Thankful Things Thursday: On Love, Baby Carrots & Sweatshirts

Oh, Crohn’s. You just don’t want to let up, do you?

Fortunately, I can put up a pretty strong fight. So I may be slightly sidelined from life today, but tomorrow’s a new one, and I’m here to make the best of how I’m feeling today. Which is awesome.

No, I don’t feel awesome. I feel awful.

Reason #62 I love the tennis court bathrooms in Central Park: The TP supply is always stocked. What a setup, huh?
Reason #62 I love the tennis court bathrooms in Central Park: The TP supply is always stocked. What a setup, huh?

But I also feel thankful. Being sick always brings out my extra grateful side.

So let’s get our holiday on!

I’m thankful that, after roughly 356 years, my parents are still so much in love. They met in first grade (my mom says they didn’t meet until seventh grade, but my dad swears otherwise), went to their high school prom together, hitch-hiked to see each other when they went to separate colleges (OK, my dad did the hitch-hiking…my mom waited by the dorm phone for him to call) and then, at 23 got married and at 25 and again at 27 had two beautiful children.

Their love story was cute from the start, and growing up as part of a loving family was a wonderful experience. I feel so lucky to have to happy lovey people setting a great example for me every day.

My mom came home to this snowbank at the top of the driveway the other day. My dad's name is David. Mom is Lori. You can figure it out. Also, my dad is an exceptionally talented snow painter.
My mom came home to this snowbank at the top of the driveway the other day. My dad’s name is David. Mom is Lori. You can figure it out. Also, my dad is an exceptionally talented snow painter.

I’m thankful for the show “Parenthood.” I’m still watching a lot of it. I’m halfway through Season 3 and I really can’t stand at least half of the characters, but it’s fine. I like Amber. And Jabbar. And Joel is dull, but hot. You can be a boring person if you’re very, very good looking.

I’m thankful for baby carrots. They are delicious, but also hilarious.

HOW IS THIS A BABY CARROT? This is a beast. I decided to experiment with it, so I left it out on the kitchen table for a day and by nighttime it had shriveled up into a sad tree branch-looking thing! Science 101 right there. What does it all mean?
HOW IS THIS A BABY CARROT? This is a beast. I decided to experiment with it, so I left it out on the kitchen table for a day and by nighttime it had shriveled up into a sad tree branch-looking thing! Science 101 right there. What does it all mean?

I’m thankful for emails from my 88-year-old grandmother. She’s the one we call Honey, and she sends the best emails. She’s unintentionally funny, and today I’d like to share an excerpt from her latest letter:

Yes, she does Tai Chi. She says her next adventure is Zumba, which she seems quite excited about.
Yes, she does Tai Chi. She says her next adventure is Zumba, which she seems quite excited about.

I’m thankful I’m surrounded by such inspiring people. I know so many young entrepreneurs, business owners and big dreamers and their drive rubs off on me daily.

I’m thankful for my bed. I want to stay there forever.

I’m thankful for cozy sweatshirts. Particularly ones that come in very bright colors.

Brian made fun of my outfit the other day. He said it was "colorful." I think it was just nicely perky. And I've been living in this sweatshirt lately.
Brian made fun of my outfit the other day. He said it was “colorful.” I think it was just nicely perky. And I’ve been living in this sweatshirt lately.

I’m thankful spring is right around the corner. It is, right? And this weekend is Daylight Savings Time, which I think is terrible. The mornings will be very dark again, yeah?

I’m thankful for how awesome the bottom of the dress looks in this photo:

Well done, photographer. You catch that light!
Well done, photographer. You catch that light! And look! There’s Brian on the left, staring at the ground. Maybe he was praying…praying his girlfriend wouldn’t fall down the aisle and embarrass him.

And this photo:

Chiffon, right? The dress is made from layers of chiffon? Whatever, it photographs fantastically.
Chiffon, right? The dress is made from layers of chiffon? Whatever, it photographs fantastically.

I don’t know why that’s something I’m thankful for. I just think the dress looks cool. And I thought I would share that with you.

I’m thankful everyone I work with bought Girl Scout Cookies. I’m also thankful they let me eat all of them. I’m a Tagalong girl all the way.

I’m thankful I got to ski this year. I thought I’d get out “almost every weekend,” but in reality I only went once. Sounds about right. But it was in Colorado and so in my mind that counts for about four eastern ski weekends.

A lovely day at Buttermilk. Where the host The X-Games!
A lovely day at Buttermilk. Where the host The X-Games!

