Despite the fact that we betrayed the indians....

I still love Thanksgiving. It's origins may be complete lies, and that peaceful meal may have ended in betrayal but it's the thought that counts, right??
Every year, because of that "meal" between the pilgrims and Indians, families across the nation get together and celebrate all that is good in their lives.
Other reasons why thanksgiving rocks:
-the rolls (put a little butter on those delicious Pillsbury dinner rolls and there is no need to ever eat anything else in your life)
-seeing cousins, brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, etc. that you don't get to see for months at a time
-a day when all you are required to do is eat and sleep, is the all around perfect day
-cheesy potatoes
-Macy's Day Thanksgiving Parade
-a lot of really good movies come to theatres
-everyone has a food baby
-no school
-green bean casserole
-a day when you actually remember to be grateful
-stuffing
-black Friday sales
-seven layer salad (if you have never experienced this... you have not lived)
-no work (unless you work at a movie theater or a restaurant)
-another day to be proud to be an American (suck it Canada!)
-mashed potatoes and gravy
-you can feel the love radiating from your family and the turkey
-no ham! just turkey
-this is the perfect day to ask anyone for a favor, because we are all willing to boost our karma
-there are so many more, and I only have so much time

Overall, don't disrespect this beautiful holiday because of it's bleak origins.
Appreciate it for what it is meant to represent: peace and love between all people despite race, gender, nationality, previous feuds, etc.
Embrace it and appreciate all that you have been blessed with.
And you all have something to be thankful for, no matter what terrible things may be going on in your life.

Gender Bonding

So, I was watching I Love You, Man last night. When it got to the part where Sydney is appalled that Peter would ever bring a girl golfing, I asked the guys I was with why that was such a terrible thing. They did the whole, "psh, that's guy time. when we just do guy stuff." At first I was slightly offended but then when I started to think about it, I can see that it is totally understandable.
Males and females are totally different beings. No matter how boyish of a girl you are, or how feminine of a man you are there still are fundamental differences that the other sex just can't understand. It only makes since that these different creatures need to separate every once and awhile, and just let out natural behaviors run rampant.
I still don't agree that males have dubbed golfing, bowling, video games, jamming out, and many other sports as "guy time". Because women can physically golf and may even be good at it. But it is perfectly logical that they would want some male bonding time to gossip and make dirty jokes. Females have the same type of rituals, but they involve more things like alanis morissette, shopping, cosmo, and nail polish.
The whole process has evolved throughout the years. It used to be way more divided, back before that whole women's rights movement. Now at least there are bowling leagues of both sexes and pro golf for women. I wouldn't mind being invited to a round of nine holes with my guy friends, but I don't want the genders to blend too much more. It's nice to be one with your species and just feel totally at peace with your natural habits. I like being boyish and going skateboarding, cracking dirty jokes, video games, etc. but every once in awhile I like to revert back to my natural state: put some high heels on, wear too much eyeliner, listen to shania twain, and dance.

Hygiene Habits

So, I've been reading the book Choosing Civility for LA105. Other than being extremely redundant and obvious it isn't terrible. Recently I got to the chapter titled "Mind Your Body" which is all about proper basic grooming is essential to being civil and having good manners. I personally think a lot of what the author was calling taboo, shouldn't be anymore.
Our generation has become more improper but in a good way. We don't expect perfection, we seem to understand that we are all humans with natural instincts. I like the way we have progressed. I don't want to go back to a society where "we offend people with our bodies", as the book states.
Some of the suggested hygiene habits are still important like having clean teeth, clean body and fresh breath. I don't expect everyone to have "finger- and toenails in perfect order", and a close shave is not necessary in our society where the scruffy look is totally in. Also it states that all grooming should be done in private. Never pick your teeth, scratch at your nose, stick your finger in your ear, spit, sniffle, chew you fingernails, etc. in public. Psh, I'm going to do what I want when I want. Why does this have to be taboo. We all do it, so why hide it?
Some things like farting and burping, I think are better placed in private. But, if it happens it's not a huge deal. Acceptance is key.
It is better to be clean, odor-free, and unrumpled but if you're not in perfect order, I will not think less of you. And I'm sure your doctor will forgive you if you don't take a second shower before coming in for your appointment, like this lovely novel suggests.
Why do people still insist to keep the bar at perfection? Go ahead and burp in public, I'll love you more because of it.

Perscription Culture

Drugs have always been a part of life. There is no getting rid of them no matter if they are illegal. But that's not what bugs me. I don't care if you like to get high in your free time or deal drugs to ten year-olds. That's your prerogative. What I think can and should be changed in our society is our reliance on medications to fix every ache and pain in our bodies.
Pain is a part of life, bumper sticker rhetoric we can all agree with. People have been dealing with their physical ailments for years and they would become stronger because of it. But in our society if you get a headache you pop enough ibuprofen so that you don't have to feel anything anymore. What's so terrible about a little body ache? Yea, it sucks but you deal with it and it goes away.
The reason I feel I can speak this way is because I've never taken ibuprofen, Advil, Tylenol, etc. And I mean never. I believe I have a stronger pain tolerance because of it and when I truly do need to take a pain killer because of severe pain I will not have built up any tolerance to the medication. How convenient!
I'm not saying you never need to take drugs to fix physical ailments. We are an advance society and we should take advantage of the cures we have created through medicine. But, we do not need to to drug up for every pain in our body. Your grandma is tougher than you are. She didn't pop a pill every time her stomach felt queasy or her head pounded. No, they kept on going and fought through it. Grow a pair!