I’ll tell you what I’m not thankful for, Turkish Caffé Lattes with Cardamom. I suppose my inexperienced taste buds lack the sophistication necessary for appreciation, but I seriously don’t know what the fuss is all about. Especially while enjoying it stateside, at a place as clichéd as “Kean Coffee” in Newport Beach, where the barista actually announced out loud, “Once again, we don’t have wireless here. Otherwise we’d never have an open seat for you to enjoy your toxic Turkish poison in a cup.” Okay, I substituted that last bit for “coffee,” but the rest was verbatim. Just so we’re clear, I’m not thankful for pretentious coffee houses either–especially when they’re really located in Costa Mesa, but they claim Newport Beach based on a geographical technicality so they can feel good about themselves.

Fortunately, I don’t have to stay here. And more so, the rest of my day up to this point wasn’t spent here. In fact, it was spent at a place I haven’t visited in more than two months. I’m guessing you won’t believe what I’m about to say, and this admission is quite embarrassing, especially considering how much I love the mere sight of the ocean, but I haven’t stepped foot on a surface of sand since Vegas back in the middle of September; and to be honest, I almost forgot what it looked like.

Huntington Beach isn’t one of my favorite beaches, nor is it anybody’s. Don’t worry, there’s nothing newsworthy hidden within that proclamation. The beach is filthy, the average male resident has five tattoos, three piercings, three gym memberships and two stripper girlfriends that he totes around in one lifted monster truck, most likely en route to a Sunday afternoon rally. I wish I was kidding about any of it. And yet, even Huntington Beach looked beautiful today, almost as if the wave tips sparkled as they gently crested into the legs of the famous “Surf Town USA” pier.

Don’t get me wrong, at least three locals scoffed at my collared shirt/v-neck sweater combo as I crossed PCH, but on a day like today, nothing could deter me from enjoying the view.What’s most impressive when taking into account my current positive state of mind is how I felt when I woke up this morning. There are headaches, and then there are headaches. And then there is the type of insane, lightning rod-based, neurological pain firing through a person’s cranium that I opened my eyes to this morning. Granted, I have a very well-documented neck injury that has been known to pinch a nerve or two, so I’m not just talking about random displaced migraines here; but that doesn’t mean I’ve ever gotten used to the days that require floor-side table manners because the pain is too severe to even sit up.

And that’s what led me to Huntington in the first place; my chiropractor, Derek Mason, lives there. His office is closed on Tuesday mornings, so my only shot at avoiding a day’s worth of lacrosse ball rolling and Excedrin popping required a short drive north to HB. Fortunately, he’s a very understanding chiropractor and has a table at his house. Please don’t misunderstand me, chronic pain is nothing to joke about, and quality of life is certainly something we need to be thankful for, but when a person experiences headaches that slice through their skull like a knife through a tomato, and spends hours upon hours on the floor with their feet propped up on the edge of a bed wondering if the piercing, needle-like pain will ever cease behind their eyes, perspective tends to change.

Auspiciously, this brings me to another subject matter I am eternally thankful for: selective memory. Take a moment, close your eyes and think back to a relationship you were a part of years ago. It’s odd how you only seem to remember the positives isn’t it? As if nothing bad ever happened and the only thing each party ever brought to the table was a smile.

Now, think back to a trip or vacation you took in the 90s: possibly to the Czech Republic, where it just so happened to rain every minute of the 10 days you were there, and you weren’t able to enjoy even one second outside because you’re American and you refuse to carry an umbrella, so your suitcase full of fall fashions was completely waterlogged and essentially destroyed. What do you remember? How about that café around the corner from the Astronomical Clock in Old Town Square with the sweetest twisted blueberry pastry ever baked by man? Or, how green the banks were along the Vltava River? Or, how cute that girl was from the spring music festival that actually enjoyed looking up to the sky as each water droplet cascaded off her eyelids? Like I said, nothing but positives.

Injuries have cut my career short. I am now in the process of clearing medical insurance for a surgical operation on a disc in my neck. Volleyball has brought me not only the most joy in my life, but also the most pain; and yet, as I look back at the past five years on the AVP Tour, all I seem to be able to remember is the good times. The rare but occasional win over a top-ranked team, the rare but occasional final-four finish, and the rare but occasional moment where everything in my game came together and rewarded me for all the hard work and effort I put in.

Those are the memories I have regarding competition, but the beauty of our sport is how much of it is enjoyed off the court as well. The trips, the cities, the new cafés, the fans, the flight attendants (just kidding, no chance in hell) and the camaraderie between the greatest group of athletes on the planet, otherwise known as the beach volleyball community. You don’t have to be ranked in the top five to join this illustrious club; you just have to love to play the game of beach volleyball. The friendships I have formed over the years from my involvement in the sport will last a lifetime, and for this fact alone, whether it’s the last Thursday in November or not, I will always be eternally thankful.

So, without further ado, why don’t we find out how some of my great colleagues and friends will be spending their day of giving thanks…

Phil Dalhausser: “My parents and brother are coming out to California this year for Thanksgiving. I don't see them very often so they are staying for the week. Other than eating turkey, we are just going to hang out and take it easy.”

I imagine a 12-hour sesh of “Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2” will fit in to that time-block as well, call me crazy. Most likely while wearing a medal made of gold around his neck.

