"Challenges are what make life interesting; overcoming them is what makes life meaningful." -Joshua Marine

I have gratitude today for...
* being able to clean early so I didn't have to skip it today.
* getting to Aunt Kathy's safely and hitting only a little bit of traffic.
* a great gathering for Grandma's birthday. Some of their friends from Long Island were there, along with Kerry and Father Michael.
* the buffalo chicken being a huge hit!
* remembering how much fun the Billy Joel & Elton John concert was one year ago today. Tailgating with Megan & Bucci and seeing the show with Nicole Spang
* the cute wine holder I found to give Grandma for her birthday, she loved it!

"Be so good they can’t ignore you." -Steve Martin

I have gratitude today for...
* being able to work from home.
* Jeff & Megan giving me a ride to the shore tonight.
* enjoying my time in the kitchen while I made buffalo chicken dip and peanut butter pie for Grandma's 79th birthday celebration at Aunt Kathy's tomorrow night.

"When I quote others I do so in order to express my own ideas more clearly." -Michel de Montaigne

I have gratitude today for...
* a great meeting this morning
* my trip to Trader Joe's. I was a little overwhelmed because there were so many things to choose from. When you aren't familiar with new brands and products it's hard to decide what to get. I had a fun time walking up and down the aisles and looking at the organic meats.
* gaining an appreciation for the pain people with severe back problems have to live with everyday. I don't know if I pulled a muscle or what is going on, but the constant pain down the right side of my back really sucks.
* talking with Beckman and making plans to visit Adrienne next week.

"The price of anything is the amount of life you exchange for it." -Henry David Thoreau

I have gratitude today for...
* the opportunity I have at Suburban Life Magazines to do marketing and maybe even sales. I appreciate the flexibility and feel ok with not being able to student teach in the fall since I can do this for as long as I need.
* going to Rocco's Pizza for lunch with John, it was like old times
* the massage by Kelly at Millenium Hair & Day Spa I had today to help my back. She did a great job and I'm hoping it helps with the pain I've been feeling
* Bethany offering to drive to Camden for the Lilith Fair.
* the yum $5 hoagie from Genaurdi's
* Jess getting us in to the police parking and for the policeman looking out for Bethany's car when he realized she accidentally left her window down
* taking our seats on the lawn and 10 minutes later having a camera guy come up to us with 4 11th row seats! I had a feeling we'd get an upgrade!
* an amazing night of music with Sara Bareilles, Missy Higgins, Court Yard Hounds (The Dixie Chicks - Natalie) and my favorite, Sarah McLachlan.
* allowing the people to stay in our 11th row seats that moved when we went to get drinks. We decided to share our good fortune.

"You can't make someone else's choices. You shouldn't let someone else make yours." -Gen Colin Powell

I have gratitude today for...
* getting through my cleaning jobs even though my back was killing me
* being able to bring Adrienne dinner and hanging out for a bit at her new place in Manayunk. She had ACL surgery yesterday so she's stuck in the house for the next several weeks.

"There are two primary choices in life; to accept conditions as they exist, or accept the responsibility for changing them." -Denis Waitley

I have gratitude today for...
* finding out today that one of my friends is pregnant but I can't say who, (it's still a secret.)
* being able to do work on the deck since it was so nice out
* leftovers from Saturday night for dinner---easy and good!

"The way we live our days, is the way we live our lives." -Annie Dillard

I have gratitude today for...
* my chicken parm sandwich from Tonio's for breakfast (at 11am.) I disregarded everything I've read in my book while eating this masterpiece. 
* laughing with Jeffrey & James while they ate their lunch. They really are two of the funniest kids I've ever met. 
* Mack's Pizza for dinner (again, Andy's fault this time.)
* the gorgeous sunset tonight, I took some great pictures!

"Laugh, Live, Smile, and Love. For what you get out of life comes from what you put in." -Anonymous

I have gratitude today for...
* Andy's help again with the family business :-)
* my love for cooking. It's my way of being creative...I made a peanut butter pie from scratch and roasted potatoes with herbs for tonight's party
* our "Christmas in July" get together tonight. We decorated the house, got dressed up and had a fantastic dinner with Andy's family
* a great conversation with Andy outside tonight
* fun times at The Rocking Chair with Jeff & Megan

"Step by step. I can't think of any other way of accomplishing anything." -Michael Jordan

I have gratitude today for...
* an awesome boat ride with Chris, Kem, Mrs. Roth, Molly, Edie & Henry.
* doing a dive and cannonball off the boat into the ocean. 
* Mrs. Roth's help with cleaning the raft---it had a small island growing on the mesh part
* floating in the bay and reading more of my book this afternoon
* hearing several people saying how great life is at the beach while they were floating in the bay---I agree!
* having a nice dinner with Andy. I've missed him this week!
* getting the rest of the food shopping done for this weekend tonight instead of waiting until tomorrow. No crowds!

