Thanksgiving!
Thanksgiving is only a little more than a week away! I get excited about holidays, especially the ones that take place during the cold weather seasons. Thanksgiving is one of my favorites, but I feel kind of bad for it because it’s often overlooked amidst all the fuss about Christmas. Not that I have anything against Christmas; in fact, I love it! It’s just that most people seem eager to get Thanksgiving over with so they can start focusing on it (Black Friday is a testament to that). As Stephen Colbert said on a recent episode of The Colbert Report, “It’s the day after Halloween, and that means it’s the first day of Christmas.” Santas, snowmen, and red-and-green start overtaking stores seemingly as soon as the clock strokes midnight on November 1st, while Thanksgiving decorations are hastily stuffed in between the overshadowing Halloween things during October.
What’s most exciting about Thanksgiving to me? The food, of course! Sure, it’s nice to reflect on all the things you’re grateful for, but c’mon, I can do that any other day of the year! 
What I can’t do is get together with family and stuff myself with turkey, gravy, dressing, sweet potatoes, corn, cranberry sauce, pumpkin pie, and all that other stuff that takes hours to prepare and only minutes to consume.
This year I’ll be baking pumpkin pies for our family’s feast. I’m also planning on making a really delicious honey-glazed apple and pear bake. I’m sure my family will love it. The recipe comes from this cookbook, which I highly recommend along with pretty much anything else from Gooseberry Patch.
So, all you Americans out there, what’s your favorite thing to eat at Thanksgiving dinner? Aside from the desserts and the turkey, I love sweet potatoes. It seems like I only ever eat sweet potatoes on Thanksgiving. I should start cooking them year-round. Anyway, are there any unique dishes that someone in your family prepares and you love? My mom makes these desserts called Chocolate Delight and Cherry Delight, and everyone in our family devours them. They’re amazing.
Cold Stone is the best!
My dad’s birthday celebration was great! He loved his ice cream cake, which we got from Cold Stone Creamery. That place seriously has the best ice cream. My dad’s cake was called Cake Batter Confetti — the middle one on the top row on this page. It was delicious! We (the family) also took him out to eat at his choice of restaurant, which ended up being a place that serves homemade country cooking. I stuffed myself way too full with food and cake, but oh, it was wonderful!
When we got home last night, we played a bunch of board games until we were too tired to continue. Then my brother and his girlfriend came over today to give my dad his present from them, and we played even more games. I think it’s safe to say that I’m all partied out right now.
I might not update much this week because I’ll be hanging out with Adam and Nikki, but I’ll try to post something when I get back from the concert on Friday. I’ll definitely be taking my camera, so you can expect pictures!
Being bored and random
I’m bored, so I’ve decided to update this little blog of mine.
The concert is less than a week away! Next Wednesday, Adam, Nikki, and I will be piling up in my car and driving all the way to Nashville to see my two favorite bands perform. I couldn’t be more excited! I also get to hang out with Nikki all next week, which makes me really happy.
I’ve decided to postpone looking for a job until after the concert. I don’t want to have to ask for a couple of days off right after I’m hired (we’ll be staying in Nashville for two days).
I played WoW tonight with Adam, Ace, and another guy from our guild. ‘Twas fun. We ran through Gnomeregon (pretty much just a big dungeon that you fight your way through while picking up all sorts of treasures, and then you fight a huge boss at the end) and I got a nice piece of armor that I’ve been wanting for a while.
Monday was my dad’s birthday, but he’s had to work this whole week, so we’re going to celebrate it this weekend. We’re planning to go out to eat and get him an ice cream cake. I’m sure he’ll like it — how could he not like ice cream cake? 
Alright, I s’pose I’ll end this now. My life isn’t very exciting at the moment, but then again, is it ever?
A quick update
I had a really good birthday! My parents took me out for lunch and Adam came along, which was nice. I got to spend time with my brother, who I don’t see as often as I’d like anymore. My parents also bought me a chocolate fudge cake and gave me some birthday money to spend. I feel so spoiled! I’m still working on the cake. It’s delicious, but I feel like I gain a pound with every bite!
I spent the rest of the day with Adam, who also spoiled me by buying me two video games: Silent Hill 3 for the PS2 and Animal Crossing: Wild World for my DS. I just finished Silent Hill 2, so I’m eager to start playing the next in the series. I became addicted to AC:WW when Adam used to have it, and ever since he traded in both his DS and the game I’ve missed playing it. I’m excited to start over, build my town, and meet all my animal friends!
I plan to go clothes shopping with my birthday money because I’m in desperate need of new things to wear. My favorite pair of jeans has faded and ripped. I spend more money on books and video games than clothes and it’s starting to show. My wardrobe is scant.
Kids are impressionable
My mom babysits my seven-month-old cousin, Hannah, a few times a week and I help take care of her. She’s adorable. Just a few minutes ago she was sitting here on my lap, laughing and squealing and banging away on my keyboard. Early signs of a computer nerd, maybe?
Babies and kids are fun because they make you feel special. They’re impressed by everything you do, and they watch you closely and try to emulate you. When I used to work at a daycare, a bunch of the kids there were like that. I was still fairly young, but older than them and thus cooler (to them), so they’d follow me around with interest in whatever I was doing. It definitely gives you a feeling of importance. I don’t know if I could handle that all the time, though. I’m the youngest in my family and I looked up to my siblings as we were growing up, so I’m sure they went through that much more often than I ever have.
