Anyone ever notice that Woodstock was a cannibal?

Seriously? Am I the only one bothered by this?

Okay, November. We give thanks. Here's the spiel:

I'm thankful for my wonderful daughter, Sophie. I'm not thankful that she got the puking sicks this month.

I'm thankful for my wonderful wife, Sandy. I'm not thankful that I don't earn enough money as a writer so that she wouldn't have to go to work every day.

I'm thankful that I live in a country with functioning sewers and hot and cold drinking water in my house (I think you have to live abroad for a while to appreciate this). I'm not thankful that my house turned on me this month, returning all our sewage through the basement shower drain.

I'm thankful for emergency plumbers. I'm not thankful for their emergency rates.

I'm thankful for my wonderful family, and how they all managed to schedule a Thanksgiving dinner that we can attend.

I'm not thankful for catching the stomach flu from my daughter and missing most of it (sob).

I'm thankful for the US election. Not (necessarily) the outcome, but the fact that every four to eight years, we have a non-violent, fairly smooth transition of power. How many nations can really say that?

I'm not thankful for pretty much anything else about US politics.

I'm thankful that I know where I'm sleeping tonight, and that it's safe. I'm not thankful that many of my students cannot say the same thing.

I'm thankful for my readers, especially the ones who take the time to write to me. You'll never know what a pick-me-up that is.

I'm thankful for my editor, Claudia Gabel,whose belief in me is unflagging.

I'm thankful for coffee. I'm thankful that I have a job that involves books, computers, and working with kids.

Thanks for listening.