It’s THE WEEKEND. Almost. I’m ending this week on a good note, which is to say, an I am thankful list, something we haven’t done around here in a while, much to my chagrin. I just got so busy standing on chairs to take pictures of food and inundate you with iPhone pics of the beach and stuff. Anyways, here are the things that I am thankful for today, some trivial, some legitimate, all true.
I am thankful for Chinese takeout. Both James and I grew up in the country, so neither of us is used to actually having food we order show up at our house. I still forget that it’s a thing sometimes, and then we remember to do it and it is THE MOST EXCITING THING EVER. What is this dark magic that brings awesome cheap food to the door??? I don’t even know, but I love it. I also don’t actually trust it so I get paralyzed with fear the entire time we wait. Usually, we try to eat pretty healthy. But there is just nothing like some partially congealed Americanized Chinese takeout every now and then. Plus, when we order out, I can do what I am always too timid to do in the restaurant: only order random sides. Yes, I really do want dinner to just be a giant order of crab rangoon and several egg rolls. No, I don’t care that there are absolutely no nutrients in that combination. I am thankful for gluttonous evenings in where we get to throw away all the dishes and eat on the couch.
I am thankful for this weather we’ve been having in DC. It is UNREAL. I’m pretty sure the looming government shutdown is actually so that everyone can go outside and pick apples and stuff. Today is a little humid, a slightly living-in-a-dishwasher feeling like usual, but in general, it’s been gorgeous. I am so thankful that fall is here.
I am thankful for colored pants. Since I own an impressive number of nautical neutrals (navy and stripes), I wear a lot of colored pants. Remember how colored jeans were a thing in elementary school, and then we entered a long sad stretch of boring denim that lasted until just a couple years ago? And then BANG — the rainbow exploded and we all started thinking that mint, plum, chartreuse, and gold jeans were acceptable? I love that. I had secretly rooted for them to come back for years, and I am so happy every time I open my closet and see a stack of perky colored pants. My go-to pair is red, but I also have teal and mustard yellow, and I’m in the market for a good purple pair. Thank you, Oh Fashion gods, for bringing this one back.
I am thankful for our bikes. In case you just dropped in here for the first time, let me cut to the chase: I really, really love DC. But I feel lately like I didn’t even really know it till we got bikes. Now, we can take on this whole city, all the while being fit and eco friendly and stuff. I am so thankful for this new (and free!) way that we can enjoy life here. (I would also like to add, that I am so thankful for my older brother who built both James’ and my little brother’s bike and drove them up here. Family with crazy random skills FOR THE WIN.)
I am thankful for Shakespeare. Confession: despite my life choice of being a student of French literature, I am actually a closet English major. I love Shakespeare. I know everyone says that, and it sounds cliché, but I just don’t even care. How could you not??? That man KNOWS WORDS. The rest of us just pretend to speak English. Last weekend James and I went to go see Measure for Measure and I have been mulling over the words since then, digging out my old college notes and books to soak in his poetry. You know how we like to say today that there just “aren’t words for” something? That’s a lazy lie. Shakespeare would have found them. And they would have been in iambic pentameter. So there. Of course, I can’t find them, so I’m just thankful that he already wrote a beautiful and true expression of almost anything that could be felt or experienced.
I am thankful for my job. Somedays, it makes me want to shove pencils in my eyes. But, even on those days, I am thankful for the ladies (and the one outnumbered man) that I share an office with. We have manicure Mondays, weekly dinners, constant chatter and encouragement, and I am so thankful for all that.
I am thankful for all of you who read here. For your comments, your emails, your texts, your encouragement — especially when I blog angsty thoughts like yesterday’s. Your words mean so much.
