeing live music is one of my favorite things to do, and there is nothing better than listening to live harmonies and instrumental solos. music can completely change my mood, either for the worse or for the better. I love to sing... I mean I reaaaaally love to sing. I walk around my house singing ALL the time, and you won't find me sitting down in a karaoke bar. music is amazing to me, and I wish I could accurately express how much it means to me.

some of my favorite bands/singers include (in no particular order):

Counting Crows  

p!nk  Incubus  Sugarland  Colbie Callait

Sarah Bareilles  Red Hot Chili Peppers  Aerosmith  Fiona Apple

Joss Stone  Sublime  Toby Keith  Tom Petty  311 Pepper  Def Leppard

Miranda Lambert  glassJAw  The Wreckers  Ingrid Michaelson  Taylor Swift

Jurassic5  Norah Jones  Crash Kings  Phoenix  3EB  Sarah McLachlan

  Lady Antebellum  Train  The Band Perry  Evanescence

Jessica Andrews  Goo Goo Dolls  Corinne Bailey Rae

Adele

giving thanks | day eight

technically, the 8th was Monday, so I'm going to give thanks to Daylight Savings time. although the clock changed Saturday evening/Sunday morning, I really felt the time change on Monday. 

usually I hate when the clocks move forward an hour, because that means it'll be pitch black when I leave work at 5PM. Daylight Savings means winter is well on it's way, and it's time for hibernation. also, I tend to gain a good portion of weight in the winter, which is never a good thing. 

however, I slept like a freaking rock on Sunday night, which is pretty rare for this insomniac. it's not very often that I get a really good night's sleep, and it's absolutely crazy that I sleep all the way through the night without waking up. but somehow, I woke up Monday morning feeling wide awake and refreshed. 

and for that, I'm thankful.

giving thanks | day seven

it's amazing to me what good-hearted women can accomplish when one of our own is suffering. I mentioned in yesterday's post, that I've been a member of The Knot/The Nest since Sean & I got engaged and I needed a little extra push in wedding planning. through their message boards, I met some astounding women. these women are people that I can turn to in times of need, even if I just need a little advice here and there. they have helped me get through some rough times, and with the devastating loss of Emily's triplets recently, the situation is no different. 

I'm so thankful for them. I'm thankful for their immense kindness and their ability to find the right words when it seems as if there are no words to say. we all pulled together yesterday and started a fund for Emily & her husband. with almost all of our donations (there are still MORE who wish to contribute), we've collected almost $600 to put towards a very special art piece to represent Emily's family of five, along with a gift card to Whole Foods, and a hefty donation towards March of Dimes, in the babies' honor. 

I'm so thankful that we can all come together as a team, as a family, to help another. I wish I could fly to each and every one of their houses, just to hug them and tell them how special they are to me. and maybe have a drink or two.

it just amazes me what we can accomplish when we feel the hurt of one of our own. I'll never forget their caring thoughts and sweet words they offered to Emily during this time. we've all grown so close, even though most of us have never met face to face, and I'm honored to call them my friends. 

although Emily's babies did not live long, they were loved... oh, they were SO loved. even though we weren't in the room with them, we were THERE with them, and I know they felt it. I know they knew how incredibly special they were to so many people. I hope that Emily knows that, and that maybe it even brings her a little peace. we all know that she will make the best mama one day, and we're all so proud of her strength and courage. 

these beautiful, supportive women mean the world to me. they have helped so many others get through rough times, no matter how far away we are from each other. and for that, I'm thankful.






if you'd like to make a donation in honor of Emily's precious babies, please send me an email [mandee dot quinn at gmail dot com] and I will be happy to pass on the information.

giving thanks | day six

as expected, I didn't have any time to blog over the weekend, so I missed days six & seven of my Giving Thanks series. therefore, I'm playing catch up today! if you'd like to see what else I've been thankful for this month, head over to my Giving Thanks tab!

___________________________________

Saturday, I realized how grateful I am for my kitties. I didn't get to spend much time with them over the weekend, and it's been a similar case throughout the past few weeks. I've been so busy on the weekends that I miss my cuddling time with them SO much! 

you all know I'm a crazy cat lady. it's just a part of who I am, and I've never denied my unhealthy affection for my babies, who are like my children. it doesn't matter how shitty of a day I've had... I come home to little creatures who love me regardless of my mood, and they never fail to make me smile. all they want is to be loved, and I'm more than happy to provide that for them one million percent. 

I'm a believer in that animals find their owners, and I'm so lucky to have been chosen to be their mama. I love them all for their own little quirks and personalities. they truly make my life a happier one, and for that, I'm thankful. 

I'm not feeling like writing much today. if you'd like to read more about my kitties, you can get your fix here.

giving thanks | day five

I cannot even describe to you how grateful I am for my friends. my friends mean THE WORLD to me. I don't know what I'd do without them, honestly. they support me in everything I do, and they lift my spirits when I'm being a grouchy bitch. they make fun of me when I've done something completely stupid, and they encourage me when I'm in a funk that I can't seem to get out of. they allow me to see the world from a different point of view than my own.

I'm very fortunate to have a handful of friends that I can call upon at any time of day to help me in a time of need. personally, quality is way more important than quantity when it comes to friends. I've realized over time how important it is to have meaningful friends. instead of having a million and one so-so buddies that I can party with and see on occasion while I'm out and about, I'd rather have just a couple GREAT friends that I can share everything with. 

I love having friends that I can just hang out with on a Sunday afternoon because I want to... where I can just come over their house in sweatpants and have nothing planned but great conversation. I love just being able to call someone to chat, and not have to worry about finding an excuse to get off the phone, because we actually have purposeful things to talk about. it's the little things that make you feel at peace with your relationships.

it's an unbelievable feeling to know that there is ALWAYS someone there to have your back, no matter how many times you've been in the wrong. those are the people that I call my friends. they're the ones who forgive you for your mistakes, the ones you can trust with your deepest soulful secrets, and the ones who love every part of you, including your flaws. they are the people that keep your heart beating when it wants to break, and the ones that give you air when you feel you can't breathe. 

I have wonderful friends who never cease to amaze me in their abilities to make me happy. I appreciate their love, kindness, and loyalty more than they'll ever know. and for that, I'm thankful.

giving thanks | day four

because I'm feeling mushy, today... I'm thankful for my husband, Sean. he is the most amazing man I've ever met and I honestly couldn't imagine my life without him. in fact, it's hard to look back and remember what my life was like before him, even though it wasn't that long ago.

Sean is my best friend, my wannabe handy man, my soul mate, my hard to reach pimple popper, my lover, my foot rubber, and my partner in crime. I don't like to say that I believe in fate, but I honestly think that Sean and I were destined to be together. his love and respect and kindness make my soul so happy, and I am so incredibly grateful to have him.

some days, I wonder how he puts up with me... with my complaints of every day life, to my obsession with cats and shoes, to my graphic descriptions of my uterus pains, all the way down to the way I walk around our house in my not-so-sexy underwear. I know that I annoy him to no end sometimes, and yet, he's still there every morning when I wake up. and not only is he there, but he's there with a smile on his face, ready to kiss me in all my morning breath glory. confession: my morning breath is the WORST.

also, he is really handsome.

he really is my better half - he knows me better than I know myself, and he's quick to call me on my bullshit when I'm in the wrong. I love that he doesn't just agree with me to keep me quiet and happy. we'll debate for hours on something that doesn't even matter, just to prove to one another that the other is wrong. unfortunately, Sean is super duper smart (win!), and knows a lot of weird ass facts, so if he brings something up and I tell him he's wrong, I get a long list of reasons why he's right, and they're all FACTUAL reasons (fail). seriously though, he is really intelligent, and I've learned so much (even if it is useless trivia) from him.

oh, AND... he's cute as a button.

Sean has got to be the funniest and silliest person I've ever had the pleasure of meeting. tickle fights, dead baby jokes, and songs about our cats are regular performances here in our house. he talks to the kitties like they're actual people, just like I do. it's the most adorable thing ever. he is the worst liar, and when he's trying to tell a fib, he gets this half smirk on his face, and it's hilarious. don't worry, he never tries to lie about anything serious... more like, "hey did you forget to flush to toilet?" type thing that he tries to deny. and yes, he often forgets to flush the toilet when he's half asleep in the morning.

on a more serious note, Sean truly is my soul mate. he is the peas to my carrots, and I couldn't have designed a better husband for myself. he's hard working, caring, and SO thoughtful. sometimes he picks little things up for me just because he knows it'll make me smile, like pistachios or Skinny Cow ice cream bars. he lets me pick the movie sometimes, and he doesn't mind that I don't come to bed right away because he knows I'm an insomniac. in fact, he's been pushing me to make a doctor's appointment with a sleep specialist. I should probably get on that.

did I mention that he is also really, really, ridiculously attractive?

he is extremely supportive of me, and does a good job at pushing me passed my own personal limits. when our training sessions ran out at the gym, he told me to keep going, because he knew I wouldn't start going to gym on my own without a trainer. when I quit smoking, he made a special trip to the grocery store to get me nicotine patches. he believes in me and he respects me like no other, and he really knows how to make me feel good about myself. 

he is the absolute love of my life, and he makes me feel like the luckiest woman in the world. for that, I'm thankful. 

 ____________________________________________

oh, and just because I'm looking through old pictures of us and getting all reminiscent up in this bitch...  here you go. just so you know, these are all from the first year that we were together. I know this because they're in a folder called "S&M - first year." I can also tell it's our first year because of how skinny we both were. oh, 2007.

you're welcome.

giving thanks | day three

as I mentioned in my Wee Bit post, I've been at home all day suffering from extreme uterus pains. yes, I'm graphic, and no, I don't care if you're offended. ever since I got off birth control, I have become the typical GIRL around that time of the month, which is something I'm really not used to at all. 

