On the dawn of Turkey Day, let us pause in gratitude. A few of the reasons:

I am thankful for my wife, my family, and my friends.

I am thankful that no tubes are currently attached to my body.

I am thankful that I live in a country, for all its problems, that is a darn slight better than most.

I am thankful that Barack Obama is about to replace George Bush.

I am thankful for pizza.

I am thankful that the Steelers are 8-3.

I am thankful that, despite the economic meltdown, we are relatively debt free; our home's value has doubtlessly gone way down, but we weren't planning on selling any time soon.

I am thankful that we have a home.

I am thankful that one of my outreach friends showed me how to make hydrogen explode in a red flame.

I am thankful that earth remains free of the Anti-Life Equation.

I am thankful that our cats are still suckers for the little red dot.

I am thankful for birds that began our year (Western Tanager) and ended it (Calliope Hummingbird) both had a really crappy sense of direction.

Happy thanksgiving, everyone.