Thanks, travel and Office of It Could Be Worse

I remember a VP at my former work place in higher education called this a "Horn of Hope." Uh, it's called a cornucopia.

Yeah, yeah, yeah. It's that same second-grade assignment that your elementary school teachers force upon you: What are you thankful for?

UPDATE, 9 PM: ADD THIS ONE: To be alive.

Well, here is my response:


A) Relatively free graduate school, which I'm doing well in. Thus far. And I will be working to get an academic paper in a journal -- the holy grail in academia.



B) President Asshat is leaving office in January, barring suspension of the Constitution.



C) Sarah Palin is nowhere near the White House (yet).



D) I am employed with insurance and have a roof over my head.



E) I am not one of the multitude of Americans increasingly receiving food stamps.



F) Gas prices are low.



G) Friends and family.



H) My car runs and is paid for.



I) I finally have some emergency funds saved up (thanks to this summer's economic stimulus check. Nope, I didn't help our economy at all by spending it, but I sure did help myself as I do not have a credit card to fall back on).



J) For all of its faults, I live in a country which has afforded me the opportunity to better myself and where I can live without the fear of my government executing me for being who I am.

OK, now for Teh Holiday Plans:


Findlay Park, Columbia, S.C.

As for the holiday, I am planning on heading, for the first time in more than 6 months, to Columbia, S.C., to see my mom and dad. They moved there when I was in college, and they appreciate the slower pace of life there (though I personally prefer the faster pace of Atlanta). My mother, who works at a beautiful public library in downtown Columbia, must work the day after Thanksgiving and thus they decided to stay put. My sister, bro-in-law and niece are heading to Greenville to spend time with my sister's in-laws. Thanksgiving this year is diaspora time.

I admit that I feel guilty for leaving my mother's parents in Powder Springs. They relied on me last year to drive them to and fro to holiday gatherings in the metro area, and I think they'll be at their house on this holiday. I really don't want them driving on the freeway.


I will sho' nuff be feeling good on Saturday night.

I'll be heading over to Augusta on Saturday to visit old newspaper friends and to celebrate with them.

Wherever you roam, have a safe and enjoyable holiday.