flwyd | Entries tagged with thanksgiving

Having the GMail address trevorstone@, I get a lot of email destined for other people around the world named Trevor Stone. This misdirected mail can be anything from invoices from contractors to airline ticket confirmations to Uber Eats receipts to messages from family members. But most of it is marketing mail from websites, and most of them seem to be meant for a Trevor Stone from England who is particularly bad at putting typing his correct address.

I noticed an email for this United Kingdom version of Trevor Stone which illustrates an interesting pattern: the internationalization of the consumerism parts of Thanksgiving weekend, even though the "Spend Thursday feasting and visiting with your family" part seems to remain an American-only tradition.

Date: Thursday 26 Nov 2020 15:38:28 +0000
From: Millwall FC
Subject: An early Black Friday offer has been spotted!

Enjoy an early Black Friday offer - get free postage and packaging (UK ONLY) when you spend £60 or more, using the code below...

This UK-only Black Friday special has an extra dose of irony because the Millwall FC's mascot is The Lions, but they're not the Lions football team most associated with Thanksgiving football.

Mood: quixotic
Location: USA
Music: KGNU - Old Grass, GNU Grass
Crossposts: https://flwyd.livejournal.com/396654.html

Things I give thanks for:

The financial stability to quit my job during a recession to travel in Latin America and the western U.S.
- A great friend and travel buddy for said adventures.
- A good relationship with my parents and their home I can use as a base of operations in such times of flux.
The education, mental sharpness, and technical acumen to earn a job at a top-ranked company during a recession.
- Parents who placed a high value on education and contributed to the cost of higher education.
- A home town with great schools at all levels.
- People who share ideas and programs for free on the Internet.
A body that's mostly healthy and mostly functional, even though I tend to neglect its upkeep in favor of mental pursuits.
An environment where I can enjoy simple pleasures, from sitting half-dressed in the sun to riding a bicycle around town and bringing cheer.
A web full of intellectually stimulating things to read, even if it distracts me from more important tasks.
Plenty of healthy, tasty food.
Hours and hours of good music.
A friendly neighborhood cat who visits to share the wealth of soft and cute.

I hope that you, dear readers, have many blessings you can count, even if this year has been rough and difficult. May your bellies and arms be full and your minds and hearts be content.

Mood: quixotically thankful
Location: my childhood home
Music: David Grisman & Andy Statman - March of the Mandolas, Part 2

I always forget to announce this well in advance, but this is a reminder that tomorrow is Buy Nothing Day. Participate by not participating!

Mood: ha-choo
Location: bed
Music: Groove Armada - Love Box

From the Mind of Trevor Stone

… blogging like it's the mid-naughties

Entries tagged with thanksgiving

Exporting American Traditions of Consumerism

The Word is Cranberry Sauce. Spread the Word

Buy Nothing Day

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