"Thanksgiving was never meant to be shut up in a single day." ~Robert Caspar Lintner

This year we spent Thanksgiving with the Iverson Family. We usually stay at least a night or two at their house in Temecula every year at this time, but spend actual Thanksgiving at my aunt Brynna's, so this was a change. The John Iverson family spent the night as well, so we had a huge party. Which, ended up being rather well documented because of Mom and Dad's desire to have millions of pictures to send to Ray on the mission.

John, Nathan, Dad, and Bob being crazy.

Getting the food ready!

Yummy pomegranate fake wine.

Erin and Rocky went to Texas, so we took the traditional picture of the two girls with Michelle instead!

Usually our Black Friday shopping starts at 3 or 4am, but this year we went out with Nathan (who is quite the shopper!) and started at midnight instead!

Hanging out after our HUGE meal (seriously, we started snacking at 11am, and didn't stop eating until about midnight . . .)

Altogether, a fun trip. Weird that Ray and Erin weren't around, but I guess we'll have to get used to that!

My New Ride

Yes, the rental company gave me the HUGEST car they had. Hopefully tomorrow they'll be able to get me into something smaller!! Haha.

"Never trust anything that can think for itself if you can't see where it keeps its brain." ~J.K. Rowling

For the past couple of years I have lusted after Amazon's Kindle.

After all, what could be better than a handy dandy library of books that you can carry around in your purse. And now the latest addition to the Kindle family comes with GLOBAL wireless. If I get bored waiting for a plane in Taiwan, I can download a new book straight to my Kindle!

What could be better?

Well, I'm glad you asked, because Barnes and Noble has just come out with the Nook. They're marketing it as "The World's Most Advanced e-Book Reader", and they're probably right. Unlike the Kindle's black and white screen, they have a color screen, a touch screen, it's Wi-Fi enabled, and seems pretty much a MILLION times better than the Kindle in every way.

Just one problem . . . the Nook hasn't gone global. If I'm stuck in Japan for hours and all I want is something new to read . . . there will be no way for me to get it. And really, what is the point of an e-Reader if I can't get instant access to any book I want?

Did I mention they're exactly the same price?

How's a girl to choose? Good thing I can't afford that price, so I won't have to choose quite yet.

"A lot of people like snow. I find it to be an unnecessary freezing of water." ~Carl Reiner

Winter is here! The snow is falling and I am drinking hot chocolate out of my lovely "moving away" mug that Whit gave me whilst procrastinating to avoid homework.

Today I didn't want to go outside. Unfortunately, I had things to do and places to go so I did. And now my poor Matrix is ruined. An evil Chevy rear-ended her and the bumper is falling off. Luckily, I am okay, but I feel like my Matrix has been ruined for me; I don't even feel like driving her anymore. I guess we'll see how I feel after she gets back from the shop, maybe she will be like new and I won't even notice the difference. Or maybe she will continue forever defiled.

"The safe way to double your money is to fold it over once and put it in your pocket." ~Frank Hubbard

You know that wonderful feeling when you open up an old purse, or put your hands into the pocket of a jacket you haven't worn in awhile, and you find

?

And you're just so happy because you can now use that $5 to buy yourself an ice cream, or a new pair of shoes (okay that might be stretching the $5) or some other such frivolous thing because that $5 isn't part of your budget for the month so it doesn't have to go towards anything practical like groceries or rent.

Well, today I was realizing that I haven't written in my journal in awhile. It seems like over the past 10 years or so, my journal is only written in at these times:

1. When I have a huge crush on a guy and want to gush about him.
2. The beginning of a relationships when I want to gush about a guy.
3. The end of a relationship when I want to vent about a guy.

Which is why I never write about guys on this blog. But, I'm wandering . . . the point is, I decided that it would be a good time to open up the ol' journal.

So I opened my dresser drawer, pulled out

this adorable little journal Julie got me awhile back, and out fell

.

Yep, that's right, $50 fell out of my journal! 10 times more than I've ever found in a coat pocket! 10 times more than I've ever found in an old purse! I knew it was a good idea to write in my journal today!

Spinachy Garlic Bread Goodness

Once upon a time . . . a few days ago . . . I was watching Food Network. I have pretty much decided this is the best channel ever invented. As I watched Rachael Ray (who in general I am not that big a fan of) whip up her little Italian meal, I had a wonderful realization: I OWNED ALL THE INGREDIENTS! Yes, for the first time ever, I could actually make the same food she was making! I did change up the type of cheese, but I like Parmesan cheese better anyways.

Here is what you need:

• 4 cups baby spinach leaves, stemmed
• 4 cloves garlic, cracked from skin
• 1 stick softened butter
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 1 cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese
• 1 loaf good quality Italian bread

Directions:

Preheat broiler or oven to 400ºF.

Place the spinach in a food processor with garlic, butter, salt, freshly ground black pepper and cheese, and process until smooth.

Cut the bread in half lengthwise and slather each side with the spinach butter. Broil or bake the toast until crispy, about 3 minutes under the broiler or 6-7 minutes in the hot oven.

"The time you think you're missing, misses you too." ~Ymber Delecto

We still don't have internet . . . which is why I am not updating any of my blogs. Maybe no one has noticed, but it is annoying to me! At least I am keeping up with Ray's blog! If you haven't checked it out, check it out at twoyearsinitaly.blogspot.com. I figure more people read that blog, so it's probably more important to update.

Anyways, as for myself, not a whole lot has been going on except for trying to get our internet up. Pretty much every day is filled with calls to the internet people/our landlord. It's so annoying!

Right now I sit at Starbucks again . . . thank goodness for their internet. I try to go to all the different Starbucks around my house so that the workers at any one store don't get annoying with the girl who gets the cheapest thing on the menu and then just hangs out for two hours . . .

THIS SUCKS!