Why I Don't Like Thanksgiving

So, it looks like it's the holidays again. Or almost, anyway. Thanksgiving marks the beginning of the holiday season - a whole month of festivity (supposedly). This also means that I get to spend the next month or so being a Scrooge. Or, not so much a Scrooge as.... well, I guess that's the best way to describe it, really. I am not the true Scrooge - I love Christmas. I like buying gifts (Seriously, I do. I love buying things for people... it makes me happy.), and I like decorating the Christmas tree, and I like hearing the soft piano music. I like everyone being joyous and happy. I love the crisp scent of snow falling and woodsmoke mixed with pine needles and fresh baked sugar cookies. It's how the world has ruined it that annoys me. I really just cannot bear it. Thanksgiving is what is starts with though, and that's what I am going to blog about today.

The first Thanksgiving was actually in 1619, and it was celebrated by English settlers on the day that they landed in Virginia. They observed a day of thanksgiving to God that was supposed to happen annually. A couple years later, many of the original people were slaughtered by the natives and they moved to Jamestowne, supposedly giving up the idea. The Thanksgiving that we all seem to see as history is that of the 1621 Thanksgiving with the pilgrims at Plymouth. Basically it was like the average keg party, except instead of having a huge amount of alcohol, they had a huge feast, and instead of getting hammered, they fellowshipped and praised God. Which actually when you think about it, there's nothing in common between the two except that they both have huge amounts of people gathered in one spot and they all end up digesting something in the end, but I'm the one talking here, so if I want to compare the two, I shall. (*Big "I'm Innocent" smile*).

ANYWAY, they held a feast at the end of harvest, and continued to do so at the end of each harvest, though no day was observed. It was something that you did at the end of every harvest, just like now, when you give a whole bunch of pumpkins lobotomies at the end of harvest, also known as "carving jack-o-lanterns." This, of course, is yet another very odd comparison in which both parties really have nothing in common. And I really have no idea why I said it, since I hate using the word "lobotomy." Ever since I saw that documentary on TV about lobotomies and how they were done and who they were done to and all that on, I have forbidden anyone to talk about them, cos it creeps me out to no end. (Seriously, you don't want to know. Think "ice pick" + "eye socket" + "Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder.) Why am I even talking about this?! MOOving on! Thanksgiving never became an actual holiday until President Lincoln made it so in 1863, but he made it to be on the Thursday during the last week of November, whereas FDR changed it to be the second-to-last Thursday of the month in 1939, when that particular November had 5 Thursdays in it.

Such is the brief history of Thanksgiving. It was originally a religious holiday, but few celebrate it as such anymore. It's simply a national holiday (which is kind of sad, if you ask me). The thing that gets me though is that it is no longer about family and spending time together, which is what I think it SHOULD be about. Not that that's any fun, mind you. Everyone gets together under one roof with a whole bunch of people they can't stand (aka, "relatives") and has a huge meal together, which takes hours to cook, 40 minutes to eat, and an hour and a half of dish washing afterward. Mind you, this is only the ladies who cook and clean-up - the guys watch football in the living room and the kids run along and play (which is fun if you get to run around grandma's house and play games, laughing and screaming, but then Mom and Auntie ship you outside to play, and then it suddenly becomes boring, and all 15 cousins end up sitting out on the porch, watching the leaves fall as they freeze their butts off). And of course, there are ALWAYS leftovers... so much turkey that you swear that if you ever see another one, you will run it over with your car, set it on fire, and then dance its ashes. You never do this, of course, because turkeys are evil, and if you ever encounter a live one, you will understand what I mean by that. It's one big mean pecking machine. And not only does it fly, it has long legs so that it can run fast enough to keep up with you. Like a miniature ostrich.

The reason I don't like Thanksgiving is because it is so commercialized. Seriously, it is just as bad as Christmas (which we shall get to in a different episode of "Anna's Awful Holidays Revealed!"). It's gone from a quiet peaceful dinner to being some weird "turkey day." You know there is something seriously wrong going on when you receive "Happy Turkey Day!" cards in the mail, and people flood your inbox with e-cards that have turkeys dressed up as Tina Turner singing "I Will Survive." (Seriously. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hd4h5xKLGuE ). When will it ever end? Every single bit of happiness and traditionalism has been swallowed up by card companies and the media, turning all holidays into one big money bazaar. Why celebrate when you can be making a profit, right?

Another reason why I don't like Thanksgiving is because, as I said before, all of the leftovers. You know, I used to actually like turkey? I really did. It was my favorite meat. But not anymore... I can't stand it. Seriously, just the thought of it makes me gag.

Did you know that Benjamin Franklin wanted our national bird to be the turkey? It ended up being the bald eagle, of course, but I wish it was the turkey. Why, do you ask? Because if it were, it would be illegal to kill a turkey, and then we would have to use something else for Thanksgiving... something that wouldn't last two weeks in the refrigerator, cos there were so many leftovers. This Thanksgiving I will be staying home, eating meatloaf, and enjoying my time spent with my parents and two sisters. As Andy Samberg said - "I'm not part of this system!" (I adore Saturday Night Live... I really do.)