I’m thankful I remembered to be thankful for running earlier in the week. I didn’t run yesterday and the odds of it happening today are hovering around zero. But I got to run on Monday and Tuesday, so that was nice! And I remember enjoying it and feeling happy about it, so no complaints over here.

Clearly today’s thankful list is a bit simple and boring. I’m sorry. My creative juices are on hold while my digestive system is busy deteriorating.

FILL MY CREATIVE VOID: What are you thankful for today that’s clever?

Ali

Ali

46 Responses

  1. Your grandma should join my granddad for his daily tai chi. He does a self practice every morning at the park and does it ever so gracefully (not saying your grandma is not!) – I’m constantly amazed how fluid the movements are. He learnt from a master when he was growing up in China.

  2. Wow that dress is beautiful. I hear ya about not getting up the mountain as much as you expect. I always think I’ll board so much more than I actually do, but hey–one time is better than none!

  3. This is going to sound weird and hopefully not creepy but I had a crazy dream last night with you and Brian in it. We were hanging out at your high rise apartment and Brian was working out by hugging a punching bag suspended off the balcony (at least 50 stories) for a minute then he would crawl back and take a break then do it again. You were really upset with him because it was too dangerous since he didn’t have a safety harness or net or anything. But he kept doing it. Meanwhile even though you were worried about him you were actually hanging from a pull up bar off the balcony (which somehow in dream logic was safer than the punching bag). You guys both made me nervous and I woke up really anxious. I just had to share the dream…it was one of the craziest dreams I’ve had in a long time (and I have NO idea why I dreamt about you and Brian).

  4. I am thankful for having the opportunity, to know someone as awesome as you! I am thankful you are in my son’s life! I am thankful for your Thankful Thursdays idea, which I am going to steal and use in my classroom 🙂

  5. Oh man! I love that dress! Also, you are such an inspiration 😀 But I’ve gotta ask – have you ever considered the GAPS diet? I know you say you don’t believe in those – but one that could greatly subside or cure crohn’s is kind of great. I have UC and have just started GAPS. Long road, but I’m already convinced it’s going to be worth it and when I’m better, I will be running like the wind!!

  6. We are new to Girl Scout cookies, it’s only our third year. But oh my word, thin mints!!! Your grandma is also hilarious.

    Trying to think of something clever that I am thankful for. I am thankful that my clever little boy loved his first week at pre-school and can now count backwards from 5. How did that happen? I am thankful for amazing friends who have looked after me so well whilst my husband is away on a business trip that i’ve had to start turning down invitations to get some sleep. And I’m thankful for good wine to drink in bed by myself with a book. Is that worrying??

  7. You are so right, baby carrots are without a doubt a simply wonderful thing to be thankful for!

    As is the facet that my parents after meeting in High School are still married.

    And that bridesmaids dress is absolutely stunning!

  8. You can be thankful for daylight savings, because it means it will be lighter out in the morning! Spring forward, so at six the sun will be at where it is at 7 now…it will get dark earlier for a bit, but the days will get longer and make up for it. 🙂

      1. You were right the first time. It’s darker in the morning, stays light later.

        What is 5 am dark now will be 6 am (aka super dark). What is 5 pm (dark) will now be 6 pm (yay more day light!)

  9. Today I am thankful for coconut milk, my mighty defender from dairy cravings. I am also thankful for the co-op that had about a gazillion flavors of my favorite coconut milk ice cream last night.

  10. I’m thankful that they fixed the clock in the spin room at the gym. It’s annoying planning to get to class 5 minutes early. Those 5 minutes are important to my day.
    I’m also thankful for the person who lent me a ski pole after mine got buried in two feet of powder while skiing at Jay Peak.

  11. Your grandma is too funny! I love that she had to say the instructor “has a bit of a German accent.” That line cracked me up! Today, I am thankful for my LLBean snow boots and, coincidentally, Spring (hopefully) almost being here. Yay, Spring!

  12. I’m thankful for this app called FlightTrack. It let me know that my boyfriend got to LA safely last night… It’s a little stalkerish perhaps, but all I cared about was that he was safe so I’ll take it.

    xo Marie

  13. You look beautiful in your bridesmaid dress! I love that skirt you are wearing in your ”colorful” outfit! Where did you get it? I have a bit of an obsession with solid print colorful skirts. 🙂 It’s great that your grandmother is adapt at using the internet and emailing. It’s a great way for her to figure out the technology and for you both to stay in touch.

