Thanksgiving Leftovers

Susan Sarah here, hoping you all (or "y'all," as even we true-bred Yankees learn to say once we live close to the Mason-Dixon line) - had a lovely Thanksgiving holiday filled with good moments, good food, good company. And for those who don’t celebrate this American holiday, I hope your weekend was lovely anyway!

A quickie blog today –  we Wenches, and we readers of Wenchly works, don’t always have time to read long posts, especially on Mondays following long weekends, when we're busy catching up with the usual routines. The bigger holidays are coming soon, Christmas and Hanukkah and whatever you may celebrate, so these next weeks will be crazy-busy for all of us. I pledge shorter posts - sometimes the author needs 'em, too.

For a few moments, sit back and sip your tea or coffee, and stick with me on this -- Thanksgiving is past now, but it’s a time when we are reminded everywhere – ads, headlines, even the fortune cookies we open when we’re ordering Chinese cuz it’s too much trouble to cook – we’re reminded to give thanks … so we pause, look around at family and friends, at tables filled with goodies, with wonderful foods prepared by people we love … it’s a time when, theoretically at least, we look inside ourselves a bit, and think about what we’re grateful for in our lives. How many of us actually do stop to take those moments? Well it’s okay, we all mean well, and mean to do it.  I know I do, even when I don’t always find the time.

We did take time this year, at our big fancy Turkey Day table. We each said something, and sincerely so, about what we're thankful for. It was nice to share, and even better, it was brief -- my four guys (sons and DH) aren’t into sentimentalism, and neither am I. We do know what we like and we know what we love, and it was more than just a succulent turkey (and great dressing and everything else, if I do say so myself) … and we were very glad, this holiday, to be together and all is well. We’ve had a rough year and are looking forward to improvements and lucky breaks. So last Thursday afternoon, we were happy to have each other, and to be together on what was a sunny and quiet day, with just a few family members (another thing to be grateful for -- a family gathering with minimal fuss and muss!). And it was nice to have great leftovers to share with other family members who dropped by.  All part of a good, satisfying Thanksgiving.

So today in my quickie blog, I'd like to share some leftover Thanksgiving thanks-givings with you all. Here's a wee list of what I’m grateful for, Wench-wise:

1) I’m feeling grateful … for family, for friends, for our doggie too, for books, for the stories, for the readers, and for the chance to do and be what I really want to do and be in my life
2) … so grateful to be part of this loverly, clever, classy and talented bunch of Wenches!
3) … and that I get to blog on a Monday - I so often end up with Fridays! woohoo!
4) … that my new Sarah Gabriel novel will be out this January -- trust me, it’s always a relief, and a treat, to see that next book in the stores ... and the trade edition of Lady Macbeth will be out in the spring, another long wait soon over, and another nice feeling 
5) … that this week I made progress on my WIP about Margaret of Scotland, plus revised two proposals for new novels that I’m really looking forward to writing
6) …  that dh and I got outside before the rain to get a bazillion leaves raked up, sucked up and bagged, too 
7) …  that years ago I read like mad, crazy voracious reading habit, everything I could get my hands on, because all that reading was helping to shape me into a writer, whether or not I knew it (I didn’t, for a long time)
8) …  that I am a published writer now, because it’s a privilege to be able to do something you love, and what, even get paid for it!
9)  … and I’m grateful for the readers who love the books, and who love the blog, and lend their support and their opinions, and make this writing thang so much more interesting and far less lonely

If you feel inclined, please let us know what you're feeling good about today. It seems like a very good way to start the week after Thanksgiving. Then we can all go back to being in a normal Monday mood ...  ;) 

BOOK GIVEAWAY for someone who posts what they're grateful for, even the eensiest thing -- an advanced reading copy of THE HIGHLAND GROOM! We'll pick a random name, and who knows --  you could have yet another shiny new book on your TBR pile!

Before I go, I'll indulge a quick spot of shameless promotion: my newest novel will be available in January 2009 (only weeks away now!) …  I'll tell you more about that in my next blog or two.

And -- this is cool!! -- You can read an excerpt of THE HIGHLAND GROOM on Avon’s website on their “Love Gives Back” page. They’ve posted a couple of chapters of the new book to share with readers, and they’re posting an entire novel of mine, KEEPING KATE – this one will be available online for a very short time for this special Avon promotion. The book can be read online only, and only until Dec. 23.

It’s a great way to spend a lunch hour or spare time here and there – enjoy! And every page that’s read online will help contribute toward Avon’s donation of books to literacy --  so click and read, and spread the word!