"One day your life will flash before your eyes. Make sure it's worth watching." -Anonymous

I have gratitude today for...
* a gorgeous day with very little humidity, which was a welcomed change!
* reading more of "The Omnivore's Dilemma"; I will keep saying it, everyone should read this book. We are responsible for educating ourselves, because the big conglomerates are going to keep shoving crap food down our throats if we let them. 
* some time at the beach, the weather today is simply stunning. 
* my trip to the Ocean City boardwalk with Chris, Kem, Edie, Molly & Henry. We had Mack & Mancos pizza, and the kids went on a bunch of rides. I went on the train and a small roller coaster (the only one they had) which made me feel like a kid myself. 

* talking with Naoma on g-chat about "The Omnivore's Dilemma" since we're reading it at the same time.
*talking with Mom on g-chat about health & nutrition and all of the interesting things I've been learning from the book
* talking with Debbie on g-chat about all sorts of things like healthy eating, her experience becoming a vegetarian, cruelty-free products and more. It's nice to have so many ways to communicate when friends live far away. 

"Cherish your yesterdays, dream your tomorrows and live your todays." -Anonymous

I have gratitude today for...
* going to the arcade with the kids and having a fun time helping them win tickets
* everything I'm learning in "The Omnivore's Dilemma." I think everyone should read it just to gain an understanding of where our food comes from. It has really made me think about what I eat in a different way, especially how animals such as cows should not be eating corn. I now understand why "grass-fed" beef is so important! If nothing else, read pages 65-80. The author does not preach, but gives real and useful information.
* a relaxing evening watching TV and working on my blog. I've had stomach pains all day so I'm not feeling too great. 

"Every day do something that will inch you closer to a better tomorrow." -Doug Firebaugh

I have gratitude today for...
* Leslie & Terry sharing their pool with us and for all of their hospitality
* spending some time at the beach before the clouds rolled in
* going to "Kids Karaoke" at The Whitebrier with Chris & Kem, Mrs. Roth and the kids. It was cute and the kids had a great time!

* doing "make a sundae" with Edie & Molly
* the 3-way call with Alyssa & Jess to finish planning Kerry's shower!

"Life is not about how hard you can hit, but how much you can get hit and still keep moving forward." -Rocky Balboa

I have gratitude today for...
* finding lots of great pictures for our new collage frame 
* getting a big food shopping done for the shore today 
* playing Scrabble at Leslie's tonight
* meeting Terry's family

"You are what you are today, because of the decisions and the choices you made yesterday." - Revt. Wayne Goonie

I have gratitude today for...
* Ben coming to visit for the day
* going to the beach with Jeff, Megan, the boys, Andy & Ben
* swimming in the ocean---it was refreshing and felt great!
* floating in the bay this afternoon. It's too hot to not be in the water!

"Sometimes it's the smallest decisions that can change your life forever." - Keri Russell

I have gratitude today for...
* Andy's help today with the three houses we had 
* the boat ride Joe took us on in the ocean. There were definitely moments where I was gripping my seat!
* jumping into the ocean 1/4 mile off shore. It was beautiful and it was fun to jump in off the boat!
* a good meal and fun time at the Yacht Club tonight. 

* my long talk with Andy on the deck tonight
* the birth of Rachel's sweet baby girl Brynn

"I think of life as a good book. The further you get into it, the more it begins to make sense." - Harold Kushner

I have gratitude today for...
* finally cleaning the house in King of Prussia from top to bottom. 
* having time to visit mom & dad for a couple of hours and the Mannino's Pizza we had for dinner
* choosing to make the trip to Redbank, NJ to see an old high school friend in the play RENT. 
* seeing Edye & Sarah tonight and going out for a bit after the play to catch up. 

* all of the artists, musicians, actors etc. that work for free to have a chance at being successful in their field. All of the actors in tonight's production were not paid and they dedicate more time and effort than you would imagine to perform the show only 6 times. I think that is admirable and we are the ones that get to enjoy their talent. 
* the CD Mom gave me about nutrition
* getting to Avalon safely since the drive was long, boring and I'm pretty sure I was behind a drunk driver for a bit on the parkway. 

