Keep Calm and Carry On

Ok, so I have a few not-yet-completed drafts on frugality in travel, clothing, pet care etc. but it has been a very hectic few days of deciding to change my Thanksgiving plans, arranging for dog care, scrubbing my house so my dog sitter doesn't realize think I'm a filthy slob, packing in secret so the dogs don't see the luggage, making my train, and...I'm tired and my brain is fuzzy. The tired, fuzzy feeling may or may not be related to the fact that last night I ate lots and lots of the best Indian food I have ever had and/or the fact that I got talked out of water with lemon and into a vodka and soda. Or two.

But I'm going somewhere so exciting today, and I think the camera can come along. It's wet. It's a little geeky. And some of the stuff there could kill you 'til you die with venom or teeth, some of it will do it with utter ridiculous heart-melting cuteness. Any guesses?

On Thursday, I get to hold a baby girl. I may or may not return her to her parents.

Then somewhere nice and tranquil on Friday. Ever see that Simpson's episode where Marge and Homer go to a fancypants gala and Marge makes Homer promise he will stay away from the donkey because Homer + donkey = trouble?

I have a donkey. And poor impulse control.

I have a dear, lovely, kind-hearted friend with just a bit of a devious streak. Nothing malicious. She and her equally dear, lovely, kind-hearted sister have a tradition of going to Black Friday and instigating. I'll leave the mechanics of it up to your imagination. One sister calls it "psychological research" and the other calls it "wicked fun."

I went one year. It was wicked fun. (Maybe not "in the holiday spirit," but, honestly? You're not going to find the Chrismahanukwanzaa spirit anywhere on Friday).

But then I couldn't help notice - because I have a pronounced fetish for safety, because my parents never let me learn how to ride a bike, because ambulance-chasing puts kibble in my puppies' bowls - that, in the past 3 or so years, Black Friday has become downright dangerous and even deadly.

The "donkey" invited me this year. I was tempted. So very, very tempted. But either due to increasing maturity or simple scaredy-catness, I had to decline. Fortunately, declining that invitation meant I could trek up to my parents' frozen artic tundra of a house for the weekend. (Please note that I did not say "frozen artic tundra of a state." This is directly relevent to an upcoming post on keeping home energy costs reasonable. Thank you).

So that is my week. I hope you all have a lovely Thanksgiving, wherever you are and however you recognize the day. At some point I'll teach you how to make holiday travel cheap and peaceful, how I feel about skinny jeans, and the best ways to work Fido into your budget.

And - because I have a pronounced fetish for safety, because my parents never let me learn how to ride a bike, because ambulance-chasing puts kibble in my puppies' bowls - please be safe. Be sure you have a working fire-extinguisher on hand and a few working smoke/carbon monoxide detectors. Don't do anything stupid. Don't drive if you are too tired or tipsy. Wash your hands. Never leave a candle unattended. Keep your critters away from splintery turkey bones, chocolate, onions, and raisins.