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With the American holiday of Thanksgiving upon us later this week it’s time to think about what we’re thankful for. Sure, it would be easy to say family, health, friends etc. That’s easy and obvious. Of course we’re all thankful for those things. I want to get to the other things we’re thankful for; the unusual, quirky little things that make our life bearable. Here’s my top ten for this year:
10. England: I’m half English, but having grown up in America I had no strong affiliation or identity with the homeland of my ancestors. This year, however, in anticipation of a work trip to London, I immersed myself in English culture the only way I knew how: by watching British TV shows on Netflix and Hulu. The British are very funny.
9. Netflix and Hulu: Duh! How did you not see this coming? TV shows with few if any commercials? Best invention since TV shows with commercials.
8. Keurig: I can have a cup of coffee within 60 seconds of waking up? Yes please!
7. Wi-Fi: When I’m elected President, or Sexiest Man Alive, whichever comes first, I will decree that free wi-fi be available everywhere. Everywhere. I will herd all the worlds wi-fi experts into a room and not let them out until they develop a plan to use satellites to create world-wide wi-fi.
6. The funny shaped neck pillows: It may seem odd and goofy, but I’m telling you, whether you have any neck issues or not, get one of these pillows. It will feel odd at first, but once you get used to them you’ll never go back to ordinary pillows,
5. Amazon: The website, not the rainforest. I’m sure the Amazon rainforest is pretty cool and all, what with all that oxygen it produces. That’s just air. The rainforest isn’t going to deliver me whatever I want within 48 hours. I like Amazon so much I’ve tried to look up job opportunities with them. Oh, by the way, you can get my books in both paperback and e-book editions on Amazon. (they’d make great Christmas or Hanukkah gifts)
4. Thanksgiving is only one day: Yes, I’m thankful Thanksgiving is only one day. Heck, I’d be ecstatic if it was only one hour. At least it doesn’t get a whole month. Thanksgiving is not that great of a holiday. If the main meal were pizza however, it would be my favorite holiday.
3. I don’t live in Buffalo, N.Y.: Buffalo got 7 feet, over 2 metres, of snow last week. It’s been on the news constantly. Hey everybody, guess what? You live in Buffalo! It snows a lot there. I’m pretty sure that fact isn’t a surprise to anyone. You don’t hear people who moved to the desert complaining about the heat do you? If you don’t like snow don’t live there!
2. Wegmans: The world’s best supermarket. Native to western New York but slowly spreading. The picture above applies to both Buffalo and Wegmans. Look, I know some of you will say that your local supermarket is the best. Trust me on this. It’s not. You need a Wegmans. Where I live you can’t swing a dead cat without hitting a Wegmans and that’s just the way we like it.
1. Blogging: Yes, this may seem corny and obvious, but I love the blogosphere. Through reading little slices of peoples lives I’ve traveled the world and learned things I might never have known. Thank you to all my blogging friends. I like some of you more than some people I know in real life. In 5 months my blog will be ten years old and I expect it’ll still be around ten years from now.
In the comments please add your unusual things that you’re thankful for. As always, if you enjoy what you read at #ThePhilFactor please share by hitting the Facebook, Twitter, or re-blog buttons below. Have a great Tuesday! ~Phil
As I was walking yesterday, I thought to myself – believe it or not, this is how exciting my life is – I wonder what Phil’s Top Ten will be tomorrow?
WEGMAN’S IS COMING TO RICHMOND!!!!!!!!
My laugh out loud moment came during your #5. Fine if you get a job there, Phil, just don’t do it in warehouse operations. We’ll never hear from you again. They work those people hard.
I’m thankful those two cranky old people I call the Parental Unit are still around to moan and groan and complain about everything on Thanksgiving….the gravy is too cold, too hot, too salty, where’s the rolls, oh, you got those kind of rolls?, ad infinitum. Gotta love ’em.
