Thankful Things Thursday: Gettin’ Perky With It

I hate myself for writing that title.

And yet…I did it anyway.

Will Smith, I hope you’re proud.

Here’s the thing about today: I need a hefty dose of Thankful Things Thursday. Sometimes, as I mentioned a few weeks ago, this day feels slightly contrived, slightly forced, slightly obvious. But on days when I’m grumpy, sleepy, sneezy or feeling like any of those other dwarfs, this “holiday” tends to really come in handy.

So in the spirit of going from Sleepy and Grumpy to Happy and Doc (WTF?), here we go…

Kicking things off with a Tyler shot, because I think it’s funny that his head is so big but his body is so small.

I’m thankful I’m not training for anything right at this moment. I’m pretty sure that if I were, I’d be failing at it so hard. It’s been really difficult for me to get up and run lately. This morning would be a great example of that. I love running, but I’m enjoying doing it however I’d like instead of however I “should” be doing it with a lofty end goal. Running is fun. That’s why I do it. So I’ll just keep rolling with that for a while.

I’m thankful the apartment management company chose to be wonderful this year. Hooray! Brian and I got our lease renewal agreement yesterday and despite the dopey thoughts going through my mind these past few weeks, they did not decide to horrifically raise our rent. Opening that letter earned a big, happy exhale from me last night.

I’m thankful I had a semi-productive Wednesday evening. I will be so happy when all these shirts are gone from the apartment. In the meantime, shipping them is super fun! And Brian helped me get another batch out the door and in the mail last night.

They are folded neatly in a box now. “Neatly” is a word I use loosely.

I’m thankful I’m actually putting effort into fixing my posture. I know! I’m doing it! I’m such a wild child. When I notice myself slouching at work, I’ll push my shoulders back and sit upright for a while. I anticipate that by the end of 2013, I will not only have an incredibly straight spine, I’ll also have six-pack abs to go with it.

I’m thankful Brian finally got rid of our Christmas tree. We probably hung onto it for too long…but it’s out on the streets now. Or in a garbage yard somewhere. I don’t know where they bring all the discarded Christmas trees at the end of the holiday season. Anyone have insider information on this very intriguing topic?

This is actually not our tree. This is The Death Tree. I was walking and Tweeting, no big deal, and I walked right into this lazy sucker. I have the scrapes on my leg to prove it.

I’m thankful for all the holiday stuff that goes on sale at the end of the season. I bought some New Year’s Eve confetti on January 8. Do you know how handy confetti is, particularly in an office setting? It’s so handy. You know all those times you’ve been at your desk and you’re just like, “Shoot, I could really use some confetti right now?” I stocked up for that exact reason.l And I use my confetti for classy decorations.

In my mind, filling a stumpy vase with confetti was going to look SO COOL. In reality, it looks dumb. And because my desk is under a vent, the confetti tends to blow out of the vase all the time and onto my desk. It’s just…it wasn’t my best idea.

I’m thankful for those baby towels that have hoods.

Finding Tyler.

I’m thankful I finally saw Jersey Boys on Broadway! It was so good! The music was awesome and I sang every song at the top of my lungs. No one minded, I swear. Our entire section was filled with crazies. One woman was hammered-drunk and another just cried and cried and cried the whole time. Tears of joy? Of sorrow? Of sweet New Jersey memories from her youth? I don’t know, but she was fantastic and her face was covered in eyeliner and mascara dribbles by the end of the show.

Walk like a man. Talk like a man. Pee like a man oh waaaaaaaa!

If you get the opportunity to see Jersey Boys, I recommend you seize it. Because where else is it completely acceptable to sit in an audience and belt out, “Let’s hang on! To what we’ve got! Don’t let go girl you’ve got a lot! Got a lot of love betweeeeeeen us, hang on! Hang on! Hang on! [ba-dum] …to what we’ve got! Woo oo! Woo oo! Woo oo!”

In retrospect, I probably should have purchased some sweet souvenirs. Nothing says “I loved this show” quite like a poster, a pamphlet and a mug.

