Gobble, gobble Mate!

So, I come from a pretty big family.  Aunts, Uncles, cousins galore, and I totally love it!  What I do not love?  Being away from them for holidays.  It stinks.  Yes, I may complain about the long car rides, the shortage of stuff to do, the lack of dessert that I like the best, but the fact remains that I love my family very much.  I do miss them when they are not around.  In the spirit of the holidays, I will provide you with my top 10 best/worst things about Thanksgiving outside the U.S.

1) Good: I get the day off and everyone else must work.  While this sounds bad initially, think about it.  If I forgot to pick up something at the grocery store?  Its open.  Normal hours, no worries, no crowds.  That rocks.

2) Bad: I do not get to spend it with my family.  Self explanatory.  I miss those jokers.

3) Good: Its summer here.  No rain, no cold, just 88 degrees and sunshine.  I could dig that.

4) Bad: Because its summer it doesn't *feel* like Thanksgiving.

5) Good: Green Bean Casserole.  Its all for me!! I don't have to share!!! FINALLY.

6) Bad: None of my Aunt Dorothy's Chocolate Pie.  Not that I usually get any anyway, but when I do it is heaven.

7) Good: No all day cooking fest for me.  I don't have to cook the stuff I don't like and can make a lot less.

8) Bad: No Macy's Day parade.  Because Australian television shows American stuff at random, I am doubtful they will show any of the parade.  I will miss that because I used to watch it while doing my share of cooking for the day.  I am lucky that my little buddy Cohen decided that he could do something about it and did his OWN version of the Macy's which his mama put up on Facebook for me.  :D

9) Good: I am going to a Thanksgiving party with some Australians who know very little about Thanksgiving.  It is fun being able to explain something that is so very American to someone who doesn't know anything about it.  Since the first Thanksgiving was about two cultures, sharing a meal in thanksgiving for the cooperation between them, it is only fitting that I get to share my Thanksgiving meal with Australians.  Since being here, it is evident that there is a great deal of cooperation between our two countries.

Our table getting ready for the feast!

10) BAD: NO FOOTBALL.  Not pro, not college, nada.  I cant even watch Rugby as the season is over.  The major sports on TV right now are Formula 1 and Cricket.  Ugh.  For a Texas girl, that is down right sacrilegious.  I was able to watch my beloved Cowboys on the day after Thanksgiving (well, the day after FOR ME) but I had to get up early to do it.  I love football as much as the next girl, but when it starts interfering with my sleep I start to have major issues.

There it is.  The good and the bad.  Happy Thanksgiving, mate.  Make it a good one and however you choose to celebrate remember the deeper meaning.