Jeff Conover: “On Wednesday I'll head home to San Diego and have a deep-fried Turkey dinner at my friend's house (Bryan Hargrove). We get together every year with the kids we went to school with and catch up while enjoying a potluck. Then, Thursday morning, I'll go surfing with my two younger sisters and dad before going to our uncle's house for the family get-together, normally 30-40 people. Finally, Friday morning I'll shoot a round of golf with my dad before heading back up to Huntington Beach.”

Conover has earned as much time off as he desires after coaching Jen Kessy and April Ross to their most successful season to date, including their historic World Championship victory in Stavanger, Norway.

Matt Prosser: “Headed to my hometown of Ventura to spend time and have dinner with family and friends. Maybe play a little golf, maybe play a little 4-man… Thanksgiving dinner Thursday, 31st birthday party Friday. Should be a fun weekend.”

Raquel Caulkins: “Headed to San Clemente to visit husband’s family, but I’m going to bring some traditional Brazilian food to add to the mix. Even though I’m not American, I love Thanksgiving. It makes holidays way easier with my husband: Thanksgiving here in the U.S. and Christmas in Brazil with my family!”

Ashley Groothuis: “I’m visiting my friend’s parents’ house in Irvine and bringing an apple pie that I baked myself. I dearly miss my family in Nebraska, and would like to wish them a happy thanksgiving, especially since I don’t get to spend the day with them.”

Elaine Youngs: “So, we are having our 4th-annual ‘red-neck’ thanksgiving at a friend’s house high up in the Aspens near Durango, Colorado. My good friend, Dave Stokes, built his own straw bale home that is gorgeous. The highlights, besides the really good food, are:

1) Target shooting with 8-10 different guns—from AK 47s to my wimpy 357 Magnum...

2) Bloody Marys, that are a meal in themselves.

3) Lots of friend time, without any family...

4) Zero talk of volleyball, which is a RULE.

5) And, lots of thanks all day for our health, freedom, and beautiful Colorado sunsets!”

This could arguably be the greatest “what are you doing for Thanksgiving” response ever received in history. I would pay good, good money to see EY shooting a “wimpy” 357 Magnum at a few moving targets. Enjoy Elaine, enjoy…

Todd Rogers: “It all starts off with an early-morning wake up call for a little dawn patrol surf. This, of course, will depend on the surf, but in my ideal world, as the sun rises, I will be throwing one off the top of a wave. I’ll surf for about an hour-and-a-half and then head home.

Breakfast will consist of chorizo and eggs with mountain man potatoes and salsa. I need something warm and filling after a dawn patrol session. By this time, the sun is nice and warm and my son Nate and I will go to the local high school to kick some field goals. He rides his bike while I jog alongside him as it less than a mile away.

When we get back, it is time to prepare for the family to come over. Most things will be prepared but I will still have to make some dips, prepare the cooler with drinks and make sure the wine glasses and wines (plural) are ready to roll.

At 12:30, the first NFL game will start and the TV will be tuned to the Packers vs. Detroit. I have Aaron Rodgers and Greg Jennings on my fantasy team, so I will be watching very carefully. Rodgers, whose name is spelled slightly wrong, is an absolute fantasy super-duper-star!!!!

Usually around 1 p.m., or so, the family rolls in. At halftime of the NFL game, if the weather is nice, as it is supposed to be, we usually go out to the beach court and play a couple games of family volleyball.

After volleyball, I fire up the Deep Fryer. Yes, we deep fry our turkey!!! We generally have two birds of about 12 pounds each and they take around 45 minutes a piece. Often times we will start off with an appetizer of deep fried quail, which may well be the best eatin' bird ever. Once the birds are cooked and everything is prepared, we sit down to eat.

I am planning on cracking two bottles of white wine. One, a 2007 DuMOL ‘chloe’ Chardonnay. (I first got turned on to DuMOL when I had a 2005 DuMOL ‘chloe’ Chardonnay at the White House before we went to Beijing in 2008) Two, a 2007 Kistler Durell Vineyard Chardonnay which I received from a good friend of mine, and happens to be his favorite white wine. There is a good chance that these might be uncorked before we eat too.

Certainly, while we eat I plan on having 3 different reds available. One, a 2007 Brewer-Clifton Pinot Noir from the local Santa Rita Hills. Two, a 2007 DuMOL Russian River Valley Pinot Noir. I may change that to a 2007 DuMOL ‘eddies patch’ Syrah for variety but I’m not sure yet. Third, I will open up a bottle of 1990 VOLNAY Les Taillepieds.  This is a Premier Cru wine from France.

Dinner will consist of turkey, stuffing, a green bean dish, garlic mashed red potatoes, some sort of salad, and rolls. Desert will be pumpkin pie and usually a berry pie as well.

After dinner the family will slowly disburse and Nate and I will digest our food while watching the second of two Thanksgiving NFL games, Broncos vs. Giants.”

I honestly don’t even know how to respond to that? Todd’s Thanksgiving Day could be the greatest day ever assembled. And the fact that he was willing to take the time to share it with not only me, but every volleyball-loving fan that visits avp.com over this holiday weekend, makes it even greater. Once again, the greatest community on Earth– Volleyball.

Happy Thanksgiving everybody! May your day be as great as Todd’s, as eventful Elaine’s or as peaceful as Phil’s! Whichever you choose…