Re-Cap and Updates

Well, I made it through. Thanksgiving is over and the one day of total overeating is done. I kept holding on to the thought, make smart choices. I took only the foods I love and that represent Thanksgiving to me, the sweet potato casserole, the stuffing, turkey, gravy etc... and left behind the foods I was rather impassioned about, the jello salad, the green beans in cream sauce with fried onions on top, and believe it or not, pumpkin pie. That tactic seemed to work for me, I walked away happy knowing I got a wonderful meal and didn't totally kill myself. We went to The Husband's family's house for dinner, with about 30 or so people, so there weren't any left overs to take, so I don't even have those in the fridge calling my name. Seems I got through this ok. Now all the holiday parties and gifts that start rolling into the office for the next month. Oh, lordy, lordy, lordy... help.

I'm obviously back from vacation. It was a week without any news, any phone calls, emails, TV, or really any contact from the outside world. I checked in only once to write a super short post, but other than that, nada, nothing, zilch. It was however a week of walks on the beach, reading books, relaxing, pool time, naps and total bliss. It was nice to just disconnect for a while.

While there, the fire here was burning and it was a bit weird not knowing what was happening. Were the friend that evacuated from their house still living at ours? Was my Mom and her husband's house still in tact or were they going to be heading home only to find themselves homeless? It felt a bit awkward to be living in two separate worlds. One full of only the decadence that vacations can bring and the other one of reality, the one we left behind. Luckily for us, those friend and family were safe. Others friends, not so.

The fire is out. The damage by the numbers is about 2000 acres burned and 230 homes lost. The area still smells like a burned out BBQ pit and the rain (!) that came on Wednesday caused many of the homeowners, who were lucky enough to escape that disaster, to be evacuated again, due to the fear of flash floods. What a couple of weeks for them and I wish them all well.

My Favorite Holiday

I was just thinking about Thanksgiving and how much I love this holiday. For me it's about being around people I care about, sharing a (usually) delicious meal and everyone's company . I love that it's not filled with the card-writing, gift-giving pressure of Christmas and having to fake loving the gift that someone has given me. I love that there's less build up to this holiday and I love that I don't have to work the day after.

So, maybe during this holiday when we get together with all of our (crazy and weird) relatives and friends, stuff our faces and become full-bellied with satisfaction, we can complain less and take some time to remember how lucky all of us truly are. In the grand scheme of things, even the most disgruntled among us is living better than 99% of our fellow inhabitants on the planet. For better or worse, may we give thanks to all that we do have in our lives. May we remember to help those around us in need. And may we remember that health, love and friendship should never be taken for granted.

Wishing you peace and love on Thanksgiving.

Hola

I feel like I'm living in two worlds right now. I'm in Mexico enjoying fresh caught lobster, the pool that goes up to the living room, warm weather, hours and hours to enjoy relaxing and reading more books than I have in the past few months. At home we snuck out in the dark of the morning to leave friends misplaced, worrying about their home. It's strange to be caught in the middle.

Mexico

I'm packing my sunscreen, a couple of books and my passport. I'm off for another little vacation, OK maybe not so little but I'm outta here for a week. The Husband, The Little Miss, My Parental Units ( Mom and the dude she shacks up with) are heading to our neighbors to the south for beach vacation. We've rented a house, no TV, no Internet so I'll be a disconnected.

Since the guy that I wanted to win the election actually did win, we'll be heading back a week from Saturday. If that other guy won, we might have been tempted to stay.

Adios all!

My City on Fire

It was a very long night. Wish us well today. Friends and family have been evacuated from their homes and are making my home theirs. We currently have 6 adults, 3 kids, 2 cats and 1 dog in residence and invitations to many more who are "on official evacuation warnings." It, The Tea Fire, started last night and as of now, over 800+ acres and over 100 houses have burned.

The air is scented of smoke and ash is falling like rain. I sit at my desk hearing water dropping helicopters racing back and forth trying so hard to save what they can. It's devastating. It hurts, but it also makes me realize we have so much.

I Love Me Some Compliments

The Husband and I were at a friend's house the other night and she said to my husband, "who is that skinny chick you brought with you?"

I love me some compliments and I love me some friends.

My Timing Was Good

Starting "Time to Re-Commit version 2.0" yesterday was perfect. It couldn't have come at a more perfect moment and sometimes timing is everything. Every other week we get together with The Husband's family, his 3 aunts, 1 uncle, 2 cousins and their family, his mom and other miscellaneous stray family members for a "Family Night" dinner. The meals there are far from anything that may resemble healthy. Veggies? what? Salads are Iceberg Lettuce, with bacon bits, grated cheese, croutons and blue tree dressing. Highly processed foods, meats and starches are high on the list. I cringe when it's Family Night.

Last night was Family Night, we were celebrating a cousin's 2nd birthday and what was on the menu last night? Every 2 year olds favorite, Mac 'n Cheese. This was not your regular mac 'n cheese but the homemade ultra cheesy, ultra creamy variety. To top it off, it is layered with whole strips of bacon and put in the oven to bake or rather put in the oven so the bacon grease can drip its way through the cheesy creamy pasta. And the only side dish last night, baked potatoes.

I did the best I could under the circumstances and called it good. It was just another reminder of how not to eat and that we, for Family Night, can and should do better than that and personally, I want to do better.