thankful thursday

This week I am thankful for:

* This cool bird that just landed on the fence outside my office window!  I'm not sure what he is, but he's beautiful.  The photo doesn't do him justice.  Rich reddish-brown chest/belly and a small black crest on his head, kind of like that hairstyle so popular with boys right now where they push their short hair into a mohawk-let.

* Having so much fun serving on a professors' panel following a student viewing of the first presidential debate yesterday evening

* Great lunch with a friend -- good food, good fellowship

* A fun run with another friend

* Not hurting myself when I fell on aforementioned run--first time that's happened in years!

* The kid's continuing fascination with American history, though I am mildly baffled by the fact that she appears to be a budding military historian 

* Making headway on my massive stack of grading

* An enjoyable conversation with my American Political Theory students Tuesday night

* Autumn leaves

How about you?