Sunday, November 25, 2007

I'm thankful that Thanksgiving is over!

Let me tell you, kids, it's been one crazy year at Fat Camp. No - I'm not still one of the pudgy overweight camp-kids. I've moved up to being one of the fat counselors and bunk managers that make you go, "Wait - why am I listening to this fatter-ass? He's still fat..."

Okay, so that's not entirely true. But I have been enjoying this lengthy break from work on the longest span of not-working since last Christmas. It was a pretty good holiday. But as my title suggests I'm quite happy to be back at my apartment where it's quiet and predictable and under control. But lemme back it up and take you thru the highlights reel! (Please queue up your own flashback music/sound effects.)

This was probably the easiest Thanksgiving our family has done in a long time. It was just me, the parents, the niece and Kelly and Chris. I got my nap in early that day, then enjoyed some scattered football viewing. Then Leah slept thru most of dinner, so that was quiet. Well, except when we almost made Kelly wet herself with laughter over having extra surplus of mashed potatoes. I dunno how it got that funny, but it was great. Some friends from church came over later for dessert, so more noise was made and Wii games were played. I still have some cherry pie and 4-layer pie in my fridge, but it won't last long.

Friday was pretty chill. Let the record state that I did zero shopping. I wasn't about to go fight my way thru the hordes of rabid savings-driven people. I'm not that patient and I know it. I mostly goofed off until I got a call from my TKD buddy Hayley telling me I should come over and visit. So I drove over and got to meet her cute little daughter. We had some difficulty in ordering and retrieving some carry-out, but we finally came back with mini-burgers and steak, a winning combo every time. By the time I went home, there were two more parents in the house: parents of the Anderson variety. So we all had another good dinner together: PORK SHOULDER! And of course, more pie for dessert.

Then yesterday was kinda interesting... It started with me making a poor trip to Kohls, getting my gas cap crushed, then driving to Burke. We met up with my aunt and uncle and my cousins for brunch. We took lots of nice pictures outside, then raced inside for the Va. Tech game. Hokies made me sweat a little again, but they pulled it out like they should have. Should be a good ACC Champs game this week! So it was a great family encounter until the following dialog came to be with my aunt:

Aunt: ...it was nice seeing you again. You should know you're in my prayers every day.
Me: Okay, what for?
Aunt: Y'know, so you can find someone right for you and (blah blah blah).
Me: Yeah, I'm trying not to worry much about that right now.
Aunt: Oh, right. I'm not worried either.
Me: Umm... yes you are! (She DID just say she was praying every day, right?!)
Aunt: Well, is it wrong of me to be praying for you? I just want you happy.

This annoys me about my Aunt Nancy. She acts as if I am less of a person or incomplete because I'm not paired off yet. It took me a while to realize it, but I am a whole person by myself and I don't need someone else to complete me. Having someone to compliment and add to me would be nice, but I am not missing something because I'm single. It's not really so horrible, so what if I'm happy like this? Is she praying against my happiness? Grrrr - silly old people.

Anywho, I stuck around Burke after everyone else had left... watched more football, ate more pork shoulder sammiches, ambled around Target. I eventually drove back to my place, and I'm greatly appreciating the quiet I've found. It's kinda like a buffer day between those rigors and then going back to work. I'm gonna take care of some minor shopping things, then just lounge around and read. Hope everyone else had a good one. Hoight!

PS - I encountered some crappy traffic here and there, but one big bag of douche stand out in my mind. I think the rudest thing you can do to someone on the road is flash your brights from behind as a get-out-of-the-way signal. Discuss and cite examples.