I've spent the last several years being invited to extended family's or good friends' homes for holidays as the single friend. Even after Erik and I married, we were still pitied, I guess, and taken under the wing of loved ones. Since Baby Brother moved in, it feels more like family around here. So this year, we cooked Thanksgiving Dinner.

Got up at the Buttcrack o' Dawn, threw the bird in the oven, resolved that the Next House (this house is really cute, but the first house always shows you what to look for in the Next House) will have two ovens. Drank one pot of tea while Erik stuffed celery.

Had a LOVELY dinner, really perfect. It could not have gone any better, and I have a wonderful husband. I have so much to be thankful for. I am thankful for my family, my precious friends, my livelihood, my home, the sunshine, another day in Paradise...

At the suggestion of my company's owner, we each made some phone calls this Thanksgiving to try to patch up some holes in our own hearts. We talked about it a lot beforehand, and that's just what you do on the holidays. Remember why you love people, focus on the positive and look to a New Year without all of the Old Nonsense.

And today, I saw the beginnings of the holiday wishes on tv from troops overseas. I do not do well with those.

Also, I seem to have a cold, so I'm hereby soliciting for turkey soup recipes.