A Holiday for America

Thanksgiving is rapidly approaching and the week itself offers a lot to the average American. For example Monday is considered the slowest day of the year in the restaurant industry, bars, and shopping centers. Probably because people are preparing for a big home-cooked meal and saving their money for the big shopping day on Friday. Wednesday is considered the drunkest day of the year. It is a night most Americans go out and get drunk, according to the Alcohol-manac. It is probably because everyone goes home to their families, reunites with old friends, and doesn't have to work or worry about too much the next day besides not being too hung over to eat all the delicious food. In fact, it's tradition in my home town, (small, population 4,000) to go out to the local pub. It is likely nearly every high school graduate of Lodi High School will be there. You find all ages; the nearly 21's up to parents who also graduated from Lodi. Its like a drunken reunion of the whole town. Sometimes enjoyable, but sometimes you just don't want to see certain people. So it has its own kind of entertainment. As Thanksgiving happens on the following day. Its probably one of the biggest days to watch football, spend time with family, eat and sleep, we all know that turkey makes you tired! It's also a time to be Thankful. To give thanks to the people in your life, the things you have in your life and thankful for the Europeans bringing such a delicious holiday to our country. It originated from the Europeans coming over to North America and bringing harvest festivals with them (as they celebrated them in Europe) it was to celebrate a safe voyage, peace and good harvest. Finally to sort wrap up the busy holiday week. Friday, considered Black Friday, is the biggest shopping day of the year. The day after Thanksgiving means it is time to start thinking about Christmas. Best to get those Christmas gifts early and on sale. Black Friday most stores will have massive sales and why not get the sales and the Christmas gifts early!? Then it is stress free before another holiday. That's only if you have a mind of a shopper. I would rather avoid the mass chaos and just sit in my pajamas all day eating left-overs. I am not a big shopper in general, and I still cannot understand why anyone would want to go out into that crazy crowd just to find some good deals. Perhaps I'd rather pay the full price and avoid the angry housewives in the store yelling at each other just to get the last candle. I always look forward to the week and the holiday also, because it is the first break we get off school in the semester. And it is always right around a stressful time when it is good to just take a break and relax for a day or two before we have to get right back at it for finals. :) 
Happy Turkey Day :)  *gobble gobble*

Crossword Puzzles

So, I have been doing crosswords for about a year and half now. I have only consistently done the UWM Post's crosswords, because they are convenient and also good for beginners. However, I made it a goal when I first started doing crossword puzzles, I would try to finish a crossword by MYSELF within the next year. That wasn't so successful. I'm still attempting that goal. I generally grab a UWM Post every week and attempt to complete the crossword, last week I felt the most accomplished in my goal yet. Myself and 2 other girls finished the crossword together in about an hour an a half. It didn't succeed my personal goal to finish one on my own, but with the help of the other two, it felt like I could have done it myself. Sometimes it just takes a second brain to trigger something that you just forgot about or were missing.

After doing crosswords for a while now, and yes I do attempt other kinds of crosswords (i just give up quicker, because they are harder), you find that clues and such are similar in different crosswords and also you begin to educate yourself as well on common knowledge or "stupid" knowledge. Even the way things are worded in the crossword as a clue makes you more an intellectual to understand what is trying to be said. I was talking to a good friend after my friends and I finished the crossword, and he does crosswords all the time. He actually usually finishes the Post's crossword (by himself) in 20-30 mins. He asked me if I used pen, and I said "Yes of course I did" and he told me that was a good thing, because it makes you think more and feel confident in your answers on the crossword. It is so true! You have to feel a sense of confidence when you decide to put the answer in the crossword with pen. It makes an official answer, and when you screw up and that doesnt end up being correct, you make a mess and you may not be so sure to put the answer in right away next time. Instead, perhaps you problem solve first. Figure out the other answers around that one answer to help fill in the empty blanks. Then once you see something familiar you may finally decide to put your guess in!

Also, crosswords are a good subject for a general conversation with friends or even people you do not know!
I still continue to do crosswords and will for a long time. It is also good to getting your mind activated and thinking about things. For me sometimes it is a good break from school work, yet it keeps my mind working at the same time!