A cornucopia of random

Mainly, because I like the word cornucopia. And because it's Thanksgiving next week, so I can get away with using cornucopia as much as I want. Cornucopia.

In no particular order...

Today is the Great American Smokeout. Part of the American Cancer Society's Great American Health Challenge -- it's the day to give up smoking, with the hope that one day will turn into the decision to give it up for good. A significant part of the mission of the American Cancer Society is education and prevention...this is an excellent example of what Relay supports. (More details here on the deets below)

• 20 minutes after quitting • Your heart rate and blood pressure drops.
• 12 hours after quitting • The carbon monoxide level in your blood drops to normal.
• 2 weeks to 3 months after quitting • Your circulation improves and your lung function increases.
• 1 to 9 months after quitting • Coughing and shortness of breath decrease; cilia (tiny hair-like structures that move mucus out of the lungs) regain normal function in the lungs, increasing the ability to handle mucus, clean the lungs, and reduce the risk of infection.
• 1 year after quitting • The excess risk of coronary heart disease is half that of a smoker's.
• 5 years after quitting • Your stroke risk is reduced to that of a nonsmoker 5 to 15 years after quitting.
• 10 years after quitting • The lung cancer death rate is about half that of a continuing smoker's. The risk of cancer of the mouth, throat, esophagus, bladder, cervix, and pancreas decrease.
• 15 years after quitting • The risk of coronary heart disease is that of a non-smoker's.

Looking forward to a "week of gratitude" next week. Probably a mini blog feature. So good to remember what we are thankful for...and to recognize it.

I have both recipes prepped for next Thursday...Doc and I are bringing out garlic mashed potatoes and a whipped sweet potato bake. Marshmallows. Mmmmm.

I am truly excited about Christmas. It's our first Christmas as a family, our last Christmas without kids (outside the womb, anyway) and my first Christmas on the farm.

Excited for new traditions and continuing ones we started last year (The second annual Christmas Tree Shindig! December 6th! We can't guarantee a beautiful snowfall like last year...but it should be fun!).

For us, last year's Christmas season included a Novena to the Holy Family, which made the whole season that much more significant to us. So excited to start a new advent tradition as well.

As the farm has changed over to the Christmas season, with trees being sheared, cut, baled and prepped to ship to the southwest, it's helped fire up my excitement for the season.

Then I read this letter to the editor today in the News Tribune from one Deborah Von Cannon. Here it is:

After rising this morning and having my breakfast, I turned on the radio in the kitchen to enjoy some music as I cleaned up.

What did I hear? Nonstop Christmas music – 13 days before Thanksgiving.

Now, I know we are in an economic downturn and there is a goal to get us out to shop more, but I have had enough. If it is going to take a radio station brainwashing me into the Christmas spirit, well, I think our family will simply avoid the stores altogether until after the new year.

I’m very disappointed in the direction this country has turned when we have taken a religious holiday so out of proportion that we need to jump start it to keep our economy alive. Perhaps we should all step back and get real. I feel terrible that those sitting on hard times will have it pressed into their minds more that they can’t afford anything this year.

How incredibly sad that the only thing she associates with a "radio station brainwashing her into the Christmas spirit" is that it's being done in order to "keep the economy alive" and that it will lead to people realizing that they can't afford anything this year.

Maybe she means that it will help unite us to the Holy Family. I suppose that Joseph, with his wife on a donkey, had to realize that he couldn't use the valet parking at the Bethlehem Westin. How tough for him and the child in his wife's belly...you know, the savior of our world...they would just have to do without. And she would have to deliver in a stable. For animals. Joseph and Mary must have really "gotten real".

Never mind the fact that it can help us to refocus on the real reason for the season (Christ's birth). Where we can sacrifice the "wants" and help others be able to simply meet their "needs". In a world where everyone is slowing their spending, making better financial decisions and cutting extra spending...isn't this an incredible opportunity to help turn the focus back to the true reason for Christmas?

End rant on the soapbox.

Chalk it up to an eight month pregnant chick who has both a pinched nerve and charley horses in her calves. I understand she's pretty crabby right now.

Maybe it's time for a Christmas mix on the iTunes. :)