Day-Spiration

Well I enjoyed blogging so much that I decided to upgrade.  So please check out my new blog site at:

www.danamyers.net for some Day-spiration! 

Thank you!

I've been meaning to blog for some time now and when I saw that everyone was updating statuses through the month of November with things they were grateful for I thought "this is it, instead of posting what you're grateful for, why not blog about it!"  So that's what this blog has been about.  I've enjoyed blogging this entire month and even though I got behind on some I remember thinking of each of the things I was grateful for daily.  Life is so busy and hectic that sometimes we forget to be grateful for the things we have and to enjoy the little things.  Every day isn't perfect and why should it be?

This journey I feel has given some of my readers an incite into who I really am because as most people know I'm pretty vague when if comes to facebook status updates.  It's strange putting yourself out there but it's also freeing in a way.

I've received quiet the amount of compliments from people telling me that they've enjoyed my blog, they find it humbling, etc.  If I could only tell you how much that really means to me.  So this one's for you, my readers, I'm grateful that you took a minute to read something that I wrote, whether it was one post or several, I hope you enjoyed it!  

P.S.  This isn't the end of my blogging, stay tuned!

Complete

Clifton and I met through an online dating website (yup, you read that correctly) ONLINE!  I remember each of our dates in the first month, most of them to the point that I could tell you what I wore to each and probably what he did as well.  One of my favorite dates was the night he invited me over for dinner, he was cooking.  Talk about impressing a girl (any men out there reading this I'm straight up telling you what we like)!  He made us steaks with a home made wine sauce, potatoes and green beans.  While he cooked we had some wine and chatted and not only was the conversation enjoyable but it was funny, he had me in tears before I even had the chance to take a bite of food.  It was the best date I had ever been on!

In Pennsylvania

Clifton is simply amazing, he's a mixture of a little kid yet will hit you with something so profound and enlightening that it'll make you stop and think.  He's the most laid back person I've ever come across always going with the flow knowing things will work out, which I admire (I need to be more like this).  He's random and predictable, sincere and goofy, talented improvisor and cook.  He makes every day interesting and makes my world complete. 

Hanging out with good friends from DCH

 Every day I am grateful that I met Clifton I'm grateful that he is the one standing besides me on this journey called life because It wouldn't be the same without him! 

At the Dallas Comedy House's Homecoming Dance!

Crock pot Sundays!

I've got two words for you, crock pot.  If you don't have a crock pot, then you need to stop reading, scratch that finish reading this post, then run out to the nearest Target, Walmart, Bed & Bath, William Senoma, where ever they sell one and buy one!  I promise you'll thank me for this!

I bought a crock pot a few years ago and I don't use it as often as I'd like but I'm changing that.  I recently stumbled upon a website called crock pot girls http://crockpotgirls.com/ which is full of recipes, tips, etc.  So now I've decided to begin having crock pot Sundays.  Every Sunday after breakfast I put a new recipe in the crock pot and let it cook all day, we then have if for dinner that night and usually Monday as well.  It makes Sunday's more relaxing and enjoyable as well as Monday's. 

I'm grateful for my crock pot and these girls for putting together this website and reminding me what's been sitting right in front of me!

It's Skinny

I mentioned in an earlier post titled "One hour and sixteen minutes to be exact" about my best friend Reeney's husband Skinny and an accident he was in.  I didn't get into details about it then but I'm going to now.  On November 14th, 2010 Skinny was on his land cutting down trees with his cousin and he didn't move far enough away and a branch off the tree fell and hit him in the back of the head pushing him forward landing face first into the ground so he not only was hit in the back of the head but his face broke is fall.  I remember talking to Reeney through out that day and her saying "Dana, for about 5 minutes while I was in that ambulance I didn't think he was alive."  He was alive though.  He was rushed to ICU unconscious.  He didn't wake for 3 weeks.  I actually went in the weekend after his accident (Thanks to our good friend Robin who flew me in).  I sat in that hospital waiting, hoping for anything a movement, a sign. 

