I'm pretty sure I've done nothing productive today. Wait, no, I take that back. I might have been productive for about 20 minutes somewhere in there. But, as it is, I could have been cleaning or doing laundry or exercising or something like that. Instead, I watched America's Next Top Model re-runs and worked on a puzzle. Awesome.
Ok, in all fairness, I did cut out pictures for our thank you cards. And I picked up some dishes and stuff around the living room. And I tried working on Christmas presents (which I just can't focus on because it's not even Thanksgiving yet, FCOL). So I sort of tried!
I just can't do anything when Zach's not here. I don't know if other couples function this way or not, but when he's not here, I just don't feel comfortable. I get so bored doing things that I normally do. If he were home, I could spend all day on my computer playing games and just being a dork. But with him gone, I've spent maybe a total of an hour on the computer so far today. I just don't know what to do with myself with an empty house!
On the plus side, I managed to get Maxine to sleep in bed with me all night, so that was nice. I think she tried to wake me up a few times so I could pet her, but when I ignored her, she just curled back up and went back to sleep. I really do love my dog.
Tomorrow it's off to see my parents and stay overnight as I have a doctor's appointment on Monday morning (annual physical... joy). The good thing about next week is that I only have two FULL days of work. I'm off Monday morning for my appointment and I'm off Friday morning* for travel purposes, and of course I'm off on Thursday, so that leaves a full day on Tues and Wed! Awesome!!
I'm looking forward to Thanksgiving. It's not my favorite holiday (that would be Halloween, of course), but I think it's the most relaxing for me. I know most people get all up in a tizzy about Thanksgiving - stress from family and cooking and trying to be perfect - but it's never been like that for me.
Growing up, Thanksgiving was normally my mom, my dad, and me. Throw in my hubby for the past few years (though, this is our first Thanksgiving as a married couple), and the puppers this year, and you still have a pretty chill gathering.
As tradition dictates (I'm HUGE on tradition - blame the OCD), I'll wake up early-ish to watch the Macy's parade with my mom while she starts cooking (because that is one parade you are never too old for!). Then I'll get hubs up to watch some football with dad and me (and may make some Chex mix or some other snacky item).
We'll probably do some family trivia after that (this is normally done via the numerous newspaper Super Quizzes my dad has saved up), then have Thanksgiving dinner (which, we actually have at dinner time, not in the afternoon). Then it's time to make hand turkeys (a tradition just for me and Zach) and probably watch the Peanuts Thanksgiving special. Dad normally has a fire in the fireplace, and he and Mom are often half asleep, enjoying its warmth.
And last, but NEVER least, comes dessert. Pumpkin pie. Or some variation thereof. Sometimes mom gets a pecan pie for Dad, but nothing is quite like pumpkin pie on Thanksgiving. The BEST tradition of the year is when Dad and I make whipped cream together.
Dad will have the bowl in the freezer for hours ahead of time, waiting for us whenever we're ready. Then we get out the heavy whipping cream, the sugar, and the vanilla extract. There's no recipe or measurements to be followed. One of us will pour in the cream, while the other starts getting sugar ready. Dad starts up the mixer, and tells me when to start (and stop) putting the sugar and vanilla in. When we think it might be ready, we grab spoons and taste it. If it's not to our liking, the solution is normally more sugar. And eventually, it'll be just right. It always is.
So I know there's some big thing about being against Thanksgiving because of what it stands for, etc, etc... But I never think about the history involved. Maybe that's naive of me, but I prefer just to think about what I'm thankful for and enjoy the day with the people I love the most.
My advice? Stop over-thinking holidays. Have they been commercialized? Sure. Are the things they were founded on maybe less than happy/PC/whatever? Sometimes, yeah. But does that mean they have to be ruined and we should all be unhappy and stressed? Hell no. Make holidays what you want them to be. They're much nicer that way. :-)
*Yes, I actually do have to work Friday after Thanksgiving. In fact, the only reason I have that morning off is because I requested it almost 2 months in advance. No, I'm not in retail (thankfully). No, I don't get overtime or holiday pay. Yes, it sucks.
