I'm pooped. Didn't do much really but I'm ready for a nap. Mom and I met up with Steve, Linda and Robin for lunch at Denny's (note: my uncle Steve was diagnosed with cancer about two months ago...). She had prepared me for the absolute worst, and I was scared of what to expect, since I hadn't seen him for three years to begin with. Happy to report he looked a lot better than I had expected. Good sense of humor about everything too which was great to see.

Did the obligatory run to Sam's Club after that, but didn't buy anything. Found a wheel of brie for $8.99. Hard to pass that up. Actually, it was PAINFUL to pass that up.

Going to dinner tomorrow with Christie and Momma -- thinking of going to Beppo's, which is always yummy and fun. Bring on the macaroni rosa, baby.

Happy Turkey Day! So nice to be home and spend some time just hanging out with family. Was a very mellow day with Mom just the two of us and then onward to Dad's with the larger clan.

I forget what's its like to be with family, the ease of it, the unconditional-ness of it. I find so many people in Seattle who don't have family there -- people like me who moved when they were young, on a whim, just to get a change of scenery. Which ends up bonding us all together, even if just in a common experience -- we become each other's family during the year and then go home during the holidays to the real thing. It's comforting to have my family around me. It's a very simple and basic feeling, really, but its not something I experience throughout the year. It can be infuriating too -- maybe its best to be had in small bunches. But I forget what's it's like to be in a place where you have a history -- where you've failed, loved, laughed...where people know you and accept you on such a complete level.

I'm clearly giddy on family tonight. Talk to me after I've been here for 10 solid days and you'll probably get a much different story.

Homeward bound! Just doing a little work this morning before the shuttle picks me up. Can't wait to get to get to the airport and have a little while to just sit and chill and watch people. I'm a freak about airports -- I mean, it's practically Rainman like. Clearly my soul mate will have to have a deep understanding about airports or else the relationship will be doomed.

Fred Willard is on "Good Day Live" right now. He's trying to talk about acting and sound serious, but he's still the announcer from Dog Show to me. This entry is a little on the rambling side, so I'll sign off now and head for the Mile High City. See y'all soon....

Book club tonight -- we did Ian McEwan's Atonement. Not his best work, I thought, but still a good read. Next up, if the rumors are true, is the latest one by Jonathan Lethem. Guess this means I'll have to cut back on my Chick Lit for a while and focus on serious books. Sigh.

It's going to be a little nutty this week what with the trade show coming right after Thanksgiving. I'm just looking forward to going home for a while and seeing everyone and getting away for a bit, right before I head into the hurricane of a show. I'm keeping my fingers crossed and for now just trying to think of having lunch at the Olive Garden with my mom to get my mind off of everything I have to do before Wednesday....

Just chilling out with some coffee. Wonder Cat seems confused as to why I'm up before 10 a.m. and working on the laptop. As anyone who knows me call tell you, I am not up and active (if you can call sitting in a chair typing active) at this time of day.

Really dull day ahead. Have to clean the house, do about sixty loads of laundry, think about what to pack for these upcoming trips and find something creative to do with a four-pound spaghetti squash I bought last week. What the hell was I thinking with that?

So this is cyberspace. I was tossing and turning last night thinking nonstop about the new blog. Dreaming about the blog. Wondering what the blog will look like a year from now. This must be what new parents go through.

Attempted to make almond brittle tonight. I had visions of me providing cute holiday-themed tins full of candy -- that I made myself!-- to my parents when I see them next week. TOTAL DISASTER. Apparently all you're supposed to do is melt some sugar, throw in some almonds and then spread the nutty goo in a pan. Easy enough, right? In the first batch the sugar never turned "golden" and instead looked grey. Second batch turned to a consistency resembling playground gravel. Clearly, despite my recent crafty kick this month, I am not made to enter the candy-making realm.

Wow, Beth enters the online blogging world!