"Norwegian is rife with 'thanks' phrases: tusen takk (1,000 thanks), mange takk (many thanks), takk for sist (thanks for the last time — used when meeting someone again after some time has passed; also used on the official T-shirts when the Olympics were recently held in Norway, in reference to the Olympics held there decades ago), takk for maten (said to the cook after every meal), etc."
Today is one of those days when I woke up groggy and grumpy — knackered, as they say across the pond — but thanks to Barb, some brisk exercise and a strong cup of tea, I'm closer now to seeing my way to a tusen takks.
#1 on the list of things to be takkful for: air conditioning! In my house, in my car, in my office . . . it's everywhere I wanna be. Or almost everywhere; there isn't any AC where I do most of my working out. Oh well. A nice clean sweat is good for the soul, right?
#2 would have to be good music. Nothing livens up the morning commute like the Live Noise album from goofball Canadian band Moxy Fruvous. My favorite track is "(Once I Was the) King of Spain." A little conga drum, a little accordion, lots of 4-part harmony. Much more rousing than the news on NPR.
#3: NPR. Sometimes you need news you can trust. Or storytelling you can admire like "This American Life," or an old-fashioned variety show like "A Prairie Home Companion," or automotive spaz geeks like the hosts of "Car Talk." Beats the heck out of TV each and every day of the week.
#4: My job, especially in these economically trying times. In the interest of getting back to it, I'll forbear enumerating the other 996 things I'm takkful for and let you make your own lists. Have a takky day!