Random Thankful Thoughts

THANKFUL THURSDAY – and before I begin…with my very random thankful thoughts for today….just wondering if anyone has any clue why a random living room scene pops up when first clicking into my blog?? Please tell me I’m not the only one that sees that??! When I returned home from my trip, my background had been deleted (thankyou PhotoBucket) and with all the changes (improvements???) that Blogger has been making, I had quite the time getting a new background loaded. I don’t really want to mess with it again but the mystery living room is bugging me!! I would love any hints or ideas……

My thankful thoughts are very random today. Of course, I have been thinking much about my trip. I am so thankful for that opportunity. Thankful for a brother who is also a friend. Thankful for a brother who does not snore! Some other thoughts from the trip:

** so thankful to finally have had our country’s economic crisis explained to me – in VERY basic layman terms (code word for dummy’s language) – and to actually understand it…well, some of it. And, by the way, along the trip, we not only solved the country’s economic troubles but several other big issues, including immigration and the health care crisis, quite nicely. Now if only anyone were actually interested in our opinions and solutions:) The whole oil disaster still has us stumped:(

**so thankful that we (my brother and I) can have good conversations – and really listen to each other’s ideas – even though we are true polar opposites when it comes to political values/opinions….yes, our votes totally cancel each other out during each election. I don’t know, he can still come around one of these days!:)

**how DO siblings from the same parents, same background, same house, etc….grow to be so “different” as adults?? Guess we really are all individuals:)

**did you know that when you drive a 24ft. truck and pull a car behind it that you are required to stop at all truck weigh stations? Yep, we were rolling with the big dogs! However, I’m not sure that there really are actual people in those little buildings at the pull-off. It is all computerized and an arrow points your way – you never know what your truck weighs nor do you EVER see a soul. Seemed a bit fishy to me.

**we also were with the big guys at the truck stops – well, sorta. We needed the big drive-through lanes; however, there are only a couple (maybe one) pumps for “the little guys”. If you end up in the wrong lane – and don’t have a hub-o-meter (???) – you feel sorta dumb.

**not all states, in my humble opinion, are using there TARP funds for fixing the highways to their best ability. Some state highways are just a plain disgrace – and make a truck cab into a virtual popcorn popper…..with the driver and co-pilot the throughly bounced, popped, beaten and bruised popcorn!

**so thankful for this country – it really is beautiful. When you don’t stray from home too often, you tend to think that everywhere looks just about the same as your neck of the woods – but, it ain’t so! Every state was so unique and the landscapes and scenes were always changing and so beautiful. Well, the whole Death Valley thing…not so much (at least not for me!) but the rest of it – WONDERFUL!

I know it is late notice for Friday with Friends – but if you would like to share about your favorite car trip or cross country journey, please do. I’d love to know what you thought. I was surprised to learn in my comments how many actually ENJOY riding in a car (or truck)….. Hope to hear from several of you. (By the way, still working on those pictures!)