My current shift rotation limits my ability to do some things, and permits me to do others. One of the things I miss is the week off every month between rotations is gone. So some weeks, I have a lot of things to write and shoot, and some weeks, I’m grasping for stuff at the last minute. So, as we approach Thursday’s holiday, in case I don’t get another chance this week, there are some things I’d like to say.

I’m thankful for having a job that has just survived a round of layoffs. It allows me to keep a roof over the heads of my wife, son and daughter. It permits me to keep food on the table and heat in the house.

I’m thankful for my family, the joy and love we all share, and the fun we have.

I’m thankful for my parents, whose help with my two teens is tremendous and without which, my wife and I would be in a very rough spot.

I’m thankful for the friends I have. For Loraine Ritchey, for all the pingbacks/links she does on her site to send traffic my way. For all the jobs she sends me on, that provide me with articles to do here, and gives me more publicity on her site, because she ALWAYS puts my name under my photos. And for trusting me with the things she trusts me with. She is truly a great friend, and I will always consider myself lucky and fortunate to have her in my life.

I’m thankful for Brian Hazelett, who has given me valuable information, ideas and friendship in the time that I’ve known him. Brian knows his stuff, and is an incredibly caring individual. Everyone should have someone like Brian in their life.

I’m thankful for Buster’s Momma, a fellow blogger and a huge help here with my FISI series, and someone who has pushed me to be better at what I do, and in return, I have pushed her back. She’s a great friend and a tremendously caring individual. We all need more folks like her in this world.

I’m thankful for those of you that come back on a regular basis to see what I’ve got going on here. I’m grateful for all of you readers whose visits spur me to find more things to write about, and make me want to be a better photograper.

I’m very thankful to live in the greatest country in the world, with the freedoms we all have, that has people who are so unselfish that they VOLUNTEER to fight for this country, so the rest of us can HAVE the freedoms we have.  I will be eternally grateful for our Armed Forces.

I wish all of you a very Happy Thanksgiving. Thank you for your attention and your visits and your friendship. Without it, I don’t know what I’d do.