Happy Thanksgiving from me to you: http://www.sandiegocondoloft.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/11/san-diego-thanksgiving.jpg

- Anna

Vacation

Hello my dears. This is a brief apology. I will not be blogging tonight, my mind needs a rest. I've had an interesting weekend, and because I have, I've put a lot of work I needed to do off to the very last minute (aka, right now). I don't have a lot of time to think of something to blog about and go and write something, nor do I have time to write it directly on the spot like I have been known to do so often (most times, actually). So, due to the fact that I am crammed, I will be taking a short blogging vacation. I might take next week off too, but I'm not sure. I will be back soon though, fret not, my darlings!

I'm sorry. =(

Till next time!

Annagram

25 Films You Need To Watch When You Are Sick

Earlier today, I was asked by a friend what movie she should rent (She's just had surgery and is stuck in the house for the next week with nothing to do, and needs something to up her spirit). My mind, of course, went blank. There are so many movies to watch... SO many... and yet I couldn't think of a single thing. She, of course, thought that this was funny, because apparently, I am a film guru. *Dry laugh* Maybe five years ago. Now I am near-illiterate when it comes to the latest films (ask anyone)! Still... I should have known a few good films to watch when one is sick. It bugged me, not being able to think of anything, so I decided to make a list. And you know what? The moment I put the pen to the paper, the films kept coming and coming. I figured I'd share it with you guys, knowing that we're all sick at one point or another, and there's nothing better to do when you're sick than to curl up in bed and watch a movie. *Pause* Well, okay, sleeping is better, and taking cold medicine, and eating a whole bunch of junk that when called "comfort food" seems to make it okay to eat until you're ready to puke. But still... watching TV is up there....... somewhere.

ANYWAY, here is my list, in no particular order (and I shall go VERY easy on the details this time, I promise!):

1) Finding Nemo. I don't care if it's a kid's movie. It's freaking adorable. I LOVE this movie.. seriously. I could watch it over and over again and never grow tired of it. (And I really don't like kid's movies... so that's saying something.)

2) My Man Godfrey.

3) Elizabethtown. (Orlando Bloom... need I say more? ♥)

4) The Rock.

5) Chasing Liberty. (Matthew Goode... another hottie.)

6) Some Like It Hot.

7) The Devil Wears Prada.

8) Get Smart.

9) Gone in 60 Seconds.

10) Ocean's 11. (George Clooney.... Gotta love him.)

11) Mean Girls.

12) The Italian Job. This is the new one with Mark Wahlberg, not the older one with Michael Caine. (Mmm.... Mark Wahlberg!)

13) Galaxy Quest. Alan Rickman is in this one. He is my LOVE! Not cos he's sexy, cos he so isn't, but.... *Sigh* I love him anyway. He's completely awesome. In fact, I'd rather watch an Alan Rickman film than a Johnny Depp movie. Isn't that sad? Or... "interesting," anyway.

14) Mr. and Mrs. Smith. So, I'm beginning to think that maybe it's not the film that makes me feel better, it's the eye candy?

15) Two Weeks Notice.

16) Spy Game.

17) Air America.

18) True Lies.

19) Six Days and Seven Nights.

20) The American President.

21) Master and Commander. Okay, so, not really a film you'd watch when you're sick. But I love Russell Crowe.... especially when he's blonde with his hair puller back in a ponytail. I mean, what's not to love? Anyone can look at him and instantly feel better. "Anyone" meaning females or gay guys. Not sure the heterosexual gentleman would care. But then again, they have Catherine Zeta-Jones. Or so they say. Go watch Zorro (some freak in a black cape!) - we'll watch REAL movies.

22) Miss Congeniality.

23) Sweet Home Alabama. Patrick Dempsey AND Josh Lucas.

24) Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. No hotties in this one, sadly. Unless you count Sam Rockwell with long greasy hair, posing as the president of the universe as "sexy," and then... you know, I'm not really sure this blog is the place for you to be. Anyway, despite that, I must give you a warning. This movie is VERY stupid. So stupid, you can't watch it the first time without shutting it off. It's completely ridiculous. The thing is, it grows on you. After seeing it a few times, you begin to obsess with it, and pretty soon, before you know it, you are quoting the whole film. Oh, aaaaand it has Alan Rickman's voice in it, which makes it okay.

25) A Series of Unfortunate Events. Okay, so, I loved this movie. And then I read the books. And then I hated the movie. Why? Cos they're freaking MESSED IT UP. (I HATE it when Hollywood takes a perfectly good book and turns it into some stupid thing that is completely different than the main idea.) But then I watched it again, and I decided that I still loved it, cos Jim Carrey's in it. He makes such an awesome Count Olaf. He really does. I quote him all the time. Or, the whole movie, really. It's great (when you look past the fact that it was based on probably the best ever kid's books ever.).

Well, that's my list! What do YOU like to watch when you're sick (other than the back of your eyelids)? Leave a comment! =)