Things I'm thankful for...

• Having a national holiday that allows me two days worth of sleeping in as late as I want, away from work; and the requisite two nights of staying up until at least 6:45 a.m. playing beer pong, virtual console SNES games, Guitar Hero, and/or Wii Bowling that go along with them.
  
  
• Being a huge, proud, nerd.
  
  
• Diet Coke Plus, so I can feel good about at least one of my addictions...because--hey! At least it's got vitamins!
  
  
• Knowing for absolute certain that there are a select few friends I can never shake, no matter what I throw at them. No matter what.
  
  
• My brother Al being home from Special Forces training for Thanksgiving, which thankfully, my family will be enjoying, just the 5 of us, at our home in Reston.
  
  
• Miranda July's amazing new collection of short stories, "No One Belongs Here More Than You", which has changed my life since I first read it this summer.
  
  
• Music.
  
  
• Living with roommates who love me unconditionally (and vice versa) all the time.
  
  
• Having a comfortable job environment that I rather enjoy, where I am fond of my co-workers, and where I feel like I am making a positive difference in the lives of children/families on a daily basis. And every day is different from the last.
  
  
• Mike Gravel...
  
  
  
• (Simply because Mike Gravel's very existence proves that there is at least one politician of record who thinks--or at least seems to think--the way I do.)
  
  
  
  
  
• And finally for paraphrased Bright Eyes lyrics...for: being part of the mystery--to love and to be loved. And just hoping that's enough.