Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Where did November go?

It's hard to believe that it's the last month of the year again. Once again, time went by quickly. When I think about what I did last month, I draw blank. But I'm sure I did some very important things. And when I think about it some more, really concentrate, I start to remember what those things were.

It's no surprise that I went out and voted on Nov 2nd elections. They may not be as popular as the Presidential elections every four years, but they are important. And I want to be sure to cast my vote for the candidate I believe will do the best job of representing my interests and shaping the policies and laws that affect our lives and our future. Not all the candidates I voted for won, but some did, and I feel good knowing that I made a difference in some of these tight races. I like being able to vote. In some countries, they don't have this right; some people have to brave bullets and bombings and death threats to cast their votes in hope of a better life. The way I figure, if you don't vote or take part in the workings of your government, then you shouldn't complain when the government doesn't work they way you want it to work. Government only works when people participate.

Work has been getting hectic. Not only has the workload increased, but we've lost key members of our staff, including some supervisors! Not that I blame them. The work is hard. I find myself taking on more and more responsibilities, doing management level work without the compensation and in addition to my own workload. And when middle management tried to change my classification into an official supervisory role (without any increase in pay or compensation), I declined! Much to their dismay and shock!

I'm not taking up any more stress and demands on my time without the proper compensation and official change in responsibilities. I can't do two different, demanding jobs at the same time! I've no doubt some higher up thought it would be a good way to save money, but there is no way in hell am I putting myself on the line for that kind of stress and hazardous working conditions! And did I mention that the workers have organized themselves and have made remarkable gains in membership and power in their dealings with the big corporation? It's a stressful time at work, but I confess that I'm also excited to see the staff starting to band together to create solutions to serious problems that have long plagued the workforce and driven away other good staff to the competition.

Some people like working overtime, for the money, I suppose. But I don't. I'd rather have my free time, my weekends off to do the things that make me happy, the things that make life worth living. And no amount of money can ever replace the time I use to enjoy life. You can't ever have enough time...once it's gone, you can't replace it. Life is short. Live it as best you can; do the things that make you happy. Spend time with the people you love and the ones who make you laugh.

And it wouldn't be November without Thanksgiving, the holiday celebrated on the last Thursday and Friday of November. It's basically a holiday to gather with loved ones and give thanks for all the good things that've happened in the year and to remember to be grateful for all the things you have and for the loved ones still in your life. It is supposed to remember how those early English Pilgrims, fleeing religious persecution in England and seeking a new land to call home, were able to survive that first harsh year in the New World, thanks to the American Indians. Those Native Americans took pity on those starving strangers, who had lost almost half of their original number since their arrival. The American Indians taught the Pilgrims how to farm and fish and hunt, how to live and survive in the New World. And with their first bountiful harvest, they held a 3 day feast to celebrate their survival and friendship. Or so goes the school children version.

If those American Indians had foreseen that in a few years, those immigrant Europeans would start taking their lands and killing their people and extinguishing their culture, I doubt they would've been so helpful and kind to the invading hordes. But no good deed goes unpunished. And now we're left with the remnants of a once great people whose lands were taken by deceit and blood and forcibly relocated to the wastelands, far away from their homes. Now, they struggle to survive and they are not finding the kindness they once showed these starving strangers returned to them. History is myth created from facts chosen by the victors. I say, give the Indians back their lands! So they can build more casinos! I'm tired of taking the bus for hours to get to Louisiana to gamble! I'd rather spend more time gambling locally instead of taking the bus out of state! Support local businesses!

Seriously, though, they didn't have turkey that first Thanksgiving. Just like Christmas, the whole Thanksgiving traditions were born after years of different people adding different ideas to create the Thanksgiving we know and celebrate today. Sure, it's much different from the first one. After all, it took those Pilgrims and Indians 3 days to chomp down on that feast. These days, we can chow it all down in one evening and go shopping the next day! I did get a turkey for Thanksgiving--for free, actually. And as soon as I got it defrosted, I roasted it and called some friends over that Sunday, and served it up with some fried chicken, sweet cornbread, potato salad, corn, gravy, mac & cheese, and with peach cobbler as dessert.

