HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!! colored eggs are for Easter

I celebrated my first Thanksgiving in 3 years on Sunday. I was invited to a T Day dinner hosted by a woman I didn't know, but invited by a new friend.

It was fabulous. We didn't eat Turkey - believe it or not, its damn near impossible to find a whole bird here. Instead we ate a stuffed chicken.

There was 1 Turk, 1 Brit, 2 Canadians & 3 Americans.

The company was awesome and we had a fantastic time! At the end of the evening when everyone was saying good bye, we stood in a circle holding hands and gave thanks (to the chagrin of some of the participants). But I thought it was wonderful. I miss holding hands in a circle and saying what we're grateful for!

And today, many people wished me a Happy Thanksgiving. I was shocked really!
It was so funny because my boss wished me a Happy Thanksgiving and said he had been looking for colored eggs for me. I said, "Ismail colored eggs are for Easter."

It was a thoughtful gesture.

And today, I know exactly where my family is and what they're doing. I know that Momma is at Aunt Trudi's and my wonderful cousins are surrounding her. I know that they are stuffing themselves silly on Aunt Trudi's fabulous food. And that Levi is being picky about what he's eating.

And today, I give thanks for a lot...
...for my wonderfully loving and supportive family, who support me in fulfilling my dreams, no matter where they lead,
...for a fiance that loves me more than the world,
...for a job that sees me as an asset,
...for a life that continues to be adventurous and relatively successful,
...for a multitude of friends, some who 'get me' and those that don't,
...for a full stomach and good health,
...for an affordable apartment full of nice furniture,
...for a big brain that sees me out of hardship,
...for a large layer of fat that keeps me warm in the winter,
...for God's grace, mercy and blessings to keep me going

...and I give thanks for you because you're reading this!

YOUR AGE BY EATING

Don't tell me your age; you probably would tell a falsehood anyway-but your waiter may know!

YOUR AGE BY DINER & RESTAURANT MATH
This is pretty neat.
DON'T CHEAT BY SCROLLING DOWN FIRST!
It takes less than a minute . Work this out as you read . Be sure you don't read the bottom until you've worked it out!
This is not one of those waste of time things, it's fun.

1. First of all, pick the number of times a week that you would like to go out to eat. (more than once but less than 10)

2. Multiply this number by 2 (just to be bold)

3. Add 5

4. Multiply it by 50

5. If you have already had your birthday this year add 1757 ....If you haven't, add 1756.

6. Now subtract the four digit year that you were born. You should have a three digit number

The first digit of this was your original number (I.e., how! Many times you want to go out to restaurants in a week.) The next two numbers are YOUR AGE! (Oh YES, it is!!!!!)

THIS IS THE ONLY YEAR (2007) IT WILL EVER WORK, SO SPREAD IT AROUND WHILE IT LASTS

Yeah, really, I'm here.

Yeah, really, I'm here.

No, I am not totally forlorn on world politics and international developments.

No, I am not in danger!

Yes, I am keeping up on stuff. Yes, I probably have a different perspective than you.

So yes, all in all, I think I'm aware. I'm interested in hearing your views.

Yes, I'm safe in Turkey.

Anyways.....

Last winter was dry, this summer was dry. This fall has been anything BUT dry. And its been good for us. Tonight leaving work I had to tip-toe-hop through puddles, but still got my feet wet through my leather shoes. Tonight's downpour was a full-blown thunder and lightning storm, a rare occurance in this part of the country. The weather is predicted to get cold soon and maybe snow. This time last year the temperature was much colder and harsher. I've been thankful for the rain and gray-stone skies.

Today I broke out my winter coat. Leaving work, my boss tried to get me to take my umbrella. I refused, saying I can do without it and what would he do? He said it was a "female umbrella" anyway. Looking at the umbrella, I could not see what made it specifically for women, it is red and black. He wanted me to take it, I still refused, asking him ,"What makes it a female umbrella? I do not see a penis or a vagina on the umbrella."

He was a little dumbfounded, I said the V word. A cross-cultural conversation stopper. That's really sad.

