ON Thanksgiving, remember: if it walks like a duck and talks like a duck, you’re drunk already. Ducks don’t talk.
Folks, alcohol is never the answer — unless the question is, “Why were you barely conscious on the kitchen floor eating cat food?”
Anyway, unlike the Covid-19 pandemic, 2021 is almost over, but we’re not sure yet if that’s a good or bad thing. (2022 is an election year. Oh the humanity.)
But no matter how bleak things are, there is always a time to reflect…and get drunk. Just kidding. The world still teems with so many good and beautiful things as Marianas Variety’s 27th annual Thanksgiving list clearly shows. (As usual, the items are listed in no particular order.)
Party on.
1) K-Andrea Evarose Limol says “there are so many people, things, places, and events to be thankful for, but I’m especially thankful for God, my entire family, all of my incredibly supportive friends, mentors, alma maters, past and present employers, colleagues, sources, and community, including our frontline workers who sacrifice so much for the sake of the community. I’m also thankful for the future generations. I hope they inherit a safer, cleaner, and more peaceful earth.”
2) Emmanuel “Arnold” Erediano says “thank you to Boss Amier, Ma’am Jenny, Zaldy, Che and Zoe, Marianas Variety family, Jeanette, Johana, John Gabriel, Remiel, John Baron, John Yuri, MJ, Arlynn, Dick and kids, Mayettte and family, Dong and family, Inday, Mommy Ching, Best Edgar Gares, Best Dennis Jay, Auntie Rose, Auntie Annie, USCIS, CCERA, Kilili, Andrea and family, President Biden, U.S. Congress, Mareng Chai, Paire OB and family, NAP, Walter Macaranas and family, Covid-19 Task Force, CHCC, Warren Villagomez, Esther Muna, Ret. Judge Juan Lizama, Discover, Sen. Paul Manglona, Speaker Edmund S. Villagomez, the House of Representatives, Reps. Joel Camacho, Tina Sablan, Ed Propst, Sheila Babauta, Celina Babauta, John Paul Sablan, Ralph Yumul, Richard Lizama, Donald Manglona, Leepan, Vicky, Angel, Roy, Jessica Tomokane, Kina Salas, Pete Towai, Dennis Reyes, Doris Bermudes, Joan Kaipat, Shanele Borja, all LB staff, Doc Ike Dela Cruz and family, Rita Sablan, Meng, Glenna Palacios, Lt. Gov. Arnold Palacios, Mayor David Apatang, Henry Hofschneider, Danny Quitugua, Bobby Iglesias, Nola Hix, Green Meadows, Ma’am Mila, Neflix, IT&E, Meta, WhatsApp, Triple J, Franco, Amy, Sundance Gardens, Eric Wong, Klyde, SBA, Warlee Ellama, NMIFA, Tan Holdings Football Club, NMASA, Ben Babauta, Carlene Sablan, Bantalan Sugar Dock, Inc., Hyatt Regency Saipan, Myline, IMG, Rotary Club of Saipan, Wendell Posadas, Kinpachi Restaurant, Misako Kamata, Sonia Diwa, and most of all, The Lord.”
3) Lori Lyn Lirio says “thank you to my sister, Cyndie Lirio, for 40 years of love and memories; K-Andrea, for late-night chats and for spiritual encouragement; Mayla Santos, for helping me out; Zaldy Dandan, for always including me in the equation when there is an editorial situation; Ronnel, for the pep talk; Uly Sabuco, for the deets; BOE Chairman Andrew Orsini, for always taking time to answer my emails and calls; Kiko and Dos Penaranda.”
4) The people and the government of the CNMI
5) U.S.A.! U.S.A.!
6) Maya Kara, RIP our dear friend
7) Bruce Mailman and family, Mailman & Kara, LLC staff
8) Eli Arago, RIP honorary consul
9) CHCC
10) Covid-19 Task Force
11) the frontliners against the pandemic
12) the Covid-19 vaccine
13) God Bless America
14) zd says thank you Abed, Paz, Amier, Jenny, Laila, Lawrence, Banny, Farah, Suaad and Salam
15) To the hardworking people of MV’s editorial, art, administration, sales, production, accounting and circulation departments — you are all deeply appreciated.
16) Uly Sabuco Torres, the man and the legend
17) Mar-Vic, Joe and the kids
18) Pacific Island Times
19) Virgie Avendaño-Woodruff and her kids
20) Brenda & Fred
21) John and Gloria Sablan
22) JG Sablan Ice & Water
23) Dental Care
24) Mount Carmel School
25) Galvin, Velma and their children
26) NMC
27) PSS/BOE
28) PJ O’Rourke’s “Don’t Vote – It Just Encourages the Bastards”
29) Bob the cat
30) Miguel, Zoe & Chéché
31) Courtney’s Plaza, Torres Refrigeration, Dante & Josie
32) B&R Auto Repair
33) Steve Nutting & family
34) Gold’s Gym
35) Roger the barber
36) cat food, cat treats, cat litter
37) shipping containers
38) Philip Roth
39) The Stoics
40) TikTok
41) Mike Ernest & family
42) The poems of Butch Macansantos, Sawi Aquino and former Judge Simeon Dumdum Jr.