It is now over a year later and so much has happened but this is what I can tell you.  Skinny is alive and doing well.  He is still the Skinny I've always known and loved but he has a traumatic brain injury (TBI), severe memory loss, vision impairment, the list goes on.  He's come a long way from where he was (thanks to his wife Reeney, her family & friends, and the doctors and therapists who REALLY cared).  I remember seeing him this fall, we had a great conversation just like old times, I can't wait to see him in a few weeks!

I'm grateful that Skinny is still here today with us!  When I talk to Reeney on the phone and I tell her to tell him I said hi and I hear him say "hi" back to me it makes me so happy, makes my day because I remember when I wasn't sure I'd hear that voice again.

Reeney & Skinny

None of us are sure what the future holds but I'm still hopeful, how can I not be, it's Skinny.

Siblings

Carrie - My older sister. I've always looked up to her!  She inspires me daily.  She reminds me of my grandma Myers.  She's book smart and common sense smart.  In my eyes she's beautiful, talented, strong and can do anything!  This is no lie that's exactly how I see her.  Over the past couple years her and I have grown closer and I'm so grateful for that.

Eric - my older brother, my twin born two years earlier then me...haha.  Growing up him and I were inseparable and forced together.  We had a falling out for some years but then came together again.  I remember him and Crystal drove 6 hours to surprise me for my 21st birthday, I'll never forget that!  We don't talk now as much as I'd like but he's my brother and was there for me when I needed him most last year, even though he probably doesn't even know it.


Amber - the youngest, the baby of the family.  She's like this combination of us mixed with her own uniqueness, it's amazing to see.  She's unbelievably compassionate with the biggest heart and although she hates school she's really good at it.  To have watched her grow up I would say is similar to watching your child grow up, it's scary, surprising, stressful, exciting and amazing all at once.  She amazes me constantly with her "wise beyond her years" moments.  I'm so very proud of her and look forward to her future!

Crystal - She's not my sister by blood but my sister just the same.  Carrie and Crystal were best friends when they were younger but Crystal became a "Myers" along the way.  Crystal is one of the most selfless people I have ever met.  She has taught me so many things.  I don't get to see her as much as I'd like and I miss her often.

Jay - Carrie and Jay have been dating for way over 10 years ( I always say over 10 because I've lost count).  I remember when Carrie first told me she had a boyfriend and me being the "nosy" sister that I am I grilled him to the point of asking him what shampoo and toothpaste he used (these are important things to know about your sisters boyfriend).  Jay is a unique person (the best kind), he challenges what you think but in a curious manner, he gets giddy like a kid over certain things and he treats my sister like the Goddess she is and that is what really matters.  My sister and Jay aren't married but he's my brother just the same.  I'm hoping one day I'll be able to plan their Harry Potter themed wedding.

Abbey - My new sister-in-law.  If I could only tell you how glad I am that her and Eric found each other, how grateful I am that she put up with my brother.  Hopefully she doesn't take offense to this but I feel like she fits in so well into our family, that she was one of the missing pieces.  Her and Amber have grown close and I can't tell you how much that means to me and how happy that makes me.  She's an amazing person, I admire her "go with the flow" attitude and goofiness.
 

Tasha - My cousin, my sister.  We both know we're more then sisters.  We don't talk as much as I'd like but I think of her constantly.  I think she's an amazing mom!  I wish she could see how beautiful she is on the inside and out.  Her mom would be so proud of her, I know I am! 

I'm so grateful for my siblings they are all unique and amazing in their own way!

"Friends are the most important ingredient in this recipe of life."

I've always said that I won the lottery in the friend department and believe me I did!  I remember my first friend ever Lacey Terenzio, her and I did everything together when we were younger.  We grew apart later on in life but found each other on facebook a few years ago and got back in touch and try to get together when I'm in town (I'm working on getting her to Texas to visit).  I have a lot of memories of her and I growing up.

In high school I had some of the most amazing people in my life, each of them know who they are, I'm still friends with them to this day even though we all live so far apart (Arizona, to Texas, Texas to D.C., D.C. to Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania to Connecticut, the list goes on).  I don't talk to them all the time or see them much but I think of them every day and wish them nothing but good things in their lives.  I do know that I can count on them through thick and thin.

