You've Been Gobbled: 30 things I'm thankful for.

1. The Girl Scouts, some of whom were sporting enough to go along with my idea of making "You've Been Gobbled" posters at last night's meeting. You're the best, people.

2. Peace signs on the sidewalk.

3. This sweet, sweet Karmann Ghia in Pilsen. Apparently the owner's a jerk, but the car is divine.

4. Bun Length Wieners. It's wrong on many levels, AND missing a hyphen, but also great. Thanks again, Aldi.

5. The LepreCan porta-potty facility under the viaduct near our house. We call that whole area the Poop Factory for no good reason.

6. Sexy Irish weather ladies broadcasting the weather in Irish. Somehow made both weather and Gaelic seem sexy at once, quite a feat.

7. Hardy Boys lunchbox. I didn't even know they were Frank and Joe Hardy until our Joe came along.

8. People with the cleverness and manual dexterity to paint British flags on their toenails - and the cheek to do it a few days before we leave for Ireland.

9. Hammer toe diagrams at the podiatrist's office.

10. This grandpa (big Devo fan) and his 8-year-old granddaughter, who he brought to the Devo/Blondie concert because her dad was sick. I had bought five Devo buttons and offered them each one. Grandpa was pleased.

11. My Irish condiment collection, featuring several varieties of brown sauce - and Marmite.

12. This gang of four. And their Dad.

13. Coco, who was riding up Michigan Avenue with her owner loving the smells.

14. Disco ball at the Village Discount Outlet. Too bad some of the disco fell off.

15. Fall color.

16. People having birthdays.

17. Another fantastic car I followed along Chicago Avenue on a Sunday morning.

18. America: where kids can get handcuffs, army guys, marbles, ping pong balls, AND Play-Doh at the Jewel.

19. The giant rocking chair at Jonamac Orchard in Malta, IL, plus the amazing apple cider, pie, donuts, etc. Oh, and the pumpkin cannon. And the hay bale maze. and the donkey, etc.....

20. The Girl Scout sleepover @ St. Ed's.

21. Breakfast where I work: I usually take two hard-boiled eggs and either bacon or turkey sausage. But there was one tiny pancake which I had to have as well.