43) Nick Pichay
44) Beret Strong, John Tweedy and children
45) Gin martini
46) Scotch whisky
47) Rita and Frank Sablan
48) Sonnie Sablan and Inas’ Kitchen
49) JKPL and its staff
50) Jeff Schorr and family
51) Jeff Turbitt and family
52) Brad Ruszala and family
53) Ivan & Juanita Propst
54) Don Farrell and family
55) Noriyasu Hiroguchi and family
56) Ray Agulto and family
57) Charles P. Reyes Jr., Esq.
57) Judge Ken Govendo and family
58) Judge Joseph N. Camacho and family
59) Daisy, George and Jordan
60) Bobby and Karen Myers and their kids
61) John H. and Lynn T.
62) H.L. Mencken
63) Thomas Sowell
64) Arthur Schopenhauer
65) Henri Bergson
66) chess
67) The One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church
68) Holy Rosary
69) Kevin D. Williamson
70) Zen Buddhism
71) Andrew Soltis’s “Tal, Petrosian, Spassky and Korchnoi,” “Smyslov, Bronstein, Geller, Taimanov and Averbakh,” & “Soviet Chess 1917-1991”
72) Kindle
73) amazon.com
74) zd’s fourth book is coming out soon!
75) fountain pens
76) The Dutch Defense, Philidor’s Defense, Queen’s Gambit, King’s Gambit, Evans Gambit, Trompowsky Attack
77) e-books
78) internet
79) electricity
80) CUC
81) IT&E
82) Docomo Pacific
83) smartphones
84) smart people
85) Jim and Grace Belyea
86) Joyce McClure
87) Angelo and Edz
88) Cinta M. Kaipat
89) Gloria Hunter and family
90) Donna Cruz and family
91) crispy pata
92) Chamorro red rice
93) finadene
94) Pete P. Reyes and family
95 Diego & Vicky Benavente
96) Arin Greenwood
97) Gov. Ralph DLG Torres and family
98) Congressman Kilili and family
99) Robert Hunter and family
100) Rep. Edwin Propst and family
101) Rep. Tina Sablan and family
102) Lt. Gov. Arnold I. Palacios and family
103) Saipan Mayor David M. Apatang and family
104) Senate Floor Leader Vinnie F. Sablan and family
105) Kimberlyn King-Hinds and family
106) Robert T. Torres and family
107) Jessica Zafra’s “Age of Umbrage”
108) Pacifica Insurance and Shirley Sablan
109) indoor plumbing
110) running water
111) Saipan lagoon
112) Marianas Trench
113) Majesty Restaurant
114) Shirley’s Coffee Shop
115) J’s Restaurant
116) McDonald’s
117) KFC/Taco Bell
118) Joeten stores
119) Triple J Payless SuperFresh & Truckload Store
120) Twins Supermarket
121) LJ’s Store
122) Canton Restaurant
123) gasoline
124) Mobil and Shell
125) vehicles
126) car dealers
127) mechanics
128) tourism industry
129) James Sablan “would like to thank my girlfriend Dana Manglona for always having my back and keeping me in check when I need to be. I would also like to thank my family and the community as well for keeping Saipan as safe as it could and for events that continue to shed some hope during the pandemic. Thank you to everyone who has made an impact on my life and hope and to everyone else who makes me proud to call CNMI my home.”
130) Taro bread
131) butter
132) Vir, Alice and Josh
133) Lee, Vicky DLG and their children
134) Roy Reyes and family
135) Pale Ike Ayuyu
136) Caravan of Food
137) Here’s to old friends and former comrades-in-arms: Raffy A., Ferdie, Rick, Jojo, Gemma, Haidee, Rene, Moneth, Choobs, Alexie Z., Jacq, Aggie, Jude, Junhan, Gaynor, Gerry P., Fil Olimpo, Flor Pamintuan, Rhony Laigo, Dong Camacho, Eileen Oreiro, Chau Nguyen, Chris Nelson, Carlotta Leon Guerrero, Glenn Wakai, Bob Coldeen
138) Thank you pareng Makoy, Jess G. & family, Sally, Osang, Lisa Cruz & family, Tekya, Prof, Talits, Loids, Ariel & Khalil, Vino & family, Ka Ed, Tere & family, Jonathan Logtu, Jon Perez, Arsen & family, Mama Gaya, sister Noemi, Lala, Jayden, Rey, Niño and family, George & family, Janet & daughter, Arnold, Bryan, Lyn, Sophia P., K-Andrea, James Sablan, Chummie, Virginia Ogerio, Rick & family, Jerome, Bob Schwalbach, Joy, Ella, Paul, Bhadjoe, KC & Dheng, Patz and Emz
139) Dr. Ed Tudor
140) Bestseller bookstores on Guam and Saipan
141) The Guam Daily Post
142) Ayn Rand
143) Frédéric Bastiat
144) Friedrich Hayek
145) Ludwig von Mises
146) Herbert Spencer
147) John Stuart Mill
148) baby back ribs
149) Japanese pork curry
150) Diet Pepsi
151) Walt FJ Goodridge
152) Humanities Council
153) Matthew Deleon Guerrero and family
154) Kevin Bautista and family
155) MV readers, contributors, advertisers
156) And you of course
