The gathering of the clan has begun, the RegenAxe clan that is. Cue the bagpipes. Dan flies in from the Left Coast this Friday. Dave will arrive sometime next week, followed quickly by special guest, Rey. Dave has just returned to Purdue after a long weekend in Vegas, but what happened in Vegas, I’ll just leave there. Joanie will join us for Thanksgiving that will give us six at the table, a pretty good-sized dinner party around these parts.

The above sparrow has graciously volunteered to be our Thanksgiving bird this year. He is totally 100% organic. What do you mean he looks too small? I could blow him up six times larger if you want. Remember, a bird in the pan is worth two in the bush, or something like that. How about, it’s not the size of the bird in the fight, but the number of bites in the bird? Oh look, there is a cardinal at the feeder. Let’s eat him too.

The next day, Black Friday, we’ll start to unwind this conclave. Dan will depart first, eventually followed by Dave and Rey, at the end of the holiday weekend. In addition to feasting, planned activities include taking in a Blues hockey game, as both Dave and Rey want to see them play. The Missouri History Museum will have an exhibit opening over this holiday weekend. It is called “Mastodons” and was designed by Chicago’s Field Museum.

I’ve already mentioned Black Friday, the official start of the Christmas shopping season. This year, shoppers can start on the first stroke of midnight. No longer need one feign sleep, only to wakeup at three in the morning. This year, just lay off the tryptophan, switch to coffee, stay up and you will be good to go, shop ’till you drop.

This week, a flurry of emails between Anne and her sisters have been burning up the information superhighway. They all have lists, little lists, lists for people who certainly shouldn’t be missed, Christmas lists. As per usual, I am not yet ready to offer gift suggestions, at least for myself, but I do have some for other family members. Has everyone already forgotten about yesterday’s Brain Coat? If so, maybe I should order one for everyone? I hope it’s not too late.