A timely and thankful twist on “Random 25 (+1)”

Remember way back (a.k.a earlier this year) when Facebook was inundated with people posting “25 Random Things” about themselves? I know. That’s practically an eternity ago considering current attention spans. If you don’t remember, just go to the Notes page and scroll back to February. You’ll remember. Whether you want to or not.

So in honor of Thanksgiving, here are (in no specific order) 25 things I’m thankful for:

1. My dog. His almond-shaped brown eyes, doggy breath and jubilant tail-wag always put things in perspective.
2. My friends. Especially the ones who unconditionally understand and accept me.
3. Family. I wouldn’t be who I am today without them.
4. Words. They speak to my soul and allow my soul to speak.
5. JetBlue’s All-You-Can-Jet pass. Without it, I wouldn’t have gotten to Seattle, Las Vegas, the Hoover Dam, the Grand Canyon, San Francisco and New Orleans before turning 25.
6. Abbreviations a.k.a. abbrevs. I can and will abbreviate just about anything and will look down on you if you can’t/don’t keep up. Obvi.
7. Alexander Skarsgård. Here’s to hoping he is really as single as he claims.
8. Boyfriend jeans. They are so much more comfortable than skinny jeans.
9. The struggle of writing. If it is not a battle, it is not worth it.
10. Starbucks. Yes, each of my favorite drinks (caramel macchiatos, gingerbread lattes, pumpkin spice lattes and now caramel brulee lattes—all nonfat but I doubt that makes much difference) have the calories of a meal. But it is still delicious satisfaction in a cup.
11. Pedicures. Impossible to feel bad after getting one.
12. Blistex Complete Moisture lip balm. A waterfall on my lips.
13. Free Wi-Fi. Every business should provide free Wi-Fi; even if for a limited time.
14. Sonic’s chili cheese tater tots. I once endured an hour and a half wait in a drive-thru line for them and would do it again. They make my taste buds dance and my belly smile.
15. Body butter. I would bathe in it if I could.
16. Grown-up vampire fiction. “True Blood” and Charlaine Harris’ “Southern Vampire” novels entertain me. And these vamps are much more delectable than the teeny-bopper, “Twilight” versions.
17. Ice cream cake. The box claims, "It’s what happy tastes like." I agree.
18. Pho. Noodle bowls reaffirm everything that is good and right in this world.
19. Sriracha. There is nothing it can’t improve. Except maybe ice cream and cake and other sweets. Notice the maybe.
20. Pilates. It does a body good.
21. 27th World Championship for my Yankees. Is there anything else to say except it was about damn time?!
22. Sushi. It allows gluttony without the guilt.
23. Sweet potato pie. It screams “The holidays are here!”
24. Chocolate. If loving it is wrong, I don’t ever want to be right.
25. Syracuse men’s basketball. Top 10!

26. (a bonus in honor of today) Sweet, sweet photos (a.k.a. photes). They remind me where I’ve gone, whom I’ve been with and what I’ve done while showing me where I still want to go, whom I still want to see and what I still want to do.

Happy Thanksgiving, happier eating and happiest napping! Save me a slice of sweet potato pie. Yum!