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Question of the day

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Illinois

* Thanksgiving is Thursday, of course, and since we’re probably shuttering the blog for the rest of the week I thought I’d give you an opportunity to say what you’re most thankful for in life.

Please, no snark. Thanks.

posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Nov 24, 08 @ 10:54 am

Comments

I am most thankful for my beautiful wife and my 3 year old son. They are truly a blessing to my life.

train111

Comment by train111 Monday, Nov 24, 08 @ 10:57 am
I am thankful that we have a roof over our head, and food on our table.

I am thankful for our troops that are working so hard at protecting us.

Comment by Boscobud Monday, Nov 24, 08 @ 10:58 am
For all my whining this year, one would think I have nothing to be thankful for, but that is not true. My husband has a job, all my adult children have jobs. We all have roofs over our heads that are safe from foreclosure, plenty of food, and our bonds are forged even closer as we have dealt with many struggles this year. I am truly blessed with great kids and other extended family that are not only always there for each other but also close enough to reach out and give that much needed hug or shoulder to lean on when needed.My youngest daughter still in school has a decent public school district, my older sons jobs provide them healthcare, ect ect. As I watch the state and the nation struggle I thank the Lord that I have my family, my home, employment and decent health.

Comment by Princess Monday, Nov 24, 08 @ 11:10 am
I am thankful for my family and am grateful that my parents are still around. I am also grateful for the wonderful staff that works for both the Democrat and Republican members. They are absolutely fantastic and without them government would come to a standstill

Comment by Happy Monday, Nov 24, 08 @ 11:11 am
Good health. As I get older I realize how important that is. You can’t be productive or helpful to others if you don’t feel well.

Comment by Cassandra Monday, Nov 24, 08 @ 11:14 am
Healthy, safe family. After that, it’s all gravy.

Maybe it’s because of the Pilgrims story, but Thanksgiving always reminds me of my folks. The guts and optimism it took for them to leave their extended families and everything they ever knew, hop a ship across the Atlantic and walk through the gates at Ellis Island always puts a lump in my throat. It was their greatest gift ever.

I always tell my kids that right here, right now, they live better and have more opportunities than 95% of the people who ever walked the planet. That ain’t bad at all.

Comment by wordslinger Monday, Nov 24, 08 @ 11:19 am
Excellent mental and physical health, wonderful family, a good-paying, secure job that I love, being fortunate to live in the best city in the world!

Comment by Undercover Monday, Nov 24, 08 @ 11:33 am
A healthy,happy family,a beautiful and loving wife of 30 years,children who grew up to be good,productive citizens,the greatest job in the world, good friends, and the capitol fax blog…life can’t get any better.
Thanks!

Comment by Bill Monday, Nov 24, 08 @ 11:41 am
3 lovely daughters, and a delightful wife. We have our health, and happiness. Now if we can just get the money thing worked out, life would be extra peachy!

Comment by How Ironic Monday, Nov 24, 08 @ 11:46 am
I’m grateful for a wonderful retirement for me and spouse and relatively good health. I’m grateful for our two awesome sons who work successfully in the public sector. I’m grateful for living in the good ol’ USofA where freedom of speech is often taken for granted and where we can say what we want most everywhere except on this blog where Rich hits the delete key (at times understandable but at times perhaps he’s having a PMS moment).

Say a prayer for our troops as for many of them their Thanksgiving turkey will come in the form of an MRE.

Comment by Little Egypt Monday, Nov 24, 08 @ 11:47 am
I am thankful for the simple things in my life.

Thankful that my truck starts when I turn the key

Thankful that my heat comes on when I flip the thermostat on.

Thankful for my grandma Edna who took me to my first Cardinal Game.

Thankful for my health.

Comment by Speaking at Will Monday, Nov 24, 08 @ 11:55 am
My smart, funny, hard-working husband. My amazing sisters - together the four of us can handle anything. Spring is only 5 or 6 or 7 months away.