Susan Sarah

Comments

[SpindleRose]

I am thankful for the 100,000 frequent flier miles I earned this year. They have made last minute trip planning so much easier during a rough year.

[Lori Ann]

There are so many things that I am grateful for: my family, my friends, and my dog. I love my job, but I love vacation days even more. I am grateful for chocolate, great books, great authors, sunny days, the internet, cars, etc.

[Gretchen F]

I have a home of my own, and enough money to make the payments and cover utilities. I am in reasonably good health fo my age ( only 3 pills a day, and one of them is a vitamin.) My 14 year old car starts right up every morning, and gets me to work on time. I have all my family close by, and we get together for every holiday or special occasion. I have the greatest job in the world, teaching art grade K-8. And I live in a place where I'm free to worship, travel, read, speak, and think as I like. I am thankful for all of it- my life is really blessed!

[Helen]

I am grateful for my wonderful family and the fact that 2 of my daughters are due to have babies on 13th Dec and I can't wait to cuddle my new grandchildren, I am really excited about having 4 weeks holidays from work from this Friday so as I can spend some time with my new grandchildren I also love the fact that get to read some wonderful stories by authors that take me to some fantastic places.

Have Fun
Helen

[liz m]

This is going to sound self serving, but I'm grateful I was able to sponsor 5 kids at the Angel Tree this year - we normally do a dozen and last year we could do none (myself especially). I've been poor in my life, and I know what a huge difference programs like this make to kids. Times are tough, and it's driven my brother back to college, which I am also grateful for. Mostly, I'm just grateful to be looking at upcoming good health and stable, fully adequate (if not abundant) finances. There's other things, but what meant the most to me this year was less time in the ward and more time in the world.

[Maureen]

I am grateful for my husband, children, parents, siblings and all other family members and, of course, our two kittens that we adopted this past summer.

[kathy kremer]

I am grateful that when the semester is over, grades are posted, I have a break from the madness. I may even have time to read some Wenchly works.

[Janice]

I still have family. I'm as free as I want to be. There's nothing stopping me from doing something except me. I live in a country where anything is possible and anything can happen. Life is still full of surprises and not all of them are unpleasant.

I also give thanks for the existence of David Tennant as I just like looking at his funny face.

[Eva]

I am grateful for my family, friends and good books!

[JudiDW]

Just my immediate family at the Thanksgiving table this year and we too went around and said what we were grateful for. Although I moan about the economy being in the toilet and the fact that college and retirement will be difficult now, I am still very grateful that I am far better off than many: my husband and I both have stable, reasonably well-paying jobs, and a mortgage we can afford. Best of all, I'm thankful for my two beautiful daughters--even if they make fun of me for reading romance novels!

[Susan Sarah]

OH such nice posts - it's wonderful to read them! :)
thanks ~ Susan Sarah

[willaful]

My son just told me he was too full to finish his dessert and put it back. Having absolutely no concept of "too full for sweets" myself, I am very grateful that he seems to have acquired this one somehow.

[Laura]

From Sherrie:
Susan/Sarah, a sincerely heartfelt thank you for your post! We so need to take time now and then to reflect on the things that make us grateful. I am especially glad you came up with this post so soon after another writer (Susan Wiggs) made a commitment to post 3 things she was grateful for every day on her blog (The View From Here) from 11/1 through Thanksgiving. I participated in her Gratitude Project and posted my 3 things every day, along with several of her other blog readers. It really set the tone for the coming holiday, and now I am continuing to do so, writing down my 3 things every day in a notebook.

What am I grateful for? It would take years, I think, to list them all, but I'll restrain myself to the biggies. I am grateful for music, without which my life would be incomplete.

I am grateful for unexpected moments of grace, like the DOT worker mowing the highway median with his huge machine, and mowing AROUND a patch of wildflowers, or the kind stranger and his son in the parking lot who offered to help load heavy items into my car from my shopping cart, or my cat who stood on his hind feet and reached his arms up to me to be picked up, just the way a child does.

With the economy the way it is, I am grateful that my house and car were paid off years ago, and that I have no outstanding debts. I am grateful that I can be self-employed and work from home, and that I have the most wonderful clients in the world (including the Word Wenches!)

I am grateful every time someone does something stupid, because it makes me realize I'm not the only one who does stupid things, and that doing something stupid isn't the end of the world.

I am grateful for the Internet, which has broadened my horizons, my knowledge, and my friendship base. And now I will end this post before it goes on forever!

