Lesson(s) Learned

Happy Thanksgiving everyone.  Didn't you know I'm a procrastinator?  That's why this good tidings is coming at you 2 days late.

We've had an interesting week around these parts.  At the beginning of the week we were planning our long-awaited trip to Montana to see cousins and freeze our nether regions off.  But Wednesday rolled in a huge storm, which left ice under a layer of snow, under a layer of ice on all the roads.  We grew up in California where dangerous winter driving involved too many teenagers crammed in one car after a youth dance.  Ice was nowhere to be seen back then.  So, we called off our plans and hunkered down for a long winters nap.  It's been super duper cold here.  But this quiet time here at home has brought about some reflection.  Here are the things I've learned about myself:

1.  I'm thankful for a warm home and the ability to buy food enough for my family.

2.  I'm thankful that we decorated for Christmas last weekend (since we planned to be out of town this weekend).  I've really enjoyed the decorations this year.  Maybe I'll make DH take a video of them and put them up here, so I can see them everywhere (even though is seems like I only come to this blog once a month, I do click on it everyday ... the only one who does :)

3.  I do not have what it takes to be a Black Friday shopper.  You know how everyone has a "wall"?  A time of day when they are tired, depressed and poopie.  Mine is 5 a.m.  I could've learned that lesson after the Ragnar when I was in tears at 5 a.m. and then chipper and feeling great at 7, even though I still hadn't slept.  Well, this morning, when I got up to get some great deals, at 4 a.m., I realized as I stood frozen in a Target aisle, holding the last of the $17 gift item I needed in my hand (which would have saved me $17) and looking at the line, nothing seemed more ridiculous and hopeless than standing in line for 2 hours just to save a couple of bucks.  So I shoved it into the arms of a nice couple standing by and walked out of the store.  I came home, bought what I needed online and left again at 7 a.m., in good spirits and ready to shop.  Lesson learned.  Black Friday morning: bad.  Shopping normally: good.

4.  It's really cold here and I'm grateful for my knock-off Uggs that keep my toes warm.  So much so that I bought Miss A a pair.  I would've bought all the boys a pair, but boys like losing a toe or two to frostbite.

5.  You can only ever make a really great, perfect meal once in your life.  Never again.  It's against the rules of nature to repeat it.  I made mine last Thanksgiving.  This Thanksgiving ... not so much.  Eh, oh well!

6.  Just when you're despairing that you never got a family picture for the Christmas cards before your homeland turned into the Arctic ... and opportunity turns up and it turns out to be the best picture the whole family has taken all year long!  Look for it in your mailbox this month!

7.  DH and I need to swear off college football because we're bad, bad luck.  Did you see Boise State's loss?  So sad.  So sad.  And all my fault.