Comment by 10th Indy Monday, Nov 24, 08 @ 12:01 pm
Thankful that I had my dad to guide me through 41 years of my life and for the wisdom and love he gave me. And for not turning his back on me when I made the biggest mistakes of my life. I miss him.

Thankful for my son who has brought me more joy than I ever thought another person could.

Thankful for friends and family who remind me every day that there is goodness in everyone.

Thankful for the freedoms I enjoy and my right to say no when I want.

Thankful I have a good job and what I believe is a pretty good future ahead.

Comment by Wickedred Monday, Nov 24, 08 @ 12:19 pm
I am THANKFUL for MY family! They are a blessing to me EVERYDAY! I am thankful for good friends who are ALWAYS there for me! I am thankful that I have a family, home, good health. I wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving! Thanks Rich for letting us share-Happy Thanksgiving! I am thankful to be apart of the CHANGES that are coming to our country!

Comment by Confused 2B Monday, Nov 24, 08 @ 12:21 pm
Like others, very grateful for a great family and fun in-laws, marriage heading to 30 years, kids doing well, terrific job with good co-workers, bucks in the bank, no serious health issues, and, amazingly, I am still on the right side of the grass. Overall, life’s pretty cool.

Comment by zatoichi Monday, Nov 24, 08 @ 12:26 pm
I am thankful for my daughter who is the light of my life. I am thankful for close family and that I have a job to go to everyday. I am thankful that I have a roof over my head and lovely people under it! Thank you Rich! Have a Happy Thanksgiving!

Comment by My Opinion Monday, Nov 24, 08 @ 12:31 pm
At 7:00 each evening, VanillaHouse is alive. Lights blaze from every window as VanillaMan and VanillaWife wrestle with a herd of laughing, giggling, screetching toddlers and pre-schoolers. Each butt needs to be wiped, swiped and overnighted in extra-absorbant diapers. Every finger safely forced through tight long sleeved onesie pajamas. Every thirst needs to be quenched, and every hug and kiss needs to be lovingly bussed on various silky-smooth miniature body parts. Cribs are filled and nightlights replace bedroom lights as doors are shut in opposition to the tearful wailing behind them.

By 7:30, lights start going off and silence returns to VanillaHouse. VanillaPets reappear from under couches, chairs, and children’s tables, their weary eyes blinkered and shocked at their daily survival. The search us out to share with us the harrowing tales they experienced during that day.

The VanillaKitchen drips with sippy cups filled with fluids filled with suspended mysterious food floaters, and ketchup stains Elmo and Dora tableware. High chairs reveal the whereabouts of unloved carrots, half-chewed Goldfish crackers under wash-me-now vinyl coverings. Enough food lies upon the dining room floor to clog two Dustbusters. The Office appears to have been broken into by knee-high burglars, spilled the unpaid bills and unplugged a computer.

The rest of VanillaHouse resembles the floor of the New York Stock Exchange when the Bull loses to the Bear. VanillaMan and VanillaWife spend the next 30 minutes resembling a Van Gogh painting of peasants planting potatoes. Toy boxes are refilled, books are reshelved and laundry resembles waterfalls over basket brims.

Reclined on furniture, praying for a “second wind”, VanillaMan and VanillaWife count their blessings. We softly laugh at the first words uttered by a VanillaSon, the first sentences cobbled together by a VanillaDaughter and the enlightened pronouncements of newfound insight by VanillaPreSchoolers.

Exhausted, but happy, we decide to leave the laundry for another day, the dishes to be done in the morning race, and grab the chance to go to bed early. We decide that VanillaGrandma can hold down the fort during the day, but her demand to nix any more family additions will have to be humored for the time being.

We have a lot to be thankful!

Comment by VanillaMan Monday, Nov 24, 08 @ 12:38 pm
I am thankful for my family first and foremost.

I am thankful for Obama’s courage, willingness to serve at this difficult moment in history, and to his family for their support and sacrifice.

God bless us all, no exceptions…

Comment by Anonymous45 Monday, Nov 24, 08 @ 12:49 pm
Family. Job. Hope for the future.