For Thanksgiving that Thursday, I went to 3 different dinners, bringing wine wherever I went. I had a crate of white wine in my trunk! The first Thanksgiving meal was celebrated before noon with a deep fried turkey! It was perfect as the weather was a little cooler but still good enough for outdoors cooking! That turkey was moist, delicious, and spicy! Around 4 pm, I went to another Thanksgiving gathering, where we were served Turducken--turkey stuffed with duck stuffed with chicken! It was delicious! And after playing some games with some friends, we went to the last Thanksgiving dinner of the day, held later that evening with a traditional roasted turkey, complete with sweet potatoes, cranberry sauce, candied yams, and pumpkin pie. It was a wonderful feast! Heck, all three celebrations were tasty and fantastic.

There's a trick to eating this much food in one day, one that I've mastered over the years. You have to stick to the meat! Avoid fillers like vegetables and bread! Stick to the meat and you'll be able to eat as much as you want! And sample the dessert and decide if you want it. You can wrap it up and take it home to eat later!

After taking a nap to rest from the day of stuffing myself, I was dragged to the stores before midnight. Not because the stores were open, but because my friend wanted to be among the first to enter the stores when they opened at 5 am! We were fourth and fifth in line! It's a commercial tradition that's unfortunately become a part of the Thanksgiving tradition. It's called Black Friday, when stores slash their prices for a few hours to encourage customers to come shop for the holidays. It was freakin cold! We took turns making coffee runs and restroom breaks as we huddled against the wall. Luckily, this year, it was more organized, because the workers handed out tickets that allowed us to buy certain desirable merchandise on special sale. And the tickets were handed out according to line order. Was it worth freezing my ass off for hours, waiting to enter a store that I had no intention of purchasing an item from? Well, yeah, if only to see the look of joy on my friend's face.

She wanted several expensive electronic items--a large screen tv and a new laptop--that were on special sale just for a few hours, and they could only be purchased with a special ticket. So I used my ticket to get her that large screen tv on sale--she paid me after, of course. And as cold as it was huddling outside along wall, sitting on hard concrete, sipping hot coffee and dreading having to make another restroom break because all that coffee made me just want to pee, I had a good time.

We laughed; we talked; we shared a camaraderie with the others in line; everyone seemed excited and happy. I have to say it's the first Black Friday that I've been to in over ten years, where I actually enjoyed myself. I didn't experience any of the hustle and rudeness and mayhem usually associated with these sales. That was a nice change. And even when we hit the other stores that opened later, we were still able to find some good deals on great merchandise.

Would I do it again? Probably not on my own, because really, I didn't think I needed anything that was on sale. Still, if a friend wants me to go with them, I probably would go along, if only for the company and help them get what they want. Sure, it's time for giving, but it is the season where we do hope we get what we want.

And what do I want? The same thing every beauty pageant winner wants: World Peace! (and Harmony!). Here's to hoping we make the most of this holiday season, and may we find it full of good cheer, good company, and good friends.

12 comments:

  1. i;ve missed you, sugar! glad you're well and t-day was fun for you! xoxoxo

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  2. Holy moly! You've returned! I thought you'd dropped off the face of the earth, Eros! Glad you have a great Thanksgiving and that Black Friday was a good experience. I went once when I lived in McAllen and was shocked at the fights breaking out over sale items! Never did it again.

    Hope you don't take another month or so off... ;-)

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  3. Thanks for the update!

    I had to go out and buy shoes on Black Friday as my old ones gave out on my trip. So I am trying to not count it as a Black Friday purchase. Does that sound reasonable to you?