    Have a great weekend!

  14. I’m thankful for the dress code at work. We cannot wear “blue” jeans but any other color is fine. So I am wearing purple and pink leopard print… I normally like very boring simple clothes but I love these so much. And your grandma is so funny! I thought that was going to end up a fart story.

  15. I’m thankful today is my parent’s 43rd anniversary. I’m also thankful that my first half marathon is just over 2 weeks away. I’m tired of worrying about it. I’m ready.

  16. OMG your family is adorable! I love that your parents are still in love and that your grandma is too freaking cute. I’m thankful that I finally feel ready to tackle healthy eating again! I needed a few solid months of eating nothing but junk food, but it’s time. Also, I’m thankful for Pretty Little Liars. Don’t judge.

  17. I’m thankful that your grandma just cracked me up. Mine isn’t doing so well at the moment, so I am soaking up your Gram’s vitality. Love it!

    I’m thankful I finally got a replacement iPhone. That Windows one I was using in the meantime was a bit…well, clunky, in every way.

    I’m thankful that my plantar fascia seems to really like Brooks Pure shoes. He and I may be on our way to reconciliation.

    I’m thankful for pastina. Love that stuff. LOVE.

  18. That is the cutest from your Grandma and put a smile on my face. You have an amazing family!

    This is not creative by any means, but I am thankful that people were fearful of this “snowstorm” and tonights post work festivities were postponed a week.
    This girl can’t wait to be in bed asap tonight. Party animal 🙂

  19. I am thankful for a new fro-yo place that opened nearby that my mom and I are going to enjoy today!

    That dress really photographs well! Glad you got 2 great runs in this week 🙂 Crohn’s can suck it. You’ll win. I swear

  20. Do you know the brand/name of that chiffon dress? I’m trying to find something similar for my bridesmaids to wear! It’s beautiful!!

  21. I don’t know if its creative but I am thankful for clean water. So much of the worlds population has to work so hard to get drinkable water, and all I have to do is hit the tap.
    So thankful.

  22. I started out loving parenthood and I really wanted to love Sarah because I think Lorelai GIlmore was the best TV character ever and so Lauren Graham had to be awesome in another show, right? But you are right: by about season 3 all of the characters are really annoying. Sigh.

    1. Sarah is the WORST. She’s so whiny and needy and she screws everything up. She probably needs to stop kissing people in general.

  23. I too am catching up on parenthood and just started season 4 but am now sad that soon I’ll run out of episodes. Your grandma and mine should be friends- mine Zumbas 6 times a week and for her 80th bday a few years ago requested a Zumba party! (We wish shed email- so far that iPad is collecting dust…)

    Today I’m thankful that March is here.

    Feel better!

  24. Your grandma is so cute!!! Mine used to send me the funniest emails too. She doesn’t have a computer anymore, but it used to be really funny. No Tai Chi though.

  25. I’m thnkaful my grandmother sends me unintentionally hilarious text messages in all caps with no spaces. She sends things like: JUSTHADLUNCHWITHYOURUNCLEHESAYSHILOVEGRANDMABECKY. I laugh hysterically every time.

  26. +100 on the Joel being hot but dull! I have to say Crosby is my favorite character, and Amber isn’t bad either. And always the dad, he is hilarious and inappropriate, not unlike my dad.

    Your grandma is hilarious. If mine had a computer and knew how to email, I can only imagine the things she would say…

    1. I am shocked by how much I like Crosby. He has potential to be really annoying, but it’s somehow charming? I also really like Mr. Cyr and I’m afraid he’s not still going to be around by the time I get to Season 4…

  27. I am thankful for my patagonia retool hoody which is probably almost as cozy as yours!

    I am thankful for FOOD post juice cleanse. I’m going to eat ALL THE FOOD (but it def. kicked my sugar craving. SCORE!)

    also your grandma’s email is hilarious.
    LOVE.

  28. your posts always give me that extra boost i need on thursdays 🙂

    that cracks me up because my mom just forwarded me a hilarious email about my grandma. she visited my sisters apt. this past weekend and was so offended by it, she bought her a swifer as a ‘gift’. gotta love grandmas.

    ALSO thankful I got to ski this winter – even if it wasn’t in beautiful CO, but hey northern PA is cool too I guess

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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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Happy Thankful Things Thursday!

Yesterday, my friend Tory told me that every day after she wakes up, she thinks of 10 things for which she is grateful. Every. Single.

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