Simple pleasures, guilty pleasures--a belated Thanksgiving post

I have had, going around in my head, several things at the same time. Every time I indulge in one of my favorite guilty pleasures (and there are many), it seems like a great idea for a post. I thought I should write the standard cheesy "Stuff I'm Thankful For" post on Thanksgiving weekend, but between all the crazy running around and goings-on of the holiday weekend, I never managed it. Then only a day or two ago, I started thinking about all the basic simple pleasures in my life, which make up about 99% of the really, really good stuff. That is the stuff for which I am really thankful.

These are some of my favorite simple-or guilty-pleasures.

• Rock opera--the more cheesy, melodramatic, and over blown, the better
• the way my son makes me laugh, even when I am having a shitty day
• When my son gets in my bed because it is cold in his room, and when I go to bed, the sheets are all warmed up for me
• My cat, because she is so soft and so affectionate
• My other two cats, because they really think I am somebody special
• Starbucks fat-free, sugar-free caramel macciato
• Pepper-jack cheese tornadoes from Speedway (The absolute best in bad gas-station food)
• Hot gas-station cappuccino on a cold night, driving between shows
• Calling my husband from my cell phone and chatting all the way to work, which is the only time we have to talk to each other during the week.

And one thing I don't think I've had even once since my kid was born: Reading the news paper over coffee and omlettes at a local diner.