happy thanksgiving

hello, all. didn't expect to hear from me, huh? well, it can't be long, as it's 12.30 in pa, and i didn't sleep well last night. but yesterday mom and i went to phily where my stepcousin has a computer store, and mom bought me a new computer for christmas... and a new one for herself as well. and she set it up in her office, which is the fold out couch that i'm sleeping on- so now that everyone's gone to bed, the computer is mine. my flight into philly was delayed, which was fine as i had the babybooties for my stepsister on dad's side's baby shower on sunday. allie said if i made booties she'd take care of the rest of the requirements. and amy picked me up at the airport, and i had a lovely 12 hrs or so with her, eating her splendid food and drinking wine out of her lovely blue wineglasses, sleeping under the world's fluffyest duvet and listening to good mixes. then mom picked me up and the computer fiasco began. she bought way more stuff than she needed to. i should have been more outspoken. hopefully i can return it to the apple store in chicago when i get home. anyway, it took us FOREVER to get home from philadelphia- like, 2.5 hrs. marty called on the way to ask us to stop at his old house for random kitchen appliances, then allie called, saying the grandparents had arrived, and then later when we were in the driveway- it sounded like she was crying. aparently so, as mom had a fight with marty as i was greeting and distracting the grandparents. but there are more of us than him, so it's been fine. we all sneered at his peperidge farm instant stuffing and allie and i went to the grocery store to buy real bread. then today aunt deanne, uncle dave, justine and jenna came today, and samir, too. i don't know what's up with them. i mean, as an urbanite, there are alot of things about their thought processes that i don't understand. but they drove 6 hrs. for dinner... then left again tonight! reason: justine had to work at j crew this morning. plus- she's sick, went to the doctor, on antibiotics. she'll probably call off anyway. even if she doesn't, she'll be caughing on all the sweaters the black friday shoppers are buying tomorrow. it was a really strange dynamic. it's always like they're just dying for an excuse to get out of things as soon as possible. like, they like us in theory, but not in practice. i don't know. justine gives all that lip service to visiting me in chicago, but she can't even stay accross the state for one night? of course, maybe it's just they don't like marty either, and are trying to avoid him. but there's strength in numbers! samir-i-poo won't be leaving till tomorrow. he's fun, whish he could stay around longer. but i guess he's got parents too. gma and gpa leave tomorrow too- and that's allie and my's thanksgiving at dad's. so sat and sun will be the fun ones. i'm so glad allie will still be around. but i'm afraid mom will gang up with marty and i'll again feel alone in this strange new family situation.