From my writing side:  It’s Thanksgiving and on my cosplay page I started with a bizarre thanks, so I’ll start one here too. I’m thankful for the person(s) who broke into my apartment all those years ago and stole our laptops. Because of you, we were not only introduced to the delicious Keys Cafe, but it forced my partner and I to start over in the roleplay we had been doing since college. Because of starting over, we came up with the idea of “the Storyteller,” and ended up taking those rpg logs and turn them into “the Hunters” series and are now about the publish our first book, “Seeking the Storyteller.”

So thanks for being a jerk who breaks into people’s houses, because of you we got a book series going.

From my cosplay side:  I’m thankful for the bully I got. I’m thankful for their ignorant remarks about my cosplay, because if not for that person, I never would’ve fried chicken in response, would’ve never written that article, and would’ve never gotten so many wonderful fans like you all.  If not for such a simple minded individual I never would’ve stood up for myself and for others in such a way, so thanks internet bully, because of you I got the support of some really incredible people.

Though I guess honestly I’m thankful for fried chicken, for being so yummy and symbolic in such situations  ^^

My heartfelt thanks:  I’m thankful for all of you, for being here and following me. It’s really great that you take time out to comment on my posts or say things to me at conventions or send me messages. You all are terrific  :)  And if you don’t celebrate Thanksgiving for whatever reason, you still have my thanks today and every other day for now until whenever.  Thank you to all of you for being fans of me and my work. Thanks for reading what I write, for supporting my work, and just being all around great people. When the books take off and I go on Ellen and do some sort of terrible dance, I hope you’ll still be there cheering me on.

My friends and family thanks:  I love you.  Short and simple, because you already know  <3  It’s been an interesting year with some ups and some downs, but thanks for being here for all of it.  From first time book publishings, to jobs I depended on being cancelled at the last minute, you all have pretty much kept me sane through all of it, so thank you.

Black Friday/Whatever Thursday reminder:  behind the cut because it’s long.

Dear everyone who is going shopping tonight, since that’s a thing you can do now. It’s your decision to do such a thing. I know there are people who love Black Friday and there are people who will be going out tonight, and if that’s something you want to do, fine.

But please, at least do the following for me.

Please be kind to the people working. Regardless of whether or not they chose to work that shift, please be kind to them. They have a long night ahead with little rest and they do not need you to be rude to them for things they cannot control, such as:

1. Selling out of the thing you want
2. The amount of time it takes them to get through the line
3. The fact that they don’t know when said sold out item will be in stock again. And before you ask, no they cannot call you, they cannot hold it, and they cannot call another store to see if they have it because no one is even going to hold it at that store so just save yourself the headache
4. The fact that not enough people are working and that there are not enough registers
5. The fact that things are out of order in the store and hard to find, if anything, you can blame your shopping brethren for that 
6. That the person right in front of you bought the last copy of that thing you want

So please be patient, courteous, and thankful that that employee is taking time out to be there tonight and tomorrow and the entire weekend. In some cases, they have no choice but to be there and jacked up their family time and sleep schedule for you, the customer. Even if they picked that shift, they’re still doing a service for you, so just, at least, thank them, and smile, just… something? They’re not asking for much, you know. You don’t have to go out and buy them coffee (although this did happen one time to me and a coworker and it was awesome), just… please?