The Things I’m Thankful For:

I’m thankful for beer.  In a world with so many languages and so many customs, it seems to me that a couple beers can bring anybody together and make fast friends out of the most seemingly different people.  I think this is ultimately why there will never be peace in the Middle East, and why Obama’s beer summit has been the most successful moment of his presidency thus far.

I’m thankful for the internet.  While every aspect of my life since high school would have been wholly and completely different had the internet not become widespread, I would have managed my way through college just fine.  I would not, however, have been able to come to China and do what I am currently doing without the internet, so thank you Al Gore. 

I’m thankful for Ray Rice and Thomas Jones and their continued fantasy football output.  If it wasn’t for them I’d probably now be left at the very bottom of my dynasty league.  Likewise, I’m thankful for Dip, and the fact that he is ALWAYS willing to discuss fantasy football and the NFL overall. 

I’m thankful for Chuck Klosterman, Bill Simmons, Tucker Max, Malcolm Gladwell, David Sedaris, Josh Schwartz, and Ira Glass for being the writers that continue to show me how it’s done (even if none of them know who I am).

I’m thankful, for AJ and Aaron and all the work we put in together in 2007 and 2008 on SaltyStix.com.  They’ll never be able to comprehend how critically important that venture was for me and how much progress I couldn’t have made without them.

I’m thankful for Notre Dame Students—for the unique things they do, for all their personality quirks, and for the wide array of interesting, unusual, and perfectly normal things that they like.

I’m thankful for Brad, Sean, and Andrew who helped me to organize the original list of these things, and for giving me the necessary tools and preparation to move forward on my own. 

I’m thankful for all the people that read my stuff before I post or publish it, and the incredibly helpful comments they are always willing to give me.  With any luck, I’ll someday have editors to do this; but for now I’m thankful to have such a great group of friends that I can trust to help me out, and always seem to get back to me much faster than I anticipate.

I’m thankful to Father Henry Bonetti for choosing me for my current position, for Adam Rudin who helped me to get here, and for all of the teachers and Salesians I have met here in China.  They’ve given me an opportunity I am truly grateful for, and taught me so much in my short time here.

I’m thankful for Gavin, my roommate, and particularly his ability to speak Chinese.  This would have been infinitely more difficult without him.

I’m thankful for Jack and our hilarious gChat conversations . . . for Brad and his similarly awesome e-mail updates . . . for Julie who keeps me informed on everything happening back on campus . . . for Hogan and our seemingly endless political back-and-forth that will ultimately bring me to Kansas . . . and for the many others that don’t just delete the e-mail I send, but spend the time to thoughtfully respond to me with their own funny stories and updates.  Life is busy, and I really appreciate it when people take the time to stay contacted.

I’m thankful for Sharky, the best friend that is always there for me even when I’m so far away.

Finally, but most importantly, I am thankful for my parents.  I am thankful that they paid roughly $200,000 over the past four years to educate me, and that they didn’t make too much of a fuss when I accepted a job that pays less than $300 each month.  I’m thankful that they have supported me in China by continuing to update my blogs and by sending me pancake mix, fruit snacks, and my beloved Goldfish crackers.  I’m thankful for their faith in my abilities, and for their trust that I have an idea of why I do the things that I do. 

Happy Thanksgiving Everybody!