In case you didn't notice there was some holiday that happened this week. I believe it was called Black Friday Eve. You know the one. The holiday where the entire American culture carbo-loads like a runner preparing for the Boston marathon to ensure they have enough energy to make it to the Kohls midnight madness sale. The holiday where families gather together and celebrate the midpoint between overeating candy on Halloween and overeating cookies on Christmas by overeating mashed potatoes. The holiday where I can finally put up my Christmas tree and my Christmas lights without Rizzo looking at me funny (I've been listening to Christmas music all year so she already looks at me funny). I'm, of course, referring to Thanksgiving.
Monday was a regular Monday with the typical stress at work and evening bowling event. There was a gentleman at the bowling alley with a very classy t-shirt that read "18 Things to do with a Pussy". Below this most humorous of slogans were cartoon pictures depicting a young men doing such things as petting a cat, kissing a cat, playing with a cat, etc. I'm far from being opposed to wearing a classless t-shirt. In fact, I have one t-shirt that I made myself with the face of my old boss on it. I've also made jokes that I wanted to get Cece a t-shirt that read "Now that I'm out I'm pro-choice" but I don't think I'd ever go through it and seeing this fine sir in his Monday finest confirmed it. Only t-shirts with my kids face for me and yes, I'll make my kid wear t-shirts with my face on it.
Tuesday and Wednesday felt like endless days at work. Of course this was in anticipation of the upcoming holiday. Tuesday evening rolled around and it was time for my regularly scheduled run but I was drained. I was tempted to put off my run until Wednesday since I knew that I would get off work early before the holiday. That is exactly what I did.
Every Wednesday my accounting firm has a company wide meeting in the morning followed by a nice lunch and then an early dismissal. This year our meeting was cut short because someone thought it would be a good idea to pull a fire alarm in the building. About halfway through our meeting the alarms started buzzing and a lovely voice announcing "A fire event has been noted in the building. Please make your way to the nearest exit. Do not use the elevators." That's usually fine but trudging down 17 flights of stairs, which I suppose is better than trudging up 17 flights of stairs, isn't the most fun way to spend the day before Thanksgiving. We stood outside for about an hour until we got the all clear and by the time we got upstairs it was time for lunch and an early exit. That entire paragraph was a long way of saying I got home from work early so I could get in a Wednesday afternoon run before Rizzo and Cece got home.
Fairfax's finest to save the day.
Thursday was the big Turkey day. Rizzo spent the morning cooking up a lovely pumpkin pie to replace the disaster that she tried to pull off from the night before (a pumpkin cheesecake that resulted in our house filled with smoke). Rizzo cooking meant I could get in a morning jog in anticipation of all the turkey, mashed potatoes, and pumpkin pie I was sure to have that evening. We all went over to my parent's house for a wonderful Thanksgiving meal with the family. The food was delicious and the company was even better. We learned that Cece love's pumpkin pie. Carrie also gave Cece her first Christmas present of the year, a handmade felt Christmas tree that Cece can hang and decorate herself.
Daddy and Cece at the parade.
On Friday we all went up to Reston Town Center to enjoy the holiday season with a parade, lunch, and some tea. Cece got to see part of the parade but wasn't all that interested. After the parade we grabbed some tacos for lunch then a cup of tea from Tevana. I knew that Rizzo frequented Teevana with Cece but I didn't realize how often she was over there until we walked in and everyone knew Cece by name. I guess Tevana has turned into Rizzo's Cheers because everybody knows here name. That is a good thing since they make an excellent cup of Earl Grey, hot.
After our visit for the parade we headed home for some Christmas decorating. I love this time of year and I always put up our Christmas decorations on or around Thanksgiving when we are in town. If we happen to be out of town for Thanksgiving putting up decorations is always the first thing on my list. I'm not too extravagant when it comes to the decorations but I do like to put out some Christmas decorations. (I'm going to put up a stand alone blog on my Christmas decorations) Oh yeah (since this is the weekly weight update) I also got in a 3.3 mile run on Friday morning to work off some of those extra calories consumed in eating nearly 1/2 a pumpkin pie.
On Saturday, Rizzo and I tried to get back into somewhat of a regular routine. I was up around 5:30 AM in order to get Ellie outside and hopefully get some writing done before Cece woke up (not so successful). Rizzo was up about 6:15 AM and out the door by 6:30 AM to get in her early morning run. I decided a day off would be in order after three straight days of running but I still got in lots of walking through mowing the grass (I shouldn't still have to mow in November but hopefully this is the last time of the season) and walking around the mall.
We were at the mall to take Cece to sit with Santa Clause so we decided to get in some shopping while at the same time. Cece was able to get in one halfway decent photo before losing her mind and sobbing like a child (she is a child so this isn't an insult). In order to make her feel better Rizzo decided to take Cece on a train ride around the mall. She seemed to have a good time riding the rails. Just call her the Queen of the Road.
I know every inch of every train.
When Sunday rolled around I wasn't able to make it to Weight Watchers for the weekly weigh in. Instead, I'm writing this last paragraph from my office as I prepare to get audited. I may not have got to weigh in this week but I learned the important lesson that weight loss isn't everything. Time with family, even if that means a few extra pounds, outweighs the need to watch every little ounce of food we put in our bodies. I know I gained some weight this week but that is okay because I spent some great moments with people I love and I know that it wasn't a regular occurrence. This week will be buckling down to lose those extra pounds before Rizzo and I have our night away next weekend.
Thanks to everyone for your continued support. This week be on the lookout for some more Pearl Jam fun and the most foul mouthed blog to date.
P.S. Let's be honest, the mashed potato is really the official food of Thanksgiving. Turkey is fine but no one ever goes out to restaurant because they want some fine dining turkey. Turkey is simply an excuse to cook up some gravy to go on your mashed potatoes. Turkey exists in the Thanksgiving meal to act as an alternative delivery system for mashed potatoes. You all know that after you cut up your turkey you dip that healthy piece of meat into your pile of gravy laden mashed potatoes and use the turkey as a way to hold more potatoes than a fork or spoon alone. I say forget the turkey and let's start a campaign to make the potato the official mascot food of Thanksgiving. Idaho and Ireland thank you.
Here are some bonus pictures from the week.
