Even though my very first course in undergrad involved a lesson on why Christopher Columbus was evil and Thanksgiving is actually a commemoration of blood-thirsty colonialism (in exchange for scholarship money, I took on a lot of “white guilt” debt), I still look forward to spending time with family & friends and eating good food every year.

the usual turkey, green bean casserole, brussels & cranberry sauce plus a kale salad and pumpkin lasagna

This flour less chocolate torte was all my wildest PMS dreams come true

I heart port (and if you think my thumb is crooked, you should see my middle finger)

I come from a family of food-loving winos, so there was plenty of edible enjoyment to be had yesterday. My sister and I also got a little silly with some of the decorations on the table. For the record, she’s the one who grabbed that old photo of us from the dining room shelf.

“Wait! I forgot the crystals!”

Problem solved. There are always lots of crystals lying around my parents’ house.

This year, I also had my first Black Friday experience with my mom, sister, and aunts. After almost a year working in the hospital, getting up at 6 a.m. is nothing, especially when there’s a trip to Kohl’s involved.

Cheesy photo-op

We also hit some other stores and made out like bandits, crossing almost everyone off our Christmas lists. I have to admit, I also scored a few birthday presents for myself. Another bonus was running into several old friends I hadn’t seen in way too long—so much better than running into ex-boyfriends at a townie bar. I should admit, though, one of my girlfriends and I totally wound up in the towniest bar of them all when the diner was closed last night. It was great to catch up, though—the setting was kind of hilarious, since we were some of the only customers there…and drinking decaf coffee.

Anyway, this has been one of the nicest Thanksgivings I’ve experienced ever, and I am so grateful to have had a few days off to enjoy it. I’m sort of in denial about going back to work on Monday, but I’m sure by then I’ll be ready, especially since I have Friday off next week.

How was your Thanksgiving? Do you do Black Friday?