A Festivus for the Rest of Us

Once Thanksgiving is over, I kick into Christmas mode. I love decorating for the holidays, shopping for gifts, singing Christmas songs, etc. It's the best time of year.

This weekend, we were putting up the tree and I mentioned the Seinfeld episode about Festivus. I am not the greatest Seinfeld fan, but I love the Festivus story (among others). It just cracks me up - "A Festivus for the rest of us." Whoever came up with that idea was just really really clever.

Anyway, I found a video on You Tube that includes Festivus clips. It's just too funny. How these guys say this stuff with a straight face. I will never know.

Happy Thanksgiving!

It's Thanksgiving. The day of family, food, and football (the last refers to others not so much to me). Thanksgiving is one of my all time favorite holidays. Why you may ask? I'll tell you.

1. It's time for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade. You always know where to find me between 9-12 on Thanksgiving morning. I LOVE the parade.
2. Usually my family does not fight on Thanksgiving and that's a huge plus.
3. Yummy dinner - my mother's cooking is always fantastic, but she outdoes herself on Thanksgiving.
4. So many things are cranberry flavored, and I heart cranberries.
5. It's time for Christmas music!
6. And Christmas decorations!
7. And Christmas shopping! (are you sensing a theme here. . .)
8. Fun Thanksgiving themed episodes of my favorite TV shows.
9. Pie
10. And last but not least - A FOUR DAY WEEKEND. WHOO HOOO.

In all seriousness, it's been a great year so far and I have much for which to be thankful. Thanks to all of you who have helped to make this year so amazing.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Lady Gaga

Lady Gaga fascinates me. I'm not really sure why. I think it may be because she is just so bizarre that I find it intriguing that someone can maintain that persona at all times. I mean her outfits alone are deserving of my fascination.

Like this one. What's up with the mask?



Or this one. Can she even see?


And let's not forget this one. Just plain weird.


I mean each one is crazier than the last. It makes me wonder does she designs these herself or does she have an equally bizarre fashion designer friend that she works with? But, they make her unforgettable.

I think I just really admire that she is who she is and does not care what other people think. If she wants to wear a bizarre outfit - she will. If she wants to bring a Muppet as her date to the VMAs - Kermit is there. She's the definition of avant garde.

It also helps that her music is insanely catchy. And when she sings live, you realize that she can actually sing. Somewhere beneath her bizarre exterior is a really talented singer and songwriter.

As you can probably imagine, she's also very theatrical. Her video for Paparazzi is like a mini-movie. Granted, a very strange mini-movie but it's still really cool.

Happiness

Happiness is a funny thing. It kind of sneaks up on you. I do not think that the average person - myself included - is happy at all times. I think that normally people are content and true happiness is something that comes upon us on occasion. If we are lucky, those occasions are frequent.

I do not at all mean that being content is a negative state. I think that it's a very good thing. If people had a dopey grin of happiness at all times, they would cease to be productive members of society. Contentedness is a great state - it means that you are satisfied with your life and in a state of peace.

I also think that most people do not sit around thinking about the state of their happiness. I know that I don't. But during the most random moments - driving the car, shopping for groceries, etc - you realize that you are truly happy. When that realization dawns, it's quite a treat. You feel a certain glow come upon you. It sounds cheesy, but I've experienced it and it's definitely true.

I wish that you could bottle up that feeling. It would be nice to be able to experience it whenever you wish. Bad day at work? Take a nip of happiness and you are good to go. Sadly, life does not work that way.

But maybe, that's to our benefit. If people felt that glow of happiness at all times, it would cease to be an incredibly special feeling. And that's what makes it such a joy and something to be treasured.

Rob Thomas!

This week, I went to see Rob Thomas in concert with a friend.

It was AMAZING.

I'd seen Rob Thomas with Matchbox 20 a few years ago but seeing Rob Thomas solo was just as good. Plus, Carolina Liar and One Republic were the opening acts so it was just a great night of music all around.

For me the highlights were the acoustic version of Ever the Same, a cover of That's Alright, and the acoustic version of Bent.

What I love about seeing Rob Thomas in concert is that he sings the songs you love in a new way but you still recognize and love them. It's not like some concerts where the people do things in such a new way that you do not even recognize the song. I hate that.

Anyway, here's a treat for Friday - the acoustic version of Ever the Same. Enjoy!

What's Awesome Now? Taylor Swift on SNL

Taylor Swift was really funny on SNL. I was not sure she would be good when I heard that she was hosting. But, she was really able to make fun of herself - which I think is necessary for the host.

I loved the opening monologue with her Monologue Song (la la la).

Check it out. It's funny. (Plus she disses Joe Jonas which makes me really happy because I have an irrational hatred for the Jonas Brothers).

What Makes Family Family

I've been thinking a lot about what makes a family a family. Over the past few weeks, the question seems to be following me through personal relationships, books, and television shows.

In the current book club book, a man who has no biological relationship to his ex-stepdaughter feels and acts like more of a father to her than her adopted father. People in his life think that is strange. But if he loves this girl as a daughter, why should he not treat her as such? (the fact that she's a manipulative brat has no bearing on this conversation but it does impact my enjoyment of the novel).

In both the TV show Brothers and Sisters and in the situation of a colleague, a gay couple is having a baby via a surrogate. I think that this is great. They are making their own family - biology mostly aside. Why should families only be traditional? As long as people are happy and children are loved, how can that be bad?

I've decided that family has little to do with biology and everything to do with personal connection. A great example of this is my immediate family's current relationship with my father's extended family. Basically, we no longer have one - and I don't miss them. How can you miss people that are cruel enough to throw a 90 year old woman (my grandmother) out of the house?

What I have realized is that my extended family is now my friends. Biology has nothing to do with my connection to these people, but they are family all the same. In the end, your family consists of the people that you can count on. If I was in trouble, I would never call my cousin Maria for help, but I would call one of my close friends. Why? Because I know that they would be there and that's what family does. Biology has nothing to do with it.

Who's Awesome Now? Johnny Damon

Aside from the Olympics, I'm not a huge sports fan. But, I do like the World Series. It's probably because baseball is one of the few sports that I really understand.

I've been watching bits and pieces of the current World Series - and yes I hope the Yankees win - and I've been really impressed by Johnny Damon. I think he's scrappy. Every time he comes up to bat, he seems to just be really invested. And, he takes chances which I think is cool. I don't like when people play things too safely.

Anyway, this one play left me with my jaw hanging open. He stole not one but two bases on one pitch. CRAZINESS. You have to watch it to believe it.