LOL thanks for thinking of me. You are definitely one of those wonderful bloggers I’m happy to have met. I’ve heard Wegmans is coming to Richmond. Last year during a nationally televised Syracuse-Duke basketball game a Duke fan held up a sign that said “Wegmans is overrated.”
Wow! I really liked this post. And #10 basically rocked! Have you seen ‘Fawlty Towers’ or ‘Porridge?’ So many good an old shows. Totally agree with you on #7. Recently I was at LHR airport and they GIVE you free wifi for 10 min only. It was the most 10 precious moments ever. As for what I am grateful for…so, so many things. But I will have to get back to you, but must have a cup of tea first. For which I am and will be grateful for. Have a good one.
I haven’t gotten to Fawlty Towers or Porridge yet. I’ll look them up. It’s great to have years of all these great shows I’ve never seen before. I wasn’t a tea drinker before last Spring but I drink it and like it now.
You def. should. What shows have you seen? I have seen most of them because I simply can not cope with reality tv shows-not my reality. I drink like 8 cups of tea a day. Most places of work here, a lady comes around on a tea trolley and serves tea at 11am. ‘Yorkshire Tea’ is good. Pretty strong though. Am not sure if you get it on your side of the pond, but am guessing you do.
I’m sure I won’t remember them all. Gavin & Stacey, Pramface, Dr. Who, Miranda, Sherlock, my wife loves Downton Abbey, The I.T. Crowd. They’re all good. 11 a.m. tea trolley? That’s brilliant. I wish they did that in the States.
oh yes, those are good ones you mentioned. Very current. I love Downton Abbey as well. The season just finished up-I know you guys are starting in January. But at least we have the Christmas special to look forward to with George Clooney. Yeah. 11 am tea trolley. Its real. Not at my place of work-instead, every day, a different person will make tea and coffee for everyone. This happens like 3 times a day, But its always a different person. It is bliss I tell you.
If you’re on a Brit-kick, add “Yes, Minister” and “Absolute Power” (Stephen Fry, not Clint Eastwood). Shows that have made me the political cynic I am today.
I love your list…except that whole short Thanksgiving thing. I love Thanksgiving! I think it’s my second favorite holiday. 😀
I started a blog hop thing for NaBloPoMo all about oddly specific gratitude. You can check out the rather fabulous list from lots of different bloggers (as it stands so far) at Ann Koplow’s blog: https://annkoplow.wordpress.com/2014/11/25/day-640-oddly-specific-gratitude/
😀
Thanks Emily! I’ll check that out. Happy Thanksgiving!
I’m sure at the first Thanksgiving feast-a
They all celebrated by eating pizza
So let’s through tradition to the wind
This Thanksgiving I’m ordering in.
I may order in later but I’m stuck with turkey for lunch. 🙁
Ah yes, leftovers…
I love Thanksgiving! I love the turkey and the stuffing and the dressing and the gravy and the pie and the candied yams and the homemade crescent rolls. Oh, yeah, I love the whole seeing-my-family-thing, too. 😉
I am thankful for fuzzy bathrobes. My husband doesn’t know what to do with a bathrobe. I love getting up on a chilly morning and putting on my bathrobe. It’s like walking around in a blanket, but I don’t have to hold on to it to keep it from falling off. I am wearing my bathrobe right now, while I drink my tea and catch up on all the happenings on the Internet.
You are too funny. Personally I never want to wake up on a chilly morning. I want every morning to be warm and sunny so I have no reason to wear a bathrobe
I have two small children, so I don’t usually have a choice about getting up, no matter the weather.
One advantage to my fifty-mile commute: I work where there’s a Wegman’s! The closest one to my house at that distance too 🙂
Oh, and Aldi. Can’t forget that too. They balance each other out 😀
I’m pretty much all-English and am hoping to get over there sometime in the next year or so. I’m watching “Sherlock” to get ready (kidding…)
I am so grateful that we don’t have Thanksgiving here Down Under. The idea of eating turkey in one form or another for the next 2 weeks is the stuff of nightmares!
I completely agree with you. I wish I lived there.