Things I Am Thankful For

#6. Books. I am not sure I would survive the long Saskatchewan winter without books to read. Right now, I am especially excited about reading books all winter long on my new e-reader. Electronic or paper, I am definitely thankful for books.

#7. Bikes. I like bikes. A lot. I rode bikes as a kid, but I didn't own my first 'real bike' until 5 years ago. Now I have 3 bikes. And I'm considering buying another. Some of my best friends in Saskatoon are people I met through biking. If I ever leave Saskatoon, I am going to miss my bike shop more than any other business. I like riding so much that I commute to school all year round, including when it's -30C. I want to ride a century and start bike touring next year. I am always happy when I ride my bikes. Even when I crash. Biking makes life better.

#8. Shoes with a wide toe box. I have duck feet. When I started running, I didn't realize that this was going to be a problem with many shoes. The first time I ran 7 miles (in a pair of shoes I had been training in for weeks), my pinky toes wore through the shoes, popped out of the holes they had created, and I got the most painful blisters I had ever had (at that point....there have been worse since then). So, I went and bought a pair of shoes that fit me better. As all athletes know, the search for the perfect pair of shoes is a never-ending one, but I am still thankful that I can buy shoes with a wide toe box and avoid ever having my toes on the outside of my shoes again.

#9. Peanut butter. I am pretty sure PB is one of the most perfect foods ever. It is good for breakfast, lunch, dinner or a snack. It goes with sweet or savory foods equally well. You can even eat it straight out of the jar. Chocolate + peanut butter is one of the most heavenly combinations ever. I heart PB.

#10. Mountains. Or even just hills, I guess. Michigan doesn't have much topography, but living in the prairies has made me appreciate that at least MI isn't completely flat. It makes me sad that I have to drive 7 hours from Saskatoon to get to the mountains, but I am thankful that that 7 hour drive puts me in the most beautiful part of the Canadian Rockies.