Happy Thanksgiving!

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Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours!! I hope everyone has a lovely day cooking, mingling, enjoying the company of family and friends and of course, sinking into that delicious Thanksgiving feast.

When I was younger, Thanksgiving at my house meant my mother getting up at the crack of dawn to stuff the turkey, chop up everything in preparation for what would be a whole day of cooking (yes, the dishes started piling up in the sink. good old dad to the rescue!) and adding a touch of the Philippines to Thanksgiving feast (which meant lumpia or you may know them as eggrolls). Funny thing is, my mother was making enough food to feed the whole neighborhood and there were only 3 of us. Since our family is scattered far and wide, it's hard to get together for holidays but it seems, summer is the only time we can get together. But that's a whole different story for another day.

Anywho, this is what I'm thankful for this Thanksgiving:

1. Family. Now Mr. Kati and I are married, we have the split time between our families and it's so funny how his family is loud and rambunctious and mine is not. My parents have always let me learn from my mistakes, only guiding with a gentle hand towards the right path. They've never once put on that 'I told you so' face that some parents do when things go wrong. They just wiped the tears away, cleaned up the scrapes and bruises and let me find my own way.
2. Friends. Ah yes, friends. They're just simply fabulous and hilarious. I love each and every one of them. Whether it's late nights on the town, giggling over hotties, going to the movies at a midnight showing just cause or even using them as idea bouncers. They're even better than paying some therapist to help you decide the meaning of life. lol.
3. The Romance Community. I'm so glad I discovered romance books again. This community is loving, giving and all around amazing. They stand up for their own, applaud successes, share in their pain, raise awareness for causes and of course, share their love of all things romance. Not only are the bloggers and readers supportive of each other but authors as well. Authors who interact with their readers are the greatest people on earth. 
4. Yummy food. Uh,it wouldn't be Thanksgiving without delicious, sleep inducing food. Now, I love to cook but my mother's home cooking is what I live for when we go home to visit. And the camaraderie that goes comes with making the yummy food is a bonus.
5. Texas Renaissance Festival. Now you're thinking I'm crazy but this festival is the shit! It has its own facility in the middle of nowhere East Texas. There's singing, there's dancing, there's comedy acts, fried foods that shouldn't be fried but somehow end up being fried because it can be dipped in batter, jousting, people in costume and lots and lots of spirits. Yes, those spirits. It's an after Thanksgiving tradition and rain or shine, it's there for a full days worth of entertainment. Acres and acres. There's even elephant rides in the very back of the fairgrounds.

So peeps, what are YOU thankful for on this Thanksgiving day? Did you watch the Macy's Parade and It's A Wonderful Life afterwards? What's YOUR favorite Thanksgiving day TV special? Have a safe and fun holiday weekend!