Columnist Lisa Ferguson: Sun Lite for Nov. 24, 2003

Lisa Ferguson

Monday, Nov. 24, 2003 | 8:27 a.m.

A single thanks

As Americans gobble, er, gather around the turkey on Thursday, they might (or might not) choose to give thanks this year for the people and possessions in their lives. We here at Sun Lite are thankful for another P word polls.

Single people are often the first to explain how it stinks to be without a significant other around the holidays. Unfortunately, the alternative hanging out with family stinks, too. It's Just Lunch, a San Diego dating ser-vice that caters specifically to "busy professionals," received nearly 25,000 responses to its on-line "Test your Dating I.Q." survey (at www.itsjustlunch.com), which asked singles about Thanksgiving.

The ideal Turkey Day for 88 percent of respondents would be "an eclectic gathering of family and friends." Still, 6 percent say they'd rather spend the holiday in an exotic locale with a significant other. Who wouldn't?

It's the Thanksgiving-dinner question 72 percent of singles dread being asked: How are the dating prospects looking? Nevertheless, 47 percent expect to hear it from a family member on Thursday. Note to kinfolk: This year, open your mouth only to insert cranberry sauce not your foot.

After how many months of dating is it considered "comfortable" to have your sweety meet the family over Thanksgiving dinner? Two months, say 38 percent of singles, while 34 percent say to wait until at least six months have passed. Even then, a switched-at-birth story to share post-meal may be in order.

Pass the paperwork, please

Turns out the masterminds behind those glossy magazine photos and sickeningly sweet commercials for holiday merriment the nation's advertising and marketing executives are thanking their lucky stars for being able to do such "interesting work." That sound bite comes courtesy of The Creative Group, a Menlo Park, Calif.- based staffing service that finds jobs for such folks. The company recently sponsored a survey of 250 execs, asking what they are "most thankful for" in their positions.

While the bulk of those polled (43 percent) offered the aforementioned answer, nods also went to growth opportunities (17 percent); "supportive co-workers" (14 percent); and good company management (13 percent), followed by job security (7 percent).

Meanwhile, 6 percent of the creative geniuses checked boxes marked "Don't know" or "Other." Guess they've already flipped the switches on those oh-so-imaginative brains to "off" in honor of Thanksgiving.

Pat yourself on the back

We at Sun Lite are also thankful for tips: The shiny, jingling kind are our favorite, but we'll take the sort that come packaged as advice.

Case in point: The tips being offered this year by Dr. Adrian Calabrese, author of "10 Spiritual Steps to a Magical Life: Meditations and Affirmations for Personal Growth and Happiness" (Llewellyn Publications, $14.95). The doc suggests practicing a few of the following "acts of gratitude" this Thanksgiving: