Anti-Kristen

She is the yin to my yang... A thin, blonde, heart on the sleeve true girls girly girl to my fluffy brunette repressed nerdom.

She waited in line with me for five hours today to get a book signed. Her patience was my reward--both in the autograph and five hours of nylon-roped-waiting-line quality time.

I am thankful for my anti-Kristen, my friend Kristin... endless recipes and home improvement ideas and laughter abound when we're together. She has been breaking me down for years, she'll soften me up yet and I'm the better for it.

Swimming Pools

I think in another life I lived in the water… perhaps I was a dolphin or a mermaid or a synchronized swimmer. I love the water, all water really but if I had to prioritize it swimming pools would be at the top of the list.

Lakes are great but weeds, mysterious mucky bottoms and an unpleasant allergy to some lakes with an unknown lake flotsam (damn you Wabedo) taint the experience. Speaking of taint, the iron tinted rusty rocky depths Superior and the Upper Seine taunt me every summer but their size and latitude make for a frigid dip.

Oceans and seas are fantastic. The salty buoyancy and rolling surf open a world of gravity-defying play. However, I watch enough Discovery Channel to be keenly aware of the converse relationship between the depth at which I frolic and my position on the food chain. In short, the deeper I play, the lower the link on the food chain I sit.

Despite being void of nature’s inspiration, I am thankful for swimming pools. They simply alleviate all the above risk. Pools offer visibly clear water, chemically treated and temperature controlled, free of toothed or poisonous predators and unpredicable unforgivable riptides; pools afford easily accessible safe seasonless submersion on-demand.

My Mentor and Friend, Larry

Today I received shocking news. Today I lost my mentor and beloved friend. He died suddenly, barely 53, and I find myself in shock and without words. So, through my 1% tears I tap out an anemic tribute to a tremendous man.

It was because of Larry’s coaching and tutelage that I have my career but more importantly it was because of his support and encouragement that I have my writing—the newsletter that started it all, the blog before you and the someday book.

I think he knew how much he meant to me and how thankful I was to have him and his family as a part of my life.

And how much I’ve learned from him.

And grown because of him.

And how much I will truly miss him.

Simple Math

Where I work there are a lot of agendas, egos and politics. Your garden variety corporate BS. My job is bulldozing past it and executing programs that will either reduce operating expense, deliver top-line growth or deliver on our mission/promise to our customers… That is my agenda. I leave my ego at home and I abhor politics. I’ve learned over time that even the most articulate, logical and well researched position can rarely combat the BS without some shocking or provocative numbers.

Enter simple math. I love simple math, often referred to corporately as “data” or “insights.” (quotes for sarcastic inflection) While on the spot calculations are not my strong suit (that is what God made Excel for) I know how to tell a story. Simple stuff really, my favorite is probably tact rate. If you want to get to ‘x’ by ‘y date’ and you churn out ‘z daily’… you need to increase your rate by 441%. Watch the jaws drop and the troops assemble. Priceless.

I am thankful for simple math and its place in storytelling to influence alignment and decision making. It also plays the perennial bad-cop, after all… I’m not a b*tch, just the messenger. It’s not just useful at the office; simple math is also the secret ingredient to pulling off a juicy turkey and flawless thanksgiving dinner.

Smell

First, understand that I am supremely thankful for all five of my senses. That said, my sense of smell evokes some of the strongest responses—involuntary and voluntary alike.

Just a whiff is all it takes to evoke a memory, and not just a memory but a crystal clear virtual reality-esque involuntary recollection of the moment. Sometimes it is a person, a vacation, a meal, an event and the rest of my body responds in kind. A relaxing event and I can feel my heart rate slow, a meal and I can feel my mouth start to water… An amorous event and I can feel myself blush. It’s really quite amazing to see how it is all connected.

These days the voluntary response manifests mostly in my consumerism. It stands to reason that a girl so thankful for a sense which evokes such a strong response would be… well… persnickety with when voting with her dollars to purchase scented items. Frankly, second to quality, it is a key measure of my brand loyalty. I could go on and on and have been meaning to write that entry for some time, we’ll save it for another time. Back to thankfulness…

I am thankful for my keen sense of smell and the joy I get from processing the memories and emotions linked to it. I am also thankful for some of companies to which I am brand-loyal that once they get a product to the shelves that sells that they simply leave well enough alone and just let us enjoy.