I’m thankful I’ll be Colorado-bound soon! I haven’t skiied in two years, so this trip could go one of two ways. As in…I could come back with one or two broken legs. We’ll see. It’ll be nice to play in the powder, and I’ve never skied beyond the east coast, so yay!

Photo stolen from Instagram, which I have never used nor browsed. But my friend sent it to me last night and I was all, hell yeah, I’m going to screen shot that! Sweet photo! Snow!

I’m thankful for the long weekend approaching. I have Monday off. Do you?

I’m thankful I get to do just enough traveling with my job. If I’m on the road too much, I’ll get cranky. If I never got to leave the office, I would also, presumably, be a bitch. But I get to take just enough trips each year for photo shoots that it’s fun without being overwhelming.

Next week I’m headed to Louisville, KY. The only time I’ve been to Kentucky was driving through it when I road tripped to Bonnaroo in 2004. Yeah. Total hippie. What up? I’m also pretty sure I slept through the entire state, so this will be a nice way to see it. I’ll be there for exactly 24 hours. Yee haw! Do they say that in Kentucky? What do they say in Kentucky? Kentucky Derby? Kentucky Fried Chicken?

I’ll do my research before I go.

Hey look!

Now I’m happy.

And doc.

It worked.

As a side note, if I had to name those dwarfs I’d name at least one of them Perky. And one of them Hungry. And one of them Idiot, because come on, isn’t that really what they were getting at with “Dopey?”

GET YOUR DWARF ON WITH ME: What are you thankful for today? Are you feeling happy, sleepy, sneezy, grumpy, dopey, bashful or doc-like? Let it all out. Get grateful, not grumpy.

Ali

Ali

35 Responses

  1. I am thankful you mentioned fixing your posture; I honestly sat up straight the second I read it (my “abs” already hurt…). Also, I am so jealous you get to ski Colorado! Still, I’m thankful to be skiing New Hampshire next weekend (woop woop, Loon!). Have a great time in Kentucky (we skipped KY on our drive to Bonnaroo – mainly stuck to the Virginia highways). Finally, I am obviously thankful for parentheses. Geesh, I need to expand my punctuation!

  2. Living in Ky for the past 9 years, I can officially tell you they do not say yee haw!!! It’s a pretty great place and you will love Louisville!! I’m running the Kentucky Derby Half in April!!! After that we are hoping to move to Colorado!!! My favorite place in the World!!!

  3. I’m thankful I got an exit row seat on my flight from Geneva to JFK today, and that Swiss Air gives out swiss chocolate on their flights (and that the staff told me to help myself to the bowl of it back in the galley when I was getting some more water).

    I’m not so sure the other passengers were thankful to see my sleeping form everytime they went to the restroom (each time I woke up from dozing off I realized I’d been sleeping with my mouth open. Attractive).

    Also, Jersey Boys in the West End gets the same crowds LOVING the show. Sometimes I’m afraid the audience thinks they’re watching the real Four Seasons… 😉 (I also love practicing my Walk Like a Man shuffle they do)

  4. This weekend I went on a run and decided to go over the bridge to Randall’s Island…only the second time I’ve ever taken a jaunt over there and what did I find?! Every single Christmas tree from Manhattan (and likely other boroughs…)! I had no idea that’s where they’re taken to and they still smell AWESOME.

  5. I am thankful for the Barnes and Noble gift card I am going to use in 3 hours; I am thankful for the show American Horror Story (which I just discovered and finished Season 1); I am thankful that my hubby is home all week this week and not traveling; I am thankful my family is healthy and I am happy that I have home-made chili in the crockpot and a whoopie pie in the freezer! YUM!

  6. Oh, and I’m also grateful that I have Monday off and am also skiing this weekend! Actually, in your home state — headed to Bretton Woods at Mount Washington!

  7. I am thankful for your blog 🙂 Skiing will be so much fun! I went skiing for the first time in 7 years before Christmas and had a great time so your two year break is nothing. You will be on the black runs in no time.

  8. I love your Thursday posts… it’s such a good weekly exercise (the kind that doesn’t make you sweat, though). I’m thankful for cardigans. Mostly because I cannot find two of mine anywhere and this is very distressing to me, so I’m trying to remember the happier times.

