Home Again, Home Again, Jiggity Jig

Home once more. It wasn't easy getting back though. Friday afternoon traffic was hideous all the way from the Nisqually Delta through to Everett. Sitting in traffic in Tacoma (took an hour to get thru Tacoma!) we decided to get off I 5 at the airport exit and take the back road. we were glad we did. We left Newport at 10:30 and rolled into Shoreline at 6:35. We decided to stop and try the new Philipino restaurant on highway 99 and so got home late, but it was worth the stop to try the food. We were both frazzled and ready to be fed. The lumpia was good, but not as good as mine. Ray had pork adobo which he said was tender. The sauce was spicy hot, but the meat was mild. I had Spamsilong, which is Spam breakfast. It is grilled Spam, of course, with 2 fried eggs and some garlic rice. Very tasty.

Back in Newport on Wednesday evening we drove into town and chose Abby's Legendary Pizza. It pretty well is, in fact, legendary. It was the first time I've ever seen a pizza packed from rim to rim with sausage meatballs. We also had mushrooms and onion put on it, so with all that it was a pretty heavy slice. The crust was spectacular, thin and crispy on the bottom but not crackery, nice and bready tasting. We plan on going back to Abby's. It's only failing was a shortage of cheese, so next time, double cheese.

Thursday night we opted for Kum Lum chinese. It was ok but very bland, even Ray's mongolian beef. There are 2 other chinese restaurants in town and one noodle stand, so maybe we'll find a good one next trip. More restaurants are open Thursday-Sunday in the winter time, but not on Thanksgiving weekend. Too busy being thankful one hopes.

Thursday's sunset was nothing short of spectacular. I think it was the best one of the entire trip. A full moon rising to the east and a blue and orange cloud free sunset to the west. Breathtaking beautiful.

And Friday we toiled home. Yik, that was a nasty trip. The only good thing was the sunny weather. Today it's cold, cold, cold with Arctic air. The weather guy says it's going to be sunny and ccccccold until at least Wednesday. At least it feels like Christmas more than rain does.

My brother seems to feel that I left out something or someone in my Thankful list. And he's right. So I'll add I'm very, very Thankful for my Illinois and Minnesota, Arizona and North Dakota families too! I love my sibs dearly and am grateful for how they care for our Mom when I am so far away and can't help. I love them for far more than reading my blog!

Feeling Thankful

I hope everyone has had time on this busy day to actually think about thankfulness and what you are thankful for in your lives. Too soon we'll all be plunged into the whirlpool of the Holidays and we'll be most thankful for our nice beds at the end of frazzled days.

So it's good we have official Thanksgiving before that, to center us and remind us to take stock of all we have been blessed with.

I can honestly say I'm thankful for all my friends and correspondents, whether I have met you face to face or only by e-mail. (Hi Syl, Laurel and Ruthie! You make me smile.)

I'm thankful for my wonderful husband and sons. I'm grateful to the people my sons have in their lives who encourage and lift them. I love you!

I'm thankful for Ray's continued gainful employment, whereby I am allowed to stay home and hone my genealogy skills.

I'm thankful for everyone who reads this blog whether they ever leave a comment or not.

I'm thankful for the soldiers and sailors who protect our country and do dangerous and difficult work for us. I am thankful for the founders of our nation and for those who left England in tiny ships to brave settling the shores of terra incognita.

I'm grateful for Mr. Burgman and his sidecar and for Norman who loves to ride in it. I'm grateful that Ray has stuck by me and encouraged me to ride through broken legs and ptsd. And literally through thick and thin over the years.

I'm thankful that I live in this country and not some other. I've been to others and this is the best I have experienced. We don't, as Americans, do everything right and our type of democracy is perhaps not suited to other countries and cultures, but it's ours and I and thankful for it.

I'm thankful for Washington Family and for the increase in numbers we have had. Hello, Trillian Mira, Happy First Thanksgiving from your great-auntie Susie! I'm thankful for the family that's allowed us to share so much of their lives. You know who you are! I love you!

I'm thankful for a stout roof over our heads and walls that keep out the storms, for my beloved minivan and for this year's astounding tomato crop.

I'm grateful for my Church, it's the foundation of our lives and the cornerstone of my life.

May God bless you, your families, our military, our leaders and our President. And me too.