The Obligatory Thanksgiving Post (OR What I’ve been thinking about for the last 7 hours) October 13, 2008
Posted by brandy in AHHHHHHHHHHH!, Josh Lyman needs his own tag, cnn makes my heart beat fast, dogs, famous people make for good gossip, happiness, holidays, i am slowly going crazy, i need to spend more time on spelling, it happened this week, it's almost like a meme, lists, politics, swimming in a sea of self pity, the george, the title says it all, top 10, when it doesn't go my way, your vote matters here.trackback
I’m searching to find the laugh inside me right now. After writing yesterdays post where I started off discussing my WORST MORNING EVER, I awoke this morning with the smell of dog vomit in my nostrils.
I’m dog sitting right now and it would appear that my 4 legged sidekick is fighting some sort of gastrointestinal bug. Because the entire house that I’m living in while I watch this dog, was covered with both vomit and diarrhea at 4 am this morning. COVERED. As in, there was so much expelled waste everywhere, I have to assume she didn’t do this on her own. She had to have called over the neighbourhood dogs, slipped an extra key under the door, drank a few litres of unfiltered Mexican water and had a contest to see who could cover more surface area with either shit or throw up. So, I’ve been up for a few hours. Seven, actually. Hand scrubbing floors because apparently people don’t own mops anymore. And apparently people who don’t own the cleaning equipment I like get snide comments directed at them in a post they will never read. I’m such a motherfucking bad ass.
In short, I’ve had seven hours of hard scrubbing to think about what I’m thankful for this Thanksgiving (which, in case you don’t know, is today for us Canadians). Of course, the holy trinity (family, friends, good health) are the first to come to mind. But here on this marked holiday, while I try to rid my mind of the horrors it’s encountered this morning- I will share with you ten OTHER things I’m thankful for this holiday season.
1. Democracy. Don’t worry, I’m not going to go all ‘vote! it’s your right! let’s make a difference!’ on you. We both know you should vote- so I’m not even going to tell you how disappointed I’ll be if you don’t. Or how every single person who ever fought for the chance to vote will be turning in their grave if you take for granted what they fought so hard for and skip out on your chance to turn the country around. I will instead say this. Sometimes I forget that people can’t vote. Sometimes I forget not every country is as wicked cool as Canada and that voting isn’t an option. And when I really let my mind sit and ponder living in a society where my view (whether it be on government or bad music from the late 90’s) isn’t valued, I find it almost unbearable. Like the idea of leggings as formal wear, but worse.
2. Peanut Butter. There is just nothing better.
3.George Clooney & Ben Affleck- First of all, before you all roll your eyes and mutter ‘of course’, has it occurred to you have I love these two men for their brains? How I love them both deeply because they are smart, well educated and able to articulate complicated thoughts on issues such as politics, world debt relief and the environment? We live in a society where being dumb is considered a trait to embrace. It’s why Paris Hilton has yet to utter a word with more than three syllables and no one cares. She’s the poster girl for giggling instead of answering and the world has accepted it. So instead, I turn to George and Ben who not only know big words, but know how to use them correctly. Both of them are using their celebrity powers for good instead of evil. And both looking pretty hot in a tuxedo.
4. Spell check. Seriously. Without it, I’m pretty sure I would still be spelling solider like “soilder”. I know. And they let me teach children.
5. Every. Single. Thing. I. Discussed. Here. (Is this cheating? Do I care?)
6. Anderson Cooper and his captivating blue eyes.
7. Email. I know, I feel bad for saying I’m thankful for this. I almost feel ashamed. I know I’m supposed to say I love ‘handwritten letters in the mail’, and I AM thankful for those- but email is a wonderful thing. Without it, I wouldn’t get to stalk so many of you. And I hold my chance to stalk people very close to my heart. I also wouldn’t get communications from people who tell me they hate me and my writing. I’m even thankful for those, it’s keeps my monstrous ego in check.