Flannel Sheets

Shorter days and a chill in the air mean “the big change” approaches on Horten Point… The hospital-cornered change to flannel sheets. The soft brushed knap holds the heat and creates a cozy cocoon (a woven to those in the know) that facilitates the long winters nap while the novelty prints nurture my inner child.

Be it a creamy golden khaki studded with snowmen, reindeer and candy canes or something less “festive” like a chocolate brown swirled with creamy white and icy blue snowflakes something about curling into bed bundled in flannel whimsy brings me back to a time when my age was in the single digits. Even though I never had flannel sheets as a kid.

If you’ve read about my love for changing seasons, this detail should come as no surprise. I’m thankful for the warmth and comfort of flannel sheets and how they make me feel inside and out.

My Home

Be it ever so humble there is really no place like home.

After a long day at the office turning toward the home strech I know I'm home when I see the boulder at the end of the street. Then when I open the door and smell the warm air inside... it smells of clean laundry, and whatever candle that I currently love that the bastards at Yankee Candle haven't discontiued yet... sorry, I digress... These days, it is vanilla and mint.

Or reading the paper on a quiet Sunday morning, fire glowing in the fireplace.
Or cooking in the kitchen, preparing for family or friends to visit.
Or setting up the Christmas decorations.
Or completing the deep spring or fall clean.
Or daydreaming of the courtyard redo.

I am so thankful for the quiet, calming cozy townhouse I call home.

Coffee

It is more than just a caffeine delivery mechanism. I love coffee so much, I drink decaf a lot of the time. Coffee is morning in a cup. A complex, multifacted symphony of flavors to awaken all five of the senses.

Sound--crushing beans with a crunching whining growl, the grinder signals the process is underway.

Smell--wafting through through the rooms, the filtering drip teases me with the prospect of advance cup.

Sight--mixing the perfect creamy shade of brown, the cream primes the cup with a small sploosh.

Touch--feeling the warmth of the mug in hand, the heat is so comforting I hold it with two hands.

Taste--savoring the nuance of each flavor, the first sip is a welcome companion in greeting the morning or finishing off a dessert.

Today, my favorite seasonal roast, Caribou Coffee's Reindeer Blend, emerged from its ten month nap. I'm thankful for coffee; not just the flavor, the ritual or even sometimes the pick-me-up of the caffeine but the social society that exists among coffee drinkers and special ring in the phrase "meeting for coffee."

Music

I've hinted at it a couple of times and so this constitutes my official post proclaiming how thankful I am for music.

Let it should be known that I am not musically inclined at all. It is a foreign language that I cannot seem to decipher. I have a good enough ear to do the holiday carols justice in the comfort of a group but other than that, I'm purely a private solo act. This alone amplifies my appreciation.

I love most kinds of music, and what I don't love I don't 'get' which is okay... It is an art for and therefore subject to taste and subjectivity.

The power of music is an amazing thing. Its ability to set or shift a mood, trigger a memory, or inspire any range of movements from a simple to tap to a full out boogie.

Music Accessories

I love music and my Susan Boyle post, while accurate, was a bit of a fatigued 'phone in.' I'll expound on music later... but today it's all about the accessories. If I had two children... I'm certain I would not be able to articulate which one I love more. I know this because I have both an iPod Touch and Sirius Satellite Radio and there are days where I am truly torn between them.

Do I play the musical version of Russian roulette and shuffle the iPod collection or play one of my custom tailored playlists to create or punctuate the exact mood I'm shooting for? Or do I turn it over to the science provided to me by my good friends at Apple and roll with a series of Genius picks... Play lists computer generated based on one song selection reconciled to the remaining songs available on the device. Oh, decisions decisions.

Or... if I'm rolling down the road do I hit the gloriously commerical-free satellite airwaves and broadened my horizons with some new music or a specific decade or genre (jazz, heavy metal, acoustic)? Perhaps the collection of just one artist (Sinatra, Elvis, Springsteen). Politics, news, humor or Martha Stewarts timely turkey tips--over 100 stations to choose from.

Living in the information age and a fan of technology I am thankful for the gadgetry and personalization that allows me to have what ever music I want near me anytime I have a free ear.

