MEGA-GRATITUESDAYS: Because it's Thanksgiving.

1.  The Sous Chef.  He is my rock, my home, and my soul mate.  He inspires me to be kinder, he challenges me to be more patient, and his laugh makes my heart melt.  He is my everything.

2.  Kim Ludeman.  Her health and fitness soap box is padded with love and understanding.  My relationship with my body is incredibly personal and complex, but I feel completely at ease sharing my experiences with Kim.  She really knows what she's talking about, because she's been there before.  She's been overweight and undermotivated.  She overcame it, and she's paying it forward by helping others get there, too.

3.  Dolce and Cholula.  I know that some may scoff at my intense motherly instincts towards my cats, but they both ignite and fulfill me in a way that can only be described as such.  They are my babies.  End of story.

4.  My laptop.  It allows me to be creative and inspired no matter where I am.  It also allows me to watch YouTube videos in bed.  And after just fourteen more payments, it will be all mine.

5.  A certain office...  This has been one of those lucky, stumble-upon happenings in life that you realize could have very easily gone another way.  I started working at a temp agency to fund my Writing, and this was my first assignment.  Now I love going to work every day (I don't even dread Monday mornings anymore), and if my Writing turns out to have a lower-case "w", I'm totally cool with that.  I just know I'm happy.  For crying out loud, I wore drumsticks on my head all day today and at one point laughed so hard that I cried.  I work at the best place ever!

6.  Alpha, New Jersey.  Because that's where some of my favorite people will be this Thursday.  I'll be there, too, otherwise I wouldn't be nearly as excited.  And by mid-afternoon, after a full day of warming myself next to the boiling-hot fryer, I shall smell like turkey.

7.  97.1 and 101.9 FM.  Because they are already playing Christmas music.  Ho Ho Happy Girl that makes me.