Welcome to my coffee shop in the cyber neighborhood!


The Chronicles of Nani On Video

I am overcoming my inability to type with my ability to talk (and talk and talk and talk) I'll be posting a video every week on my YouTube channel. I'll be posting those videos here too along with an occasional regular blog in the mix. (As long as my hands are up to doing the extra typing.)

You'll be able to watch the videos here, but I encourage you to stop by my channel at YouTube once I'm up and running to follow me and get my numbers started!


Welcome to my coffee shop in Cyber Space
Try the latte with a slice of black forest cake!


Contact Nani at
chroniclesofnani@gmail.com

Wednesday, November 21, 2012

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.

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hi Nani, thank you for your comment on my post today.

I totally agree with your point in #8. I can't understand why people have to be so greedy when it comes to sales such as you see on Black Friday. We don't celebrate Thanksgiving here in the UK so therefore we don't have Black Friday, but we do have a similar thing with Boxing Day the day after Christmas. I just don't know why retailers feel the need to SELL SELL SELL all the time. And I just don't understand the mentality of BUY BUY BUY either. Tsk....cash mad shoppers do my head in!

Happy Thanksgiving :)

retired not tired said...

Thanksgiving and Christmas have really become commerialized. I worked for the telephone company before I retired. The retail side worked right up to Christmas Eve and opened the store for "Boxing Day" - the Canadian versionof Black Friday however I went to visit my workplace pals yesterday and was told that even they will be open on Christmas Day. They think it is foolish especially since even though they available on Canadian Thanksgiving no one called. How can they make any money when they have to pay double time to their employees?

Debby@Just Breathe said...

We love a classic dinner also. I won't be running or climbing either :( No Black Friday for me either, never have, never will!
I will be shopping online. My children give me links and I place the orders. Happy Thanksgiving.

Edna B said...

Wow, I've just caught up on your latest posts. So sorry about the problems you've had with the new laptop, but I'm glad to hear that all is resolved now.

I do NOT dash out to shop with the maddening crowds on Black Friday. I liked it much better when the retail stores closed for Holdays so that families could clebrate together.

One has just so much money to spend, and I don't see how all these extra hours are going to make anyone spend more. Besides, I only wanted one of the "Black Friday" sale items, and I ordered and paid for it online.

As for the turkey dinner, For so many years I have cooked up a huge dinner for my family and anyone else who had no where to go. The last few years, my brother took over cooking the big dinners. Today, Pogo and I are going to enjoy simple foods and a relazing day. It is good.

Today I will see my family who live close by, and chat with others farther away via telephone.

I also will take a moment to especially wish you and David and your fur babies a Blessed and Happy Thanksgiving filled with love and happiness. I am so thankful for having you for my blog friend. You have brightened so many of my days with your wonderful stories.

Thank you Nani, and Happy Thanksgiving. Hugs, Edna B.

Robin Lambright said...

Happy Thanksgiving, I hope you have a blessed day.

Thanks for stopping by the other day.

Blessings
R

Joyce said...

I think it has to be an all or none kind of deal with the shops. Once one opens they all have to open. I know some people love it, but I don't get the appeal and I do like to shop. I look for the least crowded times to be in the stores and won't get near them today!

Enjoy your Saturday feast : )