Happy Thanksgiving!

I already made a list of some things I'm thankful for, so I won't go on here. This is one of my favorite holidays, even if I have to work midnights. I'm thankful to work.

I made it to Stevie's house last week, and now I'm headed for Jamee's. I have ridden my faux bike on my faux journey over 3,000 miles. That's a lot, faux sho'.

Today, we are having the Talleys and the missionaries over to eat. Cindy is baking a turkey breast, and I'm starting in the smoker, then going to bed. Sorry I can't finish it, hon. I'm gonna be so tired.

I have two more midnight shifts, both of them with my girlfriend.

Let me explain.

When Mary first came to our office as a forecaster, she mentioned that she wanted a place to work out. I told her about kung fu and invited her to come along Thursday night. She was mildly interested and said she'd consider it. Thursday comes along and I'm not home. She calls to tell me she can't make it, and Stevie answers the phone. It goes something like this:

Phone: ring, etc.
Stevie: Hello?
Voice on phone: Is Brian there?
Stevie: ...no...can I take a message?
Voice on phone: This is Mary. Would you tell him that I can't meet him tonight?
Stevie: ...........ok.........
Mary: Thank you.
Stevie: ........bye.....

I get home later and the family is sitting around. Suddenly Stevie jumps up and puts up her dukes and yells at me: "DAD! YOU'RE GIRLFRIEND CALLED! SHE SAID SHE CAN'T MEET YOU TONIGHT, DAD!"

Cindy, Jamee, and Loni are staring. Cindy knows I haven't got a girlfriend. I don't know what the girls are thinking, but there is Stevie in front of me, jumping up and down, waving her fists, wanting to fight me.

I was dumbfounded. I thought and thought, and then realized it must have been Mary calling to say she was not going to kung fu.

When I explained it, Cindy laughed and laughed and Stevie dropped her fists, stopped jumping up and down, looked sideways, contemplatingly, and said, "Oh..."

I gave her a big hug and laughed and told her I was proud of her for standing up for the right and taking on the big bad unfaithful dad, but that I was only big and bad, not unfaithful, or something like that. We all laughed and a good time was had by all.

I told Mary about it the next day and she laughed and laughed. We still laugh about it.

You always have stood up for the underdog, Stevie.