Bitch Like A Geologist

Uh oh. I haven’t updated the BLAG since September? I’m a bad BLAGger. This year has personally been a very rough one. On December 26, 2008, my mother was diagnosed with stage four non-Hodgkins lymphoma. She underwent her first chemotherapy treatment on New Years’ Eve, and was spent the next six months bedridden. Two months after her final treatment, just as she was starting to finally get better, she broke both legs. She’s still recovering from that.

On top of that, this is supposed to be my final year of grad school…and it’s not looking that way. I still have to even start my thesis. But enough excuses – this post isn’t about excuses. This post is about being thankful.

Yes, Thanksgiving was last month, and I don’t tend to agree with it (see: National Day of Mourning), however, it can’t help but serve as a reflection of sorts. This year, though mostly tragic and terrible, has had some wonderful moments.

+ I went to Disney World. Seriously, check back to posts in March or just look through my Flickr – Disney World was easily one of the best trips I’ve ever been on, especially in the company I was with. Being there with three of my best friends really got my mind off of things (and let me warm up in the sun, too!)

+ Argentina. I don’t think I mentioned that enough. The trip was an incredible experience, one I’ll never be able to forget. I’ve been missing the food there something fierce, and finally found a local restaurant that serves chicken milanesa and chimichurri with skirt steak. Sign me the fuck up.

+ My new office. My old office was a fun little box – no windows, but six people that just generally got along pretty damn well and then half of them graduated. This year, I was evicted from my little box and moved into a bigger, larger office! With computers! And windows! (Not to mention some of the best people I’ve ever met.)

+ Teacup, my trilobite tattoo. I think we’ve discussed here that I’m very pro body modification, and back in September I got my latest – the beginning to my 3/4 sleeve, Teacup. Teacup is a trilobite and he lives on my forearm. I love him forever, and offer major props to Chuck, my artist at Revolver Tattoo.

+ Meteor showers. My friends Carl and Melissa and I went out to the middle of nowhere, New Jersey, to watch the Perseid Meteor Shower early last month. There was a lot of ambient light, but we still got a lovely view of the shower, not to mention the amazing view of the Milky Way I had when I was in Argentina.

+ Red velvet cupcakes. No explanation is necessary.

So, BLAGgers, what have you been thankful for this year? It doesn’t matter how small it is. Some good has to come out of 2009.