8. Dogs. I know. You are thinking ’seriously? You just cleaned mountains of excrement and you want to write a love letter to dogs? And the answer is yes. Sure, each time I finish dog sitting I’m more fully aware of how much I currently would not like to OWN my own dog, but they are so much fun to take care of on a short term basis. Like babies. Or some guys.
9. Hope. Not Bob (though he’s stellar), but the idea of wishing for and believing in something better than what currently exists. Hope is what fuels me to keep going on my worst days and brings comfort to me on my saddest. I hope for many things- an Obama win, a continuing of my Scrabble victory on Facebook, the well being of Britney Spears. (And no, I’m not kidding about the last one. I really want her to be well).
10. Josh Lyman. He just makes me happy.
Happy Thanksgiving!
I love this list! Oh, and lay garbage bags down on the floor of one small room, lay an old sheet on top of that, and keep the dog confined in that one room. Then you can just throw the nastiness away. This saved me much floor scrubbing when the cat had a round of antibiotics with unpleasant side effects. And seriously, who doesn’t have a mop? Wait, I’m not sure I do…
Happy Thanksgiving! Bob should totally get his own number.
Ben Affleck as brainiac? Well that is a new one on me! Isn’t he…I dunno…kinda dumb as a stump?
You poor thing! I can’t believe you had to scrub for seven hours. Our dog has only exploded in her crate two times, and my husband was the first to get home both of those times! I am so lucky. And you are SO not. I feel for you. I really, really do. Hope the rest of your week is better.
Belle- You just saved my life.
LivitLuvit- Agreed!
AM-He actually is so much more intelligent than people give him credit for. Honestly. Listening to him talk at the DNC last year was one of the best moments of the whole convention. He really knows his in’s and out’s politically speaking and isn’t one of those Hollywood types that is who is “I’m an actor, therefore I must be a Democrat”. He’s immersed in the political history of both parties and was really impressive when discussing the issues.
Jennie- Well, scrubbing didn’t take seven hours exactly. I think I laid on the one clean part of the floor for a good 45 minutes, trying to work up the energy to weep for myself.
Happy Thanksgiving! Sorry to hear about the doggie…mess.
I am thankful everyday for e-mail. Perhaps that’s why I have so many e-mail accounts!
Ah, democracy, peanut butter, dogs, and hope! I now know what I’m saying when my turn at the table comes around this year.
So gross. What a crappy (ha!) way to start your day. Can I just tell you I too am totally thankful for Anderson and his piercing blue eyes and silver (or is it white) hair and funny little laugh. Geez I love him. Happy Thanksgiving!
one word honey…kaopectate…about 3cc’s to start with…it works like a dream on poopy puppies (or pepto bismol if that’s easier to find ~ 2 – 4 tablets cos they hate the flavour of the liquid pink stuff more than the kao, and then you’ll be cleaning up the pink stuff off the walls as well)
trust me…i know poopy puppies…
oh that’s a pretty nasty way to start of turkey day my friend! how is the dog now? i hope he gets his shit together. badumbum.
happy thanksgiving to you!
No explicit mention of Duchovny? *shocked*
Happy Thanksgiving!
This?
First of all, before you all roll your eyes and mutter ‘of course’, has it occurred to you have I love these two men for their brains?
Why I love your blog.
Aw. Happy (really really early – weird Canadians!
) Thanksgiving! We don’t even have that over here. I find it funny that with all the crazy stuff I do they let me teach kids too. Go figure!
Sorry to hear about your scrubbing day…..it always stinks when dogs get sick and have things coming out both ends. Hopefully the dog gets better soon!
Ew. If I had to spend 7 hours cleaning up dog shit and dog vomit, I KNOW I wouldn’t be in as good of a mood as you are in.
I will forever will thankful for peanut butter. Forever.
Ah, everything a man could ask for: dogs, PB, and spell check. …But Josh Lyman? That’s who we’re supposed to live up to? I think I’d rather be Justin Chambers…
Haha. Not enough people pay tribute to the world-altering technology that is spell check.
