What are you Thankful for Today?

Thanksgiving and Christmas are a bit sad for me as I get homesick being away from family and old friends. Thanksgiving sometimes less so because I nearly forget it with work and the regular routine of life here in Ireland where it isn't a holiday, but because we were only in the US last month, I'm feeling it more this year.

This year there is a lot to be miserable about: the recession, flooding, swine flu, etc. but this also means that for many who have escaped, or came through these things, that there is a lot to be thankful for. So I am asking all my friends; whether in the US or not; whether American, Irish, English or whatever nationality or religious beliefs, etc:

What is the one thing that you are most thankful today?
(Post a comment with your thoughts if you like.)

As I spent many, many lonely years in NYC and London thinking I'd be single for the rest of my life and had pretty much learned to be OK 'on my own' but there was still something missing, so I am MOST thankful today that I have met my soul mate who is a wonderful person and through meeting him we have a great life in Ireland with three beautiful children. (Is that enough nice adjectives for you?) Otherwise, there'd be no O'Mahony Donnelly, and that would be a huge loss to the world, right?

Watching New Year's Eve Around the World

Last year we watched the New Year's Eve countdown on TV watching 'boy' band Take That in concert in London. Irish TV's shows are usually pretty boring! So I am missing Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve, etc. I've been searching for something online to make up for it. So far I have found some sites with webcams:
- Earthcam (Moscow is the first place to celebrate on this site; in about 40 minutes) - http://newyears.earthcam.com/ts/index.html?currentcam=multiview
- Google Maps Mania (list of streaming cams in a couple places) - http://googlemapsmania.blogspot.com/2008/12/new-years-mashups-on-google-maps.html
- Fisgonia (Google map showing webcams around the world) http://www.fisgonia.com/

We probably won't stay up to follow the celebrations in Times Square, but it looks like there are a lot of fun events to watch on Earthcam.

Wherever you are have a great time tonight and best wishes for a happy and healthy 2009!

PS - What's your most memborable New Year's Eve? I've had a few good ones: Times Square, Edinburgh, etc. Most memorable: 1984 I worked with a friend who was catering a Manhattan Transfer concert at Radio City Music Hall. It was great to be behind the scenes at that great venue. The best we had worked at. They gave out great gifts to the audience, like Orwell's book, and we were able to grab a few. Always civic minded, I had donated blood earlier that day and caught the bus up to Radio City. We were in the kitchen preparing the food. As usual we had a few drinks and next thing I new I was lying on the floor and my head really hurt. My friend Marcia was standing standing over me, "Why didn't you tell me you had just given blood! You shouldn't be drinking!" I sat on a window ledge, hoping that I hadn't got a concusion, and looked up to see a group of tourists staring at me. They were on the backstage tour and apparantly I was one of the attractions! We finished up preparations in time to enjoy the concert and the countdown onstage.