Thanksgiving

All I can think of right now are Christmas songs...


Superdog's not going to get a visit from Santa if she keeps thinking those thoughts...then again, Santa may skip our house entirely if we keep torturing her by dressing her up...

Hubby and his mom, who joined my family for Thanksgiving this year.

I am blessed.

My MIL, me, and my mom. This was the third attempt at this photo. Mom needs to quit pinching me if she wants a good picture.


My two cousins and Superman. None of them can smile for a picture, apparently.


Looking for Black Friday bargains. My cousin's wife, on the right, is (to use a phrase from Superman) ballinous when it comes to Black Friday sales. I mean, she's seriously hard-core, 3 a.m. wake-up type. My wake up call came at 5:50. And I only shopped til 8:30.

BTW, I have all my Christmas gifts, minus two, purchased and (except for two which are already purchased) wrapped under the tree. WOO HOO!!

Granny, the grandkids, and their spouses. And Baxter the dog. He's a show stealer, that one.


I hear those J-I-N-G-L-E bells...oh, those holiday J-I-N-G-L-E bells...

We might have traveled an hour and a half away last night to see Christmas lights.

Random Dozen

(It’s sad that I’m doing this because I fell in love with the picture, isn’t it? LOL.)

1. Are you sticking to traditional Thanksgiving foods this year, or are you being culinarily adventurous?
Probably traditional. I’m hoping Bambi will be on the menu, but I’ll be happy with Tom the Turkey, too (Can you tell I’m not a vegetarian?).

2. Tell me something concrete that you're thankful for. (Something you can literally touch, see, etc., not a concept like "hope.")
My bug zapper. Yeah, that’s right. We own one. And it’s fairly amazing…even though I’m still too scared to get the bugs.

3. You knew the flip side was coming: Share about something intangible that you're thankful for.
That I don’t have school again until Jan. 19, 2010!!!

4. Share one vivid Thanksgiving memory. It doesn't have to be deep or meaningful, just something that remains etched in your memory.
I remember one a few years back with my hubby (at his old job, he often traveled on Thanksgiving). He and my cousins were throwing the football in my aunt’s front yard. It was just so fun and peaceful.

5. What is one thing that you know beyond a shadow of a doubt is going to happen this Thanksgiving because it always does, year after year?
We will eat. Lots.

6. Do your pets get any leftovers?
As I spent $200 to get Superdog’s teeth cleaned this year, she will NOT be having any leftovers. She may have a Milkbone. (Unless her "Grandpa" feels sorry for her and feeds her when I'm not looking.)

7. Does your family pray before the big meal? If so, do you join hands while seated, stand, repeat a formal prayer or offer a spontaneous prayer? Who does the praying?
Yep. It’s usually a prayer when everyone’s crowding around the food about to eat, and usually given by my uncle.

8. Will you be watching football in the afternoon? If not, what will you be doing?
Superman would like it if we would, and he may be able to con the other football-loving family members into turning on the TV. Before we married, the TV was not turned on during Thanksgiving.

9. There are two distinct camps of people on this issue: How do you feel about oysters in the dressing/stuffing?
What?!! Does that actually happen???

10. Do you consider yourself informed about the first Thanksgiving?
I went to public school. We dressed up as pilgrims and Indians. I was an Indian. I got pics to prove it.

11. Which variety of pie will you be enjoying?
One of each, please.

12. Do you feel for the turkey?? (This is a humorous throw back question related to the 12th question in another Random Dozen!)
Read Question 1. That should answer any and all questions.

One of these things is not like the other...

(I just happen to be sipping on a peppermint mocha right now. I may spontaneously bounce from wall to wall shortly.)

Happy early Thanksgiving to all of you!!! Who's excited about families, lots of food, days off, and shopping on Black Friday?! I AM!!!

(Like I said, bouncing from wall to wall...)

Anyway, Superman and I have made a bit of a big decision recently. We are going to be Sunday School teachers for a new class of 20-somethings (mainly college graduates who aren't married). I was a little apprehensive about this decision, not only because it's added responsibility, but also because I love our Sunday School class. It's amazing. When Superman and I got married and switched churches, I really didn't think I'd find the camraderie (sp?) that we had at our old church. And I was right. It was better. =)

HOWEVER, things are a'changing...not for the bad, mind you...but changing enough where I realize WE need to make a change...

This past Sunday I realized said change as we sat in a semi-circle and listened to the lesson. There were about eight other couples in our class, and, as I glanced from person to person, a horrible realization hit me: I was alone. Yes, Superman was with me, but...

"Hmmm...Susie's pregnant, and Katie's pregnant, and the Williams already have a baby, and John and Jane are expecting their second, and Erica's pregnant, and we just found out last week that Gina's pregnant, and..."

