It’s been a while. I’m still working on editing our trip photos–but hey, I put up a new layout, so there’s that. If you aren’t a Facebook friend of mine, you haven’t heard that both Alan and I lost our jobs, him right before the cruise and me at the end of October (just in time for my favorite holiday and my birthday, as if being unemployed wasn’t depressing enough). I honestly can’t say that I’m surprised, as things at the studio hadn’t been going well since the beginning of this year. I’ve been applying like crazy and getting nothing, but I finally had my resume gone over and have since redone it COMPLETELY, so fingers crossed that that helps. Post-election and end of year are the worst times to find a new job.

I never do these kinds of posts, mainly because talking about what you’re thankful for hasn’t ever been a tradition in my family, but this year I’m feeling it (or trying to). Between our job situation and everything going on in the US currently, I’m trying to think positively.

I’m thankful for my friends, family, and other loved ones who have reached out to see if there was anything they could do for us, or just to check in and send us love and give us some pep talks and any direction to job leads.

I’m thankful for monster.com offering a free resume critique, even if it was a little jarring to read. I had already wanted to redo the layout and the other points he made were very valid, so I spent a few hours researching, looking at examples, and working through the entire thing.

I’m thankful for the opportunity that being laid off has given me. I’ve been able to take a break and concentrate on myself, get a ton of things on my house to-do list done, redo my resume, job hunt, and have an open schedule to prepare for and go to interviews.

I’m thankful for the phone calls that I got yesterday that have finally given me some hope.

I’m thankful to have had the time to plan, prep, and cook an entire multi-course Thanksgiving dinner for the first time ever (last weekend) for Alan’s mom, my best friend, Heather, and her awesome husband, Dane. Doubly thankful for Alan and mom cleaning up the entire kitchen afterward.

I’m thankful for my other best friend, Courtney, and her husband, Josh, who are having a baby in May.

Lastly, I’m thankful for Alan, who continues to prove that he is the perfect match for me every single day.

Happy Thanksgiving, guys.