Thanksgiving Rant

I'm going to rant a bit here just because I feel like it and I have that right. Many of you will disagree with the words below and I expect that. To each their own. This blog is my own.

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving. The day where we gather with family and loved ones to show that we are thankful for all of the things that we have in life. First off, shouldn't we do that every single day? Each time we wake up and take a breath, we should give thanks. You've been given another day...be thankful!!! It's just like Valentine's Day. Don't make a big deal about the love you share with someone on that day. Make a big deal about it every day!

Let me get to the meat and potatoes of my rant.

For most of the month, my Facebook news feed has been filled with memes and statuses about how terrible it is to participate in Black Friday shopping. Then there are the posts that really chastise those who choose to shop on Thanksgiving evening. Oh the horror and blasphemy!!! <sarcasm>

Before you decide to judge me harshly for my words, know that I don't fully support either side of the debate. I lean more towards one side, but I won't tell you that you're wrong for leaning the other way. I just hope to shine some light of understanding on why I lean the way that I do. I understand the pros and cons of both sides. I know where I stand. You stand where you want. There is not a proper right or wrong on this subject.

I will say that do think it is terrible that some employers force their employees to work when they have family gathered together at home. I mean, if they don't at least try to find an employee who is willing to work on the holiday, that's crappy. On the flip side, nearly every job requires some sort of unfortunate sacrifice at one point or another. Just because the calendar says it's Thanksgiving doesn't mean you have to gather only on that day. Plan around your schedule if you are able. Sadly, this is the world we live in. It's not the same as it was when I was growing up. Back then, the entire city would shut down for holidays (and even on Sundays) and nothing was open. Not even gas stations.

One thing that many tend to forget is that not everyone has a huge family gathering to attend on Thanksgiving day. There are many that have no one at all. Those of you that are blessed with medium to large families seem to be the first to chastise others for being negative and grumpy during the holidays. Sure, when you have so much to be thankful for, it's easy to spew, "Be thankful for what you do have". Really? I think people have the right to be sad for the things that they don't have. Especially when they see and hear you gloat about all of the wonderful things you have and the amazing, large family that you get to share it with. Throughout my 30+ years, I've watched my family go from, "How are we going to fit everyone around the table for dinner," to, "Well, no one is coming over again this year. I wish (name of one of the many loved ones in heaven) were still here." Yes, I will be sad during Thanksgiving and even more so during Christmas. But that does not mean that I am not grateful for the things that I do have and the people that love me. It just means that I miss what once was. I'm allowed to feel those emotions. It's not like I could turn them off even if I wanted to.

I digress.

Shopping on Thanksgiving. I say if you have the money, go for it!!! I'm all about getting a great deal and saving money on things. My husband and I aren't blessed with a fat bank account, so I'm gonna jump at a bargain whenever and wherever I can get one. There is very little I wouldn't do to make sure our kids get some of the stuff they want for Christmas. My husband and I are blessed with great kids who understand that they are lucky to get anything at Christmas and are very appreciative of what they do get. Hell, our oldest son just asked me last night if he could give one of his guitars to his best friend. GIVE!!! God bless him and his compassion!

So for each one of you who has griped and spewed something about how Thanksgiving is the time to spend with your family, listen carefully. The family members that I see on Thanksgiving are the very same family members that I see each and every day. I spend time with them each and every day of the year. I don't grace them with my presence on the holidays only. That being said...if I want to go shopping at 6 p.m. on Thanksgiving day, you can bet your sweet butt that I will. And I will be courteous and understanding of all the people who are working their shifts that day because I understand that they are probably sacrificing time with their families to be there.

(This next paragraph is my favorite. Read it twice if you have to.)

I hope that each of you who have put yourself up on that "holier than thou pedestal" leaves your cell phone, laptop, ebook and whatever electronic device you immerse yourself in at home and/or turned off on Thanksgiving day. Those things take more time away from your loved ones every freaking day of the year than they should! So if you don't like the thought of someone taking time away from families to do shopping, don't be the hypocrite that spends your time with family wrapped up in the world wide web. But...I am willing to bet that I see at least 20 of you posting periodically on the various social networks during your lovely gatherings on Thanksgiving, thus taking time away from your families. Be attuned to them, not just physically next to them. Live in the moment, not in the device.