All. Around. The. Room. Besides the Sunday School teacher, I was the only one who had NOT been through pregnancy.

I might have hyperventilated. Just a little.

I really don't want to get into a discussion as to whether or not I should have a baby, because, unless God deems otherwise, I will -- just not right now.

But I don't really want to be the odd man -- ahem, woman -- out.

So I'm really excited about teaching this new SS class, starting Dec. 13. We know some of the people in there, which makes it more fun, and I'm excited about the book we're starting: The Tough Sayings of Jesus. Superman's already wanting to start a class twitter and blog...I'll let him handle that. ;)

Oh, and one more celebratory note:

No more Super Duper University classes until 2010!!!

Happy Thanksgiving. =)

Signed, sealed, and delivered

Sent in my last research paper of 2009 not 10 minutes ago. I feel just slightly victorious. Still have two finals to go, but they're take-home finals. I feel the odds are more in my favor there.

I'm so excited about the holiday season that I'm about to burst. I'm trying to keep the squealing to a minimum. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't.

I feel like a peppermint mocha right now. To celebrate.

I really wish I had some super amazing deep thought or question or anything more superficial than what I'm thinking right now (which consists of the food I'm going to devour next week and where I'm going shopping on Black Friday), but it's been a hard week, and my brain apparently shut off as soon as I turned my paper in.

PRAISE JESUS, THAT LAST PAPER IS DONE!!!!!!!!!

My husband is expecting all As this quarter from his three graduate classes. I have a lot of jealous comments for that, but, as I'm trying not to get coal in my stocking for Christmas, I'll refrain and just say that I would be happy with all As as well, for me as well as for him. (Happy? I'd be ESCATIC.)

Question (still very superficial and not deep): Do you go shopping on Black Friday, or do you avoid it like the Black Plague?

Our family was never really big into shopping on Black Friday, but I LOVE it. I love the sales, I love fighting the crowds, and I love having all my Christmas presents purchased before Dec. 1. It's like a shopping victory for me. And, of course, I love the post-shopping nap that follows.

A friend of mine mentioned that she always avoided the stores on Black Friday but went to the spa instead. Interesting concept. I think after the post-shopping nap I'll have to check that out. Ooooh, maybe with a peppermint mocha.

Question No. 2 (Seriously, this should have been a What's Your Answer Wednesday): What kinds of things do you do to celebrate Christmas before Dec. 25? Such as: caroling, going to see Christmas plays, going to look at the lights, parades...What do you do?

I have a list of ten items that I want to do during this season. Two of them are related to Christmas lights. I can't remember how many relate to food. At least one relates to peppermint mochas.

Another question! (I'm full of 'em today.) What kind of Christmas cards do you send? (Or do you send them out at all?) Do you send picture cards or regular cards? Do you have a certain place where you buy them each year (My mom always gets hers from Hallmark.)?

Okay. No more questions. It's just time for you to answer!!

Thankful for…

Life. With my co-worker’s father holding on to life, this becomes much more meaningful to me.

Love. My husband loves me unconditionally.

Comfort. The ability to give it and to receive it.

Clean drinking water. Eight glasses each day that I take for granted.

Excess. I have clothes on my back, I have enough food to eat, and I have a nice, warm house…I have an excess of blessings.

Intelligence. I’m not the brightest tool in the shed, but I have brains, and I am using them.

Time. Even though I never feel there’s enough time, I have time for what’s important – whether I’m proud of it or not.

Forgiveness. On both sides. The ability to forgive and the ability to be forgiven.

Support. Family support, work support, friend support.

Senses. Eyes to see, ears to hear, the ability to speak God’s love, the ability to wrap someone up in a hug.

Money. Again, like time, it’s something I’ll never have enough of, but I have what I need.

Health. Like No. 1…something taken for granted far too often.

Family and friends. So important.

Confidence. I know where I’m going when I die.

Freedom. But I shy away with political correctness unfortunately.

Words. Written and spoken. And sometimes silently heard.

Memories. Some good, some bad, but I’m so glad the majority of them are good. And those that are bad – I see how God pulled me through.

Job. With so many people out of work, I am thankful I am employed and I enjoy my work.

Running. It helps de-stress me, which allows me to sleep better at night.

Music. Especially when my husband plays.

Insurance. And soon to have dental insurance. Woo hoo!

Coffee. It’s an addiction, but at least it’s a coffee addiction and not a smoking addiction or alcohol addiction or something like that.

Mercy. 1 Timothy 1:16. It’s a reminder.

Emotions. I feel.

Humor. Look for the positives.

Tell me what you're thankful for.

Being sick never felt so good

Bet ya thought I'd fallen off the face of the planet because it's been so long since I've blogged.