"Life is partly what we make it, and partly what it is made by the friends we choose." -Tennessee Williams

I have gratitude today for...
* treating myself to Chinese for lunch, and only eating a little bit. 
* another great massage at the National Academy of Massage. They have a new building and it's beautiful, just like going to the spa!
* finding the perfect picture frame and piece of art for our room at the shore. No more bare walls!
* dinner with Andy @ Totaro's

"If you want something you never had before, you've got to do something you have never done before." - Drina Reed

I have gratitude today for...
* Jess & John giving me a ride to Montage Mountain in Scranton
* having a good time tailgating with some people I just met today

* meeting up with Katie's friend Tim since he was at the show alone and didn't know anyone to tailgate with.
* Jess sitting in front of us at Farm Aid 2005 and talking with her about DMB that night. I can't believe we've known each other for almost 5 years because we've never spent a lot of time together. I had such a great time getting to know her better today, and I'm really glad I gave her my email address at Farm Aid so we could stay in touch. 
* being able to sit with Jess & John for the whole show and dancing with Jess the whole night!
* such an awesome show tonight. I just love this band!
* being able to stay awake the whole way home even though everyone else was sleeping and I was really tired. I didn't want John driving with no one awake for 2 hours, especially because we didn't get out of the lot until almost 1am. 
* the beautiful flowers and card Andy had for me to celebrate 6 1/2 years

"We must be willing to let go of the life we planned so as to have the life that is waiting for us." - E. M. Forester

I have gratitude today for...

* a great lunch with Kelly at The Mission Grill. It was late afternoon by the time we got there so the place was empty, but the food was excellent and we had a nice time.
*walking around Philly with Kelly, and finding the Phanatic in LOVE park. 

* finding a single (lower pavillion) ticket for tomorrow night's DMB show in Scranton for $75

* dinner with Andy, Kelly & Alex at Spasso. Great food, good laughs and no parking tickets!

"Our prime purpose in this life is to help others. And if you can't help them, at least don't hurt them." -The Dalai Lama

I am grateful today for...
* finally attempting to start P90X. I bought it in November and I haven't had the confidence to even try it. It was really hard, but at least I got a taste of what it's like. 
* finding out I don't have to work on Wed. so I was able to make plans to go home for the rest of the week. I feel bad that Andy is there by myself so much.
* watching "It's Complicated" with Mrs. Roth. 

“If you want to be happy, be.” -Leo Tolstoy

I have gratitude today for...
* getting a good night's sleep last night
* the beautiful weather today
* Andy being able to go fishing with Chris and his cousins
* my trip to the library with Edie
* my time at the beach with all of the kids and Kem & Christa
* the Phillies winning their 4th game in a row, woo hoo. 
* the 69th Street crew visiting us tonight
* a nice relaxing evening with Andy
* Dumb & Dumber being on TBS tonight. It's the only movie I know every word to. Watching it brought back some great memories and of course made me laugh. 

“What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.” -Oliver Wendell Holmes

I have gratitude today for...
* the great teamwork Andy, Kelly & I had this morning to get a lot of work done in a short amount of time
* being able to figure out how to print the invitations and for them coming out just like I imagined.
* the fun time we had at Leslie & Terry's house tonight. We only intended on staying for a little while and ended up there for dinner and the entire (12 innings) Phillies game. 
* Joe treating all of us to Mack's Pizza. I ate more than I care to share...
* for the sun coming out in time for Erin & Jeff's wedding ceremony. Although Andy & I weren't there I was thinking of them all day and I'm so glad the weather cleared up. 

“Spread love everywhere you go. Let no one ever come to you without leaving happier.” -Mother Theresa

I have gratitude today for...
* Kelly helping me clean this morning and for being a trooper since she partied a little too much with her girls in Sea Isle last night :-)
* enjoying the afternoon with my sis floating in the bay, listening to music, reading magazines and snacking. 
* the invitations for Kerry's shower arriving in the mail so I can get them printed and mailed this weekend.
* talking with Kerry this afternoon, she made me feel better about a lot of things
* the nice dinner I made tonight and sitting around the table talking and laughing with Kelly & Andy
* getting all of the envelopes for the shower addressed. 

“Be the change that you want to see in the world.” -Mohandos Gandhi

I have gratitude today for...
* getting a lot of odds and ends on my To Do list finished this morning
* my trip at the courthouse in Stone Harbor. I went to fight a $55 parking ticket (which in the end was only cut to $40) but I tried to find something to take away from the experience. A grown woman was there with her husband that had been charged with stealing a $25 chair from a local store; that decision will cost her $500-$1,000 and her dignity. Several Mexican-American men were there fighting various traffic violations and it made me realize how difficult it must be to speak limited English. I do believe that when people move to the US, they are obligated to learn English. However, I appreciate how difficult it must be to try to learn a new language as an adult. To handle something as simple as a traffic violation when you understand very little about the laws (and speak poor English) must be frustrating. 
* my time at the beach this afternoon. I read some more of "The Omnivore's Dilemma" and closed my eyes for a few minutes while I listened to the ocean and enjoyed the late afternoon sunshine. 
* drinks and appetizers with Jeff & Stacy, their boys, and Mrs. Roth. We had a nice time talking and spending some time together before their vacation ends this weekend. 
* the yummy Nemo's pizza we got for dinner. 
* watching the movie "Love Happens". I actually thought it was a pretty decent movie and I'm glad I gave it a chance. 
* having the courage to write an email to the two other bridesmaids in the bridal party with me, of one of my best friends, about some things that have been bothering me. 