I've always been a laid back kinda girl, and could never really relate to most women when they talked about the weird shit that happens to them when their dear Aunt Flo was in town. now I've got it all... the mood swings, the cravings, the fatigue, the cramps, etc. it's horrible, and it's definitely going to take some time to get used to it. 

ANYWAY.

today, I'm thankful for modern medicine. actually, I'm thankful for ANY kind of medicine today, because I sure as hell took enough of it. unfortunately, I didn't get much sleep last night because of the pain, and I tossed and turned all night attempting to get comfortable. I took everything under the sun last night and nothing helped. as soon as I woke up this morning, I knew I wasn't going to be going to work. 

I ate some breakfast around 10AM this morning and took one of Sean's pain pills that he had prescribed when he had two teeth pulled over the summer. BINGO. worked like a charm. from noon until about 3PM, I was in a complete pain free haze and drifted in and out of sleep. it was wonderful to not be doubled over in pain and in tears anymore. 

and for that, I am thankful.

giving thanks | day two

today, for very good reason, I am thankful for my hearing. 

I've talked about Savannah before here on the blog. her mother and my father have been friends for over 20 years, and Savannah is basically the little sister I never had. she was a bridesmaid in my wedding, and she is extremely special to me. she is family.

when Savannah was a child, she unexpectedly lost her hearing in her left ear, almost completely. despite what seemed like hundreds of tests being done, they could never find the cause. she now wears a hearing aid in her left ear, but it still does not allow her to hear 100%. it's been a huge struggle for her, and I can't imagine only being able to hear half of what I should be hearing. it's been so hard for her, especially in school, to learn what she needs to learn while only hearing out of one ear. she has learned to lip read somewhat in order to understand what is being said, but it's still extremely difficult for her.

about a month ago, she noticed a weird feeling in her right (the good one) ear. she said that it felt like something was in her ear... a fluid, maybe. so they headed to the doctor, who discovered that while there was nothing of substance IN her ear, her hearing had dropped 10 decibels from the last time she had a hearing test. they decided to put her on steroids to see if that would help. 

two weeks later and she was back at the doctor, only to realize that they hadn't help at ALL. they immediately made an appointment with the ear specialist she sees in Baltimore. 

that appointment was today. I just got notice from Renee (Savannah's mom), that her hearing in her right ear has declined once again. she is now a candidate to have another hearing aid, this time for her "good" ear. they ran some tests again, and they are leaning towards an auto immune disease being the cause of her loss of hearing. basically, her immune system has been attacking her ears as though they were an intruding foreign element to her body. 

I'm keeping my fingers crossed that they can find a solution to help her, and I cannot imagine what their family is going through right now, given that Savannah is only 15 years old. 

again, I think that our ability to hear is another one of those things that we constantly take for granted. it's hard to think about others who are less fortunate than us, especially when it comes to something that's second nature for us. I, for one, would be devastated to not be able to hear the sweet sounds of music, the waves crashing at the beach, my husband telling me he loves me, and about a million other things that make me so happy.

and for that, I'm thankful.

giving thanks | day one

I've decided that since the month of Thanksgiving is among us, I want to make sure I'm thankful for everything I have in my life. so for the next 25 days (until Thanksgiving), I'm going to blog every day about what I'm thankful for, starting right now. 

_________________________

today, I am thankful for my job. I know I complain about my job a lot, but I really do love what I do. I'm extremely lucky to still have a job in the construction industry, especially when commercial construction hasn't been doing too well in the grand scheme of things. I'm paid well, I get to wear whatever I want to work, have two weeks of paid vacation/sick leave every year, and occasionally, I even get free lunch. 

I'm so grateful that I have a place to go to everyday, where I can be myself and not have to wear a stuffy persona. don't get me wrong, I still consider myself a professional, but the type of work I do is really laid back, and I can have a joking, personal rapport with the people I come into contact with on a daily basis. I'm not the hoity-toity-suit-wearing-so-I-can-impress-the-people-who-sign-my-paycheck-regardless-of-my-attire kind of girl, and therefore, this job is perfect for me. 

for the most part, I like my co-workers. my dad (boss) can be a huge pain in the ass sometimes, but I'm thankful that I get to spend so much time with him, even if it's under sometimes stressful conditions. I often think about what my relationship with my dad would be like if we didn't work together. I don't think we'd have the tight-knit and close relationship we have now if I didn't see him everyday. 

I'm fortunate that I like my job, and that I don't dread coming to work everyday because I'm unhappy with my choices. I really, really, really enjoy the estimating portion of the construction process, and I'm always learning something new about my profession. and even when I come across something that stumps me, I don't mind doing a little research to find a solution. I take pride in my work, because I put 100% of my energy into my work, and I don't half-ass anything when it has my name on it. 

I hope I can continue to learn more about this business, and hopefully, maybe even take over my dad's company one day. I'd love to learn to manage a business and see how thinks work from a different perspective. I love to educate myself, especially when it's something I'm passionate about.

and for that, I'm thankful.