The drive was beautiful if a little harrowing. There’s nothing that beats the joy of taking an acrophobic on a series of narrow dirt roads in the mountains. Yes, the destination was worth it, but still. There were at least a full metric ton of campgrounds just off the road – we might go back there this coming weekend if the weather’s okay. I even recognized one from a dream I had a long time ago.

We finally got to the small town we’d been aiming for. We got out of the car, stretched out legs, marveled at children’s cruelty when their parents aren’t around, and went back the way we came.

Later that evening we made dinner (hot dogs and vegan “ribs”) and set off about half of the fireworks stash Mr. Goth and School Girl bought earlier. There were other fireworks around; some were set off up our street, some were set off further away, where the rich people live. We’re pretty rural out here. Lots of people take advantage of that around the 4th of July and New Year’s Eve. They were far enough away and small enough that it wasn’t nearly as scary as a professional display in town. School Girl had a great time. This was the first year that she was able to have a little quiet time to go to bed. Don’t ask.

And now it’s the day after. School Girl and I are tracking down school supplies for next month, and Mr. Goth is catching up on work stuff.

Happy Hallmark card day Valentine’s Day. I’ve got some knitting to finish…

Driving through the snow, getting a tree from “over top the hill” (my grandparents lived on a 40-acre farm, with a lot of mixed-wood forest above the house), having a huge Xmas dinner with an endless group of relatives – that’s what I remember from our holiday trips of my childhood. I don’t remember much in the way of attending church until we moved there when I was in my mid-teens or so. Those traditions went away gradually; first when we actually moved in with our grandparents, then when my grandfather died, then when I moved away and wasn’t able to come home every year.

Right now we’re working out our own holiday traditions. There’s a tree, with ornaments that people have given us as gifts (and ones that we’ve given each other); a small handful of lights outside, and a wreath on the door; a visit with at least C (this year she came up here with M); holiday toonz (I’m a sucker for holiday music) and movies; shopping; food (we tend to make big meals for Xmas and New Year’s Eve, and Xmas and New Year’s Day) and booze. The booze is scaled back quite a bit from previous years. It’s not what one might call depression-friendly, and I really have to watch that now.

A couple of nights ago, we went out to troll our adjoining neighborhood for holiday light displays. Most were only slightly bigger than the one we have, but some were truly, um, impressive. I think I counted a dozen displays that had at least 1 inflatable lighted figure, at least three times that many that had the lighted wire deer, and three giant illuminated crucifixes in windows. I have no idea what that was about. We did pass the house of the “Good morning! We’d like to have every inflatable lighted thing you have, please” house, complete with the Mighty Penguin Army. I was wishing I had brought the camcorder for that one. There were a heartening number of Grinches in displays as well. I think we’ll be doing that again next year. It really was a lot of fun, and School Girl had a great time.

Today is Xmas Eve. Unlike last year, it’s cold and snowy outside. We have one more appointment this morning, but then we’ll be spending the rest of the day at home. Just the three of us, as a family. We all hope you have/have had a wonderful holiday so far with your family…including the ones that you choose for yourself.

Thanksgiving is supposed to be a time when we give thanks for the good things in our lives. Here’s my list:

I’m thankful for my family; our biological families and the family we’ve added over the years – no matter how reluctant they are to be a part of our family.

I’m grateful that, even after the past nightmarish 5 months, we’re all still alive and doing okay. I’m also grateful to the therapists who have helped me to become a little more healthy than before.

I’m also grateful to my friends on Ravelry and elsewhere on the other side of the computer. Some have been even closer…

I’m especially grateful for all of you who’ve bothered to read this far. Thank you so very much.

As Thanksgiving is also a celebration of food, I’d best get busy in the kitchen with the rest of Chez Evil. Happy Thanksgiving for everybody in the US, and a happy Thursday to everybody else.

First, today’s the official celebration of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s birthday in the US. Here’s the full version of his most famous speech:

And here’s a link to 10 other, less well-known but arguably more enlightening and uplifting, quotations from Dr. King, courtesy of The Bilerico Project. They’re all great, but my personal favorite is #10.

Today, January 19, is the 200th birthday of short-story writer, poet, and drunken opium junkie Edgar Allan Poe. I can say that, by the way, because I am a fan. A fan in huge capital letters, lit up by 1000 LEDs.

My introduction to Poe happened at a Halloween party at school. Our 4th-grade teacher thought it would be a great idea to have us listen to a scary story. The story he chose? “The Tell-Tale Heart”.

Just like “Dark Shadows” did several years before, it gave me nightmares. It also got me hooked on Poe, and introduced me to the short story “The Gold Bug”; still one of my favorites, and it was a real thrill to see Sullivan’s Island in person many years afterward.

I’ll also be working on something for myself today. Here’s a hint. Not sure if it’ll be finished…