Thankful Thursday (Two Days Early, Again :o)

So, I just couldn't wait until Thursday to be grateful...Today is just absolutely beautiful! I went to my absolute favorite lunch place - Ganesh - and besides having a fabulous lunch buffet, they also have a frequent diner card. If you buy seven lunch buffets you get the eighth one free! How awesome is that! Well, as you can imagine, I frequent their lunch buffet often and today was my seventh time - which means that the next time I go, it's free! I'm really trying hard to limit myself to only going once a week (I know, I know, I need serious help!!) But it's just so wonderful. I take a good book and prop it open on the table and enjoy vegetable pakora, sambar, chicken Tikka Masala, naan, and they have this really good, fiery sauce that I drizzle over the vegetable pakora. Oh, my goodness. It is SO good! The people there are so friendly and keep my water glass full (which is a pet peeve of mine - waiters that leave you high and dry with no water! I tend to drink a lot during my meals.) Have I raved about this place enough yet? I am so thankful for Indian food in general and Ganesh in particular!

When I got home, it was just so gorgeous outside that I took a walk (which is pretty earth-shattering news!) I just couldn't bear to go inside yet. I have to say that I am truly grateful for all of the snow we've had this winter. We really, really needed the moisture. And, with all of the storms, our inversion really didn't get bad this year. Usually you almost can't leave the house without a surgical mask during January because the air is so bad. But, it really never had a chance to set in because the storms just kept cleaning it out. Also, I'm very grateful that my issues with depression and the snow are abating. The winter I started getting sick with Fibromyalgia, we really got hit hard with the snow. I've since equated snow with getting sick and just dread it. But, with all the healing I've been doing, that seems to be healing as well. I've enjoyed the snowstorms this winter (as long as I didn't have to be out in them!) But, even with all that, I must say that I am so ready for Spring. Today there are birds singing. The sun is out. The temperature is very mild (i.e. I'm good with just a sweater.) It's a beautiful thing.

Life truly is good.

Thankful Thursday

Spoiler Alert: In the following post, I discuss details from the Anne of Green Gables series including important plot details. If you haven't read these books (especially the last one, Rilla of Ingleside) and plan on doing so, you might want to skip this post. Fair warning...

I just finished the final book in the Anne of Green Gables series. What a wonderful series of books! The final, eighth book, Rilla of Ingleside, takes place during World War I and is also a beautiful romance. It has prompted so many feelings in me. I cried over Walter - his courage, and beauty. I also cried with joy when Jem came home and was met by faithful Dog Monday. I was proud of Rilla, at how well she grew up and raised her "war-baby." It has also prompted me to ask "where is my Kenneth Ford, my Gilbert Blythe, my Mr. Knightly, or Mr. Darcy? Where is my Prince Charming? That one faithful man who loves me with all his heart? Who fights through a war or typhoid to come back to me, who is willing to patiently teach me to be a better person, who overcomes all obstacles just for the thought of loving me and earning my love in return? I must "keep the faith" as Rilla and "trust to Providence" as Susan and believe that he will come and find me someday.

These books have also highlighted so many things that I am grateful for. I am thankful for good books - for great authors who were willing to share their ideas and talents. I'm thankful for an education and parents who instilled in me a love of reading. I am so thankful that the Fibro-fog has cleared and I've got my brain back! I went through my own "Dark Ages" when the Fibro-fog was so thick that I couldn't swim to the top. I couldn't read because I couldn't focus. I am so thankful that I've come out of that period. I'm thankful for all servicemen of all times who were willing to sacrifice and fight for freedom. I'm so thankful for that freedom that I enjoy now. I'm thankful for my faith to rely on during hard times. There is so much good in the world, so much to be thankful for!

I have several new books I'm looking forward to starting now...the hard part is deciding which one! I recently purchased the second book in the Peter series by Dave Barry. I believe it's Peter and the Shadow Thieves. While purchasing it at Borders, the clerk highly recommended The Lightning Thief. I also have Inkspell to read. My BFF sent me a mystery novel for Christmas that looks intriguing. Angelfish let me borrow North and South and she also gave me Bleak House by Charles Dickens last year for Christmas. Do I go for more juvenile fiction/fantasy? Do I try the classics? (I haven't since I got my brain back...I've been a bit nervous to test it!) So many choices! Actually, I'm thankful for choices! How boring would life be without new things to try and without any choices?