I have been sick this week, had to work every day but Thanksgivng Day, and then also lost power on Wednesday until this morning when it came back in the wee hours, lost due to the storm, but also had a house full of family visiting from out of state for Thanksgiving that arrived on Tuesday. This was recipe for disaster.

It has been an interesting holiday: no electronics with teenagers climbing the walls and not appreciating playing old fashioned "stupid" board games (direct quote); or heaven forbid we go outside let alone play in the snow; a toddler afraid of the dark as there were not enough candles for him (nothing like scaring your nephew when he comes to visit); scrounging for food as everything had planned were baked items and everything else was closed on Thursday to go out; then the emergency rations are soups and microwavable things, as the microwave is all that was on the generator along with the fridge, heat, and water pump;then becasue there were no lights outside, the porcupine entered the yard, tagged the dog, emergency visit to the vet on Thanksgiving; getting up at 3-4 am every night to feed the generator and not getting sleep is not helping me to get better; and not to mention it kills me that a 25 lb turkey wasting in the fridge that has gone bad by now that will have to pitch as it has been defrosting too long, so nothing like adding a touch of food poisoning to the holiday to top it off.

Now that the electricity is back on I am going to head in this morning to the store see if there if there are any turkey, turkey legs, or something turkey or even ham that can make some fashion of thanksgiving dinner for the kids before they leave as I know they won't have a chance to make or have one once they go. I hate that they came all this way to see me and this is what happened.

I am just glad to have seen them, hopefully can emphasize that even if less than desirable circumstances. I so miss them as I see them so rarely, my niece and nephew are growing so fast, that even with the struggle the last couple of days, at least we were together so to me that is what made my Thanksgiving. I'm not so sure they'll see it that way through all the grumbles and complaints but will miss them when they are gone.

However, I too am so relieved every stayed safe. Thankful that the generator did what it was supposed to do keeping us warm and fed, and will be glad though to put it and the gas cans away, and sleep the rest of this weekend. Hopefully they will have safe travels home before the next storm hits.Giving thanks this Thanksgiving for family and electricity.