Happy Thanksgiving!

Best wishes for a wonderful holiday!

I'm planning to cook a big breakfast and then sit in my pajamas most of the day watching the Macy's parade. Oh, and looking through the big fat Thanksgiving Day newspaper. Later in the evening we'll head to my inlaws house for dinner. My parents will be coming down on Saturday for a trip to the used bookstore and lunch. We always chose to split of the celebration of the holiday because thinking of going to two different houses hours apart both for meals makes me nauseous and stressed.

It's suppose to be pretty cold here Thursday night and Friday. I think there are even snow flurries forecasted! We'll probably start getting down the Christmas boxes for decorating.

went westward

Last week, mid-week, the husband and I along with two of our friends headed west to Las Vegas! WOO! We've talked about going for a long time and recently the opportunity presented itself in the form of use or lose airline points. We had a great time seeing the city, casinos, eating lots of food, and even driving out to see the Grand Canyon. I took loads of photos and will get some uploaded soon.

While there, I finally had the opportunity to eat at the infamous In-N-Out Burger I've so often heard about. Verdict? Honestly, I just don't see what the deal is with that place. I thought it was just okay. 5 Guys is WAY better in my opinion.

some updates

• I've been sewing a lot in helping build up inventory for an upcoming event for cat rescue in Atlanta. That's pretty much why I've not been updating much here lately. Also, since fall arrived, I've not felt like doing much of anything but going home and not doing much of anything. Quite the funk I've been in. I've even stopped going to the gym and Zumba class too. Hopefully, I'll get back in to it soon.
• We've had SO much rain here this year and finally we've had over a week of really nice fall weather. I would have thought that it would pull me out of 'da funk but instead it's kicked up my allergies and I feel like death. It must be the mold from the rotting vegetation or something. We're suppose to get some rain from the hurricane on Tuesday so, perhaps that will help.
• On Halloween weekend, my mom and I drove to Nashville to see Little House on the Prairie: The Musical. Melissa Gilbert (who played Laura in the TV series) was starring as Ma in the stage production. The production pulls pieces from four of the Little House books for the musical and since I had freshly read them at the first of the year, it was a really nice treat to see this afterwards. It's a fun one to see if it comes to your area.
• It was raining on Halloween and I really didn't expect to get many treaters but surprisingly enough, we got quite a bunch. There was a home football game on too at prime treating time so, that combined with the rain made me think many wouldn't be out and if so, they'd all stop by 7:30. I didn't buy as much candy because of that and when I handed out our last pieces around 7pm, I had to close the door. I hate having to do that and I usually sit out on the front step to hand out candy when it's been nice. Another thing about Halloween this year...I just wasn't feeling it. Gosh, I sound so depressing.
• Remember this summer when I was trying to decide on a new camera? Well, I finally got a new one yesterday. I got the one in red but it looks like a deep hot pink to me. I haven't used it yet because I just charged the battery last night but I'm anxious to take it on a test drive.
• A couple places in town already have Christmas wreaths up. blech. The husband even asked me last night what I was making to take to the office Christmas party. I just shot him a look and told him to hush..I needed to get through Thanksgiving first. Good grief!

2009 Book List: October Reads

44. All Together Dead by Charlaine Harris

Summoned to the vampire summit by Louisiana's vampire queen Sophie-Anne to "listen-in", Sookie again finds herself in the midst of vampire drama yet again. Here at the summit Sophie-Anne is going to be tried for the murder of Arkansas king (also known as her husband and power alliance). While Sookie knows that Sophie is innocent, in the supernatural world, nothing is ever so simple as the Fellowship of the Sun again rears its head.

45. Get Fuzzy Groovitude by Darby Conley

This is a collection of comic strips from one of my favorite comic strips, Get Fuzzy. Written by Darby Conley (who actually lived in Knoxville as a child), the strips features animal owner and glutton for punishment, Rob Wilco, dog Satchel, and his Siamese cat Bucky. I always get a kick out of reading these and as a cat owner of a Siamese cat (or any cat at all), I can so relate to the tasks that Bucky is put through. Or should I say, the tasks Bucky puts Rob through. If you don't get this strip in your local paper check it out online.

46. From Dead to Worse by Charlaine Harris

Back from surviving the vampire summit, Sookie settles back in to her daily life in Bon Temps waiting tables at Merlottes. Again, nothing in Sookie's life is ever that simple. After a meeting arranged by Eric reveals a long lost relative to Sookie, she is then thrust into the midst of a Were power struggle and a possible territory takeover by the Vegas vampires and their Nevada King.

47. Dead and Gone by Charlaine Harris

Soon after the Weres have their coming out party to the public, a murder occurs in the parking lot of Merlottes Bar. Unfortunately, her brother Jason is the prime suspect. Although she desperately tries to get to the bottom of the murder, she soon learns that she's on a fairy prince's hit list and is thrown in the middle of a fairy war.

48. A Touch of Dead by Charlaine Harris

This is a collection of short stories that Harris wrote to help bridge gaps of time between a few books. In them, you get a glimpse of Sookie's life in between the main storyline. My favorite short story was the party thrown and Fangtasia for
Dracula's birthday. Why? Because it involved Eric and you can never have enough of Eric the vampire.

a conversation with Jerry

A rare interview with Jerry Cat (taken last Friday).

lost in crafting

I haven't been around much because I've been crafting quite a bit for Siamese Rescue in preparation for a large upcoming show. Right now, I'm up to my ears in all things catnip. The other day I came home to an overwhelming catnip smell looming from the bonus room. I thought one of the cats go into the nip but it was simply just the smell lingering from making toys the previous evening. I bet my two cats were in heaven all day.

A couple weeks ago, a group of us got together at a friend's house to make cat beds and a friend of mine snapped some photos. Here' me slaving away in the sweat shop. Notice my little helper testing out one of the beds? That's one of my friend's Siamese who is always there to supervise. We call her her Quality Control. ;)

The story of my life.....