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  4. I don't know Sweetie, where November went... I'm in the throes of being propelled through December...
    Apologies, this is a flying visit just to say HELLO and KISS, KISS, KISS...
    *exits at 100mph on roller skates - a sight to behold*
    SXXXXXX

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  5. I was starting to wonder if you had emigrated to somewhere without net connection. You have been a very busy boy.
    It is very frustrating when the higherups think that they will reward you with a title but without the remuneration to accompany. It is all very well do do the extra miles out of the goodness of your heart for a short time but when it becomes an expectation without fiscal recognition it only leads to discontent. I applaud you for standing your ground. And your time is important. We do only get one go on this ride. Why waste your ticket sovling everyone elses problems? Our own happiness is important too.
    Happy Festive Season. Sounds like November was a good opening act.
    Bring on the headliner I say.

    WV: prigho, is it trying to tell me something?

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  6. Savannah, I've missed y'all, too! And you know the Holiday Season begins with Thanksgiving and all them good eats shared with loved ones and good company!

    Ponita, It is crazy how people get stupid over Black Friday sales! Luckily, it's not so bad in my small city compared to other places where I've been. I remember in Houston one time, when it seemed like the running of the bulls when a store opened their doors and customers just crushed each other to get inside! Crazy! I'm thankful that I had a good Black Friday experience this year, because I haven't been to Black Friday sale in years!

    XL, So long as you got a good deal on a great piece of merchandise, that's all that matters...I, too, found some nice new shoes on Black Friday! And I wasn't even looking to buy any shoes! But they look and feel great. Hope the new shoes fit well!

    Scarlet, Thanks for the fly by kisses! Here's to hoping for just a bit more time to sit down and laugh with friends before the year is out! Cheers!

    Princess, Thanks! I seem to be getting less patient (or is it less tolerant of jackasses) as I get older. Before, I'd take everything in stride, do my work, and keep my head down. Now, I'm not afraid to speak up when things don't seem right, and I'm a lot happier!

    This weekend, I plan on breaking out the Holiday decorations!

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  7. I'm with you on sticking to reasonable work hours. It's great too that on your time off you had all of those wonderful meals with friends. As for your Black Friday experience, I would have collapsed long before dawn, but glad you succeeded and great of you to help your friend out.

    Welcome back!

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  8. Black Friday hasn't really caught on up here in Cananda...yet.

    One store tried it out but apparently they had loads of hidden stipulations about what you could buy and at what discount which soured the experience for many.

    I'm glad you're back!

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  9. Good to see you again, Eros!

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  10. Snooze, I've learned the importance of finding time to enjoy life. I'm not a Black Friday shopper like some people. I like a good deal, but I know that just because something is on sale, doesn't necessarily mean I should buy it, esp if I don't need it.

    MJ, I find that most Black Friday sales nowadays involve the stores starting to limit the sale items to just a few items. Not really worth hassle, esp. when the same items will be on sale again on the After Xmas day sale and the After New Year's day sale. Consumers are catching on, which is why online sales have been booming the past few years. Sometimes, it's nice to buy an item from the comfort of your home, without having to stand in the cold for hours and then wrestling with strangers over limited quantity merchandise.

    Mago, Thanks. I've got quite some catching up to do, and I'm looking forward to seeing what everyone else has been up to.

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  11. The sales start after Christmas here and last until mid January or so.

    We don't have an organised Black Friday event, but for instance in our town we have a few nighs a year where the shops are open until midnight and the sales are better than usual. I never go because it gets so crowded and people bringing their babies there and they scream and cry and it's all very chaotic.

    It's like when the yellow price tags are put up, the brain dissolves on most people.

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  12. CP, This time of year, I only buy the Sunday paper to read the comics and find out what sales on going on for the week--it's surprising how some stores all put the same items on sale, only some sell them at lower prices compared to others...makes it easy to decide where to shop first.

    It does suck when the stores are crowded with rude, stupid people. It's probably why I prefer to shop early in the morning or late at night or when others are at work--keeps me away from the crowds and I can browse at my leisure without feeling rushed or claustrophobic.

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