This is the time of year where it is an American tradition to overeat and see family and old friends. (e:jason) and I will be visiting our uncle and his family for the second year in a row, then returning to Jamestown for some dessert at the home of our friend Jerry's parents. Jerry's mom has always been the Martha Stewart type and is a dynamite cook, so this is something we look forward to.

I have to admit about being worried with the food. It isn't as if my aunt doesn't serve traditional fare, but her family has always ate things we didn't grow up eating, such as *gulp* creamed onions. This year I worry a little more since all of the kids will be there, from Washington state and California, and so I expect that all their "favorites" will be on the table. I'm pretty sure the only things I'll eat are the turkey, the potatoes and the cranberry sauce.

Then again, I'm a firm believer in the spirit of Thanksgiving. For me this is the beginning of the big wind down, where we finally take stock and relax until the new year. Some won't eat at all tomorrow, and some will eat at places such as Loaves and Fishes. It is good enough for me to take a ride with dad, (e:jay) and grandma and see my uncle and his family.

I plan on bringing a book and some work to do during the ride. I expect that the ride will be a bit long because of the weather, so I'll have some latent time to get something done. I haven't been to Jamestown in a while, so while we are there I hope to stop by Southern Tier for some beer and glassware.

These are prunes.



If they were as good as this girl makes them seem, every kid in America would devour them. Truth be told, to me they seem like they have a consistency similar to the abdomen of a tarantula.

regarding social compliance and Uncle Wally.



You have no idea how badly I could eviscerate this article if I were allowed. Social compliance audits on behalf of W-M have been going on all over the world for at least 5 years.

I wish I could get into it but I can't. These outside observers are so ignorant and clueless regarding this topic that I'm sure they are unaware of how off the mark they really are. This is why advocacy groups annoy me at times.

Just don't be that guy/girl to freeze reality until you hit level 80!

I think I've been pretty even keeled. The country ain't blowing up like a lot of people believe. I want the best for the country and will grant Obama six months or so before I get critical (with the possible exception of his cabinet - Rahm getting picked to be his right hand man is a bad sign). The thing about Obama that people who didn't vote for him need to understand is that he's a decent man. You might not agree with him but you can trust beyond doubt that he's pragmatic and a good man. I am willing to put some confidence in Obama and give him a shot, and in my opinion so should everyone else.

Americans don't and shouldn't care about world opinion when selecting their candidates - we are a sovereign nation. However, nobody should short change or denigrate the opinions of the world. We've lived through eight years where GWB was granted the good will of planet earth, particularly after 9/11, and shortly squandered it. Look, the world *wants* to have confidence in and follow the United States. On the other hand, they don't want to feel marginalized and shut out. We have plenty of admirable and not so admirable qualities, but in the end we are the lone superpower for the time being and we have to be proper stewards. I think all the world is asking of us is to be a decent, fair and just nation. The rhetorical flourishes in Europe regarding Barack Obama have been fascinating. They seem to see it as no less than a rebirth, a recreation, a correction of one of our original sins. I sat and stopped after he tipped 270, and all I wanted to do was listen to what he had to say. Really, for a second I felt like the world stopped... it was time to soak it in a bit and realize that once again in America we've flipped the script. It was a historic and momentous occasion - I only regret that I didn't have the foresight to run out and get a paper, like we did when 9/11 happened.

However, I've been entertained with some (presumably) good-natured ribbing on my MySpace page. I'm not sure if he's being a dick or not, honestly. One of my brother's former co-workers is in Lazlo Hollyfeld, and after the election he drunkenly posted some pictures on my page, which I have to admit entertained me. Not to be outdone though, I bombarded him with the following -







He posted the shittiest little Obama logo - I'd have kept it on my page if it wasn't so small. Afterwords he posted a picture of GWB kissing Cindy McCain at a podium, while John watched. Now, I could go the famous Al Gore/Tipper route on this one - that was the single most uncomfortable embrace by a politician and his wife in American history. He doesn't want to bring a knife to a gun fight - I've got some shocking GWB pictures that are the de facto coup de grace.

All partisanship aside, it is an absolutely amazing achievement. We're witnessing the popular election of the first African-American as the President of the United States and it is something I was hopeful we'd see in our lifetimes but was never sure about. This is America at its grandest.