Sushi and its Supply Chain

Day 11 of 30 Days of Thankful

I love fine food and a good a meal. Sushi is a special favorite of mine, probably because I don't have it very frequently... Not many of my friends share my love of sushi.

Tonight, I came across some of the best sushi I've ever had at Seven. The flavor and texture were perfect and so fresh I swear I could still smell and taste the ocean. I began to think about the journey of this fish from sea to plate and all of the people who made it happen. I'm sure yellow slicker clad Gorton's Fisherman has plenty of automation to churn out fish-bits as sticks; a level of automation that sushi grade just would not tolerate.

The fact that I can safely consume raw fish whenever my heart desires in spite of the fact that I live landlocked in the middle of the country is a little luxury that I am thankful for. Giving thanks from gill to tail, the supply chain that ferries the fish to my community and the fine restaurateurs who slice, wrap and roll a delicious, artful tradition from the far east to the plates of the midwest.

Susan Boyle

Day 10 of 30 Days of Thankful

That unassuming little Scotswoman give me chills every time I hear her sing. I'm thankful for the gift that she's been given and that she finally found a forum to share it.

Drinking Water

Fresh delicious drinking water flowing freely from our taps is something we likely take for granted in an industrialized nation until it pours out of our spigots smelling like chlorinated swamp.

My parents are currently enduring this very same public works debacle and I feel for them. Similarly, a year or so ago, the water in my corporate high-rise of employment began to taste the like the murky sludge at the bottom of the Mississippi... not good at all. Fortunately a teammates' husband is a water distributor and now for about $2.50 a month per person our team shares in the glub-glug of a good old fashioned water cooler.

I've become a bit of a connoisseur of water over the years and also a vigilant hydrator. That combination makes me immensely thankful for the readily available access I have to bright, refreshing drinking water (Eagan tap plus a Brita) and how good it makes me feel when I am fully hydrated.

The Men and Women of our Armed Forces

Day 8 of 30 Days of Thankful

I don't care much for war and our current war is mired in politics that will quickly steer my editorial far afield from my thankful focus. That said, regardless of the back story to any military action it is the men and women on the front lines that deliver on the orders, carry out the mission and accept the personal risk.

Today, in honor of Veteran's Day, the fine fellows on the Fox NFL Sunday Pre-Game show broadcast from Afghanistan and the faces of the front-lines were brought into my living room. These men and women in uniform peppered the commentators with questions about their favorite teams and players with a normalcy that astonished and humbled me.

Thankful as both a term and sentiment falls short for expressing my appreciation of the men and women who have committed their time and accepted the risk to their life and limb to protect not only American freedoms but the freedom and human rights of people around the globe. For the troops--active, veterans, and the missing and fallen--and their families, I am thankful.

Minnesota Seasons and Weather

Day 7 of 30 Days of Thankful.

Today was one of those perfect fall days that if you could order up, you'd order a dozen. Through my ear to ear smile as I was puttering around in the garage I realized how thankful I am for our four distinct seasons that set the scene for Minnesota living.

Winter: The sharp white canvas of snow highlights all the color of the holidays while the long cold march toward March provides the perfect excuse for catching up on reading, movies, red wine, board games... or skiing/ snowboarding/ snowshoeing if that that's your thing.

Spring: Longer days give way to melting snow and as the air warms the damp smell of spring hits the air and people emerge from their hibernation. Signs of life return to the landscape in the form of crocuses, daffodils, and tulips. By the time the lilacs bloom you know summer is just around the corner.

Summer: As the temperature rises the smell of spring subsides and is replaced by the smells of summer; storms, grills and fresh cut grass. The dry skin of winter becomes supple again with liberal application of bug spray and sunscreen. Boats and bikes abound and outdoor seating is a premium worth the wait list. Invariably the summer heat and humidity get to a point where you pray for the relief that only a change in seasons can deliver--enter fall.

Fall: The heat breaks and the fall breezes swish away the summer haze and begin to rustle the leaves. Deep green canopies slowly change to jeweled tones of red, gold and orange. The days get shorter and cool fall evenings scented with bonfires and apple cider are lit by the glow of jack-o-lanterns and you squeeze out every last bit of each outdoor moment knowing the winter veil will soon descend.

I'm thankful for the distinct seasons and temperate weather that serves as the backdrop for the multitude of activities that make up Minnesota; I truly believe that the extremes are key to our appreciation of the those perfect blue-bird days.

