Day 31: 1/31/2014

For Chinese food on the 1st day of Chinese New Year and to feel a little semblance of home on such an occasion. Remembering that while I am far away geographically, they will always be close at heart

Day 30: 1/30/2014

For reminders that we need to make the most out of our lives. Went in for coffee and came out with a reminder that I need to do what I need to get back on track to fulfilling my dreams 

Day 29: 1/29/20154

For my little calm keeper, the one object that could give me inner peace. Something about the texture of a simple tie that keeps me centered, and brings me right back home to when I was a little child, to a time where everything was simple 

Day 28: 1/28/2014

For reminders of a former co-worker, and a great friend scattered around my desk at work. One of the first gifts he handed me when I exclaimed that I was bored. I still have this 5 years later

Day 27: 1/27/2014

For pets that will do anything to make you laugh. In this case, she will put her head on anything and turn into the world's cutest dog. Makes me smile every single time

Day 26: 1/26/2014

For a garage door that is almost a sentient being (akin to pouting because it felt excessive force LOL). For being able to find out why your garage door did not close on an app on your phone and on its own display in the garage

Day 25: 1/25/2014

For amazing technology that keeps me connected to my parents living 10,000 miles away. For being able to talk to them, and see their faces all in real time is such a blessing indeed

Day 24: 1/24/2014

When it was forecasted for snow this afternoon, I was upset as that meant I would not be able to fly today. This winter has been harsh to me in regards to getting up in the air and it has been frustrating to say the least. So today was especially hard to be thankful for the weather.

But I am thankful for a snowy 30 degree day and being able to spend it playing in the snow with a dog that would stay outdoors all day if I let her

Day 23: 1/23/2014

For simple pleasures as a divot in a hard-boiled egg to make holding on to something slippery a lot easier. This is the strangest thing I am grateful for thus far, but sometimes we don't think to look for the simple things in life

Day 22: 1/22/2014

For simple comfort dishes on terribly cold and long stressful days. Nothing cures all ills as well a hot bowl of curry ramen and a side of bok choy

Day 21: 1/21/2014

For being fortunate enough to be able to "fly" indoors in my comfy chair (or whenever I want really). Home flight simulators with replica controls is an amazing technological feat

Day 20: 1/20/2014

For the simple pleasure of touch. To embrace a friend in a hug, to feel the raindrops falling on a warm summer day, to brush the soft fur of a warm and snuggly pet. For being able to feel strong emotions through the simple sense of touch

Day 19: 1/19/2014

For the ability to do my pre-flights in a hangar, away from the frigid Winter temperatures. At the root of it all, I am thankful for the opportunity to fly up high in the sky

Day 18: 1/18/2014

For the ability to afford LEGOs and the time to fully enjoy seeing them come to life

Day 17: 1/17/2014

For a pill that makes accidental dairy intake bearable. For making any trips away from the home a lot easier to handle (and without pain)

Intermission

This was meant to be a blog about things that I am grateful and thankful for. However, today has been really exhausting and emotionally and mentally draining and would benefit from a few quotes that keep me doing what I do every single day. I do what I do and am grateful for everything as it pushes me toward my one true love of flight. Nothing makes me happier than maneuvering myself in the air and soaring above the world below. Nothing makes me more at peace with myself than when I am listening to the single engine chugging away and the radios crackling in my headset. Nothing makes me, me.

"You can always tell when a man has lost his soul to flying. The poor bastard is hopelessly committed to stopping whatever he is doing long enough to look up and make sure the aircraft purring overhead continutes on course and does not suddenly fall out of the sky. It is also his bound duty to watch every aircraft within view take off and land"

- Ernst K. Gann - "Fate is the Hunter"

"Once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the Earth with your eyse turned skyward, for there you have been, and there you will always long to return"

- Leonardo Da Vinci - 

Day 16: 1/16/2014

For receiving letters with not so stellar news, to teach me about determination and how I am willing to fight for the things I love

Day 15: 1/15/2014

For caffeine on early morning days in the office. For being able to sit back and relax for a few minutes before the craziness ensues

Day 14: 1/14/2014

For the ability (and time) to read. For the concentration to read testing material for my Private Pilots Knowledge test. For the passion to actually read this because it is fun

Day 13: 1/13/2014

For relaxing nights in front of the tv with a blanket made with love from a close friend

Day 12: 1/12/2014

For a "warm" 36 degrees F after a week of -20 degrees F for the high temps. Little miracles are what I live for

Day 11: 1/11/2014

For a good friend that get you a pair of aviators because they need you to look the part when I get my Private Pilot's license.

Day 10: 1/10/2014

It was a very uneventful day and it was really hard to figure out what I should be thankful for at the end of the day. 

In usual winter fashion in Minnesota, the roads get rather slick at times, and that made me think of my recently "fixed" ankle. Prior to my surgery I would not have been able to avoid a dislocation just by walking on a slippery road. Today, I can run and jump and be completely stable.

So, I am completely thankful and grateful for being able to afford insurance that allowed me to have surgery that finally fixed all my instability issues. My mobility has never been better.

Day 9: 1/9/2014

For coffee and my trusty flight computer. Coffee is vital to me staying awake long enough to study after a long day. The E6B for saving my butt during my cross-country flights.... And besides, it makes me feel so smart when I use it with its manual slides and turn wheels

Day 8: 1/8/2014

For working close to MSP, so the flight paths are always directly above me. For allowing me to smile at the end of the day when I catch a glimpse of the "footprints" of the planes going off to far away lands

Day 7: 1/7/2014

Today was a rather difficult day to be thankful about anything - Long and really terrible work day, and to top it off I found out about the water damage to the other house. 

I stopped to think after the emotions have stopped raging and felt rather silly for getting too worked up in the first place. First, getting angry was not going to rebuild the collapsed ceiling nor destroyed carpet. And secondly, I should consider myself really lucky to even be able to keep paying for 2 mortgages and still be doing okay. 

Today was a day of really far reaching thankfulness but I am grateful nonetheless.

Day 6: 1/6/2014

For a job that allows me to be with friends who I consider my "family". I always say the people make or break the workplace

Day 5: 1/5/2014

For a house that has controlled temperature as it falls to an all time record low of -26F (-59F windchill) outside these walls

Day 4: 1/4/2014

For amazing parents that will go to the ends of the Earth to send you reminders from home. These delicious cookies send me right back to my grandma's house when I was just a kid. Thank you for the wonderful sensory memories

Day 3: 1/3/2014

For having my asthma under control and being able to complete a 60-minute elliptical session without any difficulties

Day 2: 1/2/2014

For a great job that pays well enough for me to enjoy the freedom of flight (and the patience to work on a flight plan)

Day 1: 1/1/2014

For sleeping pups who cuddle next to you on a cold winter day

Why

Too often I feel stressed about being an adult. The day to day responsibilities, the demands at work, things that all add up and gets to be a little bit too much some days. 

When I get the time for some silence and solitude, I am finally able to reflect on my day and see the beauty and unexpected "wins" that had happened. This blog is a place for me to remind myself of the wonders of my day and to be thankful for every single day that I have. 

Here's to 2014 and a year of thankfulness.