Saturday 9

 Saturday 9: Cold Turkey

1) Are you still feasting on cold turkey, or any other leftovers, from your Thanksgiving meal? No. I cleaned my plate. No leftovers.

2) AAA says Thanksgiving is a big travel weekend. Did you venture far from home for your holiday dinner? According to Google maps, I traveled just over 21 miles round trip.

3) Is this weekend the official start of the Christmas season for you? Yes. I did a little shopping today. It wasn't too crowded and it was fun.
 

4) Which couple would you rather hang out with -- Fred and Wilma Flintstone or George and Jane Jetson? I'll go with Fred and Wilma because they have the Rubbles as best friends, and I think Barney and Bamm-Bamm are adorable.

5) Have you/would you ever get your teeth whitened? Yes. Both professionally and with Crest White Strips.

6) Do you still have your high school class ring? Rediscovered it at my mother's house. Gonna sell it for the gold.

7) Here's $50. You must spend it all in one place. What are you going to do with it? Put it toward my credit card. Not very exciting, but wise.

8) Could your vehicle use a trip to the car wash right about now? No car

9) Did you hit the snooze button this morning? No. I crashed on the sofa and slept fitfully..(I hate when I do that!)

 

Merry Christmas, Andrea

She's one of the local kids I "adopted" from the holiday tree at Whole Foods. She lives below the poverty line and this could be the only gift she gets. I chose her because she's 15 and because she asked for a coat or a jacket, instead of cosmetics or electronics. So many grab the younger kids who ask for toys because they are cute and fun to shop for. But 15 is still young enough to be very disappointed and disillusioned at Christmastime, and we can't have that. And so she's getting this Old Navy wool coat from "Santa."

I'm lucky that my town is so supportive and I have this opportunity to pitch in and help kids like Andrea. It does take a village to raise a child, and it's my pleasure to do my part.

Happy Birthday to Me, Part 4

Isn't it great when something turns out better than you expected? That was last night with my friend John and his friend Michael. We ate and ate and ate at The Park Grill in Millennium Park, a traditional turkey feast with potatoes and asparagus and cranberry compote. We laughed a lot, gossiped quite a bit, and Michael told me all about being stranded in New York after Hurricane Sandy. Then John gave me my birthday present -- a frame for photos of my mom and some candles.

I had been dreading Thanksgiving/birthday Day for quite some time. First holiday and first birthday without my mom. First holiday and first birthday without the old traditions. I wore my mother's diamond-chip cocktail ring last night to feel like she was with me.

Last night there was nothing but acceptance and comfort and fun. I know that's what you're supposed to feel when you're with your family, but I seldom have. John and Michael gave me a welcoming evening, and that's something to be very thankful for!