Which sparked a conversation with my colleague as we entered the elevator and proceeded to our next destination about talking about 'women issues' with women. I've told him before, he is such a 3rd Wave feminist I can think of no other way to describe him. And shockingly he said thank you. (I usually expect a feminist attack when I say such things.)

After work we had a beer. I admire his inter-cultural social prowess, his Turkish, his insightfulness, his outlook, his friendship. While having a beer with his roomate and his female friend, I was being eyed by a fellow behind him. Which I informed him about. But when a finished beer glass was taken from my hand and instantly replaced, I knew someone was buying me a drink. Girls know these things. I informed him of the situation and told him he was 'my boyfriend'. The remaining time he knew he was to watch my back, while I was left thinking "Shit girl! On a fat and ugly day you can still pull (a graying, middle padded Turk)!!!" Always a boost for the ego, ignoring the playing factors, while still a strike against the opposing team.

I got home and attended to my ailing darling. He is in pain, which is to be expected for his current condition, and made him a 3 course dinner. Yes, I'm a good wife. Shit, I typed wife. Well we haven't legally 'sealed the deal', but he's my darling, my love, my everything, even when I want to back out. We share the same pillow, complete each other's thoughts. As much as I think (which is a lot) I don't think it gets better than this one, I try to give myself an out, playing on a fantasy that doesn't exist, a figment of imagination.

There is no out. I love this man. And its not only 'love'. Its the it, its the LOVE. Ug, I type that and feel repulsed due to the fairy tale endings I used to believe were true. Happy-Ever-After endings are only written after strife, after acceptions, after all of the faults are accounted for, after the history is done, not before the deal is made. Listen to me, referring to a parternership as a "deal". Its so much like a poker hand, not like the 5% a year stable mutual fund, settling on what one can get for the investment.

God I'm sooooo American!!!

LOVE isn't a stable thing. Its not a sure deal. Caring about someone is always a risk. Who knows what a person will encounter? I look to the best relationships I've seen as an outside witness, and I think "DAMN!!! NO ONE WOULD HAVE SIGNED UP FOR THAT!" And yet, those people are still married or have been married utnil the death of a spouse. And have still loved their children, no matter what those children bring them.

Q: Why do I constantly seek approval for all that I do?

A: I strive to be perfect. As if that will save me from the human condition.

I love my to-be spouse, my future, the only one that I can see a viable future with. Yes, I think of other possible futures, because that's what I do as a Dreamer. But nothing is as promising as this future, and no way, its not a cheap way out.

I see that I've cornered myself into a defense, but I know that's not true. Perhaps I'm not expressing my full thought and I realize I don't want to. But its all I have for now.

I'd still like to hear about what you've been hearing about this part of the world: interpretations, news links, whatever.

Wow, its been ages!!!

Its been sooo long since I've posted! Generally speaking, not much is up. We had a little bit of 'excitement' today though. I was at a conference for work today, nothing as fun as the last one. My department just had an informational table at a Grad School Fair. No we aren't a grad school, but we mop up the attendees who aren't qualified for MBA's or grad school. Once they find out the requirements and expense of grad school, we're a good option.

Afterwards I came home to find A still at home. Which was odd since he was supposed to work today, he doesn't finish until the wee hours of morn. He had an accident at home after I left for work, at first I didn't understand the severity... This morning when he went to take a shower, the water was out (a somewhat regular daily occurance). So he heated water in the kettle and took it to the shower. Before the water had a chance to cool down, the kettle fell and scalded the top of his feet and ankles, yes, boiling hot water. He has huge blisters from the burns. He did go to the pharmacy and get burn stuff for it. Poor thing!

Other than that, I now have a tutor for Turkish. Instead of paying 30-60 lira per hour, this one is free. In exchange I give her English lessons.

And what else? Oh yeah...I'm becoming increasingly dissatisfied with my job. Feeling more and more like I need a change and I'm not moving forward in my life. I've just got to stay patient and keep bettering myself, improving and making a big effort to learn conversational Turkish will be a good hobby for me. In the meantime, I'm keeping a lookout for a different job and looking forward to coming home for Xmas.

Really, that's about it!