I’m not sure, exactly, what we’re celebrating with Canadian Thanksgiving – other than, as the Act of Parliament decreed in 1957, “General Thanksgiving to Almighty God for the bountiful harvest with which Canada has been blessed,” which could mean anything, really. Hey God, thanks for all that maple syrup! And bacon! And stuff! – but whatever, it’s an excuse to eat pie. I like pie. So I’m taking a few days off to eat pie.

If you’re stuck for reading material during that time, you could join me in contemplating…

* Why Obama won the Nobel Peace Prize.

* Why Dan Brown’s Robert Langdon has nothing on Indiana Jones.

* Why designers make ugly shoes.

* Why monsters are awesome.

* Why I’m so flummoxed about God.

* Why we need to talk about SIDS more.

* Why Gwyneth should not be a role model for anyone, at least not anyone who dresses themselves.

* Why talking about boobs and bottles can be as tricky as resolving a peace in Afghanistan.

* Which, really: what about that Nobel Peace Prize thing?

* Why gorillas are just like monkeys, but not.

See you Tuesday. Eat some pie.

Because I am still sleep-deprived, and because I am still stressing out about this, and also because this weekend is Tree Decorating, Gift Shopping and Santa Picture Taking Weekend – the prospect of which exhausts me – all I can offer you today is a compendium of the week’s goodness and other miscellany from wherever and whenever. For example:

1) When Mattel asked everyone to share their Barbie memories, this isn’t what they had in mind.

2) Or this.

3) You should read this story. I’m not saying that because she’s one of my very bestest real life friends (which she is), but because it’s a story that will grip your heart and shake it up a whole lot. If she ever finishes writing it, that is

4) Other heart-shaking stories: on monsters and evil exes (which is to say, monsters) and the ick of facing quarterlife. (From the Basement. You should go.)

5) And because I am all about tears and angst this week – this made me cry. Hard.

6) I’ve gone off the rails with all the sad and the mope, haven’t I? It’s totally accidental, I swear. But while we’re on the subject of sad: it’s December 6 tomorrow. If you don’t know what that means, you should read this.

7) And just to wash all that sad out of your mouth, let’s give the last word to science. No, wait! To Santa:

Whoops.