"Everything happens for a reason, people change so that you can learn to let go, things go wrong so you can appreciate them when they're right, and sometimes good things fall apart so better things can come together." -Marilyn Monroe

I have gratitude today for...
* finally attempting yoga by doing two Exercise TV yoga videos this morning
* making myself do a 5mi. bike ride even though it was blistering hot outside
* spending the afternoon working on my blog and catching up on emails
* my trip to the Avalon library. I got a few books I've wanted to read for a long time like The Road & Angela's Ashes for .50 each. 
* watching The Road (the movie.) I still want to read the book because I feel like there is no way the movie included everything from the book, but it was well done and I enjoyed the story. 
* the Edy's slow-churned ice cream Andy bought me so I only feel half as bad for eating a small hot fudge sundae tonight (I'm addicted!)
* my parents celebrating their 31st Wedding Anniversary today. Kelly & I are lucky to have parents who love each other so much and who have made it work through the difficult times. We grew up with so many friends who had divorced parents and I've always been thankful that our parents have stayed married.

"Listen to your life. All moments are key moments." -Frederick Buechner

I have gratitude today for...
* Andy having off today, yay for long weekends!
* floating in the bay again from 8th St. back to our house, the water felt great!
* finding out I passed the Praxis II exams! I can't even put into words how relieved I am. I usually have a lot of confidence in myself but this time I really thought I didn't pass. The reaction from friends & family meant a lot to me, so many people had faith that I passed. For that reason it made me even more excited that I did it. 

* Happy Hour with Lisa, Leslie, Terry, Tim, Andy & Mom Roth at our house and then dinner and drinks at The Princeton

"I find it fascinating that most people plan their vacations with better care than they do their lives." -Jim Rohn

I have gratitude today for...
* getting up early this morning 
* having a good time on the float again today, it's sooo hot!
* going to 8th street and "floating" with Andy back to our house. We were going against the current so it ended up being quite a good workout
* Jeff sharing his nachos from Tortilla Flats, they were a great afternoon snack. 
* watching The Office and taking some rest time after floating
* a nice BBQ dinner with Jeff, Megan, Andy & Mom Roth
* the movie The Hurt Locker. Andy and I watched it tonight and it did such a great job portraying how admirable our soldiers are. We're all complaining about the heat this week---this is what it's like for our soldiers everyday in Iraq. I can't even imagine living the life of a soldier, I am grateful for the men and women that keep us safe everyday. 

“We are driven by five genetic needs: survival, love and belonging, power, freedom, and fun.” -William Glasser

I have gratitude today for...
* the freedoms we are all blessed with everyday in this country. While there are many things that need fixing in the US, we have so much more than people that don't even have the simplest of freedoms in other countries.
* the big 8 person party raft we used today in the bay, so much fun!
* our traditional burgers & dogs dinner to celebrate July 4th!
* going to the fireworks on the beach with Andy, Jeff, Megan & James. (Poor Jeffrey is sick.) We had a fun time watching James mesmerized by the fireworks in the sky. 

* the yummy hot fudge sundaes Megan & I had tonight after the fireworks
  

"There is no such thing in anyone's life as an unimportant day." -Alexander Woollcott

I have gratitude today for...
* fun times jet skiing today with Andy & his cousins
* the BBQ at Brian's house with the whole Avalon gang

* hanging out on the deck having drinks with Andy, Matt, Tim, Albert & Julia
* going to The Princeton tonight and not having to pay cover

* a beautiful sky tonight at the beach after the bar. All of the stars were so beautiful! 

"Life is the sum of all your choices." -Albert Camus

I have gratitude today for...
* getting through our two cleaning jobs today--I was exhausted and slightly hungover
* a lazy, sleepy day on the couch 
* our BBQ chicken dinner @ 5pm, early-bird style. 

"A thousand words will not leave so deep an impression as one deed." -Henrik Ibsen

I have gratitude today for...
* figuring out how to fold up the damn Outback Porta Privy. If you've never seen one of these they are great for tailgating and camping but are extremely difficult to fold up. We had to shove it in Andy's car last night and we bent the coils so trying to put it back today was a pain. I finally did it though, I wasn't giving up!
* finding invitations that we all like for Kerry's shower
* the beautiful weather we're having, especially because concerts are miserable when it's too hot
* Jeff P. giving me a ride to the show
* going to the hotel before the lots to hang out with Julie, Henry, Craig, Debbie & Susan at the pool
* Andy (just barely) getting there in time for the show to start (and finding on street parking so we didn't have to pay twice for parking tonight!)
* the awesome set tonight. It was one of those shows that remind me why I absolutely (still) love DMB!