Four hour layovers in Raleigh, North Carolina really suck.

I had a nice week at home. I prepared most of Thanksgiving dinner (mashed potato pie with two kinds of cheese, breaded eggplant and zucchini, stuffed mushrooms, pecan pie) and we were able to celebrate in a large room in the basement of my father's nursing home residence (rather than his personal room, which is cramped). Sister's Boyfriend came in from Georgia for the occasion, as did Cool Aunt and her husband from Connecticut.

I also met up with Mentor and Veteran Seeker earlier in the week. Mentor spoke with me about family, the holidays, and how I need to go get my Ph.D. "I can really see you winding up at Columbia or NYU, for some reason," he said. (He meant teaching, as a career, not in a graduate program.) Veteran Seeker and I caught up over lunch after not having seen each other for some time.

Wednesday evening I went out to dinner with Sister, Childhood Friend, Childhood Friend's Friend (who is a friend of mine and very cool, though I have no code name for him) and Bro's Friend. It was nice to go out with my sister – she is not always so amicable with me.

I also told the father of my youngest sister to go to hell. He deserved it.

Yay for the holidays!