bktheirregular

Arrived in New York safe and sound. High point: flying in Row 1. Low points: bitter guy launching into loud tirade with ex-wife over cell phone as soon as we landed, saying five times in fifteen minutes that he wasn't going to argue with her at three dollars a minute, but not shutting up. Aside from that, nothing other than having to wait over half an hour for my suitcase to show up on the carousel.

Small things, all in all. Here I am, alive and well, and I can see the Empire State Building lit up in red and green out of the bedroom window. And I can feel jet lag approaching, so I'll probably be asleep well before midnight.

Merry Christmas to those who celebrate, happy holidays in general!

(As a note: in Greece, the most common wish I've heard is "καλές γιορτές" - literally, "good holidays". This is in a country where Christianity is not just the dominant religion, but is even written into the national constitution. Dear "war-on-Christmas" blowhards: stick that in your pipe and choke on it.)

* Today is probably not the day the world ends; ditto, tomorrow.
* Steady work.
* I have a roof of my own over my head when I leave work.
* No debt, no rent.
* Caring and supportive family (I grouse and gripe, sure, and they're far from perfect, but on balance I'm thankful).
* I'm not spending this Thanksgiving like I spent the last (i.e. in the army).

I'm sure there's more, but I've got to get back to work.