The Three Tomatoes  love Thanksgiving.   It’s a holiday that requires no gift exchanging, you get to spend the entire day eating and the next three eating leftovers, all the while bemoaning that diet we need to start on Monday. And it’s a time to pause and contemplate all the things we are truly thankful for in this crazy, stressful world we live in.   Topping the list of course are family, friends, and loved ones, a roof over our heads and food on our tables (especially after a year filled with disaster after disaster.)   Here are some other things we’re thankful for. We’re thankful to call ourselves New Yorker’s and to be part of the greatest city in the world. We’re thankful for the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. We’re thankful for martinis, champagne, pinot grigio and great Chianti. We’re thankful for anti-wrinkle creams, micro dermabrasion kits, sunscreens, fake tans, and spray on leg makeup that hides our spider veins. We’re thankful for black clothes that make us look thinner than we really are. We’re thankful whenever we get a cab in rush hour or on a rainy day. We’re thankful for mascara and lipstick, shoes and handbags. We’re thankful for anything that makes us look and feel younger. We’re thankful that Rod Stewart keeps recording all the great old standard songs we love. We’re thankful there’s a Law and Order to watch nearly any time of the day or night. We’re thankful every time someone lies and says we look younger than we actually are (not that we actually say  how old we actually are.) We’re thankful every time someone asks if we’ve lost weight and thankful they don’t mention it when we’ve gained weight. We’re thankful for all the children who light up our lives. We’re thankful for all the teachers everywhere who really care and make a difference in the lives of children every single day but especailly for those who teach in NYC.  We’re thankful for coffee in the morning and low lighting in the bathroom.  We’re thankful for our loyal dogs that jump with joy at the sound of our footsteps and cover us with licks. We’re thankful for sunny days, rainy days, snowy days, bitter cold days, sunsets and sunrises and just about every day we’re given. We’re thankful to you, our Three Tomatoes' readers, who actually open and read our silly little emails, pass them along to friends, and take the time to write us little notes.   Have a wonderful Thanksgiving and remember to count your blessings.   ©Copyright 2005.  The Three Tomatoes.  All rights reserved.

You know you’re a tomato if… you’re thankful on Thanksgiving day if no one brings one of those sweet potato casseroles topped with marshmallows or a jello mold filled with fruit and sprinkled with coconut that you feel compelled to eat and say how yummy it is so you don’t hurt Aunt Matilda’s feelings. ******************************** A fun way to Holiday Shop Sure you can head to the mall or the department store for your holiday shopping...But isn't it better to find a source with really cool gifts and designs AND give to a wonderful charitable organization, Gilda's Club NYC? This amazing shopping event takes place on Saturday Dec. 3rd at Gilda's Club NYC ,195 West Houston Street between 6th and Varick from 10 am – 6 pm.  You’ll find items from hot new designers, get a cooking demo from a hot new cookbook author, imbibe on wine and cheese, and get a chance to bid on some great silent auction items.   Call 212.647.9700 in advance for your paid reservation and get an awesome goodie bag (limited to first 50).  Admission is $20 and helps support  Gilda's Club  (named in memory of Gilda Radner who died from ovarian cancer in 1989) .  Gilda's Club is a special place where the focus is on living with cancer. And where men, women and children with any kind of cancer and their family members and friends can plan and build life-changing emotional and social support. *********************************     Help us grow our list.   If you enjoy The Three Tomatoes, tell your friends.  It's free, a chance to learn something new and trivial, and you might get an occasional chuckle too.   Sign up www.thethreetomatoes.com.    ********************************* Vote in This week’s The Three Tomatoes Poll Do you head for the malls/stores the day after Thanksgiving for holiday shopping?  Click here. *********************** Last week’s The Three Tomatoes Poll Results Tomatoes agree that air travel is much worse today than 10 years ago.! *************************