I guess the main point that I'm trying to make is this: UNDERSTAND that everyone lives a different life. UNDERSTAND that Thanksgiving may just be like any other day to a lot of people. Maybe shopping among strangers will be the only gathering someone has on that day. Maybe milling around a crowded store is the only thing keeping a person from feeling miserably alone and lost in a country where so many are surrounded loved ones.

Sadly, we live in a very greedy world/time/country. And despite my rant, I won't be shopping on Thanksgiving day. I just get tired of all the drama this time of year brings. We are so quick to judge others when we really have no idea what their life is like. We have more judgement and harshness for others when we should have more compassion and understanding.

End rant.

Happy Thanksgiving to the masses and to those who are shopping on Thursday and/or Black Friday, I hope you find some amazing deals!!!

Things You May Not Know About Me

A "get to know me game" has been filling my news feed on Facebook for the past couple of days and I have been reluctant to participate. Basically, the thought that my "friends" are judging me from afar bothers me. I know it shouldn't make a difference, but that's how my mind works.

I doubt that many of these will surprise anyone. I feel that I'm pretty much an open book. OR I just lead a very boring life. (It's probably the latter)

Rather than put my weird tidbits of myself on Facebook for all to see, I will put them in this blog. If people really want to know these quirky things, they can click a link and read about them here. Like you are doing now! So...welcome to my weirdness!!! Here we go.

1. Most people already know that I am afraid of spiders and clowns, but I am also afraid of little people/dwarfs. Maybe "afraid" is the wrong word, but they do make me skittish. I'm not sure why and I feel terrible about it.
2. Raw meat disgusts me. I can't touch it and I really don't like to look at it. That being said, I don't cook. Thank God I married a man who is an excellent cook!
3. I do enjoy baking!
4. I don't like to eat meat on the bone. It's gross. I also don't eat grilled food.
5. I don't drive. It terrifies me more than anything in this world.
6. Wax museums also scare me. Something about the look of a wax figure makes me sick to my stomach. I can't look directly at one for more than a few seconds.
7. I used to collect troll dolls when I was younger. I had hundreds of them.
8. If I'm out and about in the evening/nighttime and I see a house with the lights on and the windows have no blinds or curtains pulled, I will and do look in as I'm passing by. I like to see how other people decorate.
9. I don't have any close girl friends. My close friends either moved away and we lost touch (until social networking came along) or I've been betrayed by them in some way. It's been this way most of my life which is why I prefer to have guy friends. Girls are far too dramatic.
10. I prefer horror movies over chick flicks. Blood and gore is much better than a sappy love story.
11. I like to think that ghosts are real. All things paranormal interests me.
12. Just once, I'd like to speak to a medium so I can make a decision on their validity for myself. (*cough* Long Island Medium *cough*)
13. I have 1 sister, 1 half-sister and 1 half-brother. We aren't a close family though. 
14. Major disasters (natural or caused by man) fascinate me. When it comes to tragedy, I am drawn to it like a moth to a flame. After 9/11, I watched the news non-stop, which ended up giving me horrible nightmares. The more casualties, the more drawn to it I am.
15. Serial killers also fascinate me. My mom was the same way. She read numerous books about serial killers.
16. I love pinups!!! I find the old style pinups alluring. I wish I were still youthful enough to do a pinup style photo shoot.
17. I took out my belly button ring about a month ago after having it for many years and I miss it terribly. I took it out because I feel like I'm too old (and out of shape) to hang on to that youthful trend.
18. I wish I had went to college and followed my childhood dream of becoming a teacher. I love kids and feel more comfortable around them than I do adults. Working with children for 14 years was awesome (even if it was just in a daycare setting).
19. I would have also liked to have been a psychologist or a social worker.
20. I hated my now husband of 16+ years with a passion when he was a Senior and I was a Freshman in high school. We started dating my Sophomore year.
21. We should have 3 kids.
22. I believe that God used my grandmother in a dream to prepare me for the passing of my mom. However, it didn't all make sense until the moment she took her final breath on 1-2011 at 1:11 p.m.