• Yesterday was perhaps the most disappointing holiday ever. That’s all I really want to say about it. Just know, our food was not yummy, and I went to bed at 8:15.
• I woke up this morning and could see the ocean from my pink twin bed and decided that maybe things weren’t that bad afterall. But, Thanksgiving still really sucks.
• I’m being subjected to THREE SPORTING EVENTS THIS WEEKEND. It would have been four, but I stood up for myself.
• Tonight, we’re going to a Blazer game, where I promise you, I will eat a $8.00 hot dog and drink a $6.00 beer.
• Tomorrow is the Civil War, wherein I’m quite sure my beloved Ducks will hand the Beavers their asses. I will be wearing my special UO underpants.
• Then, of course we’ll have to watch the Dolphins on Sunday. Also, special Dolphins underpants will be worn (although, I must point out, they did NOT work last week)
• I saved myself from having to watch the boy’s high school in the state semi-final football championships by reminding him that the stadium is very, very close to a mall.
• And, why do we care about high school football anyway?

And, with that, I must ready myself for sporting event #1. Hope you all had a lovely Thanksgiving, and please tell me you over ate a little bit.

There is SO much in my life I have to be thankful for, but honestly, today is going to be a struggle.

When I was seven years old, a nun (I went to Parochial School) ushered me into her office and gave me a book on grieving. Later I learned that my Grandpa had passed away. And, even LATER, (as in this year, I learned that my dad, aunt, and uncle had to make the decision to disconnect his breathing machine). It was Thanksgiving week.

When I was 13 years old, I was suffering from my very first kidney infection, I had also gotten braces on that week (who makes their kid get braces the same week as Thanksgiving?). I learned this week that my Auntie Helen passed away.

It was this year that my dad’s side of the family pretty much stopped celebrating this holiday. Last year, for the first time in I don’t know how long, I spent the holiday with my dad, at our beach house. I remember talking to my Grandma and her telling me that they were just going to have chicken, “Because she liked it better.” Take that, pilgrims! So, even though I probably wouldn’t even had seen her today, I’m missing my Grandma. There would have been a phone call. We would have talked about the parade, she would have asked what I was going to eat for dinner. I would have been able to hear her sweet voice.

So, today, I’ll drive to our house at the beach. We’ll visit the cemetery where my Grandma is buried beside my Grandpa and her two brothers and sisters. And, we’ll eat dinner, just the two of us.

I know this first set of holidays without her is going to be the hardest. Buying one less card at Mother’s Day was terrible, her birthday was terrible, and I’m scared to think about how Christmas will be without my sweet grandma.

Which is the better looking pizza?

Pizza A, All Wolfgang Puck like

Pizza B, Lacking in Creativity

CHOOSE WISELY. Oh, and, just as an FYI: for two people, you do NOT need to make dough for two 12 inch crusts. You do need twice as much beer as you think you’ll need though, because THE PROCESS TAKES FOREVER. Which is why I prefer pizza from a restaurant.

I’m doing this thing where if I get something new, I have to get rid of something. Like, if I get a new blouse, I have to get rid of an article of clothing (sometimes it’s a pair of socks, or a promotional t-shirt, but whatever, MY RULES). Anyway, I can donate it, I can take it to resale, I can give it to someone, it just has to leave Casa de RhiRhi.

Now, I’m currently trying to figure out how to make this exercise work in reverse. For instance: I’m listing two Kate Spade bags on eBay. Clearly, I should buy two more, right? One? Please?

But, anyway. One area I have been successful in applying this to is my television watching. I have recently given up the following:

Ugly Betty: I don’t know why, just lame. LAME! I watched one episode this season and then last week noticed that I had about 8 piled up on my DVR. DELETE!

Desperate Housewives: I cannot buy Gaby as fat and frumpy. SORRY. Furthermore, this program was starting to coincide with my beloved Iron Chef America recordings. (Hi Alton!, I love you!)

Grey’s Anatomy: Really, Izzie’s having sex with a dead guy? THAT IS JUST SICK.

But, despite the huge disappointment that ABC is this year, (really guys? you’re not picking up Dirty Sexy Money? WITH PETER KRAUSE?) I’m quite pleased with what I’ve picked up:

Top Chef: OMG, HOW DID I NOT KNOW ABOUT THIS SHOW? My money is on the Finn (The Finns are a competitive people, WE ALWAYS WIN). The boy has picked some other guy to win, but historically (and when I say historically, I mean it happened once) the guy he picks makes it to the final three and then gets kicked off. And, my guy goes on to the final two.

Gossip Girl: In two weeks, I turn 30, which probably makes me outside the target audience for this program. But, STILL. I’m just about done with Season 1 from Netflix, and I’m scheming a way to catch up with this season so I can start watching them live. WHY DIDN’T YOU TELL ME ABOUT THIS SHOW?

So, I have room for one more show. What am I missing out on? (if you say The Hills, it’s over between us)

• Word around the campfire is someone is out there writing Friday Bullets, BUT, publishing them on a Thursday, thus calling them Thursday Bullets. STILL A COPYCAT, I SAY.
• This week has been perhaps the busiest work week EVER. And, do you know what? It flew by, so bring on the busy! (also, perhaps take my temperature!)
• I’m on a mission to remove unnecessary stress from my life. So, you may have noticed that I totally failed on NaBloPoMo. One stressor, GONE! Many, many to go. Getting rid of the other ones aren’t going to be so easy.
• I’m really not looking forward to Thanksgiving this year – it’s the start of my first holiday season without my Grandma, which is about 1,000 different kinds of suck.
• So, we’ll be dining out this year, just my dad and I. I’m looking forward to spending some time with him down at the beach. I’m also looking forward to the FANTASTIC sleep that I always have at our beach house.
• Also, he has a new car that I am DEAD SET on driving. He ordered it MONTHS ago and it finally arrived last week.
• Which do we like better? The J.Crew Greta Coat, or the J.Crew Carrie Coat? I have to get black, because a) I am not responsible enough to have ANOTHER coat in Ivory and b) The black coat I bought last season DOES NOT HAVE EFFING POCKETS! Who buys a coat without pockets? Me, apparently. Off to Buffalo Exchange with that stupid coat!
• I have nobody to see the Twilight movie with. Unless Kerri wants to see it again. Please, someone, see the movie with me! Amanda? Anyone?
• Have you seen the disgraceful dinner I prepared for my boyfriend this week? I need to be taken out back and shot for this. Or, maybe someone should just take this pan away from me. Because I’m tempted to make Tamale Pie in it next.
• And, because I’m totally channeling Betty Crocker this week, we’re making homemade pizza tomorrow night. With fresh ingredients from the last farmers’ market of the season. Please someone come over and make sure I don’t make my pizza into a heart shape!

That is all, friends. Have an excellent weekend!