Happy Thanksgiving!!! My Family Rocks!

I don't think that there has ever been a year that I can't remember spending Thanksgiving with all of my family. I don't mean just my immediate family, but all of my extended family too. It's a tradition that started once upon a time (because I really can't remember its origin) and has happened every year without fail.

And yes, I'll have you all know that MY family's Thanksgiving food is by far the best I've ever had. There is always the turkey and stuffing (seriously SO much better than the bread crap) that my Grandma makes. The green been casserole with toasted almonds on top (one of my favorites) that my mom makes. The assortment of delicious salads and rolls from my aunts (and uncles, but we know who really made them). And yes, in particular, my Aunt Kay made the best orange rolls EVER. (Seriously, I don't know a single person who's had them that could say any differently.) And the pies. All of it an absolute feast for us to enjoy. (Making through the line once was never quiet enough.)

The last couple of years and this one have been a bit different with the passing of my Grandpa and my Aunt Kay this year, but it is still one of my favorite holidays of the year.
I think the other part of it that has always been fun is 'confessional'. Something my sister and cousin made up to 'get the dirt' on each other. I don't know how it is that we made it years without Heather seeming to realize that she was the only one who ever had anything to confess.

But this year we inducted some of our other siblings into the confessional. ( I mean lets face it, how many of us DON'T have an opinion of everything?) It was a lot of fun to get the chance to catch up with my younger siblings who have grown up without me even really realizing it. Some of them are up at college and others are just trying to figure out what int the world they're supposed to be doing in life. But mostly, I think it's just nice to get a chance to all get together and see how everyone is doing. It gives us a chance to laugh and know that we're loved not matter how crazy our lives get.

My family really is the best and I'm glad that I've got so many great memories that have them in it. (Not to mention the great stories I know get to hear about some of their kids.) As Heather said 'The Elders have spoken' or at least until next year. =)

Grateful

A) It's really odd to think that I might actually have a moment to myself since the holidays have gotten here.

B) It's amazing to me to look back at the last year and realize how grateful I am for where I am now.

I'm grateful for Fielding and the fact that he loves me even on my worst days. He's willing to put up with my three crazy cats because he knows I love them. And he's just fantastic. His dorkiness is one of the greatest things I appreciate. (Just recently, he told me a new book at B&N was even more amazing because it was written in iambic pentameter. Really!?! Who wouldn't find that cute?) He's amazing and I'm so glad that I have him.

I'm also grateful that I have the opportunity to go to school. I know some people can't wait for it to be over, but life really does start to get more complicated when you start growing up. Suddenly you have bills to pay, a job to work, and a limited number of hours in which to fit all of the extras you still want to do. So I'm glad I have the opportunity to still go after something I enjoy.

I think overall though (besides Fielding 'cause he's #1 on my list), I'm grateful for the people that have been there when Fielding and I needed it. Life is full of twists and turns and death defying adventures. Things you can't make it through alone and things that mean more in the end because of who was there with you. Sometimes just remembering to offer a helping hand or a nice cold fountain Dew can remind people there are people who care.

-Oh, and I'm grateful for my loud crazy family. They really are spectacular.

Halloween

I love Halloween. It's one of the only days that it's acceptable for an adult to dress up in a costume or a style that is more often than not unacceptable in society. Not necessarily because it's scandalous, but more so because it just doesn't jive with what society expects in certain atmospheres.

I mean how many of us can show up in period dress one day for work and goth the next? Pretty much no one.


But dressing up is my guilty pleasure. It's my rebellion against 'the man', society, and whomever else it needs to be that day. It's my chance to be a little bit crazy, but not be permanently condemned for it.

This year was a bit different than previous years though. I didn't have a costume. But not only didn't I have a costume, I didn't even have an idea for a costume. It was horrible.

Luckily, my lovely husband wouldn't let me forgo the day and instead convinced me to go with him to DI to see what odds and ends we could find for a costume. (Seriously, I wanted to skip the day entirely. If I could participate then it wasn't going to happen.) I had found, decided, and implemented my plan within 5 minutes of being in the store. Pretty much everything I needed. Yes! Flashy crazy skirt (which I really do like), silky top, outrageous belt. Perfection. Gypsy costume complete. Fielding also was willing to go along with my idea and found a swarthy (Mostly I just like saying the word and don't pay any attention to applicability.) red shirt with black buttons for him. Sadly, we couldn't locate a silk type scarf for him though. Oh well.

(Not too mention that getting the chance to try some crazy makeup is always a plus.)

Once again it was great fun dressing up and I can't wait to do it again next year.