Call it nesting if you must.

I am all about cooking right now. In years past, I wasn't much of a cook. Or maybe I was, I just didn't know it seeing as I was cooking for one and that ain't fun. Thanksgiving morning I got up semi early, made myself some coffee, turned on the Macy's parade and baked my ass off. I was making pies and casseroles and dips and probably could have made more but I thought showing up at my aunt and uncle's house with 4 things was enough. I didn't want to be the Grinch Who Stole Thanksgiving Cooking from anyone.

I got to use my new baking and cookingware that I got for the wedding. It was so fun. And I think everything turned out well, although I was a little disappointed in my pumpkin pie. Seemed kinda gritty to me.

Now I'm trying to plan what to make for Christmas. It will be interesting because we are traveling to Chicago. I guess I could make stuff when I get there, but that seems weird? Not sure what I'll do.

Such a shame.

I feel bad for Thanksgiving. It's such an unassuming holiday. It's arguably the only holiday Hallmark, and by Hallmark I mean society, hasn't completely ripped the guts out of. It's nice. It's about family and food and thank you's. These are a few of my favorite things.

Now, I adore the Christmas season. So far, I'm not one of those Crazies who cries and complains about the malls or about the pressure of the holiday. But maybe that comes when you have kids, so that remains to be seen. I am still naive and appreciate the lights and the anticipation and the tree decorating and the cookie eating and the family gatherings and general merriment and my annual Christmas-song piano playing. But all in due time. After Thanksgiving only. That's just how I was raised.

I'd also like to know how we go from giving thanks one month to punching the lady who has the gift we want the next? A month ago we were so thankful for what we had. And now my grandma needs a police escort to her car for fear of being tackled for being lucky enough to grab the "gift of the year". I just don't get it.

I'm sorry that the giving of thanks only lasts one day. I'm sorry that it's seen as just a road block until we get to the "real" holiday. And I'm sorry that it's not appreciated for what it is. It's a shame.

I guess the Thanksgiving spirit hasn't hit some people yet

Last night, on my way home from the store, I saw the gas station closest to our house had gas for $2.99. "Whoopee!", I exclaimed with jubilant glee. (Then I smacked my forehead because I've been tricked by the gas people into thinking that's cheap. Wah, wah, wah.) I pull up to the pumps and it appears that everyone is taking advantage of the (not) cheap gas, so I have to wait. No biggie. So I'm sitting there patiently waiting my turn at Pump 4 when the previous customer pulls out. Perfect, I had picked the right pump! She pulls toward me, so I have to wait for her to leave. Meanwhile, some skank in a dirty, crappy truck pulls into MY spot from the other direction. She totally saw me too. I inched forward almost hitting her to prove my point. She still pretended not to see me. The nerve! I was honked.

But here's where the story gets good:

So the skank has my spot at the pump, which apparently also angered the person in the maroon Rendezvous next to them, who knew I was waiting and witnessed the whole robbery. The Rendezvous proceeds to roll down its window and yell at the skank for taking my spot. It was beautiful! They were sticking up for me! I couldn't quite hear the exchange but I could see the skank mouthing "I don't care". The Rendezvous was the next car to leave so I pulled into that pump. The skank yells to me, "Is there a problem?" and me wanting to be all tough but knowing that she looks very unpredictable just decides to say, "Yes, I was waiting" and left it at that. I don't need to show up at Thanksgiving dinner with a black eye. As I'm pumping my gas I look over my shoulder and see the maroon Rendezvous waiting at the exit, either to make sure everything was ok or to extend a bit of road rage on to the skank in the truck as they exited the parking lot. Either way, the maroon Rendezvous was like my guardian angel, looking out for the little guy. So I guess the Thanksgiving spirit is alive in some people. I pumped my gas and got back in my car and with as much anger and spite as I could muster, I rolled down my window and gave her the biggest bird my middle finger could produce. That time she saw me. That made me feel better.

Thank you dear maroon Rendezvous, I appreciate your support. I hope you have a lovely Thanksgiving. I know on Thursday I will be thankful that there are people like you who truly care about justice.

So what brings you two here?

I really enjoy traveling. It's always great to get outside of our four walls and experience life on four wheels. This weekend our travels took us to Chicago. More specifically, not downtown Chicago, but a suburb of. Our mission for this trip was two-fold, get our dog back and introduce ourselves to our Wii. We ate a lot of GOOD food, even some that didn't have skin in it! And hung out with the always fabulous brothers- and sisters-in-law.

You people got a Wii? If so, have you subsequently canceled your gym memberships? Cause I tell you what, I'm gonna Box myself all the way to the Mrs. Strong America contest. Got children with sloth issues? Buy them this thing and force them to play for two hours a day. After a month, you won't even recognize them. Nervous about those inevitable superfluous holiday pounds? Throw away your Cindy Crawford workout tapes and pop in Wii tennis. Same workout, and less annoying!

I may live to regret this, but part of me enjoys family drama. Where I come from, there's no such thing. Maybe because we're not a large family, maybe because no one really shares too much of their lives with each other, maybe because we've got our problems and don't care about anyone elses, but in any event, we've been pretty drama free. A certain wedding shower excluded. But family drama, in small doses, interests me. I don't need to be involved, I just like being a voyeur.

It's that time of year where we are thankful for things. I'm thankful that I have so many things to be thankful for.

Hello! Because I'm not a poser.

I don't know if a lot of people are like me, but whenever it's time to go home from a vacation, I cry. When I was 13, my extended family and I went on a cruise. The last night we were there, I bawled. I told everyone that I just had a headache, I didn't want to admit that I was crying because I didn't want to go home. My parents knew better. This trip was no different. This was the ultimate vacation, our honeymoon. Who's not gonna cry when they are leaving Hawaii? Some things you just don't grow out of.

Some tear-worthy highlights:

• Helicopter ride over Mt. Kilhuea.
• Walking through the rain forests/waterfalls of Hilo.
• Snorkeling in the best snorkel spot in all of Hawaii, top 20 in the country.
• Getting within feet of a family of spinner dolphins, including a baby.
• Going to my first luau and discovering that my new career goal is to be a hula dancer. I was enthralled.
• Picnic on the coral beach.
• Eating the BEST steak I've ever had in my life. At Roy's.
• Eating the BEST pizza I've ever had in my life. (sorry MD) At the Kona Brewing Company.
• Drinking the BEST pina colada I've ever had in my life. At the Marriott hotel.
• Almost buying a timeshare.
• My first real massage. In our room.
• A sunset cruise with some really nice and funny people.
• Realizing that Hawaii is more than just palm trees and beaches.
• Flying first-class. Um, how do you go back to coach after that?
• The beach. On our last night.

And so many other memories that we will have forever. Together. I know everyone says they wish they could have a wedding every year, but I think I'd like to take a honeymoon every year. Not a vacation, but a honeymoon. To say that I loved it would be the understatement of the year.

MD, you're awesome traveling companion. I love you.