Thanksgiving was hectic but very nice. TB and I took Kristin to her school so she could take the bus with the other kids to Philadelphia. We were busy cleaning and cooking so I didn't get to watch the parade. TB had the forethought to set up a tape to record the parade. So we'll watch it sometime and hopefully we'll get a glimpse of Kristin. Heidi and I went to pick her up around 1.
Poor Heidi. She's still sick and she's breaking out all over either from the dog or mold or something. I gave her benedryl and some cortisone cream for her hands. They look like they are covered with chafe burns and she looks and sounds congested. We're going to try a few things to improve Heidi's environment...if we have to give the dog away to save her health then that's just what we're going to do.
There is one definite disadvantage to eating healthily most of the year -- low fat, low sodium and lower carbs -- splurging at the Thanksgiving table! And it's not so much the amount, it's that the body gets overloaded and tanked fast on all that food.
We had a lovely Thanksgiving. There were 14 of us in all and we had a feast before us. I didn't take much on my plate, a taste of this and a taste of that. There was turkey, ham (I didn't have any), mashed potatoes, sweet potato casserole, corn pudding, stuffing, cranberry sauce, mixed vegetables, and many pies. I had a plateful and that was it. I began to feel really full. I still felt full when the pies were dragged out.
Around the time everyone left, I began to crash. I felt like I had a hangover ... only this time it was from the food! I swallowed Tums like crazy last night but they didn't seem to help. I woke up this morning feeling hung over still. I haven't been able to eat anything yet and it's already about 10:30 in the morning. I've been drinking water since I got up and I sure hope I don't get sick from that!
Today is nicknamed "Black Friday" because it's the first Christmas shopping day of the season and it can be the experience from hell. It seems like everyone waits until today to converge on the malls and stores. Admittedly, the stores slash their prices to encourage shoppers to come in. They go one further: they open up really early, usually around 6 a.m. and the sale prices are very tempting.
I did this kind of shopping for a couple of years and managed to get everything in one day. The lines to get into the stores as they opened so early are really long considering the time of day ... or night if the sun's not up yet!
The shoppers are very determined, too. They go directly to what they want to buy. Sometimes it's like a stampede. I don't have the coping skills to deal with that anymore. Heh.
PAST: What were you thankful for when you were young?
As a child, my thanks for all pretty concrete and self-centered. I was thankful for all the food, for the "party" atmosphere, for the ability to play with my cousins, to be spoiled and flattered by my grandparents, aunts and uncles, and for all the goodies on the snack table.
PRESENT: What are you thankful for today?
I thank God for my health and my abilities. I am thankful that I have TB in my love to love and receive love from him. I'm thankful for my kids. I'm thankful for my extended family. I'm thankful I have a beautiful house. I am thankful I had Rich in my life for 18 years and that his love brought me to TB. I am thankful I have a computer and an active imagination. I'm thankful for everything that's come my way, even the bad stuff. It's led to good things and it's been a learning experience, building more of my character.
FUTURE: What will you be thankful for next year?
I am sure the same things I'm grateful for this year. :)