Oh Hai!! Here at Top Comments we round up some of the site's best, funniest, most mojo'd and most informative commentary. We depend on your help with talent spotting. If you see a comment that deserves recognition, please send it (right-click the timestamp and choose copy link location) to topcomments at teh gmail by 9:30pm Eastern. Please include a few words about why you sent it in as well as your user name, so we can credit you with the find! It's also nice if you reply to the comment you're nominating and let the commenter know, so they can tune in and see their name in bold! kthxbai!
Things to be thankful for.... I would imagine I'm not alone in finding that a daunting question at first blush....
My 2009 started with a whimper...my job ended on January first, a fact I'd learned about six days before Christmas.
Spring brought about serious illness for me that left me bedridden for almost six weeks. At the same time, a close family member spent 10 days on a respirator. While we were dealing with this, we suffered the death of another family member.
Throughout all of this, I've been battling the state of California for my unemployment benefits, which meant that while I was desperately looking for work, I was not receiving any money from the state - and it was as a result of a clerical error on the state's part. My husband's business has been brisk, but payment for his services has slowed down considerably, which put an almost impossible strain on our finances, and didn't much help our marriage.
The spring and summer brought about the layoffs of my parents and in-laws. My brother in law, who had a wealth of health issues, saw his long-time therapist's death and the drastic reduction of insurance benefits that he relied on, as well as a change in formulary that removed coverage for a medication that he desperately needed. In early September, my brother in law reached his limit as a result of these issues; he took his own life. Add to that the serious health issues of a beloved family pet combined with the utter impotence of having no funds to do anything about it, and we arrive at November.
The thing I hate the most about this is that my story is NOT unique and it's far from the worst.
But you know what? I've never been more thankful for what I do have. I have my husband - who cherishes me, and who I appreciate more every day. I have my beautiful, intelligent, loving daughter, who challenges me daily and who makes me smile all the time. Overall, we have our health. We've been able to keep a roof over our heads and food on our table. We have each other. My husband is closer than ever to his family as a result of September's events. My mother in law and I are now friends through this tragedy. The family member on the respirator completed a 1K walk this fall.
This summer, while chatting with a neighbor at the pool, we discovered a mutual interest in books and have become close friends as a result - without her, I'd surely be insane right now. I'm writing this diary from her kitchen table - they adopted us for Thanksgiving dinner this year, and it has been FABULOUS.
As disappointing as this year has been politically, we have Barack Obama in the White House, which is exponentially better than (OMG, are you kidding??????) McCain / Palin. Just typing that makes me break out in a cold sweat. I had plane tickets to DC for the inauguration, but no place to stay after my employment ended. I ended up at the home of a kossack who was hosting numerous other folk from this site and had the time of my life, and made the most amazing friends.
This spring and summer, I learned how satisfying it is to make my own bread, bagels and yogurt. I've since added home cheese making to that list of things that bring me peace, empowerment and happiness.
Through discussing the trials and tribulations of what we were going through with my father, my husband and I ended up with solid plans and a timeframe to build a new life for ourselves in the next few years in my home state of Colorado. I have so much to look forward to and so much to be thankful for.
The most recent boon was the early, but healthy arrival of my daughter's baby brother. My ex-husband and his fiancee were expecting their son to arrive on December 7th, but he arrived on November 18th instead. Perfectly healthy and beautiful.
A week from tomorrow, I'll be heading down into Mexico with my sister on a research camping trip. Four days under the stars are better rejuvenation than anything I can think of.
I'm very much looking forward to 2010. I believe that 2009 was our low, and that with the foundation we have, things will only get better. And, as always, this community will be a huge part of it - and will remain one of the things I'm most thankful for.
So, what are you thankful for? Please share in the comments.
Without further ado, here are tonight's top comments:
Here are a couple that missed last night's cutoff, but which are still worthy of mention:
from mieprowan:
entlord gives us an example of Bad Science from Hell, from the comments in certainot's "Americans Cannot Ignore Limbaugh on Climate." Another excellent example of how difficult it is to write satire these days.
from ridemybike:
it started with this and the reply had me in tears.
then it went here and I was laughing my head off.
