Giddy with Gratitude.

All of sudden yesterday morning, it hit me. This week is Thanksgiving (and the start of Hanukkah). 

<BAM>

I knew it, clearly, based on the rant from my last post, but the full effect finally reached my soul or whatever. I think it was the snow we've gotten over the last two days. And finalizing the logistics for Thanksgivukkah. And realizing it was a short work week (WOOOOOOOT!). 

But the full effect just hit me and with it, came a really great mood. The kind of mood where doesn't really matter, you just can't wreck it for me. Not only can you not wreck it, I just won't let you. 

<sigh>

Short post with no reason, other to say, I hope you get or stay giddy with gratitude over the next few days. Whether you are celebrating with family by blood, family by choice, pulling the covers up over your head and ignoring the whole lot - be giddy with gratitude as your celebration takes place.

• Say Please. 
• Smile a lot.
• Say Thank You.
• Give big, full-hearted hugs. 
• Sing along to "Over the River and Through The Woods", really loud and off-key. (Bonus points for getting some little kids to join you).
• Share. 
• Hold the door for the person behind you.
• Practice patience. 
• Make eye contact, especially with the harried workers you encounter. 
• Say I love you.
• Be silly. 
• Buy the person next to you a treat - a beer, a cupcake, their lunch, whatever you can manage.
• Listen to your favorite holiday carol or song, then turn it up to 11.
• Go into a locally owned shop you have never been to and just wander around. 
• Give someone a high five. 
• Let another car have *that* spot.
• Listen. Not just with your ears.
• Bring your own shopping bags. 
• Say Thank You (it bears repeating). 

Location applicable: 

• Make a decent sized snowball and smash it into the ground with all the strength you can muster. 
• Clean off the snow-covered car next to you after you've cleared your car. 

I'm not asking you to do everything on the list. Just keep these few ideas in mind, and know that I appreciate you reading my little blog. Thank you. 

I'm giving you a virtual high-five and a silly face. 

post-workout dork face

Be safe on your travels and enjoy the time with your loved ones. 

It's beginning to look a lot like Thanksgivukkah.

Thanksgiving in one of my favorite holidays. The food is delightful, the concept simple yet elegant, and there's no major decorations/presents/buying crap pressure. 

This year we get the special addition of the first night of Hanukkah, so that November 28 becomes the Super Holiday of Thanksgivukkah. 

You had me at latkes, thanks.

Add in the rest of the winter holidays: Saturnalia, Solstice, Christmas, Festivus (you know for the rest of us), Kwanzaa, Hogmanay/New Year's Eve, New Year's and with all of them falling within 35 days of each other, and it is the express lane of holidays. Pretty interesting.  

Here's some little brownies for your soul.

Bratty Sister was the first of us to get hitched, and due to hilarious connections with her hubby's family <back story to come>, and the fact that our family was also small, we have spent many a holiday co-celebrating with them. 

While every single one of their respective members are super lovely and delightful people, my sister's father-in-law is/was one of my favorite people. He was in a rock band with his buddies, called NOS (Not Otherwise Specified), loved The Big Lebowski so much his grand-kids call(ed) him Grandpa Dude, and was one of the most loving, authentic, alive people I've ever met. 

Unfortunately, cancer got him. Effin' cancer. 

Holy Epic Weekend, Batman.

Geezy pete: I need a weekend to recover from my weekend. 

Here are the highlights:
1. Friday night: Columbus Blue Jackets game with our BFFs. Our boys lost but in a shootout so we'll kindly take the one point, thankyouverymuch.
2. Saturday afternoon: Craftin' Outlaws at Vet's Memorial and post-shopping nosh at Dirty Frank's. 
3. Saturday night: Dinner at Martini's Modern Italian and Justin Timberlake concert at Nationwide Arena. 
4. Sunday morning: Brunch at Starliner Diner. 
5. Sunday late afternoon: 40th birthday party for Bratty Sister at Casa Nueva, in Athens, OH.

Add in house-guests! And baking! And driving through the horrendous storms Sunday night that swept through the Middle West! (Man, did we luck out around here, comparatively speaking!)

SO.MUCH.FUN. Yet. OY. 

Where I discover I am a baking genius.

Last week, in my workplace, something like 26 people moved to new cubes/office - including me. In the last six months, most of the building has moved, basically - at least three whole departments + one department moving to a different building and one department being blown up <ugh>. 

Today, we're having a little event called "The People in Your Neighborhood" so we can roam about, and figure out where everyone is living now. We were asked to bring in a dessert or dip to share. 

This weekend also happens to be the official 40th birthday party for Bratty Sister and I am making the desserts. Her brother-in-law (her Spouse's brother) is vegan + I know a number of people attending are gluten-free + I had some canned pumpkin that I thought would make a tasty dessert. Enter my gluten-free, vegan punkin' cookies. And where I discover I am a baking genius. <not really>

Side note: how in the heel <deliberate typo> am I old enough for Bratty Baby Sister to be 40? Egads. 

Us, circa 1977-ish