BJ gets quote of the day.

"Why doesn't your mom just hand out a script for everyone? That way, she'll be happy with what everyone says."

This was prompted by the following scene at the Thanksgiving dinner table:

Mom: RisibleGirl, I know you don't like to do this, but we're going to do it anyway. I want to go around the table and have everyone say what they're thankful for.
Me: OK, how about I go last. Then I can say that I'm thankful that this is all over with?
Mom: (ignoring me) I'll go first.
Me: (thinking, oh hey, there's a big surprise. She's wanting to set the 'tone'.)
Mom: (goes on for what seems like hours about church and family)
Mom: Ok, who wants to go next?
Son #2 (Casey): I knew we'd have to do this, so I came prepared
Me: (feeling shamed that I've raised such a suck up.)
Casey: I'm thankful for my new truck.
Mom: Casey! Don't you have anything more meaningful to be thankful for?
Me: (kicks hubby in the shin as an acknowledgment of how much I really hate being there at that moment)
BJ: (ignores me)
Casey: Well, it's been a bad year for me. I've had everything taken away from me. My job, my car, my apartment. Then a really nice lady gave me a truck for free. I thought that was pretty neat.
Me: (proud that Casey stuck up for himself) I think that's just wonderful honey. You have had a tough year, it's great that you can find things to be thankful for.
Mom: Well, there is his family, you know.
Me: (thinking, arrrrrgh! I hate this stupid tradition.)
Mom to my hubby: How about you go next?
BJ: I'm thankful for that my dad pulled through the aneurysm last year. I'm thankful that I am still able to spend time with him.
Me: (thinking) me too.
Mom: (to dad) Ok, we'll skip over RisibleGirl for now. You go next.
Dad: (apparently used to the idea that Mom has ideas of what she wants to hear) Now are you wanting us to go all the way back in time like you did, or is it just this year that you want to hear about?
Me: (snickering to herself go dad!)
Dad: Well, I'm thankful that (hubby) is a part of our family now. I've never seen RisibleGirl so happy.
Me: (rubs hubby's leg in total agreement)
Brother #2: (just like the good boy mom raised him to be) I'm thankful for my family and for the church.
Mom: (nodding head in pleasure that Bro2 followed the script)
Mom: Ok RisibleGirl, it's your turn.

I was thinking in my head of all of the things I'm thankful for but couldn't say them because it'd upset my mother that she wasn't on the list somewhere. I was thankful for hubby's wonderful parents, parents that I connect with much more than my own. I am soooooooooooooo thankful for hubby. He is the most amazing man I've ever met. I'm so thankful for my sister; who also happens to be my best friend and soul mate. I'm thankful for my brother's (even the one who follows Mom's script. He can't help it.) I'm thankful for my dad. I'm blessed with two boys that I adore (even though one is a suck up apparently). I have quite a bit to be thankful for. Instead I chose the one unemotional thing I could think of, yet still be honest.

Me: I'm thankful that I still have a job after so many layoffs this year.
Mom: Is that all you're thankful for?
Me: Can we stop now? If we can stop now, then I'll also be thankful that we're done with this.
Mom: pissy for several minutes.

All of the people I thought about during my mini moment of silence know how I feel about them, because I tell them every chance I get. If only my dad knew. I may have to send him that letter after all.

That's a pop culture reference (Seinfeld), in case you're wondering. As much as I try to stay off that pop culture train, I might consider using that phrase several times tomorrow.



My co-worker told me about this t-shirt. Tomorrow is Thanksgiving with my family.

That's all I'm sayin'.

I'm a bed hog. There. I've admitted it.

I had no idea. Ok, maybe I did. I used to have a dog that slept in my bed and when I'd hear her growl, I knew that I'd moved into her territory. BJ doesn't growl (unless you count his snoring), so how was I to know?

This discovery was made just last night. Yesterday morning, he got out of bed before me and I made a big production about taking over the entire bed so he'd be jealous. He made a comment about how that's nothing new. Whaaaa????? Huh?????? After being questioned about that statement, he said that he was surprised that he hasn't rolled off the bed by now because I'm constantly hogging his side of the bed.

I decided to prove him wrong (always a bad idea, because I rarely do...), so when I woke up in the middle of the night I reached over him to feel where he was on the bed. Sure enough, there wasn't even an inch between hubby and the edge of the bed. My side had about two feet.

It's completely understandable. I used to have a California King all to myself, and for the last year or so have been sharing a queen sized bed with hubby. I suppose we could get a bigger bed, but I suspect I'd continue to migrate to his side of the bed.

He's like a magnet, I tell you! Ok, that doesn't explain the dog part.... but he doesn't need to know that, right?

If you should spill whilst in the rush to eat yummy salsa, here's a tip:



Hide the salsa underneath a chip. Problem solved.

Dad, I have a few things I need to get off my chest.

I was thinking the other day about all of the responsibility that you took on when you married Mom. You were the the same age as my oldest son is now, and you married a woman with two children. Two children who needed you very badly in their lives.

I can only imagine how scary and overwhelming that must have been for you. I look at the wedding pictures of you and Mom and I see a kid. But you were a kid who was willing to step in and take the place of my father; a man I've never met. Even though I was only five at the time, I remember how excited I was that I could call you "Daddy" after the wedding. I'd practiced all kinds of names in my head; eventually the name evolved into "Dad".

I remember when Mom wanted you to be the one to spank me for something that I'd done wrong, and then she went to the store. She knew that being punished by you would hurt me worse than anything she could ever do. When we were alone, you told me you didn't want to spank me, that you wanted to just discuss the situation, and that we were to keep that our little secret. You were willing to keep your end of the bargain when Mom came home and asked, but like George Washington, I couldn't tell a lie. I got that spanking anyway. The important thing was that I received a good lesson in parenting. Thank you. My kids thank you too.

I also thank you for bringing the most wonderful woman into my life. Your Aunt. She was my safety net, and though not related by blood, she stood by me through thick and thin. When I hear the song, "You Raise Me Up", I think of her even though I know it's supposed to be a song about God. She made me feel that I was a good person, and had value. She gave me complete unconditional love, something I'd not experienced before. Thank you for giving me a lifeline.

I remember when "we" adopted sis when I was nine. I felt like it was the end of something special that I had all of my own. Up until then, I was your little girl. I remember not wanting to come from school that day. I think I dawdled for at least a half an hour before coming home to see my new sister. Now I realize that was the best day of my life. I can't imagine my life without sis. Thank you for giving me my sister; my best friend.

Dad, I've never felt that I was anything less than your daughter. I don't know if you understand the magnitude of that statement. I know that we don't see eye-to-eye on religious and political issues, yet I know that you still love me. Thank you.

So Dad, I'll be thinking about these things when we go around the table at Thanksgiving and say the things we're grateful for. Even if I don't say it.