Thanksgiving

Bit late but a quick post about Thanksgiving back on Thursday 29 November 2007.

Thanksgiving here is a bit like Christmas lunch in Australia. Everyone gets back home if they possibly can and has a big turkey dinner. Donna was concerned about how many millions of turkeys were being consumed on the day, not counting 'May' and 'Flower' who were pardoned by Bush and spend the rest of their life at Disney World in Florida. So we Australianised the meal a bit with chicken and lamb.

Was also a good four day holiday. We did a few small trips around the Washington area. On Friday, we went into the city where I went to the Corcoran Gallery to see the Ansel Adams and Annie Liebovitz photo exhibitions. Adams exhibition had some earlier and later stuff which I didn't think were examples of great work but did show his full career. Overall though the exhibition I saw up in Rochester was superior. Also had the benefit there of only a few people being in the gallery compared to having a big line up to wait through before I could get into the crowded gallery this time.

Donna took the kids into the National Geographic Museum. The main exhibition there has changed to one on critter cam which seems aimed more at 10 - 13 year olds. The kids renamed it the 'museum which used to be the fun museum' and looks like we won't have to take them back there again!

Another thing that we noticed as different was the numerous requests we received for donations of various kinds. We made 3 or 4 food donations, as well as a couple of shoe boxes of toys to end up as Christmas gifts for kids. There's a lot more emphasis on personal donations here, partly reflecting the hole left by the government in this area. But it doesn't have the positive of making you realise how well off we are compared to others living in the same area and that you can help out.

Malcolm