The mulchin is going good, one more tilling of the garden and its ready to rest & winterize. yep, have excellent top soil for living in the desert!! Thanks for the vote of confidence. I love growing my own food. I still have three turkey's from the batch I raised and slaughtered last year. Thankful for that 22 - worked good on them...you have a nice Thanks day--and all the days thereafter!!

Hey 'gardener',how are ya mulchin'?
Don't worry about the "holiday".When it comes to giving sincere 'Thanks', EVERY day is Thanksgiving.One has to remember that the very meaning of "holiday" comes from 'holy day',back in the day when it was disrespectful to work for profit and no commercial enterprises were ALLOWED to open or profit on a "holy day"! LOL! I guess that's gone by the way-side a bit now,in favour of commerce i.e. shop sales and airport traffic etc.
Happy Contemplation'gardener',may your roots be well tended and your top-soil fertile.
Peace Salaam,Shalom!

I have a bit of a problem with this preconceived "holiday". Originally made known by that president...what's his name? uhhh Franklin? Anyway, After this new extension of europe was set up and after they knocked of as many Indians they could get away with, they come up with this "thankful holiday". ahhh, racial cleansing...the crops are ready to harvest...let's eat, drink and be marry. And so they did. And so we do. I am a thankful person, but not just when I am told to be/and do by so-called tradition.

'Happy Thanksgiving Knocket'!
I'm afraid my juvenile years were lost in a very un-"passive" WW2,a time of acute realism as regards the lengths 'man' will go to obtain power at the expense of the lives and liberties of our loved ones!
And as for volunteering/donating etc, been there,done that,MANY TIMES,in MANY countries,and STILL doin' it! In fact the money we would have spent on Thanksgiving,was donated to LinkTV!
Sorry,knocket,but reality has a way of melting the haze of idealism as one gets older.Fortunately,reality can still be great fun and ACTUALLY rewarding!
So,I do remain optimistic about the possibilities,even tho' I'm aware of the PROBABILITIES!
Enjoy your study time then travel the planet,from continent to continent,people to people,then you'll REALLY learn about politics,in the flesh!
Oh,and re-read the origin of Thanksgiving,it's very much steeped in religion and persecution,historically and factually.
Enjoy the holiday!
Peace,Salaam,Shalom!

As a politics student, I understand the feeling of hopelessness that our government has set in present times. I study almost daily the mistakes of our government and learn about the corruption of politics. However, I could not help but feel that this response to the current situation was somewhat juvenile.

Thanksgiving is supposed to be a holiday in which - despite the thankless world we live in - we find something in life to be thankful for - which is not always in the material sense. I understand not wanting to spend money on gas and "butterball food" etc... but what ever happened to volunteering at soup kitchens or donating? These are traditionally linked with the thanksgiving holiday. People too often focus on the ways our government fails us in foreign policy, and forget the ways in which it has failed domestically. There are plenty of people without jobs, without homes and so on. Food donations exist for people living in the United States and those who are abroad.
Focusing on bitterness and how hopeless the situation is does nothing. If anything it adds to the problem by allowing people to think that "waiting for something to give thanks for" versus taking ACTION and becoming involved is the best option.
It allows people to turn a blind eye to the daily horrors of those suffering at home and abroad (as the majority of the population and our government already does)- and give up on trying to productively create solutions however small they may be.
So please, don't spread the mentality that society is hopeless and thankless.

If for nothing else, be thankful that you are one of the people with the insight to spread knowledge to others who are blind to the injustices of governmental action - even if it is just a family member sitting at the table with you - government representative's aren't the only ones who need to adjust their views. Because if people who follow such news can get others involved, and spread awareness, it makes it that much harder for people to agree with or be passive when such injustices are taking place.
Also, no need for God to be flexible as thanksgiving is not a religious holiday =)

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Considering the quality of our politics right now,considering the state of the world right now,considering the plight of our boys and girls in Iraq and Afghanistan etc and the plight of millions of others world-wide due to Bush and Congress etc,my family have made an informed decision to NOT celebrate Thanksgiving this year.It just doesn't feel right!
We are not going to spend our money on travel(gas),excess 'butterball' food,or empty recreation,whilst others are suffering because of corrupt,corporate politicians.
After recently reading books like 'Eight O'Clock Ferry to the Windward Side'(Seeking Justice in Guantanamo Bay) by Clive Stafford Smith(recently interviewed by Amy Goodman, on Democracy Now),we are happy to forego the giving of 'Thanks',AGAIN,until the bitter taste of hypocrisy,is'washed away'by TRUE Democracy and human rights respect.
I bought two extra copies of that book,and sent one each(with a letter),to two members of Congress I STILL respect(one a Presidential candidate,and possible personal nominee!)Maybe I still hope that they DO give a damn and have a conscience!
I suggested they read the book,during Thanksgiving,and consider HARD the present direction and reputation of our beloved America.And,that until they did something about it,they woud get neither my VOTE NOR MONEY!
So,we will "give thanks" when there is something our Government DO,to give thanks FOR!
I'm sure God will be flexible,there's no hidden 'agenda'there!
Peace,Salaam,Shalom!