To those of you outside the US, the Thanksgiving holiday is billed as a commemoration of... well, depending on who you ask, it's either the commemoration of the onset of a genocide or a happy fuzzy friendship party thrown by some people who were probably really glad to see land.
In reality, it's an excuse to pig out all day, fight with one's family around the table, and gossip on the way home about how fucked up everyone is since Grandma (who was, after all, the one keeping everyone in line) passed away.
Since I'm going to a friend's house, I'll miss the fights and the gossip, but the pig-out factor is certainly still there. We're doing potluck, and I'm attempting to bake the pumpkin muffins that I found on the faboo cupcake blog (although I'm not sure how well they're going to turn out. I probably should have told my hosts I was bringing a bottle of cheap whiskey or something and then surprised them - although whiskey's probably healthier than those cupcakes. I don't even want to see the calorie count on those fuckers).
So, in the spirit of things, here's a list of what I'm thankful for this year:
I'm thankful that I have a job which, although I bitch about it sometimes, I truly do enjoy.
I'm thankful that I have my health, and more importantly, that I continue to qualify for my health insurance (I have to work 300 hours per semester to keep it, and I'm unbelievably grateful that I've never lost it).
I'm thankful for all the wonderful folks who keep hiring me, and with whom I'd hang out even if they didn't just because I like them.
I'm thankful for my rent-controlled place to live.
I'm thankful that my pet loves me (hey, with cats that's not a given, you know).
I'm thankful for my family and friends, who put up with my shit and still seem to like me.
I'm thankful that I haven't had food poisoning in a while.
I'm thankful for this court decision. I've had to 86 some hilarious comments due to fear of legal action, and now everyone can snark away without fear. Huzzah!
I'm sure there's more, but right now I'm off to the gym. Hopefully I'll be able to pre-emptively burn off those cupcakes.
I hope all of you have a very happy holiday, too!
2 comments:
I knew it-you're my sister! Remember the Thanksgiving brother George threw a filled plate against the wall? That cranberry sauce NEVER came off the wall paper. Happy Thanksgiving.
Enjoy your Thanksgiving!
Years I ago I went to a number of those extended multigenerational family celebrations at Thanksgiving and other holidays, and for all their being part of our culture and tradition and everything, the reality was that most weren't especially pleasant. I've come to the conclusion that holiday dinners with immediate family (as I'm doing) or good friends are better than the Norman Rockwell version.
Let's see, as for being loved by one's cats ... two of our eight don't really count (one's a kitten less than two weeks old and another has to be kept isolated because two others are trying to kill her) ... of the remaining six, three love me, two are sort of indifferent, and one doesn't like me. Guess that's not too bad!
Peter
Iron Rails & Iron Weights
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