1. blogs that make me laugh until i cry.

2. actually, blogs and the freedom to blog more generally.

3. having to work harder this year and not hating every minute of lesson planning.

4. angels who've touched down on earth as my 4g class.

5. vitamin c pills. the big ones. and on that note, clorox bleach wipes. thank you mom. thank you day.

1. there are only 9 more months of listening to boys screaming/singing "i'm living in america" at my apartment.

2. a solid, industrious, almost like new radiator to keep my ice block warm.

3. sarcasm.

4. frosted flakes.

5. students i actually enjoy teaching.

1. the friends i made last year in bulgaria.

2. the friends i've made this year in bulgaria.

3. candles.

4. halloween candy!

5. project runway.

1. grace and humor in the instance of an internet outage... on my end and from those involved in remedying my problem.

2. beautiful fall sunsets. tonight's was pink and orange.

3. rotisserie chicken.

4. a sense of release and peace with just enjoying these last 9 months rather than taking myself too seriously.

5. weekend travel plans.

1. textbooks

2. textbooks

3. textbooks

4. textbooks

5. textbooks

1. all sorts of wonderful prospects on the horizon including (but not limited to): chipotle, a deep/thorough muscle massage, acupuncture, a chance to go back to something familiar, travel in the u.s. of a., driving, driving a new (to me) car, travel outside of the u.s. of a., white fenced farm chicken, coleslaw and cottage cheese, ohhhhhhh cottage cheese, bubble tea, insulated buildings and indoor heating infrastructure, drinkable tap water, a bathtub, hunting for a new job, exploring new places, revisiting old ones, disney's halloween and christmas parties and a childish dream to attend both next year, coffee/lunch/meals/beer with old friends and family.

2. a chance to do something over again.

3. courage to keep at this.

4. time off to sleep and regroup.

5. patience. i am surprised again and again how much i am grateful for patience- my own and the patience of others.

1. hershey's kisses.

2. peanut butter and bananas for breakfast.

3. the relief i feel knowing i will have a better experience this year. day one of school down and i feel overwhelming peace with my decision to move here and the outlook for the year.

4. languages and the challenge of learning and using them.

5. the onset of fall.

1. people with senses of humor.

2. being held accountable.

3. beautiful fall days like today.

4. optimism.

5. text books.

1. the teacher who helped me sort out the cryptic class schedule this morning... without me even asking for help. wonderful.

2. fresh cauliflower.

3. internet recipes to put said cauliflower to use.

4. afternoon naps.

5. feeling at peace with the prospect of the next 9.5 months.

1. cinnamon.

2. my health.

3. music by maire brennan.

4. four day work weeks at school this semester.

5. clarification on lessons learned from last year.

1. ibuprofen. again.

2. solitude.

3. steel cut oats, brown sugar, cinnamon and fresh peaches.

4. my washing machine.

5. red toe nail polish.

1. ibuprofen.

2. courage.

3. a good book on a rainy day.

4. plus chicken soup.

5. a hot shower.

today, i am grateful for:

1. silly conversations.

2. this photo blog.

3. surprises!

4. taco seasoning and avocados.

5. unconditional love and friendship.

today, i am grateful for:

1. bandannas.

2. a new haircut.

3. peanut butter and bananas.

4. feeling organized.

5. the joy of new friendship blossoming.

today, i am grateful for:

1. my driver's license.

2. nescafe 3 in 1.

3. enjoyable trips to the cafe with colleagues.

4. motivation to follow through on a couple of tasks.

5. silence.

today, i am grateful for:

1. philadelphia cream cheese.

2. the opportunity to travel.

3. internet.

4. chocolate chip cookie dough.

5. cooler weather+a quiet stadium= perfect running conditions.

for sunday, 06 september, 2009.

today, i am grateful for:

1. lazy, rainy sundays.

2. apple cider.

3. funky and whimsical music from cirque du soleil.

4. calendars.

5. friendly neighbors.

today, i am grateful for:

1. my parents and the fact that they are not currently in mexico.

2. ear plugs.

3. lazy, sleepy days.

4. hot chocolate.

5. febreeze.

today, i am grateful for:

1. the truly wonderful friends i have made over the past year and the continued support they provide me, even from on the other side of the pond.

2. care packages.

3. dr. pepper chapstick in lieu of dr. pepper soda.

4. colleagues who laugh at themselves and are warm and friendly to me.

5. my email pen pals, who write me consistently even when i'm tardy in responding.

an early list today... it's been a frustrating day already and i need to focus my thoughts in a positive direction.

today, i am grateful for:

1. patience.

2. the slow pace of life here and the frequency/normalcy of long coffee breaks.

3. the way i see the world.

4. coca cola.

5. people who are more organized than i am and serve as good resources in a crunch.

today, i am grateful for:

1. my water filter.

2. the astonishing amount of fresh fruits and veggies at the market this time of year, and the way the market smells of dill, peaches and red peppers when i stroll by it on my way to work.

3. t-shirt bed sheets.

4. macaroni and cheese.

5. free time.

welcome to my go at a 'gratitude journal.' nothing fancy, no spiffy iphone applications here, just 5 things every single day that i am grateful for!

today, i am grateful for:

1. dry weather

2. starbursts (thank you Nancy!)

3. ethereal music (like this song and this song)

4. skype (no matter how moody it can be)

5. positive, smiling faces at school this morning