Gratitude

In time for all the wonder that is Thanksgiving, I'd like to list some of the things I'm grateful/thankful for:

Friends (both in real life and online)
Good roommates
Church
Modern technology (like the internet and cell phones)
Washing machine (yay for clean laundry!)
Getting notes in the mail
Emails
Family
Thanksgiving dinner (mmm. . . pie, turkey, stuffing, potatoes and gravy. I could go on, but I'm making myself hungry)
Sweet potato pie
My car (Her name is Electra because she's electric red)
My job
My ability to write
Knowledge
Animals (including my dog, Frodo, and my cat, Cleona)
Hot chocolate
Good books
Curling up with one of those good books in front of a fire with that hot chocolate
Cozy nights at home
Girls nights
Chatting with friends
Gardens
Flowers
Wrapping presents (I really enjoy this for some reason)
Traveling
Cute calendars
My Mac (Once you go Mac you'll never turn back ;0)
Co-workers
Cooking
Imagination
Blogging
Journals
My mom

That's just a short list. I could go on, but I want to ask, what are you grateful for. Comment here or post your own list. If you post a list on your blog, link it here so I can see.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving. For all those not in the US, still take some time to be grateful. It does wonders for the soul.

I love you all!

Best Ever Chocolate Chip Cookies

I had a request for this recipe on another site, so I thought I'd share with everyone on my blog as well. Enjoy!

3 1/2 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup butter
3/4 cup sugar
3/4 cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 eggs, slightly beaten
2 cups chocolate chips*
1 cup chopped oats (optional)

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Sift flour together with baking soda and salt. In a medium bowl, cream butter, sugars, and vanilla. Mix in eggs. Beat in flour mixture, making sure to smooth out any lumps. Stir in chocolate and then oats if using. Drop dough by teaspoonful onto an ungreased baking sheet. Bake 9 to 11 minutes, or until golden.

*Use any combination of chocolate. Milk (or semisweet) with white is delicious. Try dark. Raspberry flavored offers a sweet variation. This recipe also works well with toffee, peanut butter chips, mint chips, you name it. Have fun and try out different combinations.

Notes: The secret to this recipe is adding enough flour. Most chocolate chip recipes don't call for enough, so you get flat, crispy cookies. Add at least 3 1/2 cups flour, but go by the feel of the dough. If it is too sticky or runny, add a bit more flour. If you happen to overdo it on the flour, add in a bit of butter or, in a pinch, some water to thin it a little.

I'm finished!

I did it. I finally did it. Finished my first novel, that is. Aren't you all so proud of me? I'm proud of me.

Just had to share, but if you want to check it out, you can find it here.

Woohoo!!!

Really, I'm fine

People seem to worry that I'm not happy without a husband. Where, may I ask, did this mistaken notion come from that people aren't allowed to be happy if they're not married? I understand that there are joys that come from a family, children, husband, and I since I have none of those, I don't know what I'm missing.

But does that preclude me from being happy while being single? I think not. I'm actually very happy with how my life is going right now. I have a good job, wonderful friends, roommates, and *friends* ( you know who you are), and goals that I'm actively working to accomplish.

One of those goals is nearing completion, or at least part of it. It is really important to me that I finish this book and get it published. Other things can wait—at least for the moment.

I'm sure my time for marital felicity will come, but why worry when there is nothing I can do to control it at the moment? I'm not worried, and I'm really happy with how life is treating me right now.

So to all of those who worry that I'll end up a bitter, lonely spinster—stop it. I'm not worrying, so why should you?

(This is said with appreciation that you love me enough to worry. But, really, I'm fine.)

Crunch time

Only a week left to go before my SCBWI (children's book) conference. I'm asking all you lovely people to visit my book on Authonomy, read the first 3 chapters, and write me a comment with anything that could improve the book.

I'm excited and increasingly nervous about the writing critique. It'll be my first big chance to plug my book to someone who could feasibly get me published. I need all the help I can get, so if you have a few moments to spare, please take a look. I'll love you forever for it.

Call for change

President-elect Obama has issued a call for change in this divided nation. He has asked each of us to give more, sacrifice for the good of others, and seek changes that will not only benefit the United States of America, but the world we all live in.

I sat mesmerized as he spoke of hope, as he thanked all those who voted for change in the way our country functions, as he urged us to become a nation united by common purpose.

Can he do all he promises? Maybe not, but I believe he will gather citizens around him to effect the changes that are necessary. A new order has come to Washington, and I am proud to say I voted for that change.

Yes, we can make a difference. We can change the world. Together, united, we can do anything we dream possible, with peace and hope the most important of those.

President-elect Obama, yes we can change the world, and now we're looking to you to make those first difficult steps. But we'll be there to see you and this nation through the trials that await. Give us hope and courage, and we'll give you our strength and our support.

Yes. We can.