When I got to college I met new people and made new friends.  I'm in contact with a lot of them as well, some I'm closer to then others.  It's funny because sometimes the people you think you'll grow apart from you don't, and vice verse.

When I moved to Houston almost five years ago I made a new round of friends and then I moved to Dallas, it's taken me a while to meet new people here and make new friends because I didn't know anyone in the area but I'm starting to.

I just want to say that I'm grateful to all the people in my life whether you were my first friend, my best friend in high school, a co-worker, someone I met through Clifton, an old friend a new friend, etc.  I may not talk to you often or see you that much but I promise you I think of you daily and I'm grateful to know you.

Law of averages

I have a love hate relationship with running.  Some days, who am I kidding, most days it's a struggle just to get my feet on that pavement.  Not as often though it's not as much of a struggle once I'm out there, it's not easy by any means either!  However, once in a while, once in a blue moon I have  a run that is simply so enjoyable (yes, I said enjoyable) so easy (yup, I said easy too) that I think I could run forever.

The first time this happened to me was when Clifton and I ran our first 10k at the Cowtown Marathon event in Ft. Worth this past February.  We had never run this distance before and didn't want to start out too fast to hurt ourselves in the long run so you have to understand that we weren't running at any fast pace, we just wanted to complete the race and do our best to not stop (which we did both).  I remember enjoying my random play list, watching the sun rise as we came down one of the hills and us pointing to all the interesting t-shirts people were wearing to advertise their group/business, the whole thing was simply enjoyable, not bad for an hour of running!

Following this race I ran a few days later and had a very similar experience of an enjoyable run, at this point I thought maybe this is it, this is how "runners" feel and that's why they love to run so much and do it so often.  I felt like I had finally reached a pivotal moment in my running!  I was wrong!  

I will tell you this though that some days if you can just get yourself on that pavement and start, you'll be glad you did and even if it's a crappy run, just remember what my dad always use to tell me "at least you're out there doing it!"  Also, those scarce enjoyable runs can occur at any point and the more you run the more they're likely to occur, law of averages, right!?

I had an enjoyable run the other day, I hadn't been running in probably about 2 weeks so I didn't know what to expect, but I got a nice surprise and I'm grateful for that!  Grateful for running, even if it is a love/hate relationship.

We decided to start a fire the other night...

I loved the house I grew up in, my dad/mom don't live there any more we moved out of it when I was 11 or 12.  The house had this amazing fireplace, that my dad built.  It was made of brick and it was beautiful!  I remember waking up each morning in the winter and running to the fireplace to get warm.  I'd sit there waiting for my dad to bring me the hot chocolate he was making.  It made getting up that early and having to go school a little bit easier to take. 

I haven't experienced a fireplace since then at least not one of my own.  Living in Texas fireplaces aren't as common.  Well the apartment we moved into in September did come with one.  I remember when we looked at the place and getting excited about having a fireplace but at the same time wondering "would this be something we take advantage of or will it end up going unused?"

Well I can tell you we took advantage!  We decided to start a fire the other night!  It was nice sitting there eating dinner and watching a movie next to the fire.  I'm grateful for the fireplace in our new apartment!

"oh this must be like when cable companies give you free movies stations during the holiday weekend...

We traded in or maybe upgraded is a better way of putting it our Toyota in March.  We were both super excited because it was our first brand new car, I'm talking zero miles!  With the deal came free XM Satellite radio, at the time we weren't sure for how long, come to find out it was only 3 months.  Better than nothing!  So after 3 months we didn't have it renewed and just continued with our regular radio stations.  Well Clifton called me a couple months back telling me that the people from XM called and offered us a pretty sweet deal (can't remember what it is, surprise) but he wanted to talk to me first before accepting so he told the salesman to call back.  Well he never did.

We were in the car the other day, running errands I'm sure, and flipping radio stations as usual and discovered that most of our XM stations are back!  We weren't sure what to make of it.  Honestly, my first thought was "oh this must be like when cable companies give you free movies stations during the holiday weekend, XM gives you free radio stations"  Well it's Tuesday after the Thanksgiving weekend and I can tell you that we still have our XM stations coming in loud and clear!  I don't know why or how this has happened but I'm grateful for it, even if it is for just a short period of time!