Well...you'd almost be right.

As my aunt put it, apparently I'd been laying with pigs, because Sunday morning I woke up "oinking." Or coughing, whichever you want to say.

I don't have it confirmed that I had swine flu. Thankfully, a family friend who is a doctor precribed me some antibiotics Sunday which a) helped me fight the flu and b) kept me from spending $130 on a doctor's visit (yes, my health insurance stinks). I honestly think if I had waited until Monday, I would still be at home getting over that mess, because by Sunday night -- with antibiotics -- I was running a 100-degree fever. Monday morning? Almost better. Tuesday? Great, minus phelm. Today? Back at work, playing catch up.

I gotta say, though, it was one of the best "vacations" I've had, haha!

Since my husband has an array of PT jobs on top of grad school, he was able to stay home with me most of the time and take care of me, bake me brownies, cook soup, put a wet washcloth over my head, rub my back...but never a mocha... ;) Love you, sweetheart, lol!!!

I got to read two of Julie Lessman's Daughters of Boston series books -- AND watched more TV than I could handle. Seriously. I watched so much King of the Hill that one night when I was watching it with Superman, I started quoting it...word...for...word. That's when he switched to The Office.

I slept forever it seemed...woke up in the middle of the night with a request for a midnight snack (and my sweet husband got it for me), stayed up and watched TV...went back to sleep...woke up at 6:30 a.m. and got up...took a mid-morning nap...My whole sleep schedule was totally off last night when I tried to go to sleep around 11 p.m.

Like I said, this whole sickness thing was pretty fun. Granted, the vomiting, chills, aches, etc. of that first day were NOT fun, but, as I mentioned, those antibiotics are FABULOUS.

If you get to feeling sick -- DON'T FIGHT IT. I was so angry on Sunday when I realized I was getting sick because I couldn't go to church, I couldn't go shopping, and I couldn't go running that day. And I almost didn't tell anyone that I was sick so I could do that. But if I had...I probably would have gotten one of my best friends sick, would have made myself sicker, and would STILL be out (which, granted, wouldn't be the worst thing in the world...just kidding!!).

Rachel asked me about symptoms that I had beforehand, and, remember, while I never had a confirmed case of swine flu (or the flu in general), I was treated for the flu because I had flu-like symptoms (aches, sore throat, coughing), and I had been exposed to someone with confirmed swine flu. The quicker this stuff is found out, the better.

The List

Stuff which must be accomplished by Saturday...

* Switch research paper from 12-point Times New Roman type to 12.5-point Times New Roman to add a full two pages to my need-to-be 20 page paper (It will be 18 when I'm done.).

* Pick up Superdog and give her a piece of cheese for surviving her day-long trip to the vet to get her teeth cleaned. Though if I didn't feed her human food, maybe I wouldn't have to pay $200 to get her teeth cleaned...

* Buy birthday cards. And remember to send them out.

* Do two article reviews. One that's due Monday and one that I have to redo because apparently I can't figure out what a content analysis is. Epic Fail.

* Run four miles tonight and six miles Saturday. Basically be Superwoman.

* Survive working two volleyball games, one basketball game, and one televised football game.

Bring it.

WHO DAT?!!!

Colin Cowherd is WRONG.

That's right. You heard it here...well, maybe not first.

Yesterday on his program, Cowherd said that it's better to root for a winning team than a losing team. Why? Because you end up being depressed all weekend about the fact that your team lost (as it inevitably will). So why not root for a winner?

Because, Mr. Cowherd, what fun is it if you win all the time? Where's the excitement? Where's the passion? You sit there in your state-of-the-art press box, enjoying good playing, as you said, and yawn, fairly confident that the team you're rooting for will win.

Where's the fun in that?

We are Saints fans. We love them even when they break our hearts, when they're injured, when they play no better than a high school team. We loved them when they were displaced from Hurricane Katrina, and we prayed that they would return to their home, the Superdome. And they did.

And we loved them even more.

We love Drew Brees and Reggie Bush and Jeremy Shockey and even Thomas Morstead. But we don't beat ourselves up when they lose. After coming this far, it was almost expected. Note the past verb: WAS.

Here we are, halfway in the season, and we are 7-0. SEVEN-OH!!! My husband refuses to cut his hair until the Saints lose, and, at this point, I don't think I'd mind it getting as long as mine (but it does need cutting, sweetie). There's a frenzy in the air, an unexpected excitement, a thrill for the game.

And, were we to lose in the upcoming weeks, we would mourn. We would be sad. But then we'd go to bed, wake up the next morning, and go to work, as the usual. We would not mourn relentlessly. There's always another game, another chance at redemption. There's hope.

But, while we are 7-0, let the celebrations continue.

WHO DAT!!! WE DAT!!!