Here I am, back to work on this week after Thanksgiving. The city is having a holiday luncheon for its employees this afternoon, so the work day will be a slow one. I have my work done for the day, so all I have to do is a few small projects before I leave for lunch.

Last Tuesday, I arrived at my brother's place in Canton, Georgia around 9:00p.m. My niece and nephew stayed up until I arrived, then they went to bed. I sat up and had a few drinks with my brother and sister-in-law, then we said our good nights.

The following Wednesday, my brother had to work a half day, and my sister-in-law took my niece to the doctors to get two shots of antibiotics. The girl is always sick! Especially around the holidays or when the family goes on vacation.

That left me with my nephew, so that means only one thing. A trip to the cinema!

We went to see Happy Feet, and both of us enjoyed it. It has its messages about environmental issues, but the movie is very entertaining. Watching penguins dance around to songs from the 70s will make any adult laugh.

As for Thanksgiving Day, a friend of my brother invited us over to dinner. My brother's friends live in Tampa Bay, but have family who live outside of Atlanta. We had a great time, plenty of cocktails, and a great dinner. My sister-in-law made this sweet potato souffle that was delicious. There was a scare earlier in the day when the bottle of vodka ran out, but fortunately, there was a back up chilling in the freezer. Good thing I was drinking beer.

The following Friday, the weather was beautiful. We wanted to go to the Georgia Aquarium, but reservations were full. We then decided to go to the Atlanta Zoo. That was a laugh. If the animals were not asleep, they were nowhere to be around. They must have had a rough Thanksgiving. Later that evening, we met up with my two nieces for dinner. They are my brother's daughters from his previous marriage. If you are in Atlanta and are looking for good Mexican food, try El Jinete. The pollo loco is the best!

Anyway, I had to leave Saturday as my nephew and niece left with their mother to see Santa at the mall. My brother was making space in the living room for the . It's that time of year, already.

Which brings me back to Orlando waiting for the holiday luncheon to start. I wonder what will be served? With the 18% raise the members of city council gave themselves, we should be able to get a few crumbs.

I guess I will now be in holiday mode, so that means that I should be in a good mood. And on Christmas day, I will be able to make another trip up to Atlanta to spend time with my family. I can hardly wait.

This time, I'll remember to bring up a bottle of vodka for backup.

So here I am, driving down Orange Avenue to go to McDonald's to get two breakfast sandwiches, and I notice something really strange.

The Golden Arches sign out front is off.

Then I notice that the driveway entering McDonald's is closed off.

It was there that I realized McDonald's was closed.

"Are you kidding me?", I said to myself in disbelief. McDonald's NEVER closes. The last time McDonald's closed was during a hurricane.

Did I miss something? Are we due for a late hurricane? Are we under attack by terrorists? Have aliens landed? Why, I can even hear Dr. Smith in the background crying, "We're doomed!"

I don't know why the McDonald's was closed. Neither did the restaurant down the street. But they were happy to have my business. And that breakfast was much better than eating something out of a wrapper.

So, is the end near? I don't know. But I do know that Thanksgiving is just a few days away. So I wanted to wish everyone here on Blogstream a "HAPPY THANKSGIVING".

I will be out of town, so I will get with everyone when I get back.

Enjoy the holiday. And keep your eyes out. McDonald's was closed. The end is near.

"Hey! Isn't that Elvis walking by the McDonald's?

Here it is. Monday. The Monday of the Thanksgiving holiday. I sit here at the computer with my coffee as my mind goes into holiday mode.

"You want it when?"

"You want what done?"

"Look me in this eye and see if it gives a rat's ass!"

Anyway, the facility supervisor is on vacation this week, and the recreation specialist is overseeing the neighborhood center. And every person she knows from different departments throughout the city will be stopping by to say hello.

Why, there's even a guy from Parks Department visiting right now.

"You want the grass cut where?"

It's kind of like that commercial with the guy who works in the office with the chimps. The man is the only one working, and the chimps are playing around. That is what it is like at work today.

I will be working today, and then a half a day tomorrow. Then I am off to Atlanta to see my brother and his family for Thanksgiving. I can't wait to see my nephew and nieces.

Now I am starting to realize how much I miss them.

Well, I have to go back to work. Besides, I need to get another cup of coffee. I will try to write before I leave, so take care, and I'll chat with you soon.

"You want that when?"

So here I am, answering any comments I get on Blogstream about my blog while I am listening to the Bucs-Panthers game. And guess what. The radio station lost the broadcast due to technical difficulties.

Don't you just love technology.

Anyway, I was writing about the Friday morning I had regarding a problem cooking breakfast, and someone asked me if I am a messy cook. Honestly, yes! There are pots and pans all over, utensils all over the place, and something that always has to drop/spill on the floor. And don't worry. I sweep/mop it up.

So this leads me to my next question of the day.

Why is it that when you cook a simple meal of eggs and toast, it looks like a bomb went off in your kitchen. But when you watch a cooking show on television, the chef is cooking a dinner for eight people. And there is not one dirty dish in sight and the kitchen looks clean?