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IMG_0410-1, originally uploaded by gina.banina.

So I evidently let Christmas and New Year’s Eve pass without a post for either. My muse has run away for warmer shores it seems.

I have spent the majority of my time obsessed with scrapbooking and cardmaking. Much has contributed to total exhaustion besides.

Patiently I await longer daylight hours, warmer temperatures, and energy & inspiration to dedicate to all of my creative ventures, equally.

This Thanksgiving I have much to be thankful for and perhaps the most I have had to be thankful for in my life thus far.  I am perhaps the happiest and healthiest I have ever been, I really do believe.

I have met a man, my one and only, who is an exceptionally positive influence and treats me incredibly well.  He sees and appreciates all aspects of me and reminds me daily that he cares about and wholly values me.  My one and only is an intelligent, strong, and interesting person.

I am, of course, very thankful for my Jasper, as I am thankful for him daily.  Jasper has been the one constant in my life over the past 7 ½ years.  He offers unconditional love, offers great affection, and brings absolute joy to my life.  Along with the gratitude I have for him, I am very thankful that he continues to be healthy and happy.

I am thankful too that I have remained alcohol-free – for the past 139 days in fact.  The decision to stop drinking was the best decision for me.  My life and my relationships are much better because I am now 100% alcohol-free.  I have a clearer mind, healthier body.  I enjoy markedly improved outlets for emotion and expression for sure.

For the increased creativity and channels for such creativity I am quite grateful.  Along with that, I am very thankful for having met an inspiring individual this year (she should know to whom I am referring and I do hope that she does).  I have much to learn from her still and am definitely look forward to it.

In the past several months I have learned much, but one of the greatest lessons has been gratitude.  The new positive mindset I possess brings me greater peace and a more beneficial mindset with which to handle the bumps on life’s journey.  I make every effort to write down my daily blessings, well, daily.  Even on seemingly bad days I can think of at least five or ten things positive in that day.  I was amazed when I realized that even bad days held good moments.

It had never occurred to me to be particularly thankful for having a job before; however, this year I am all too aware of how lucky I am to have a job.  I can count on two hands the number of friends I have had this year jobless.  In my field, I have witnessed what the 10.2% national rate of joblessness means, meeting many of those that embody this statistic.  It is nearly impossible in this economy to find a new one too.

This Thanksgiving I will keep a smile on my face and remember just how very blessed I am.

I am one of THOSE cat people., originally uploaded by gina.banina.

• Anheuser-Busch and InBev. About 6% of the Anheuser-Busch U.S. workforce (1,400) is being cut by InBev, 75% of which (1,065 salaried workers) are located here in St. Louis. This is as of 12/8. InBev is cutting jobs at a time when our economy makes it unlikely that these workers will quickly find a new job. Merry Christmas from InBev.
• Holidaze. Cards have been mailed out. Apt is decorated. Gifts are bought – except that I have to return the gift for my grandma because evidently she does not own a DVD player and does not wish to own one in the future. Videotapes are cheaper anyway. Plans for a “Holiday Orphans” gathering have been made.
• Jasper. Puberty seems to be working  its way through his system. He bites but much less. He is now on a senior food diet and is showing some definition. I will weigh him soon to see if he is under 20 lbs. now. According to the vet if he does not lose the weight before 7 years old it will be much more difficult to lose and much more likely he will develop diabetes. He will be 7 in March. Full speed ahead!
• Reconnections. One thing the holiday season is good for is reconnecting. Gatherings fill the calendar during the month of December, allowing me to see and talk with friends I don’t always have opportunity to see much otherwise. This past weekend I had a chance to reconnect with friends who moved last July and who I had not seen since. I am grateful that we had this chance to get together.

Inspired by the Blogography Bullet Sundays, I have put together my own bullet post:

• Turkey-free! No turkeys were harmed in the occurrence of this year’s Thanksgiving festivities – in my little corner of the world anyway.  I was a part of a vegetarian Thanksgiving celebration.  I missed the turkey, but I am pretty sure the turkeys were thrilled that one of them got to live thanks to one veg gathering.
• Veterinarian found. I have found a fantastic veterinarian who comes to your home in St. Louis.  She really is great.  Jasper liked Dr. Lynch even after she prodded his abdomen and gave him a rabies shot – not so much during but he forgave her fast.  Dr. Lynch was full of suggestions pertaining to Jasper’s health.
• Poser.  I attended my first yoga class this past week!  It was hard work, but besides that the poses are much more complex than they appear.  Thank goodness for my new friend Sean who gave me some pointers on one pose to practice this week (the cat-cow pose).  I am a challenge to teach, ask Sean, but he is a trooper.  :)
• Melancholy.  While I now acknowledge that it is (holy cow) the holiday season (Christmas, Solstice, Hanukkah, whatever it is you choose to celebrate) and have sent out nearly all of my holiday cards, I am not sure that I am entirely into the season this time around.  It could be the Black Friday murder/miscarriage drama that unfolded at a Wal-Mart.  It could be that I may be spending Christmas alone this year.  It is weird, though.