Thinking About Thanks

The first part of today has been some kitchen clean-up and a little beating the Cyber Monday broadband crowds. Yeah, the broadband crowds are the most I’ll put up with in the world of competitive shopping. The first boxes came in yesterday! There were two on the porch when we got in from Cleveland. One was for Rina and I’M impressed with that one after looking at the real thing and not a photo and one was for my Secret Santee.

The trip to Cleveland was a good one. My MRIs from before and after starting my medications are pretty much the same, which means the MS is not progressing anymore. YAY! My strength is not notably different in my arms and legs and my medication was just slightly adjusted for pain at wake-up and stiffness after riding in the car for a while. Then we had lunch at Eat ‘N Park, which always makes for a good day, and since it’s Thanksgiving week, we had a slice of pie for dessert. David had chocolate crème and I had, oh my, pumpkin crème; to die for!

Okay, now let’s join Joyce at From This Side of the Pond for the Hodge Podge!

1. Turkey-love it or leave it? White meat or dark? What's your favorite thing to make using leftover turkey?

I love turkey! Especially with my Mom’s recipe stuffing and mashed potatoes; classic Thanksgiving! I prefer white meat to eat on its own, but a mix is okay in soup. I can take or leave the gravy, but if it’s there for Thanksgiving I’ll use it.

My favorite leftover is turkey congee! I make broth from the carcass and serve it ladled over an assortment of leftovers; turkey pieces, stuffing cubes, a dollop of potatoes, veggies and I’ll sometimes add some noodles. MmmmM!


2. Gotta burn off all those carbs the day after a holiday feast so which would you rather do-run a 10K or climb a mountain?

-sniff- I’d love to be able to do either! But, with perfect mobility, I’ve always hated running and loved walking and climbing, so I’d have rather climbed the mountain.


3. Do you feel like social networking has made your relationships better or worse? Explain.

A little of both? Social networking has enabled me to reconnect with friends and relatives I otherwise wouldn’t have and it allows me to meet new people and stay in touch. However, it also employs that sense of anonymity, that isn’t at all there, and people say things that hurt other people without even thinking. They also do and post things that make people who haven’t been in contact with them for many years happy with that fact.


4. How do you find and express gratitude for the hard things in your life? 

I don’t express gratitude for the hard things in my life. I look for the good, look for the lessons and allow hard times to see the best in me and in other people, but I’m not grateful for the trials, just what I can do in spite of them.


5. In the US, the day after Thanksgiving has been dubbed 'Black Friday'. Is most of your holiday shopping done live and in person, or is it done more through the magic of the Internet? How do you feel about stores opening at midnight Thanksgiving night? Will you be out amongst the masses on Friday?

NO WAY! Keep me as far away from the Black Friday insanity as possible. I don’t want to know how I’d physically react to being pepper spayed and I’d prefer to keep my Christmas Spirit intact.

(See my random rant, er thought, to see what I think of stores that encourage that mob behavior.)

Because of my mobility issues, I prefer to do cyber-shopping. There are more choices in good, not picked over condition and there is seldom something I want that I can’t find.


6. Speaking of the color black-which black item in your wardrobe would you say is your favorite?

My black and white polka dot footies with the turquoise toes and heels. :) What? I like socks! hehe


7. What do you appreciate about your life today?

There is a definite difference between that for which I’m grateful and that which I appreciate. I’m grateful for people and the things I can’t live without. I appreciate things that make life easier or fun, but I wouldn’t perish without them.

I most appreciate paying taxes and having health insurance. Paying taxes means I have and health insurance means I will continue to have.


8. Insert your own random thought here.

I really do want to avoid shopping at the chain stores that will be open tomorrow this year. I can’t believe they will be open to get our money ON THANKSGIVING. Because their employees have no family to be with, I guess.

I saw some graphics on Facebook depicting soldiers and saying those who work retail have no right to complain. Well, when I worked retail I knew I would be working in the insanity of the day after Thanksgiving and I knew I’d be at work on Christmas Eve. The mall wasn’t open on Thanksgiving or Christmas, no place that was chain-retail was. So first off, retail workers may not have “signed up” for a job that works on holidays. This working instead of sharing family time is new. I had a job where I worked on all of the actual holidays in the summer; it paid a lot better than retail and I had insurance too.

I mean no disrespect at all to our men and women serving in the military who are not home with their families. I appreciate their decision to serve and protect us and our way of life, but to compare them to retail employees and compare the importance of serving our country to serving bargain hunters is disrespectful to both professions.

Many of the employees in retail are high school/college aged kids or retirees. What a great way to teach family values, huh? Why would the kids care about the family time if Grandma isn’t even there? Military personnel are sacrificing their family time for the country’s safety. Retail employees sacrifice it for a sale. I’ll also add that no sales associate will get a medal and recognition when an overzealous shopper runs them down for getting between them and a toy and I’ve never been at a sporting event where the PA announcer has asked everyone to “remove your hats and honor our retail workers as we sing.” There are no free college or job assistance programs for them after the holiday season is over either.  Retail workers have every right to complain about not having the family time off and don't even compare them to our military.  Military personnel are trained in combat and a retail worker shouldn't have to be.  And when it comes right down to it we respect our military.  We don't even treat retail workers like people.


Off soapbox now.  Everyone have a wonderful Thanksgiving day with your loved ones.  God bless our troops.  And if you will be one of the shoppers tomorrow be kind to other shoppers and to the retail associates; remember the sacrifice they're making so you can shop.