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Hope your days are full of merry.

Happy Thanksgiving!

As I sit and write this, at work, I must admit (shhh!), I don’t find it as weird to be at work on Thanksgiving as I thought I would. But it is definitely not a normal feeling to know that I don’t have a giant pile of ads to look through, a leisurely lounge-y morning ahead of me, and a big dinner with family and/or friends tonight. American (real!) Thanksgiving isn’t really acknowledged here, and although I’m sure there are some groups of Americans who get together, plenty more head south of the border. Even some Canadians have their eyes southward, fixed on tomorrow’s big sales.

Even though we could have joined a group like Democrats Abroad tonight for a traditional turkey meal, we went a different direction. We talked about a couple different options, but renée and I (and to be fair, it was my choice as the American) settled on Silver Spoon. We haven’t been in a while, and the dedication to local, organic and/or seasonal seemed all to appropriate for Thanksgiving. Without my knowledge renée contacted Chef Rocco to see if he could do anything Thanksgiving-y; apparently, a pumpkin tart is on the menu and he’ll see what he can do with an amuse or appetizer. We’re looking forward to the meal quite a bit.

I also must admit that even though I love Thanksgiving more than any other holiday, the Canadians have the time of year a little bit better figured out. Since I still think theirs is too early, I think ours should be moved up a bit. The problem, of course, would be the extended Christmas shopping season, but think of the good fresh stuff available in the northern climes a couple weeks ago versus now. But alas, there’s no point in trying to move mountains – or at least, not this one – and I still love Thanksgiving and all its trappings. I love the long weekend, the kick-off of the holiday season, and even the uniquely American tradition of absurd shopping habits on still overly-stuffed stomachs. It doesn’t hurt that, as one blogger I read puts it, Thanksgiving is “the most adored food holiday in all the land.”

Weirdest of all, of course, is that for the first time in my life – and quite sincerely, I hope the last – I will not be with my parents and sister. Although I will be with my (growing) family, not being with the family I grew up with means it won’t be a perfect holiday. rIAm and I don’t know for sure where life will take us, or you, but we are firm in our conviction that we really want to be stateside for future Thanksgivings. Although it did occur to us that it could be great fun for you to come to us sometime, one day, but that’s just an idea and maybe we’ll think more about it some year.

So on this day of Thanksgiving, I’ll share with you that I am vey thankful for many things. I have all I could need and am particularly grateful that I am confident renée and I can weather the economic storm in the face of bringing our first child into the world, which, of course, is what I’m most thankful for: an expanding family, and one that seems to be as healthy (and active!) as possible. I am surrounded in my life by wonderful family and friends, and indeed, what else could a person want?

Lots of love-
Be well,
jft

We had a super easy drive on Thursday, arriving in Toronto about 8pm (eastern). The truck drove super easy, it’s hard to believe how easy, really, considering it was 14′ and a rental. When I returned it the guy had a bit of shock when he saw it now has over 12,000 miles and is about 2 months old! Thursday night we got some things unloaded that we needed at the Mercuri house, had a bit to eat, and mostly got ready for bed (and maybe switched a few summer clothes in the closet for winter ones!).

The immigration process was super easy, hardly any questions and they definitely didn’t do much more than a passing glance at our list of goods. But now I’m a landed immigrant in Canada!

Friday was crazy. rIAm had an interview scheduled for 1pm, but they called Thursday and left a message that they wanted to move the interview later, to 3:15, which was annoying because we had a plan based on the earlier interview time. But it worked out because we went over with the truck to nonni and unloaded the whole thing into their basement. It fits really well in a room they only use in summer with fresh things from the garden, but it was just the two of us unloading everything. We wore ourselves out a bit, but had a refreshing lunch Nonna prepared.

The life of an immigrant sure is difficult when your grandmother-in-law makes you a big scrumptious lunch (and two whole T-bone steaks!).

I did manage to turn my ankle a bit, which hurt very briefly at the time, but later hurt and swelled pretty good, so I took lots of ibuprofen and iced it often. Looks much better now. Not sure how it happened, but somehow my foot stuck on something and the rest of me kept going.

One very nice thing, although it made our Friday very busy, was my mother-in-law suggesting we move the computer/desk out of rIAm’s room and into the study next door. She had already done some measurements and knew it would work. Then she even suggested they get a double bed for us. Well, rIAm had the good idea to take a double bed from nonni (originally from her old room anyway, and one of two extra beds at nonni). I suggested that moving that would be much, much easier while we had the truck. So sure enough, after emptying the truck we loaded in a box spring, mattress, frame and bedding. Then back at the Mercuri house we partially disassembled the computer desk, maneuvered it into the next room, got it back together, removed the futon from rIAm’s room, and then got the double bed into place. Whew!

If all that sounds like too much to get done before rIAm’s interview, it was. The organization called again to postpone the interview until the new year. Which we kind of figured would happen. Since they close until then anyway, we figure it’s just as well that the interview happens in the new year.

