Happy Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is probably one of my favorite holidays, partially for the food (nom nom nom) but also because it's one of the only holidays that has meaning I can really identify with. Of course, it's origins are kind of crappy, considering some think that the Pequot Massacre of 1637 spurred the first Thanksgiving (an interesting article on that here) but I think the meaning that it takes on today is really nice. We live in such a materialistic culture and taking time to give thanks for what's real in your life seems like a really nice to tradition to me. Of course, that's hoping you don't take part in Black Friday madness...that kind of cancels out repenting for materialism on Thanksgiving.

Anyway...what am I thankful for? Well, I have a pretty amazing life. My family rocks. They love and support me, which is evident when they tell people with pride that I have a blog called "The FBomb" which, without explanation, makes me sound like a hooligan of epic proportions. Of course, they always explain further, which sometimes leads to even worse reactions as not everybody in the world is open-minded. For that, and many other reasons, I am thankful for my family.

And I am thankful for you guys. You all teach me so much. You support me when I'm right, call me out when I'm wrong (sorry) and basically just make me a better person. Seriously though, starting the FBomb is by far the thing I am most proud of in my life and now am most thankful for. It's been great for me, and I hope it's been as great for you.

In the thanksgiving spirit, please feel free to leave what you're most thankful for in the comments. If that's not too sappy for you.

Now...SOME THANKSGIVING RANDOM FACTS! History.com is totally my go to site on holidays.

Sarah Josepha Hale, the enormously influential magazine editor and author who waged a tireless campaign to make Thanksgiving a national holiday in the mid-19th century, was also the author of the classic nursery rhyme "Mary Had a Little Lamb."

The National Turkey Federation estimated that 46 million turkeys—one fifth of the annual total of 235 million consumed in the United States in 2007—were eaten at Thanksgiving. (Let's hear it for those of you who are going for the Tofurkey!)

According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the largest pumpkin pie ever baked weighed 2,020 pounds and measured just over 12 feet long. It was baked on October 8, 2005 by the New Bremen Giant Pumpkin Growers in Ohio, and included 900 pounds of pumpkin, 62 gallons of evaporated milk, 155 dozen eggs, 300 pounds of sugar, 3.5 pounds of salt, 7 pounds of cinnamon, 2 pounds of pumpkin spice and 250 pounds of crust. (I am proud to be an Ohioan)

Snoopy has appeared as a giant balloon in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade more times than any other character in history. As the Flying Ace, Snoopy made his sixth appearance in the 2006 parade.

Happy Thanksgiving (American) FBombers!