[liz m]

Sherrie - I am frequently a complete idiot (it's true, ask anyone!) so you may rest assured that your bases are covered in that department!! I can be anyone's cover!

You just have to laugh right? I'm adding another grateful - Valerie Plame on WWDTM today. Really, really funny.

[Maggie Robinson]

Beautiful post. I'm grateful I get to be part of the life of my 14 month old granddaughter and watch her grow and giggle. She's just better than anything!

[Susan Sarah]

Sherrie sez:
>

LOL!! That's true for me too!

I didn't know Susan Wiggs had posted about gratitude - nice to be in such good company. Susans think alike. *g*

Such lovely comments and thoughts, thank you for the smiles this morning! :)

Susan Sarah

[Susan Sarah]

This didn't copy over in my last post, so I'll try again ...

Sherrie sez:
"I am grateful every time someone does something stupid, because it makes me realize I'm not the only one who does stupid things, and that doing something stupid isn't the end of the world."

LOL, that's true for me too!!

Susan, who stoopidly used carat brackets instead of quotes, which meant the quote didn't copy ....

[Linda Banche]

What I'm grateful for? I have 3 weeks of vacation at Christmas, thanks mainly to year-end plant shutdown and vacation I have to take. I've never had 3 weeks in a row off my entire working life. I'm going to spend the time wallowing in romance novels, including "The Highland Groom", because it'll be out then.

e-readers are lucky Avon put up "Keeping Kate". I loved both the hero and heroine in that book.

[cyclops8]

I'm grateful for my family, friends and that we're still able to make rent and buy Christmas presents for each other.

[theo]

I am so grateful for a husband who loves me and who is the exact opposite of my dad (who I loved, but was an alcoholic), two daughters who, though they try me often, (and some of you here know how much) still call me mommy sometimes. Even though they're 22 and 20 now.

I'm grateful that the DH has a job with a company that's diversified enough that the 137 pages of 9pt font in the Detroit News last Sunday that was devoted to foreclosures here (and that was just ONE county) probably won't affect us as far as him not having a job.

I'm thankful for the many friends I've made here and at a few other sites/blogs. I have no close friends near me, so you're all my lifeline to sanity. Well...sanity is all in how you look at it I suppose.

And a shameless pat on the back for me...I was missing for three weeks trying to do revisions on my ms for the Golden Heart contest, which I got done and mailed last Wednesday, and which the post office tried to deliver on Saturday when no one is there and then held it all day yesterday at the post office. I went to bed last night crying that I'd miss the deadline and learned it was delivered, so I made it.

And I have a list of a thousand more things, but I'll leave it at this.

:)

[Laura]

Oh, Theo, dearest, how tragic to do all that work on your GH entry and then to think it was all for naught. I'm so sorry you had to cry over something that didn't need crying over, but I'm so glad it got delivered by the deadline after all. Congrats on something to be very proud of.

[Fedora]

I'm especially thankful for my family, and for the long weekend in which we could all do nothing :) And thanks for the reminder to be counting our blessings, Susan!

[theo]

Thanks, Sherrie. It was pretty devastating for me. Carol Ritter called me though to assure me that one way or another, they'd make sure they got everything from the post office by yesterday midnight and then, the confirmation said it was in fact delivered.

I don't expect great things, but I really wanted the comments and critique! At least I'll know if I'm going in the right direction.

So yeah, might be a little thing in the grand scheme of life, but I'm very thankful for that. :-)

[Lindsay]

My brother was in a car accident early Thursday morning. The car was totaled, but he didn't have a scratch on him. My family and I are very thankful that we didn't spend Thanksgiving planning a funeral.

[Lindsay]

Liz M: I loved your post. A coworker and I adopted two families this year, and I love picking presents out for the kids. I get such a great feeling helping these families who wouldn't have a Christmas at all otherwise.

And theo, congrats!

[Nathalie]

I am grateful that my family is all together,is happy, healthy.

Plus I am grateful that my college years will soon be over!

[Patricia Rice]

What a warm and wonderful post, Susan. Sorry I'm so late replying but I'm still recovering from Thanksgiving. "G" Congrats to all those who made the Golden Heart deadline. That in itself is something to be grateful for--the ability to write an entire book!

I have so many reasons to be thankful that I think I'll promise to quit complaining about all the horrendous things happening with the economy and start doing something about them. I started here:
https://www.alternativegifts.org/cart/

and with our local food pantry.

Good thoughts should multiply!

[theo]

Lindsay and Pat, thanks :D

Did I mention I'm thankful for my family? Well, not today. Today was a total grrrrr, but ordinarily I am ;-)