Generalized update:

Greg and I spent Thanksgiving with the Laabs side of the family, about 2 hours south of home. I made my first ever cranberry sauce and I think it went over really well, which made me very happy to hear. Even some of the folks who didn't usually like cranberry sauce enjoyed it which I think is quite an accomplishment. ( Recipe beneath the cut... )

Maybe next year I'll get to do the mashed potatoes? I hear adding just a touch of walnut oil makes them really quite special. We shall have to experiment!

Thanksgiving itself was nice, though I got a bit nauseous on the ride back (windy road, you see). It's nice to get together to eat for the holidays, though I see most of them so often it's not quite the same as when I get together with my own family which only really sees each-other on special occasions. Will write more later.

-Cailin

Here's hoping you all have a satisfactory capitalist winter-time gift-giving season! ;) Seriously though, Merry Christmas you all and here's to a happy new year! Rev up your new years resolutions, 2008 is almost upon us! And with it, the avalanche of political advertisements. :)

Wishing the best to you and yours,
Cailin

Just thought I'd make a quick post before heading off to work. This week before Christmas as a fun time for retailers (and employees such as myself), and since I work at a gaming store things are particularly interesting. I found the most recent Penny Arcade to be right on target. Things are really busy and so many poor people come in doing their last minute shopping and find none of the items on their list.

I must confess, I am also a last minute shopper this year.

I don't know what it was about this Christmas but I didn't get any shopping done early and now I have to figure something out. :) I'm not worried though, Christmas isn't only about presents. I think my intense finals week made me forget about Christmas and left me mostly unable to think about anything other than essays and presentations.

Next year I'm doing my Christmas shopping in March.

-Happy Holidays
Cailin

For me, being an Atheist at Christmas-time isn't as hard as some people seem to have it. Coming from a secular point of view, I still manage to use this time as a sort of... appreciation of family, friends, and a wonderful conclusion to the previous year. I feel bad for Christians who seem to be very "ruffled" by stores who leave out "Christmas" and say "Happy Holidays" or "Seasons Greetings" instead (among other things such as governments renaming Chiristmas trees as "holiday trees" which is actually just a rumor). In an attempt to empathize I can see how this could be upsetting, but when you're in the majority by 85% (give or take), I don't really understand how some can say that Christmas is being marginalized by the "evil Secular conspiracy". But that's not really my point. If someone wishes me Merry Christmas, I'm not offended. I never am. Perhaps the words go through a filter (the social kind we all have) and I realize the underlying meaning of what their saying. You know, good will and all that stuff.

I wonder though, is it the same for Jews and Muslims? (and other religions I'm leaving out) They don't celebrate the meaning of Christmas (it's somewhere underneath all the fake snow and plastic reindeer), so how do they feel when someone says "Merry Christmas" to them? I'm not saying they should or shouldn't feel something, but as I do not personally have a religion it's a point of view that I can only really become aware of through asking. With people complaining all over the place on both sides of the "Christmas" issue, it's interesting to me to find out if this is a widespread thing or just the reaction of some very sensitive people? Do most people just "filter" holiday wishes into whatever suits them best? I suppose it would be a rather long greeting if one were to say every holiday in their greetings, eh?

Anyway, just something to think about.

-Cailin