I am thankful for my boys. Obviously, you are pretty tired of hearing how thankful I am for that awesome husband of mine. But let me gush just a little bit about my other boy, that baby brother of mine who is all grown up and an economist (yeah, like it says that on his business card… WHEN DID HE GET OLD ENOUGH TO HAVE ONE OF THOSE??). James and I hate being far from family, and we loved having his brother around a lot this summer. Having my little brother living here is more fun than I ever could have imagined when we were little and he irritatingly tried to play with my friends. We do family dinner at least once a week and last night he cooked. As I was cleaning up, I couldn’t stop thinking on how thankful I am for the fullness that family brings to our lives. These boys… they’re just the best.
What are you thankful for today?
The Art in Life 
Shakespeare makes any week a little bit brighter 🙂 Hope your weekend is restful and wonderful!
I’m thankful for posts reminding me to be thankful for the funny, odd stuff. 🙂
Hooray for colored pants! Inspired at least in part by your profile picture on the blog, I am wearing mustard yellow cords. They make life and the process of moving myself across the country infinitely brighter!!
I couldn’t be prouder. : )
Yes, yes, and yes!! Here’s to colored pants, the appreciation for beautiful word composition (someone else’s, obviously, not my own), and beautiful fall weather.
Oh and YES to the Chinese takeout. I too grew up in the country so takeout simply didn’t happen. Then I moved to a 10 million person city in China. That delivery Yang Zhou chi fan put some weight on me, but it was worth every blessed pound!
I am craving an eggroll just reading this… and it is 10:30 in the morning. Is that gross??
I’m a little late coming to the “I love Shakespeare” party (and I was an English major–gasp!), but I’ve been making up for it over the last few months. Did you know that PBS is know showing Richard II and the Henry plays over the next few weeks? Richard II is now online (http://www.pbs.org/wnet/gperf/episodes/the-hollow-crown-shakespeares-history-plays/full-episode-richard-ii/1855/) and Henry IV airs tonight. I thoroughly & geekily enjoyed Richard II last week–and no, this random nerdy comment was not sponsored by PBS. 😉
It’s ok, James isn’t the biggest Shakespeare fan and I still love him. I am less a fan of the Richard and Henry plays… but I might still watch them to get my fix. : )
And a brother who builds bikes….
OBVIOUSLY. Because he is the facilitator of all our bike fun.
Thank you for making me laugh 🙂
Loved your imbic pentameter line! You don’t give yourself enough credit 🙂 You are your own Shakespeare with blogging about all there is to love about DC life, love and food!
Whoa — that is high praise!!!
Today I am thankful for your blog post. After a crazy day of focusing on negative, it is refreshing to be reminded of the beautiful things that come from simply focusing on being thankful. And it doesn’t hurt to read your list out loud with all my roommates!
Ah, you are too sweet! Thanks!
I’m thankful for blogs like yours! You always manage to make me smile! I haven’t met you but if we lived closer I know we’d be friends and hang out a ton. =) Thanks for sharing the ups and downs, laughs and captured moments of your life!
Thanks! I’m glad I could spread some smiles!
I’m glad you got through to the end of your tough week. I felt like I was walking there with you! Finished work at 9:30pm last night and collapsed into bed. Thankful for the weekend and long-distance solidarity with strangers. 😉 Peace.
I hope you had a little rest this weekend!
I am thankful for your posts! I stumbled onto your blog and thoroughly enjoy your thoughts 🙂 I will be travelling to DC this weekend, first time, and I can hardly wait to bike around and “hopefully” witness a sunrise over the Lincoln Memorial and catch breakfast at Ted’s! Is there anything else you would suggest besides all the normal have to do’s? Finding something fig is on the list too :-)~peace
So fun!!! You should def check out Eastern Market. If the line is too long at Ted’s we also love Boxcar Tavern. And grab a macaron at sweet lobby!!! Oh and Founding Farmers is our absolute fav dinner place. As for things to do, I love all the museums along the mall too!
Enjoy!!!
Thanks Hannah! I will let you know my thoughts after our visit 🙂
I had never heard the term “nautical neutrals” before, but it perfectly describes my wardrobe and you can be sure I will use it much in the future!
It is a totally legit term and if we start using it, I’m sure it will catch on.