Kat, Lori, or Kristen, do I want to come down on the 101 the whole way or switch to the 5?

The 101 will take longer, but it's nicer, and there are more places to stop. I'm also scared of the 5 route, since AAA just told me it would take almost 17 hours because of 10+ hours of delays if I went right now.

Back when I was a stripper

I love it when Scrappy starts a story like that...

Thanksgiving: stuffing, gravy and mashed potato day. Gravy on everything. Some bird. Then pie!

Christmas: walking Emmett down to the gigantic (more than 100 foot) tree in GG Park that's covered in lights then having hot chocolate and gingersnaps then wandering around under the tree singing "Jingle Bells / Batman smells..."; getting new bikes!; having oranges and nuts in the stocking; getting Emmett a Jolt Cola for xmas (one a year); Christmas lights; playing with all the new Playmobil sets; assembling the Playmobil Advent Calendar; Carrying the tree back from Cole Hardware; playing the Charlie Brown Christmas CD at bedtime; watching A Charlie Brown Christmas; Watching "O, Christmas Pete" and the first "Edith Ann Christmas Special," making special Beatnik Exploitation Christmas Mixes, or Merry Fucking Christmas mixes for my friends that hate Christmas music; Reading Santa Calls; listening to the tape of Dylan Thomas reading "A Child's Christmas in Wales," Breakfast Christmas morning with champagne; watching Marx Brothers movies all day (last year); calling family on Christmas day; dropping by Emmett's godparents on boxing day and hanging out and having yummy food, Christmas Crackers.

and David illustrates why I like thanksgiving better.

Not that I hate christmas. Or even dislike David's description. But I like the simple.

ETA: I think the mushroom pate is just done....mmm... it smells so goooood.

When I lived in California, the travel to Ariz wasn't so bad (although flying America West or Southwest is always a nightmare for me), and it was the perfect amount of time for a visit. Since I moved east five years ago, I've only gone home on a ticket I paid for once. Paying $400 to fly cross-country with everyone else two times in five days? No thank you.

But other than that, Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. Or it was, when my great-aunt Agnes cooked, before she turned like 80 and said no more. And every year we had crudites and shrimp and egg nog while we waited to eat. I miss that Thanksgiving.

mmmm.... egg nog. We have grandma's reciepe...

Egg nog is for christmas! Stop that!

So far, Thanksgiving means turkey and stuffing for me. But so does Marie Callendar. I'm working on refining my stance.

Egg Nog is for whenever the stores start stocking it.

For instance, I have had egg nog every night for the past week.

Egg nog, like Christmas music, is good from Thanksgiving to New Year's Day.

Egg nog, like Christmas music, is good from Thanksgiving to New Year's Day.

Don't get me started on the Christmas music hateration.

Also, egg nog should not be bought in stores.

Being a purist is very tiring, but I'm gonna do it anyway.

I'd strech that til about january 6th or whenever the tree comes down , whichever is later.