The result was great, though, as my mother-in-law couldn’t believe all we did in a day (she was thinking we wouldn’t be able to address all this until after Christmas), and couldn’t believe how big rIAm’s room looks now. My father-in-law’s eyes just about popped out of his head he was so surprised, but he was also so happy that now rIAm and I have a place where we don’t have to bother anybody else, etc, while we are here (we had been sleeping in rIAm’s sister’s room, which adjoins to the bathroom rIAm’s other sister uses). Anyhow, the biggest awkwardness about staying here was relieved in one day, and at the suggestion of my mother-in-law. It certainly went a long way toward making me feel even more at home here, as it gives rIAm and I a place of our own.

Saturday we returned the truck and dropped some things off (like the futon) at Goodwill and got all of our presents ready. We had big plans for Sunday, mostly along the lines of putting clothes away, doing some things in the kitchen and sorting some other odds and ends. But the hydro (translation: electricity) had other plans.

About 10am, the power went completely out. Around 2:30pm the emergency hydro crew knocked on the door and said they figured out the problem was between a box in the front yard and the corner, but the repair would have to be done by a regular crew, which now had to be called out. We wouldn’t have power for hours.

So as the day wore on and it became more and more difficult to see, all sorts of plans were tabled, other things were taken on, and then we played a lot of cards. But my mother-in-law had to give up plans to bake more than the two cookies she had finished, the laundry was stopped mid-cycle, the dishwasher couldn’t run, and we became quite adept at heating things up on the stove that we normally would have done in the oven. My father-in-law and rIAm went visiting relatives while we managed in the dark until 9pm, when power was finally restored.

Just goes to show that when you start a construction project (the electrical box in the front yard is all dug up and surrounded by a big hole) in November/December in Toronto, when it snows and rains you get a flood and blown fuses. And a street with no power and angry residents. But we got through it, even if I had to channel memories of India and its power outages.

We’ve also enjoyed visiting with our sisters(-in-law), Colin, the nonni and everybody else we’ve seen. It’s been nice to sit around the table for tasty meals with family, and enjoy the seasonal festivities and decorations around here. The tree is a bit smaller this year, but nicely decorated and looking good in the green room and with many presents underneath. We had to laugh when we saw our cousin’s gifts, though, because it was the EXACT same idea we almost did this year – homemade cookies in a nice jar! (We didn’t open them early, they are just visible the way they were wrapped). After picking up the containers we were going to use, we switched course and did something else, sort of similar, but we couldn’t believe how close we were to having the same present! And as if there weren’t enough things under the tree, a funny thing happened…

Uncle Paul called and rIAm was talking to him. He said he was going through the Tim Horton’s drive-thru and could be here in 20 minutes, and he had some boxes he wanted to store here for a bit. rIAm checked if keeping them in the garage would be ok, he said whatever, so we agreed. Then when he showed up, they were massive (I mean, massive), wrapped boxes. Five of them. Numbered 1-5. And when we checked if they were here so they were hidden from Nonna Anna, he said no, they were staying here. So now that we’ve blocked off seemingly a whole corner of the green room with these things, we have the giant mystery presents in the corner. It’s not even clear who they are all for, but they are big, and many of them are heavy. (UPDATE: Turns out three of them were big Mary Kay suitcases – with Mary Kay sleeping bag inside – one was a big mirror and the last was a water cooler.)

UPDATE: rIAm opens her present

I guess that’s the way things go around here; things are definitely in a festive spirit. Decorations are up, lots of presents under the tree, holiday cookies abound, and a wrapping station that was in full swing until this afternoon. Tonight rIAm and I take Nonna Immacolata to Christmas Eve mass, then we join everybody at Nonna Anna’s for the big seafood feast. Tomorrow we have the big Christmas lunch at the Mercuri house, and somewhere in there we’ll have time to open all the presents under the tree.

We miss Naperville and all of our friends and family in Chicagoland. It was so great to see so many of you while we were there, and we thank you all for making our stay so wonderful. We very much look forward to the next opportunity to see all of you, in Chicago or Toronto.

But it also feels real good to be where we are. Even Grandma, who is happy about my move only because it’s what I want, closed our last phone conversation before I left Naperville by saying, “have a safe drive home.”

It was touching, and it helped me realize, yes, Toronto is now home. I’m a Chicagoan at heart, but indeed, now I can say – with the full backing of the Canadian government – I am a Torontonian. And that feels pretty good too.

To each of you reading and to your family and friends, have a wonderful Christmas, winter break (if you have one!), and a happy, healthy, peaceful new year.

Merry Christmas, happy holidays and Happy New Year!

Click here (and then on the video) for a musical holiday greeting from rIAm’s and my latest favourite musical artist.

(sorry for all the clicking, but i’m not feeling like recreating the same link at the moment) — hat tip to Ari, though!

Hard to believe the holiday season is here… Hannuakah starts in 10 days or so, Christmas is a mere 20 days away! A lot has happened in the last 12 months, good and bad, but 2006 will always be marked by great memories and stories for me…

But in all the hustle and bustle of this month and season, a (brief) moment to enjoy rIAm’s family’s tree from last year…

Okay, moment over.

(Head over to our flickr page to check out all the new photos I’ve posted lately. If you’d like to, that is.)

We had a great Thanksgiving weekend, including a lovely dinner at Ellen & David’s (roughly 30 people strong!) on Thursday. rIAm particularly liked this shot, and since my sister said I don’t post enough family photos, voila!

You can find more photos from our Thanksgiving weekend here.

And I created a famiglia set on flickr, which you’ll find here.