Not really anxiety, per se, but it was a slightly odd feeling for me this year as we didn't get to see any of my side of the family.  Let me back up a bit...

Mary's annual meeting for work is always the week after Thanksgiving.  That means she begins working at McCormick Place the week prior.  She has off on the Thursday of Thanksgiving, but has to work Friday, Saturday and Sunday.  Needless to say, that makes for very little time to spend with family.  What was even more difficult this year, was that Mary's dad, who also works at the annual meeting, had to work ON Thanksgiving until 1:30pm.  That meant that her mom wouldn't have had any company that day.  Well, Mary just wouldn't allow that!

Despite her hectic schedule, she decided that we (to be read, "she" - don't get me wrong, I helped) would make a "mini" Thanksgiving dinner to bring to her Parents and Grandparents so they, too, could enjoy the traditional festivities. Originally, we were going to go out to her Parents' house in the southwest suburbs for an early dinner, then head to my Sister's house for dessert.  It turned out that my Dad had to work until 6:00pm, then planned on going to my Aunt's house in the northwest suburbs.  Already being short on time and energy, we decided it just would be too tough to see both sides of the family this year. 

I think this was the first major holiday where we didn't get to see everyone.  Fortunately, I have seen a lot of my family lately, but again, it was just a little odd NOT seeing them on a major holiday.  At least we were able to have a really nice time with Mary's Parents and Grandparents.  Mary's mom made mushrooms and cranberries and her Grandma made sweet potatoes.  Also, a few birthdays are coming up on my side (Mom, Carys and Mary) and Christmas is just around the corner!

Ok, so this story is about Rubbermaid, not tupperware, but to a guy it's all the same.  I don't consider myself traditional when it comes to keeping house.  I don't think a woman should solely bear this responsibility.  It's not a question of traditional gender roles for me, but more one of everyone should pitch in to help where needed.

That being said, before Mary and I got married, she lived in an apartment with no dishwasher.  As we had agreed ahead of time, most often when she made dinner, I would do the dishes.  I have no problem doing dishes.  Tupperware, which I have inaccurately generalized as any sealable plastic container, irritated me quite a bit.  There always seems to be all different types and sizes.  Most of the lids didn't go together, they didn't dry easily, and worst of all, different types didn't stack very well.

So, when we registered, I tried to not even think about the whole tupperware situation.  It wasn't until we unpacked our new plastic containers and I started loading and unloading them from the dishwasher that I start to truly started to appreciate it.  The set that my wonderful bride bought all goes together, stacks ingeniously together, is easy to store, is easy to wash...I could go on and on.

I feel as if I have grown as a person.  I've come to appreciate a kitchen item that previously was a source of grief and frustration.  As long as Mary doesn't make me start using our old tupperware again, all is right in the plastic container story of our lives.

Some more sad news to report...

My Uncle, Gordon Mark Minster, affectionately known as Nod or Nodrog ("Gordon" backwards), passed away last Tuesday just days shy of his 50th birthday.  This evening was his visitation and service.  He was my Father's brother, youngest of their siblings.  While we never spent a great deal of time together, family get-togethers and such, there were a few times when I had the honor of visiting my Grandpa Jack's grave on Harleys with my Dad (riding "POPEYE," of course) and my Uncle Gordon.  These were fond memories for me as few others in my family had the same love of riding motorcycles as my Grandpa Jack, my Dad, Gordon and myself.  While Gordon was bound to a wheel chair since a motorcycle accident at age 19, we always shared that love for two-wheeled riding.

As stated by some, we were fortunate enough to have him for an extra 30 years after his accident that many would not have survived.  We know that his is now riding again, wearing his MMC vest, next to Grandpa Jack on the way to see Grace Margaret, in a much happier place.

Nod is sorely missed and survived by 4 siblings, 13 nieces and nephews, 20 great nieces and nephews and many other family and lots of friends.

There are places I'll remember
All my life though some have changed
Some forever not for better
Some have gone and some remain
All these places have their moments
With lovers and friends I still can recall
Some are dead and some are living
In my life I've loved them all

But of all these friends and lovers
There is no one compares with you
And these memories lose their meaning
When I think of love as something new
Though I know I'll never lose affection
For people and things that went before
I know I'll often stop and think about them
In my life I love you more

Though I know I'll never lose affection
For people and things that went before
I know I'll often stop and think about them
In my life I love you more
In my life I love you more

Gordon Mark Minster (1958-2008)

Ever since Mary and I started drinking wine, I feel as if we've accumlated quite a bit.  Not enough to fill a wine cellar by any means, however, definitely more than enough to fill a small wine rack!  We had been trying to decide if we wanted to buy a piece of furniture like a cabinet or buffet.  After looking all over for a nice piece of furniture at a good price, we didn't find anything we loved enough to justify the money.  So we decided we'd try a wine cooler or refrigerator.  Nothing seemed to fit just right either accept for one.  We bought it and brought it home, only to discover it just didn't work out the way we wanted.  So it will get returned.

Once we came to that decision, we figured we may not find anything for now, so we bought an inexpensive stand-alone wine rack from World Market (along with 6 more bottles of wine!).  After getting it home and filling it with wine, we found that we liked it much better than we thought!  Not only does it fit right where we wanted it, but it goes with much of the rest of our furniture, and it holds most of our wine!  Now I just wonder if we'll ever be able to drink it all :)

Mary and I went to see The Dark Knight at the Tivoli theater on Sunday with Steve and Kati.  Mary and I saw it right when it came out, but due to slightly poor planning on my part, we were forced to sit in the front row in an already small and cramped theater in the city.  Seeing movies at the Tivoli is fantastic.  It's never crowded, the screen is huge, and the sound is amazing.  This made the already awesome film even better.  I have to say, that while most of the performances were really good, Heath Ledger's performance in this film is just amazing.  After having seen it twice now, I still want to go back and see it again.