Comment by One of the 35 Monday, Nov 24, 08 @ 12:54 pm
My family, and the fact that we are so close to the greatest city in the world.

Comment by Kevin Fanning Monday, Nov 24, 08 @ 1:00 pm
Defintely thankful for my wife and daughter. They are wonderful.

I am also most thankful to have had two of the best parents anyone could ever ask for. My mom gave up her career to care for me and be the best mother she could be. My father was my hero, always there to provide for his family and give the best advice and guidance one could ask for. He gave me opportunities in life that I would not have had otherwise. He passed away last year.

My advice to everyone is to tell your family that you love and appreciate them. You never know when you won’t have that chance again.

Comment by stones Monday, Nov 24, 08 @ 1:07 pm
I’m thankful for my wonderful family, my health, and my job (regardless of how crazy it makes me).

Also, I am truly thankful that Barack Obama won the election. And that Emil Jones retired. This is not snark! - I am honesttogod thankful for these things.

Comment by Bill S. Preston, Esq. Monday, Nov 24, 08 @ 1:13 pm
Despite the problems in the world, I am thankful to my parents who fled wartime Europe and chose to establish their roots in the most hospitable country in the world. I am also thankful to my immediate family who help make sense of this crazy world.

I firmly believe that the spirit of rugged individualism which made this country great is still there and will rise again and lead us to a new generation of prosperity.

Comment by Plutocrat03 Monday, Nov 24, 08 @ 1:34 pm
# 1 I am thankful we still have the freedom to worship as we choose in America. # 2 I am thankful for my spouse, my son (I was told I would never have children). I am thankful that Doctors can be wrong! I am thankful for four healthy, beautiful Grandchildren.

I am thankful that we still have our parents with us when so many at our age do not.

I am thankful to have the opportunity to serve and to have a job where I look forward to coming to work every day. I am thankful for the Capitol Fax, and Rich Miller. I am thankful for the humor and bold honesty (from the perspective of the respective bloggers). I am thankful that people still care, and at Capitol Fax I find people who not only care, but are passionate about Government and have an expectation of integrity. May integrity become contagious! Have a blessed Thanksgiving!

Comment by Say WHAT? Monday, Nov 24, 08 @ 1:41 pm
My two wonderful teenage daughters who are the joy of my life. I’d have to follow that up with having a job which seems steady, although we’ll have to see next year.

Comment by James the Intolerant Monday, Nov 24, 08 @ 2:02 pm
Wonderful wife of almost 20 years, two fantastic kids, a job I like (that pays well, too), good friends.

I am truly thankful for our new President. I have plenty of hope now.

Comment by Pot calling kettle Monday, Nov 24, 08 @ 2:29 pm
A great family, a healthy life, and a group of wonderful friends.

Happy turkey day

Comment by scoot Monday, Nov 24, 08 @ 2:37 pm
I am thankful for life itself. A stroke took my eyesight for a while and my teenage thinking about immortality. My wife and best friend for almost 50 years is the best thing that ever happened to me and I am thankful for her! Five healthy sons, nine grandkids and two greats complete the list. Oh yes, now the world can share in what I knew many years ago: we need Barack Obama in the White House!!

Comment by Obamalac Monday, Nov 24, 08 @ 4:21 pm
Family and friends, all over the world, and not to be over-the-top on religiosity or anything, but I’m thankful for the ‘reason-for-the-season’ whose birth comes in a month or so…

Also, having just spent a couple days in historic palaces of the Hapsburg Emperors, I’m honestly thankful for the fact that we live in a day and age that is so technologically advanced that my middle-class upbringing would have bested the living situations of generations of kings and queens — it may have been “good to be the king” but I still prefer the warm house, good Turkey Day food, and the ability to tell my family I love them even from across the globe!

Oh, and of course, the CapFax blog, without which my understanding of Illinois politics would be surely hampered.

Happy Thanksgiving, all!

Comment by Chambananon Monday, Nov 24, 08 @ 5:05 pm