Well, Thanksgiving is officially over and I've got the scars to prove it! I nearly cut off my thumb while chopping onions and singed my wrist while maneuvering the turkey around in the oven. But, the turkey wasn't dry this year (probably more thanks to my sister purchasing a brined turkey than to my efforts at stuffing it with citrus and herbs like Giada de Laurentiis does) and my husband's only request was for a non-dry turkey. So I guess you could call it a success! Wish I had pictures for you, but he lost our camera while on business travel in South America, so I have no way of taking pictures. Perhaps if Santa brings me that little pink camera I asked him for, my hubby dearest will be less willing to take it on travel and lose it! (That little trick has worked so far with my umbrella, which is purple and far too "girly." I've had it for a whole year and a half - a true family record!)

Even though Thanksgiving was late this year, I'm still not ready for Christmas. I've even got half my shopping done, which is another family record, but that doesn't help either. I have no desire to get out the tree or decorate or anything. We broke down and bought a fake tree last year because all our fresh ones would fall over and we could never find one small enough to avoid taking up half the room. I thought buying Christmas-tree scented candles and burning them in the room would help, but it still doesn't cover up the plastic smell! I think it's toxic, too. Which probably fits my mood this year, which is nothing but blue. I have no desire to call my friends or go to Christmas parties. Even seeing the family at Thanksgiving felt like a chore this year. Weird, because I'm usually the family-gathering cheerleader.

I think it's because last year at this time I was so hopeful. So hopeful that 2008 would be the year of change. A new baby. A new job. Or not - I've always wanted to be Susie Homemaker, even just for a little bit. But here I am in the same old place doing the same old stuff I was doing last year at this time. With the same old feelings of exasperation. And with the economy now "officially" in recession (seriously - didn't we all know that already?) who knows when that perfect new job will come along and sweep me into a better mood. I feel like I've got to put hope on the shelf until the holidays are over and the economy picks up. Head down, trudging into the wind with nothing but determination to simply get by, let alone live long and prosper. Who wants to go to a Christmas party with a person like that? As I sit here on a cold evening nursing my cold (which I only thought had gone away), it occurs to me that maybe some more hot, steamy, spiced cider and a little retail therapy will help. At least Vera Bradley doesn't ask me what size I am. And maybe that java blue large duffel bag I've been wanting will help make Christmas travel more palatable. At least I'll be doing my part for the economy...