...Not mention the weather is our universal conversation starter for those awkward, repressed elevator and waiting line pleasantries.

My Niece Sophie

Day 6 of 30 days of Thankful

Today, I got to spend the day with my niece, Sophie. She is a little over two and a whole lotta fun. We had a rare sunny, warm November day, we even got to play outside running in the grass and blowing and chasing bubbles.

Her personality is starting to take shape and she is very observant and she loves to sing and dance and color and read books. I just can't get enough of her sweet little voice when she sings and talks and tells stories I am completely enthralled. Her face is my favorite subject for photography, it is very expressive and often the shutter snaps enough photos that a person could use her changing expressions as a flip book.

I am thankful for the time Sophie and I get to spend together and thankful to be a part of her life--I can't wait to see what comes next.

A Good Cry

From a pure data standpoint tracking gross tear production as a measure I suppose it could be said that I cry a lot which, again speaking only technically, I suppose is true. Although, if you bucket the tears into thematic categories and graph the distribution you'll clearly see that I am not a huge cryer in the "she's a cryer" traditional sense of the term.



The vast majority of my tears are from laughter or empathy but occasionally I am angered, frustrated, minimized, hurt and/or all of the above to the point I just need the release and reset that a good cry can provide.

Today, I was thankful for the warm salty tears that streamed down my cheeks and washed the work week away while I navigated the commute home. Today, I was thankful for a good cry.

Julie, my BFF

I was going to wait until her birthday or until the third Thursday of the month (our standing date) but I just don't think I can hold out until then.

Julie and I met in 1995 when we both worked in real estate. We hit it off and became fast friends and the adventures ensued. We've grown together, took a break and grew while we were apart and when we reconnected, we picked up where we left off.

Julie probably knows me better than anyone and I am so very thankful for every adventure we've had and inevitable bouts of laughter. If our friendship had a soundtrack there would be 10-15 soundbites and then a series of laugh tracks. I just plain love her.

Some of Julie is always with me and even when I'm alone and something strikes me as funny I mutter "standing." I hope everyone is blessed enough to have a Julie... not mine though, get your own.

My Hair Stylist Bonnie

On average, I get a haircut every 8-10 weeks and similarly I average about one compliment per week about my hair... And what girl doesn't like compliments on her appearance. Not this girl, bring it.

My Bonnie story is one of those small world stories. I was getting a hair cut after Bush "won" the election in 2000. My stylist at the time as an adorable young fellow at a chic Aveda salon downtown, he was also a staunch republican. His politics did not typically effect his performance but he was so lathered up over the burgeoning legal battles in Florida to settle the election he took it out on my coif. I left the salon looking the unholy love child of Dorothy Hamill and Moe from the Three Stooges.

After a couple weeks of trying to make it work I booked the earliest appointment at a nearby salon. An appointment with Bonnie. I arrived at the salon to see a familiar face. Bonnie Wibbles whose locker was next to mine all through high-school

She's been doing my hair, and that of a few friends since then. She's also a friend a my partner in sushi adventures. I'm thankful for Bonnies steady hand and her eye for symmetry when it matters and when it doesn't.

Laughter

Mine and those around me... and all innumerable different kinds of laughter,

It doesn't matter why or who or the topic. I love to laugh and I love being a part of others laughter.

I am so very thankful for my splendid sense of humor that allows me to laugh my way through or find some humor in most everything that comes my way. Additionally, I'm supremely thankful for my clever mind, quick wit and sense of comedic timing--a double dip of nature and nurture means there are usually a few chuckles in store for those I roll with as well.

Thirty Days of Thankful--Hut Hut Hike

In honor of my favorite holiday and the true sentiment behind it (I'm not just a fiend for turkey) I'm endeavoring to blog every day during the month of November and each entry will feature what I'm top of mind thankful for.

Football
I have memories of my childhood watching the Sunday game with my Dad. The Purple Pride was in their hey-day and playing football outdoors.

Nowadays, I watch my football solo steeped in Sunday rest. I also watch fantasy football players perform or fail me--more failing me than performing this year... but at least the Vikes are on a streak. (Yay falls oh so very short)

I love this time of year and am thankful for the only major league sport I follow that punctuates it and thankful for the time it means with friends at draft parties ahead of the season and smack talk to start the last 16 weeks of the year.