On this day before Thanksgiving, I give thanks to the following (of course, besides my family and health):

• Ryan Howard and his massive frame that hits balls very very very far
• Cole Hamels' precious left arm
• Youth generally: Howard, Hamels, Chase Utley, Jimmy Rollins, and Brett Myers (on the field, not off) and to a lesser extent Shane Victorino, Carlos Ruiz, Ryan Madson, and Fabio Castro
• Citizens Bank Park, where watching a game is tons of fun, at least, as much fun as watching the Phils play can be
• Ed Wade and Larry Bowa not being employed in Philadelphia
• Mike Schmidt and Bobby Abreu, two of the greatest Phillies ever, playing while I have been a fan of the Phils
• Pat Burrell and his inexplicable reluctance (so far) to leave Philly

Of course, there are things I'm not thankful for as well:

• Phillies' ownership and everything about them - their invisibility, their stubborn refusal to sell, their insistence on hiring retreads or their lackeys, and, most disastrously, their complete lack of concern for winning
• Pat Gillick who seems to be stuck in the 1970s with his talent acquisition philosophy
• Proven veterans like Jeff Conine, Jamie Moyer, Sal Fasano, Arthur Rhodes, and possibly soon-to-be-Phillies David Weathers and Joe Borowski
• Brian Cashman and his thievery
• The myths of 1980 and 1993 and their stranglehold on this franchise

Add to either list as you see fit! Happy Thanksgiving everyone!