I am NOT silly enough to be out in the mad crush of shoppers. I don’t find anything about the idea appealing. If I had my way, I wouldn’t go out at ALL today, but I have library books to return. I can’t imagine why anyone would want to go out and stand in line after line, with harried clerks trying to move shoppers through, with little or no staff on the floor to help answer questions, and not enough asphalt in the world to hold all the cars that need to park.
Do you get the idea that I’m not much of a shopper? You’d be right. My concession to the day will be to drag out some of the MILLION catalogs that have flooded in over the last two months, and browse for ideas for gifts.
I plan to have a relaxed day. I’ll ask DH to build us a nice little fire, and I’ll wrap up in a quilt, and have a mug of tea within reach. I’ll play CDs and blog and read and generally do nothing! There is NO sale so important that I would participate in that madhouse.
Now, if you were going to go out, rethink your position. It’s not worth your life to be out there! I bid you a sane day.

Dear Husband and I had our annual date last Sunday. In the midst of all the preparations for Thanksgiving, he took me off to see the newest Harry Potter movie. The break in the preparations was a relief, the one-on-one time with DH a joy, and the movie was well worth going to see.
I’ve read the Harry Potter series, so it came as no surprise that each movie would be a little darker than the one before it. The kids are maturing, and the story line is focusing on Valdemort’s attempts to kill off Harry Potter. The good witches are realizing their world is in peril; we won’t see them begin to fight back until the next movie.
I won’t do a recap of the story here. You can get that information at hundreds of sites, with more detail than I have time to share. Let me just say that I enjoyed it, despite the two-and-a-half hour length, and recommend it to all.
I think I heard that the first weekend ticket sales for this movie were $104,000,000! I’m betting that most of the people who saw the movie, enjoyed it, except for my niece, who was ticked that they couldn’t cram the entire book into 150 minutes! *G* Go see it.

I’ve been so busy the last couple of weeks that I haven’t had much time to blog. I’m sure that from the entries I did get to post that you think I was just cleaning and cleaning and cleaning, but I actually had the chance to get out and enjoy myself a bit.
Sunday, the thirteenth, a group of ladies from my exercises class and I went into Chicago to see “Wicked,” the story of Oz at the time of Dorothy, from the Wicked Witch’s point of view. The book was fascinating; the musical is wonderful!
The musical departs from the book on which it is based in a number of ways, but the story is similar. You see Elphaba entering the University of Shiz and meeting Galinda. It’s difficult to show that Elphaba is labeled “wicked” by others, because she is green, because she has contrary ideas, and simply because she is different, but the musical pulls it off.
There are several incredible songs. Pop-u-u-lar, and Flying High (Defying Gravity) keep running through my head, but I suspect that the final duet the women sing will become my favorite. “For Good” is the title. Glinda sings:
“I’ve heard it said that people come into our lives for a reason
Bringing something we must learn
And we are led to those who help us most to grow
if we let them and we help them in return
Well, I don’t know if I believe that’s true
But I know I’m who I am today because I knew you…
The last two lines of the song, sung by both Elphaba and Glinda are:
Because I knew you….
I’ve been changed for good.”
Although the lyrics imply that there is some question as to whether the changes are good, the audience has no doubt that each woman has benefited from knowing the other.
Music and lyrics for “Wicked” are by Stephen Schwartz. He has a deft hand with both. Glinda, in “Popular” tells Elphaba that she needs a little “personality dialysis.” I hope this musical gets credit for the weighty issues it tackles, and has a long run. This may be the story of Oz, but there are lessons here for all humanity.

…sitting back…..wiggling my toes….enjoying the first cup of tea in the day…..
Thanksgiving is over. We had a LOVELY day. About half of my family was present and it seems that everyone had a good time. There was the usual embarrassment of riches, the true “groaning table” that the PR firms show as the ideal Thanksgiving meal. Thanks to waves of help on dish duty there’s not an overwhelming amount of clean-up left to do. I have two loads of linens to run through the wash, and the last of the glasses and silverware, and a turkey roasting pan to wash. The floors need a good sweeping, and maybe a little wiping here and there, and we’re back to normal.
Collectively and individually we have a lot to be thankful for. I’m sure that message gets lost now and then in the living of life, but it was very obvious seeing the family gathered together. We have lovely, well-mannered children who are healthy. We have loving spouses, and we share concern for each other’s families. My brother-in-law is walking (unaided, no less) after his serious accident in July. My niece, who still hurts from her accident last week, is on the mend. My mother, who will be 89 in just a few days, was there to celebrate with us. We are blessed, so blessed, and I wish the same for all of you.