Amazing writing!!!
from WarrenS:
In a terrifying diary about ice melt in East Antarctica, Gooserock hits the conservative nail on the reality-based head:
from lineatus:
Eiron's comment, Crashing Vor's perfect response:
http://www.dailykos.com/...
from eryk:
This comment by jazzmaniac highlights some serious hypocrisy and starts an excellent discussion.
from scottyurb
Eddie C sets it up with a picture of a squirrel, and beltane and cmnh each respond in kind!
Top Mojo brought to us tonight by virgomusic THANKS hon! :)
Top 30 Comments excluding tip jars, first comments and stuff:
1) Peace and Clarity for dear Kitsap River by JVolvo — 121
2) Willing to bet that not one of these evil by jazzmaniac — 85
3) will be very interesting to see how the country by tnichlsn — 83
4) What They're Thumping is the Constitution by Gooserock — 83
5) it is astonishing how sensitive the mind is by primarydoc — 81
6) Just so I'm not misunderstood, I have by darthstar — 78
7) Heard about this story last night & its eating at by St Louis Woman — 78
8) No, you're missing the point. by kestrel9000 — 77
9) Sorry to hear of these troubles Charles. by One Pissed Off Liberal — 76
10) people always ask if we are brother by CuatroVeinte — 74
11) Black Friday... Greed Thursday? by notrouble — 72
12) {{{{{{{hugs}}}}}}} by defluxion10 — 70
13) In Washington State, by Chacounne — 67
14) oh, I have to! by aaraujo — 66
15) Oh, Charles, I am so worried for you. by mindoca — 66
16) I only "met" her here but Love & {{Hugs}} by begone — 65
17) As my friend Terry pointed out, this might by Patric Juillet — 64
18) My prayers by noweasels — 62
19) Hello by DarlingtonD — 62
20) Is there any news about a kidney for Kitsap? by Eileen B — 62
21) Charles, did by Sara R — 62
22) Please know I'm sending by Dreaming of Better Days — 61
23) That's what unions are for. by Yamaneko2 — 61
24) Good luck with by AnnetteK — 61
25) Stolen from someone here: by SomeStones — 61
26) I am so sorry. I can only imagine how worried you by princesspat — 60
27) I'm thankful this good decent man had the courage by snackdoodle — 60
28) Donor matching by Charles CurtisStanley — 59
29) I know someone who just got by MufsMom — 55
30) My favorite quote.... by plf515 — 54
31) Yes, and furthermore they will still oppose by Patric Juillet — 54
32) Charles, may your knowledge of how she is by laderrick — 54
33) I'd like to ask your help w something by Jill Richardson — 54
Top 30 Comments with no exclusions, aka the Tip Jar list :-):
1) Tip Jar by Kitsap River — 533
2) Tip Jar by BoxerDave — 373
3) Tip Jar by CuatroVeinte — 370
4) Tip Jar by Old Redneck — 344
5) Tip Jar by Patric Juillet — 271
6) Tips/Flames by Rimjob — 232
7) Tip Jar by Clytemnestra — 229
8) investigations by Turkana — 211
9) some traditions by Spedwybabs — 159
10) i never met a meta by Turkana — 152
11) Tip Jar by Jill Richardson — 128
12) Peace and Clarity for dear Kitsap River by JVolvo — 121
13) Tip Jar by blackwaterdog — 117
14) Willing to bet that not one of these evil by jazzmaniac — 85
15) Nigel can't wait till dinnertime, as usual! by Swampfoot — 85
16) Tip Jar by John Campanelli — 84
17) will be very interesting to see how the country by tnichlsn — 83
18) What They're Thumping is the Constitution by Gooserock — 83
19) it is astonishing how sensitive the mind is by primarydoc — 81
20) Oh Hai! Sumbody Said Sumthin About Turkee? by leonard145b — 78
21) Heard about this story last night & its eating at by St Louis Woman — 78
22) Just so I'm not misunderstood, I have by darthstar — 78
23) Tips for you! :) by NCrissieB — 78
24) No, you're missing the point. by kestrel9000 — 77
25) Sorry to hear of these troubles Charles. by One Pissed Off Liberal — 76
26) Iz grateful for friends and family by whoknu — 74
27) people always ask if we are brother by CuatroVeinte — 74
28) My Two Little Girls by webranding — 74
29) I am thankful for wonderful friends like by PoliSigh — 73
30) Black Friday... Greed Thursday? by notrouble — 72