There is nothing better to commence the holiday season than gaining 30 pounds from a long-awaited smorgasbord of turkey, mashed potatoes and stuffing…and giving thanks, of course. As we all gather 'round Tom Turkey, most will give thanks for dear family and friends, and justifiably so, but there are thanks to be found elsewhere. Anything that causes you to crack a smile in your daily routine deserves attention and should not be overlooked in the slightest. Thus, I am obliged and eternally thankful for:
l Down comforters. Sleep is never better than when entombed in the cloud-like bliss of a down comforter.
l Snapple tops. Snapple itself is satisfying enough, but the random facts on the caps heighten the enjoyment for those who possess an endless capacity for useless information. The "Real Fact" from the one I'm drinking now: "Before mercury, brandy was used to fill thermometers."
l Flip-flops. Close-toed shoes can be so confining.
l Hockey movies. Disney has mastered the art of the hockey movie, bringing together an invariably adorable cast, Queen classics and victory (naturally).
l Swiffers. Whether it's the duster or the mop, they weren't kidding when they said it extends and swivels to those hard-to-reach places, making cleaning so much easier and disposable.
l Fleece. It has become the staple of every wardrobe, and being comfortable has never been so stylish.
l Cologne. It melts me.
l The popcorn button. For those with the propensity to ruin microwave popcorn, making it with either a lovely burnt aroma or leaving a half-bag of kernels, there is always comfort to be found in the popcorn button.
l Fla-vor-ice. It's every 5-year-old's dream: pure sugar. And it still tastes every bit as good as it used to.
l Scarves, hats and gloves. Anything to combat the cold, even if it risks looking like a eskimo.
l Road trips. Good music, comfortable silence and uncontrollable laughter. What's not to like? A new adventure comes with each shady gas station and the raunchy vending machines.
l ChapStick (the original). I can taste the Alps on my lips.
l Snail mail. A ridiculous level of childish excitement arises every time I see a sliver of paper through the view window of my MSC box.
l SpellCheck and Shift+F7.
l Hot chocolate, mochas and chai tea.
l Post-its. They are basically an excuse to utilize every fluorescent color known to man.
l NCAA basketball. No other sports series compels me to religiously set up camp in front of the TV for four months, making ESPN updates a habitual routine. Plus, March just wouldn't be the same without it.
l Nalgene bottles. I'm all about anything I can drop from a ski lift and find perfectly intact.
l Lifetime original movies. These over-dramatized sob stories are perfect for Saturday afternoons and furthering procrastination attempts.
l TCBY. Heaven on earth can be found in their 99 percent fat-free, white-chocolate mousse, making it a guilt-free indulgence.
l Magnetic Poetry. You can go to the fridge for a Coke and leave a creative masterpiece.
l Ron White. "Blue Collar Comedy" inevitably doubles almost anyone over in laughter, particularly Ron White. For seasoned fans: "They call me Tater Salad."
l Delivery food. Although it is rather stereotypical of college students, pizza, Jimmy John's and Chinese beats Gries cafeteria any day.
l N64. While the rest of the video game world has advanced graphically, nothing beats an old- school round of Mario Kart or Golden-Eye.
l No school. Everyone needs five days of relaxation before the terror of finals takes hold. Enjoy!
