Thanks(mis)giving

Thursday, 22 November 2012

Today my wife and I drove separately to her parents’ house for Thanksgiving. Isla is still sick, so we figured one of us (me) would leave with her shortly after dinner.

Jennifer called the nurse hotline today, and told her Isla had a slight fever. The nurse didn’t think Isla was contagious anymore.

Isla was terribly lethargic all day, and fell asleep in the car on the way to Thanksgiving. She played for a little while, coloring with the other kids, and she ate a carrot and then a pickle. She was lying on the couch looking real tired as I was finishing up my seconds, so I scooted her toward me and said, “Should we go home as soon as I finish eating?” She said yes, and then puked all over me.

Jennifer gave her a bath, and I wiped up my in-laws’ couch while repeatedly apologizing for the vomit stench. Less than 10 minutes later, I was driving home with Isla in the back seat. She fell asleep right away, and barely stirred when I brought her into the house. She slept on the couch for a couple more hours while I did some house work.

All in all, a pretty downer Thanksgiving.

Friday, 23 November 2012

Last year, I took it as a point of pride that I did not buy anything at all on Black Friday. I did not go to any store, never got in my car, and did not buy anything online. My intention was to do the same thing today.

But that changed back on Wednesday.

See, two days ago, my plan was to stop at Northern Brewer in St. Paul to pick up some brewing ingredients. I wanted the ingredients to whip up some stuff at some point during the next couple of weeks, and I thought I might have time to make stuff this weekend. Alas, mere hours before leaving work on Wednesday, I received an email from the good folks at Northern Brewer announcing their 20% off sale, good on Black Friday only.

So, today, at noon, Owen and I battled the crowd at a very congested Northern Brewer. I was, therefore, part of the problem today. But give me a break, I was going to buy the stuff anyway, I just delayed my purchase by 42 hours.