  9. I’m happy to be going to Lululemon tonight to find a sweet new tank to wear during the RnR Arizona half this weekend. I think a lack of proper training can be rectified with a cute running outfit… and a good playlist. Also, I am thankful that it will be in the 70s out there this weekend. I’m sick of this “feels like 20” nonsense that’s been happening in Chicago.

  10. Surreal experience: Watching Jersey Boys in a foreign country. I think I was the only person in the whole theater who laughed at the Newark jokes. And the Midwest jokes. And heck, the Jersey jokes. [Doesn’t help that I’m a born-and-raised Jersey girl!]

    Today, I’m thankful for friends coming to visit, wicking technical gear, french fries, and a hard-working husband. Random, but true.

  11. Cute blog article! I am grateful for today and that I have another race this weekend. This time, it’s a rare opportunity to share it with my husband. He often does not have the weekend’s off. It’s a 5K and that is my specialty race.

    Have a great 3 day weekend!

  12. Your posts always make me smile, so I am thankful for that!

    Also thankful that one week from today I will be poolside in Miami and in 10 days running (well hopefully finished by now) with my first marathon! gahhhhh omgsoexcited

    Also super jealous of everyone that has off Monday. Playoff season here at work = craziness.

  13. Yay for Louisville! i moved here aboiut 2 years ago. just make sure you say Looovuhl and not Louisville bc thats how the natives say it 🙂

  14. Right now I’m sleepy. I had to change Saturday’s 11 miler to today because of potential snow and now I’m exhausted!
    I love towels with hoods! Target has a really cute owl one… for kids… An owl towel! I just realized how funny that sounds…

  15. Yay for skiing in CO, because that is what I am thankful for. I get Monday off too so I will be trying out my new skis this weekend. Woo!

  16. You’re going to love Louisville! It’s a super fun town! Let me know if you need any suggestions or someone to grab a drink or bite with!

    Jacqueline
    jsbrill at gmail dot com

    1. wait, i just moved here for school about 2 years ago and i dont know where to eat or drink at ( i do know all the places to do homework and eat quietly are 🙂

  17. I’m feeling sleepy. Horribly, debilitatingly (not a word?) sleepy. But grateful that tomorrow is the end of quarter 2, which means we are halfway through the school year. YES.

  18. Good thing it is Thursday because I think I woke up as the ambivalent dwarf.

    I’m thankful that I got to see Betsey Johnson speak last night – lady is crazy and funny and that was such an entertaining (and sometimes confusing) hour.

    [Did you sing “hi ho hi ho its off to work i go” this morning?!?]

  19. I love reading your blog 🙂 Always puts a smile on my face, so thanks for that! Where are you headed in CO? My ubby and I love Breckenridge. Got engaged there, at the top of Peak 10 🙂 It was pretty awesome. But we haven’t been back – or skiing at all for that matter – since we got engaged in 2010 (due to our wedding, honeymoon, etc.). But we’re heading back there the first week of April and I seriously can’t wait! You’ll love skiing out there – the snow is incredible, the sun is awesome and the people are super friendly! (well, unless you’re at Vail… need I say more?). Have a great trip! P.S. – I don’t think they say y’all in Kentucky, but I could be wrong. One of my close friends from back home is married to a guy from Kentucky and I’ve never heard him say that. So of course, just because one Kentuckian (????) doesn’t say it of course means the whole state doesn’t say it. It’s a very scientific conclusion!

  20. Honestly, I’m thankful for posts like these that make me laugh when it is already not going to be my day. And I’m thankful for a long weekend this weekend.

  21. I feel like Sleepy today, hence why I didn’t get up to run and instead slept late… Colorado will be amazing!! I’ve only been once and I just loved it!! The first time I’ve ever snowboarded was there, it would definitely be nice to go back and try it again! Have fun!!

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about ali

I’m the creator of the Ali on the Run blog and the host of the Ali on the Run Show podcast. I’m also a freelance writer and editor, a race announcer, a runner and marathoner, a mom, and a huge fan of Peanut M&Ms, Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again (way better than the first one!), and reliving my glory days as a competition dancer in the early 2000s. I’m really happy you’re here.
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