Well, maybe not for the turkeys

Just wanted to tell all my wonderful readers that I hope it will be a Happy Thanksgiving for you!

Stuffing is my favorite part of Thanksgiving dinner. And dinner should be great - my Mom is making... reservations!

Of course, that means I'll have to dress up. Sigh.

And it's snowing. Right before my 200-mile drive. Double sigh.

I was thinking of driving home tonight, to beat the weather, rather than tomorrow early afternoon after the weather. But it's apparently already snowing. So it looks like I'm damned if I do, damned if I don't.

This just isn't my week.

Still, I have a lot to be thankful for. Not the least of which is the parental types. So the least I can do is survive the drive home to see them. I hope they'll still be thankful for me when I leave.

So enjoy the stuffing, and really - take a minute or two to think of everything you have to be thankful for. I know things aren't always easy in this game of Life, and anything wrong can really feel like it's important, now matter how trivial you "know" it really is. (Believe me, after this week...)

But I'm thankful for lots of things.

• My life, even if it's not perfect. It's good enough to get me by, and then some.
• My family, without whom I'd have nothing and be nothing.
• My friends, without whom I'd be either more or less crazy, depending. I'm not going to name names, because I'll leave somebody out.
• My little almost-kinda-nephew, Ben, and his sisters, Charlotte and Ellie. For either making me want children more, or less, depending. And just for being them.
• My job, which challenges me even as it wears me down. And pays well. And lets me hang around with some pretty fine people.
• My house, which is slowly but surely becoming a home.
• The men and women who worked on the Babylift and served in Vietnam. I'm here, aren't I? I didn't swim.
• The recycling people, who let me put out my cardboard without cutting it up, just this once. (It's not just the big things, people!)
• My dreams, which keep me going. My imagination, which starts me on the journey. My intelligence, which lets me overthink the journey the entire way. Well, maybe not that last one. But in any event, my gifts from God.
• The everyday heroes, who keep me safe and inspire me. Policemen, soldiers, firefighters, doctors, nurses and, Friday, the department-store clerks.
• The new Atlanta aquarium. And aquariums everywhere. Except the sucky ones.
• The Internet, for helping me meet awesome people, and get dates with girls.
• The Oakland Raiders. 'Nuff said.
• Joe Ripple and Don Dohler, the men behind Timewarp Films, for giving me the experience of a lifetime working with them on "Dead Hunt."
• Morgan Jay Dog. This man's best friend, in many ways. Most of them involving licking my face. I miss my puppy.
• Movies and DVDs, which rock. And books, which rock even harder.
• The NHL, which is back and better than ever. Plus my Strat-o-matic hockey game (both versions).
• My car. Even if it's still costing me money. She's my girl, and temperamental and bitchy like all the other ones I've loved.
• Music... and iTunes, since I still haven't figured out how to afford my iPod. But I *am* thankful I can pay my bills! And almost on time. Sometimes.
• The little things. Because they're what make my day. Especially if they're free, or toys. Like the cartoon book I found at work the other day. It made me smile.
• Munkees. And bunnies. And bunnymunkees.
• And of course, paid vacation days. I'm off 'til Tuesday! (Who might sum this post up best: "Coming up close, everything sounds like 'Welcome home.'")

There's probably lots and lots more, but I've got a long drive ahead of me. You get the idea, I hope. Now, smile and pass the turkey legs!

So, in conclusion (the two lamest transitions ever, for the price of one!)...

Happy Thanksgiving! I'm thankful you're reading this. Be safe, and happy, and healthy, y'all.