Turkey Day

Part Drumstick (aka Part One):

8:45 am, Columbia Park Trail, 15 degrees F and snowing

I am freezing. I can't feel my toes or my fingers and my mind is in a state of battle with itself. One side saying that I can do this and that I can beat that lady standing next to me holding the hand of a four year old child; the other side saying what kind of crazy person gets up on Thanksgiving and decides to run a 5k in snow that is six inches deep and still falling.

In my state of dueling the whistle blows and the gaggle of people take off WALKING? Due to all the snow they had to put the mile walk and the 5k on the same course. So imagine funneling 3,000+ people onto an icy trail that is about 5 feet wide, kinda like trying to eat Thanksgiving dinner while wearing a pair of jeggings, not a pretty picture. In addition to all the chaos there are dogs and strollers to dodge while trying to keep your footing. Now normally I wouldn't make such a big deal out of this but I have been "training" with the help of family and my neighbor (thanks Meg) and I was challenged to beat 36 minutes (thanks again Meg) so I was actually trying to run and putting in what I would consider an effort (we are talking about me after all). I finally spot a pair of ladies keeping a good pace and cutting an effective path through all the drumsticks so I take up a spot behind them.

One mile goes by (14 minutes, way off pace) and then another (26 minutes, I am really going to have to push it) and my mind starts battling again. Side A: "It is too cold and there is no way you are going to make a ten minute mile in the snow. Just walk. There are no witnesses. Nobody will know that you quit. You can't breath. Just take it easy." Side B: "You can't quit now. You can beat those kids. Pick them off one by one like you are pickin' your teeth. Take a deep breath and go." I pick up the pace. I pass the ladies that had cut such a nice path and find another lady to follow. (For those that have never run with me I need a goal. I have to find someone to beat, usually someone walking, just to have a goal. Weirdly competitive, I know, but still have to do it.) The lady in front of me keeps looking behind her, checking to see if I am catching up. I mentally make a note to pass her. Three-quarters of a mile to go and I continue to pick up the pace. Half a mile. I am side by side with my new nemesis. Quarter mile mark, I slowly start moving ahead and then I open it up to as fast as my legs will carry me (which I would like to add is not that fast). I start slipping on the ice so I jump of the trail into the gravel and keep trudging ahead. I see the finish line and someone dressed as a turkey rooting everyone on. The snow is hitting me in the face, I am wet from head to toe but I keep going. 100 feet, 50 feet, 10 feet, DONE! Now the best thing would be is if I told you I beat my challenge and ran my race in under 36 minutes but sadly it is not the case. I crossed the finish line at about 36 minutes 26 seconds. Just shy of beating my time goal. But AHHHH, victory is still sweet. I ran my race and didn't quit even though I really wanted to and for that I am very proud.

Part Breast-The best part of the turkey and therefore Thanksgiving, the dinner (aka Part Two):

5:00 pm, Christine's House, Tired and VERY hungry

First I have to say thank you to Christine and her family for opening up their home and letting Joe, Conner, and I take part in their Thanksgiving dinner. They put on an incredible feast and the company was even better. So thanks again.

We arrive at the house and are greeted with a sweet aroma of turkey being roasted. YUM! In addition to the fabulous smells wafting from the kitchen, Christine and her family have already laid an immense spread of dips and snacks that were so tasty I am drooling just writing about them. We converge in the kitchen, swap stories and cook, while the men watch football. I will have to post pictures later because the turkey looked as good as it tasted as did all the other food. I made my first lemon meringue pie and Christine's pumpkin pie turned out great and we were both so proud.

This may be the best part of the day but it certainly does not last long. Within minutes we are all stuffed (none of us wore jeggings) and ready to play a game. Conner played with Christine's daughter Mia while all the adults played a not so fast game of Smart Ass (the turkey caused our brains to function a little slowly). Finally, it was time to go and we packed our leftovers and loaded the car and went home. Part two may be boring to read but the actual experience was definitely awesome.

Part Giblets because you feel like a chopped liver by the end (aka Part Three):

Black Friday, 3:20 am, Walmart, Feeling like a few of my own giblets are missing

Okay, I know that Black Friday is not actually Thanksgiving day, duh, it's the day after. I get all that however, to try and actually separate the two is like trying to take the fat out of gravy. It just can't be done. So what this all means is that the morning after Thanksgiving is part three of story so just read on.

I could not fall asleep. The adds were calling my name. I had stayed up until one in the morning making my plan of attack. I had to change my strategy this year because I was on my own for the first time. Finally, my alarm rang at 2:45 and I was out the door by 3:05. I drove as calmly as I could to Walmart fearing what might be instore (get it....in store) for me there. I was pleasantly surprised to find that when I walked in there were no lines at the checkout and no policemen beating back crazed shoppers as they try to tear past each other to get the best deal. I acquired my targets and checked out and was on my way to the next store by 3:40.

3:45 am Target parking lot, well more like in line 1/4 mile away from the Target doors

Finally, the doors were open and the shoppers flood into the store and I can finally feel my fingers again. I turn to go down an aisle but I am blocked by a Target store employee. I try the next aisle and again blocked. Darn those red shirts. They are funneling all the people to the back of the store like cows being led to slaughter. I am confused and angry because I can't get to the areas that I need to, according to the map that they had given us while waiting in line. I finally reach my destinations and gather my few items and head to the checkout line. An hour and a half later I am finally able to leave the chaos that is Target.

I have come to the conclusion that unless there is an absolute necessity to go to Target on Black Friday at 4 am it is just best to avoid the store. It is a time and energy death trap. So what that they sell new DVDs for $3. Next year I am going back to Walmart. Maybe I have finally learned my lesson that if you go to Target you end up with a target on your back or rather your bag.

Anyway, my day continued to get better as I hit up another five stores. The lines got shorter and I got to stock up on my socks for another year (thanks Fred Meyer). I finally made it home at 10 and tried to take a nap which was usless since Conner was wired and wanting to play. We ended the day as a family going to the movies to see Tangled. It was a cute movie and hopefully we can make this a new family tradition. Mom shops then comes home then we all go to a movie.

This time of year always makes me feel so happy. And I know this is late but to all my family and friends I love you and am so thankful to know you and thankful that you are a part of my life. And so now ends the story of my thanksgiving. Thank you all for reading and now bring on the Christmas music (and Joe you can't get mad it is after Thanksgiving after all, hehehehe).