Enjoying blessings

@SL_body_copy_ragged:Thanksgiving and the holidays are supposed to bring families together. Children, cousins and friends return home to eat, drink and be lazy. It's family time.

If your family is anything like mine, it's crazy time. I thought you might need shelter from the storm. A padded room, if you will, complete with a bar and stools and a band to drown out Aunt Gertrude. Throughout the magazine we've provided you with different things to get away -- concerts, karaoke, movies, books and CDs that you just have to get out of the house to go get.

Then again, if being immersed in family time is something you truly look forward to, bring 'em along. What better activity for major bonding time than hopping onto a stage and belting out a song or two? The Jackson 5 did it. Go ahead, pick a night and pretend to be the Partridge Family. Be anything you want; just be thankful.

I'm thankful. I'm thankful I'm healthy. I'm thankful you're healthy.

I'm thankful I live in a town that stays up and open past 8 p.m., and that I have a job that lets me enjoy it. I'm thankful for a dance floor at Mike Renick Band concerts, new faces like Oh for Audio, Almost Always and whoever might show up next week, sporadic appearances from Fists of Phoenix and random other bands that make me realize how much these people like playing.

Most of the bands you'll see on stages in the area are only there because they like it. It's their hobby, and they're sharing it with you.

I'm thankful for each new month and the corresponding art shows. The change of scenery is always appreciated.

I'm thankful for crisp winter days and good football weekends. I'm thankful for my new What Made Milwaukee Famous and Bloc Party CDs, new Christmas movies and the fact that we won't deal with "American Idol" for another few months. (I broke up with David Cook, by the way. We're still friends and all, but I need to focus.)

I'm not going to be near my biological family this Thanksgiving. I'm thankful I have surrogate family members here -- most of whom will happily stuff me with food and good times or run to a bar to have a dri -- um -- to "see a band" with me.

I'm thankful I'm involved in a community that's truly generous and caring. A few past columns have promoted their work. The Christmas calendar already has a couple charity concerts listed. Plans are being made for the annual Christmas Hoot, a group of concerts that benefits Cottonwood Treatment Center.

I'm thankful for friends, family and you. Now turn the page and enjoy.