Our Thanksgiving

We spent Thanksgiving with a group of friends this year, and, for me, it was the perfect Thanksgiving—a day spent with people we love, sharing stories, good food & wine, and counting our blessings for having such wonderful people in our lives. Let’s face it, holidays can be stressful and expectations high. Add a strained familial relationship or two and it can feel like anything but a holiday. Gathering together an eclectic group of people (young, old, black, white, male, female, gay, straight and lesbian in this case), all sharing in the responsibility of cooking and cleaning takes the pressure off and provides for some interesting conversation.

We came to know our hosts, Mike & Mari Hart, through our friendship with Mark Erba. Mike is a doctor with the VA, and Mari is a nurse with the Emory Clinic. They are warm, and genuine, and fun. Also there were Mari’s parents, Pat & Mari, a delightful couple who came to America from Ireland when Mari was a child; Mike & Mari’s sons, Patrick & Drew (Patrick is in college at Oxford, and Drew is in high school and plays the bass in a band called “Highway” they are impressive, sorta bluesy rock; lead singer, Alex Lotito has a strong and powerful voice; and they write all their own lyrics and music. They play around Atlanta; check them out if you get the chance); Corey, a friend of Pat & Mari’s; Mark and his son Dante, his mother Camille, and his brother David; our good friend Heather Haase and her friend Tom; and Amanda and her girl-friend Rena. There was lots of livey conversation and laughter, and the most wonderful food, and lots of it.

It wouldn’t be Thanksgiving without taking a moment to reflect on the things we are thankful for. We have had this tradition at our Thanksgiving table, much to Mr. Man and Amanda’s chagrin, for years, and I cannot let Thanksgiving pass by without putting into words how thankful I am. I think it is important in times like these to realize that even with a recession, high unemployment, raising food prices, and the threat of terrorism, we are still better off than many. We have roofs over our heads, food in our bellies, jobs, health insurance, reliable transportation, running (clean) water, and so much more that we take for granted as Americans. I'm especially grateful to have such incredible friends, not only here, but across the country and across the pond. Friends that I know will be there for us whenever, wherever. This year, I’m thankful to have taken part in a historical election, where Democrats finally—after eight horrible years of lies, self-interest and thievery—said “enough” and voted into office an intelligent, articulate, inspiring, African American President who “gets it.” I’m grateful for the hope he brings and for reminding us that it is up to us to bring about change. I can’t close without mentioning my thankfulness for my family, but I won’t bore you with the sappy details, let’s just say I feel very...fortunate.

Atlanta Pet Rescue Reject

I have been watching the most adorable long-haired Chihuahua on the APR website for a few months now; okay, several months. He had a broken leg and wasn’t up for adoption. But, every few weeks I’d check back to see where he was in his recovery. A few weeks ago he finally came up for adoption. I didn’t immediately apply because I wanted to make sure Mr. Man was on board, and, after losing Roxie, we agreed to wait at least six months. I was sure someone else would snatch this little guy up and I would miss my opportunity, but on Saturday I went to the website and, to my surprise, there he was still waiting for someone to give him a home. I talked to Mr. Man about it and he wasn’t, well let’s just say enthusiastic. Still, I couldn’t get him out of my mind. So, yesterday I made up my mind and told Mr. Man I wanted this little guy and was going to get him. “I never doubted it,” was his response. I immediately filled out the online application and waited anxiously for a reply.

Now, I think most people who know me, especially those who are part of our daily lives, would say that my animals are pretty lucky, if not outright spoiled rotten. My daughter and her partner, Rena, often leave their dog, Cassie, with us for the weekend. Not because they are going out of town or anything, but because Cassie loves hanging out at our house, and we enjoy having her. My animals (I also have three cats) live a fairly privileged life. They are very well cared for; I walk them, play with them, hug & kiss them, and, much to Mr. Man’s amusement, talk to them. They are well fed, up-to-date on their shots, provided medical treatment when needed, have lots of toys, their own beds, and get treats just because we love them. Yet, APR doesn’t think I’m good enough to adopt one of their dogs.

Why? Well, on the application I stated that on beautiful days; not when it’s hot or cold or rainy, mind you—and I did clarify that—but on beautiful days, I let my dogs stay outside. Gasp! I know, how horrible, right? How dare I let a dog stay outside in beautiful weather instead of being couped up in the house all day. And, this isn’t very often, maybe 5% of the time. Being in Atlanta, there really aren’t that many “beautiful” days. We seem to go quickly from hot to cold and back to hot, and during the spring and fall we tend to get quite a bit of rain. But, alas, APR cannot adopt out a pet to someone who keeps their dogs outside.

I did send a respond in my defense, explaining that I don’t “keep” my dogs outside, and voiced my disappointment that they didn’t think it worth a phone call to allow me to clarify my responses. I also suggested that they might have called the two references they asked me to give—both of whom could have reassured them that I’m an above-average pet owner. I don’t hold any hopes at this point of getting a response from them, they’ll probably just write me off as some crazy lady. But, I am disappointed. I was really looking forward to bringing this little fellow into our lives and giving him a good home. I’m sure there are hundreds of other dogs waiting for a good home, but now that I’m “black balled” from APR it is unlikely that I’ll be able to provide one to a deserving animal any time soon. And really, I don’t want any other dog, I want this one.

Post Election Critics

During the campaign I started reading, watching, and listening to anything having to do with the campaign. I would walk in the front door after work, turn on CNN, sit down in front of the computer to check my daily allotment of Obama campaign-related emails, and then go to the Huffington Post, which continues to be a daily read for me—I’m obsessed. Where else can you read about that schmuck Lieberman, watch video of Sarah Palin giving a post turkey-pardoning interview while other turkeys are being slaughtered in the background, and read a letter to Newt Gingrich from his lesbian sister berating him for his Proposition 8 comments, and, at the same time, get up-to-date news regarding President-elect Obama’s forming administrative team?

Besides all the interesting opionions and articles, you can also read comments posted by readers from the left, far left and the occasional right. Already the far left see the forming cabinet as “more of the same.” While there will always be some who are unhappy with the shape and speed of things, we should at least wait until the President-elect is in office before we start criticizing...and putting him in the same category as the current administation and the GOP is just, well, ridiculous.

I’m proud to be an American again

I’m ashamed to say I haven’t felt proud to be an American for a while. For the past eight years, I’ve felt our government was moving further and further away from representing the things I believe. In 2004, when “W” was re-elected to office I was stunned and have continued to feel amazed at just what this administration could get away with. I mean, we impeached a President for a blow job—well, for lying under oath about a blow job—but no one does anything about “W” lying (albeit not under oath) about reasons for taking our country to war, and... I could go on and on ranting about the things I hate about the current President/Administation, but we have to put all that behind us and focus on the change that will come.

We have made history! We have spoken, and we’ve gotten a taste of the power we hold if we’ll just stand together. Obama will need us behind him; he can’t do it alone, and it will be hard and it will take time, a lot of time.