A season of friends and family for Thanksgiving

November completely flew by. Not that we were exceptionally busy, but it just seemed to have gone by in a whirl.

Tricia came to visit around the middle of the month. It was great to see her, to show her where we live, where we hang out (not often enough), and the things we do out here (nothing too exciting). I always think it's strange, with some friends you could go years without seeing them or spending quality time with them, yet the friendship always feels the same. Different things are going on in our lives, our priorities are different, but hopefully our friendship will never be different. We ended up at our favorite vineyard out here, South Coast, and finally joined the wine club. After 3 times of nearly filling out the paperwork and dropping it off, we finally gave into the temptation.

Immediately after Tricia's visit, I had a work trip in DC. I got off the plane, got into my rental car, and got a voice mail from Tricia saying that it was supposed to snow that night. Coming from a weekend of frolicking in the vineyard in shorts and flip flops, to cold weather was not what I had in mind. But the work trip was ok (some of it felt like a big waste of time, but overall the change of pace was good), and I made it back to the warmth of CA safely.

I should say that I luckily made it home! Everyone knows I am the queen of last minute when it comes to airports, and I did not leave enough time to catch my flight. I came up to the rental car return facility with 35 minutes until take off, and missed the exit ramp for National. So I proceeded to circle all the way around the facility one more time, return the car and run to the shuttle bus. I then sat in the shuttle bus for about 10 minutes while the driver had a smoke (the nerve) and made it into the SouthWest terminal at 20 minutes to go. I had a bag that I normally check - loaded with 3+ 0z. of lotion, shampoo, conditioner, makeup, etc. It was a TSA nightmare. But I decided that the cost to replace all of the items TSA was going to make me throw out was worth not having to spend one more night in this 30 degree weather (of course, mine was the last flight of the night to SAN). I put the bag on the belt, and proceed to set off the metal detector. My belt was not friendly, nor was the 3M employee badge I still had hanging from my belt loop. I take them off, go through the detector, and shockingly grab my bags that TSA did not choose to open or enforce the "no liquids or gels" rule. As I am putting my shoes back on, I hear "This is the last call for Colette Zelesnikar at gate B10". I grab everything and run like a mad woman to the gate. I got there as soon as he was shutting the door, and he let me in. I sat down (in a middle seat, of course) sweating, and as I cooled off I realized my pants are kind of loose. Oh no - I forgot my belt and my 3M badge on the security belt. The next day my faith in TSA was restored. I called lost and found at BWI, and when I said I left my belt, the lady on the phone proceeded to describe my own belt to me and happily said she would Fed Ex it to me (with my Fed Ex account number, of course). So I got to keep my lotions and shampoo, and got my stuff back in a matter of 3 days. All in all - a successful trip.

We wrapped up the last 2 weeks of November here at home (home sweet home). Scott's high school friend came to visit for a weekend. Scott and I ran the Turkey Trot again this year, which I definitly tried to weasel my way out of running a number of times. We had my parents over for Thanksgiving. Then Eric finished out November with a weekend visit. We have had a lot friends and company - all things to be thankful for this Thanksgiving season. Next stop: Christmas in DC.