Does a Canadian Thanksgiving include lots of turkey as well?
I love email. I prefer email over the phone. Actually, I get cranky when people call me. Do I have to talk? My god people! That’s what IM is for?
Ahhh, dogs. Some of my favorite people.
You know that someday we’re going to need to get together and play WW drinking games right? Right?!
I’m with you 100% on the Email and the Dogs one.
CP x
Nicely done. I love lists!
Hope the dog is better.
I have a HUGE crush on Anderson Cooper. He’s just so hot with that white hair and thoughtful commentary!
If it makes you feel any better, your writing about your miserable morning has me laughing out loud in a crowded, quiet room, and i am currently receiving scolding looks for my inappropriate behavior… The part about the key-slipping, Mexican-water-chugging dog almost killed me, and i am pretty sure you have singlehandedly extended my life my at least a couple of weeks, if not months.
I am grateful for the many brilliant [blog] writers out there in cyber space.
Hope the dog feels better, and the rest of the dog sitting goes better.
Oh my gosh you made me laugh out loud and I almost woke my son..hehe! Nice Thanksgiving list, you have now given me something to think about!
Paris Hilton does my head in. She’s the American equivalent of a footballer’s wife.(I know you covered this, but I’m agreeing!)
Peanut butter is some good stuff, especially on toast!
We don’t have Thanksgiving here. I don’t think I’m missing out on anything because A. I’m not North American and B. I can be thankful and have turkey any day. Plus we have Guy Fawkes’ Night, its a fair trade! It’s an nice thought that lots of people are together in their families and being thankful for things though.
Question, are you thankful for cheese?
Erin- Isn’t email fantastic?!!
Justrun- ha! Good luck! And I’m glad you are down with peanut butter.
Semichrmd- I like to think it’s silver, that way it makes sense when I call him ‘the silver fox’.
thistle- Thank you!!
brookem- I knew I could count on you for a joke.
geekhiker- I know. I’m trying to tone down the David talk. Ever since rehab I get roughly 3.6 zillion hits from people. I’m paranoid I’m disappointing them, so I thought I would lay low and try not to talk about him so I won’t get angry people emailing me asking me for an update.
Laurie- I’m glad someone appreciates a smart ass.
LCT- But you have Guy Fawkes right? That’s even better!
KT- She finally has started to get better. I think it was all the good wishes sent her way!
Angela- I like to blame it on the fact that I’m drunk most of the time.
AhsleyD- Me too! I love it anyway I can get it (twss).
Pastel Guy- No way. I would take Josh Lyman over Justin Chambers any day of the week. And three times on Sunday.
Michelle woo- I know! I cringe thinking about what my life would be like without it.
Dingo- Absolutely! A LOT of thanksgiving. Our meal is pretty much identical to the American version. And I’m with you on the phone thing…
Nicole- Are you going to Boston?!
CastPuke- Glad you agree!
mcmisura- She is, thank you!
Larissa- Exactly. I like smart men who use real words. And you know, who have eyes that pierce my soul. One of my biggest internal debates is Anderson Cooper vs. Jon Stewart. I’m not kidding. I lose sleep over this.
A- Aww, that DID make me feel better! I have to admit, I giggled when I wrote that part. (Which was definitely needed during the shitty morning I had. Whoa. The word play just never stops…)
Mesa- Thanks so much for stopping bye, glad I gave you something to think about!
Lisa Marie- Dear lord. I could write an entire post about cheese. No, I could have an entire blog devoted to my love of this particular dairy product. It’s almost gross how much I adore cheese. Especially swiss. If I was stranded on an island and could chose between matches/tent or a big block of swiss cheese, I think I would take the cheese. No kidding.
Happy thanksgiving!!!!!!!
peanut butter!! huuuummmmmmmm!!!!!
I love your list! Not just because I think lists are great, but because I agree with A LOT of them.
I hope you had a great Thanksgiving, despite the pup’s stomach bug. Hopefully that got all cleared up.