I just met two deadlines for two books in one week. The manuscript for What’s Up Down There?

I’m in Ohio with my family to celebrate Thanksgiving this week. It's tempting to feel grumpy, after the way we arrived here. My last dozen trips to visit family resulted in 24-hour disasters of delays, cancellations, and sleeping on smelly carpets on the floors of O'Hare Airport. I swore off going home to be with family- until this year.

I’m not much into the practice of gratitude. I don’t keep a gratitude journal as Oprah prescribed all those years ago, nor am currently I participating in that Facebook thinggie where you post something for which you’re grateful each day from now until Thanksgiving. I mean, I think they’re beautiful ideas, as they help to promote a state of thankfulness in more people who may not otherwise see the blessings in their lives. Really, I’m all for such things. I’ve just never felt particularly drawn to do them.