Yup, I usually just give a mini-shrug and say, " Alright, how 'bout yours?"

Ahhh, yes, but *are* they happy or just playing along? Sure, many geniunely are, but there's a lot of masking going on too. Even people who like it are pretty stressed out. Probably even a majority. I'm lucky in not having to worry too much about ruining others' holidays as I live so far away... from family and don't have any friends here (except BF). Since they figure I've got no money or time off from work, I doubt it even crosses their minds much.Works for me! (Though I'm still in dread of a phone call, especially from my mother, because I truly can't stand her. Might not happen though! Fingers crossed!) Of course I am trying to learn not to just automatically answer a phone just because it rings! Goals are good right?

And you are soooo right, widgets! We're all here together! Companionship without the crowds or weird family dynamics.

Believe it or not, I'm actually in the midst of cooking a whole T-day feast. (With all BF and I have been going through lately and the relentless day in day out working thing, we need something like this.) Probably good to have started with the most PITA thing, because wow was I losing it, soooo, all there was to throw and slam was utensils. At least it wasn't a pie through the window. And to think, the first thing on the to do list was Xanax.... good grief. Raging on myself and my ineptitude, self-loathing, yada yada. I know how to cook all this stuff, but... I've definitely been back in unstable-land lately. Well, off to gross myself out handling the turkey. Promise not to put in on my head like Mr. Bean, hilarious though that was...