Happy Thanksgiving.

While not typically the favorite holiday of vegetarians, I am excited about Thanksgiving this year for a number of reasons:

1. rtrax (okay, and Mike) - enough said.

2. It's [also] Andrea's birthday! As I am quite thankful for her, that works out quite well.

3. The day (for me) formally welcomes the "holiday season", which I love. This year's celebrations will take me to Menomonie, Tampa, Minneapolis, Madison, and Portland. Thank you, holiday season; I am so anxious to see people I care about, and this means I will very soon!

4. Me, Lindsay, and baking. Autumn cookies and pies, oh my.

A very happy Thanksgiving to my [4] readers. Safe travels!

Marshfield-ism

Only in Central Wisconsin:

A hunting show was on two of the four TVs at the Y last night.

Pardon me while I jump on [the bandwagon].

Welcome to the Christmas edition of getting to know your friends.

1. Wrapping paper or bags? Definitely bags. Can you carry on wrapped gifts? Unlikely.
2. Real tree or Artificial? No tree for me, thanks. Someday... That was an easy out though, I suppose - if I had a tree it would be real, from a local farm (for a few years, anyway).
3. When do you put up the tree? 1st weekend in December.

4. When do you take the tree down? On or just after January 1st.
5. Do you like eggnog? While my instinct is to say no, I'm not sure I've ever tried it. Katy H and her love for soynog has almost convinced me to try that, however.
6. Favorite gift received as a child? When does childhood end? I guess that's a more philosophical question. I got some good stuff the year I was 17 - does that count? If not, I'm with Ashley - who remembers this? And that, my friends, says A LOT about all the money that goes into gifts.
7. Hardest person to buy for? Uncle J, no question about it. Thank goodness for this year's white elephant.
8. Easiest person to buy for? Owen, hands down.

9. Do you have a nativity scene? Um, no.
10. Mail or email Christmas cards? Mail, though I'm not that excited about it this year. What happened to my enthusiasm? Oh, I remember - it died with my social life.
11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? I've also received some things from the givers of Ashley's dip set.

12. Favorite Christmas Movie? Love Actually, without a doubt.
13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? I think I will be buying 3 presents this year - I've got time.
14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Not that I can recall.
15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Carol's cookies.
16. Lights on the tree? Yes, preferably white.
17. Favorite Christmas song? Carol of the Bells.
18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? For now - travel. Eventually... we'll see.

19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer's? Yes, though really I am also distracted by the word "reindeer's". 1) It's "reindeer", not "reindeers", and 2) learn to use the apostrophe.

20. Angel on the tree top or a star? Definitely star.

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? Morning.
22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? The bitter Midwest weather.
23. Favorite ornament theme or color? Red and silver/white.
24. Favorite for Christmas dinner? More cookies, please.
25. What do you want for Christmas this year? It's a secret - I'll let you know if it works out.

And I was off to such a good start...

It's been awhile now, so let's recap: I went to see Amos Lee last week (how cute is he?). I was unfamiliar with his opening act and was pleasantly surprised; Priscilla Ahn is ADORABLE. Her song "I Don't Think So" is basically the soundtrack to my life at the moment - you should check it out. All in all, a great show. Definitely worth the 5 hours in the car [on a Monday] - I am so young and carefree (or maybe crazy?). So the concert was good, the date part of it not so much. Oh well.

In case it hasn't been mentioned (it's even worth mentioning again, if it has) - I am playing in a pool league. I am so very Wisconsin. While this in itself is amusing, the best part is that I'm not actually good at pool. My teammates have changed my shot in an effort to better me... we'll see. All I can say is that it's a good thing my partner is good :) But come April (can you say "longest season ever"?), I'm going to rock. Maybe I'll start hustling people.

In case you've forgotten, it's cold here. The weather forecast for tonight has it in the teens (and "feels like" single digits - I am not ready for single digits!). Snow has started, which in itself is okay, since I actually like snow. It's just that along with snow comes Midwest winter: -30 windchill, frostbite advisories, and the like.

Can someone nicely inform Bryce that we are not friends? I did not sign up for that. If I do not respond to his random text messages, I am not a bad person.

On a more pleasant note, I am considering getting my PhD. While I initially thought I was done with school, it's sounding more and more tempting. Maybe graduate school is like childbirth - after awhile you forget how painful it was and end up going back for more? That was a very strange analogy.

Does anyone else see the irony in me dating someone from Florida? Could my timing be any crummier?

T minus 38 days until Portland.

Google is so clever.

Happy Election Day!

On a happier note...

Fun things I have planned:

1. Election night fun with fellow Obama fans (go, Barack!).
2. Thanksgiving with rtrax in Menomonie.
3. Pool and volleyball - for months! Two things I definitely never thought I would play "competitively".
4. Random concerts. Madison, Milwaukee, Minneapolis... wherever (except at Tiny's).
5. Two nights in downtown Minneapolis, courtesy of work.
6. A week in Portland with friends and family.

As promised.

Based on recent events:

5) Anyone who spends more time on their hair than I do. I'm jumping to conclusions, I realize, but still.

6) Anyone who uses the term "darkie". Enough said.

Revelations.

1. It is never a good idea to go to Tiny's. Please remind me of this.

2. I have never felt so alone. Ever.

3. I need to leave WI. Soon.