Thanksgiving

Poor Married Son never did make it home for either his birthday or Thanksgiving.

*****

Thanksgiving went okay. It was a rather small gathering, compared to what Christmas is usually like. We actually had more chairs than butts to cover them, go figure, LOL. That is rare!

The boys (grandsons) were very well behaved. Even the Knight in Rusty Armor was tolerable. Yes, he was there. Seems this week they're "working things out". Oy ... too much drama for me.

We didn't have the normal holiday menu. Instead, there was chicken and ham, green bean casserole, sweet potato casserole, waldorf salad, dinner rolls. There were also deviled eggs, but the two and a half dozen Cuz's daughter had made never made it to the dinner table. We ALL are guilty of sneaking an egg or three before dinner. Hehehe.

I didn't eat half what I normally would have, so I totally avoided that "ate too much Thanksgiving food as usual" feeling.

Since Cuz and her daughter wanted to hit the Black Friday sales starting at 10 pm and since Single Son had to work early in the morning we called it an early night.

I love my family, but I was ready to come home. Just something about four noisy kids (three under the age of two) that really wears ya out!!

Hope my Thanksgiving celebrating friends had a good holiday.

Now it's on to BAH HUMBUG season!!

Thanksgiving 2010

Black Friday ...

And I'm not going anywhere near the "Maul" until 2011. No way, no how. No sir! You couldn't PAY me to hit the Maul ... okay, I may make an exception - IF I find a job in a store in a Maul. Otherwise, forget it!
So, Alien gave me a Thanksgiving gift ... she and Loser are done. Really done this time. She even called Single Son the night before Thanksgiving to come over as support because Loser had just got to her house to get some of his stuff and she didn't want to be alone.
Now that she's on her own, I did tell her I would help out where I can with the kids. She HAS to get back into school, and find at least a part time job ... that she doesn't NEED a man in her life (they only complicate things - or at least the types she and I attract do anyway) ... she has to think about herself and two babies first and foremost.
It was nice to have her with us for Thanksgiving instead of with his mom as was the original plan before the big break-up. Butterball is walking! And I mean walking ALL over the place. He loved running all around the house. He was a little shy around everyone for a bit, but he warmed up. He even went up to Brother Deere and had a baby-talk conversation with him (surprising when you consider most kids do not like Brother Deere - why I don't know, but it's always been that way).
I got pics, but I borrowed Single Son's camera yesterday. I couldn't find the spare batteries for my camera, I hate when that happens. But that's what I get for leaving the camera packing until the last minute, right? Now to get Single Son to get them off his camera and onto my computer. And he better not delete the pics I took of him (he's threatening to).
But all in all, it was a good day. No major arguments, no lectures or putting someone on the hot seat.
The turkey was good (a bit dry), as were the sides. Typical Thanksgiving fare - green bean casserole, waldorf salad, stuffing, cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes, gravy, and dinner rolls. Followed by pumpkin pie and some type of cake (I passed on both).
Alien had brought a table mount high chair for Butterball, but it didn't work with the table my folks have (besides, no space for it, the table for eight was full) so he was on my lap then Alien's lap for a bit until he decided he wanted down!! Butterball was a hoot going around to everyone at the table and begging for a spoonful of food. With his eight teeth he did well with the turkey (cut into small pieces), loved the mashed potatoes, and went totally ape over my mother's waldorf salad.
The eight diners included myself, Alien, my Folks, Single Son, Brother Deere, Aunt Silly and Uncle Pain. Notice the absence of the Wrecking Crew, who opted to dine with his father instead.
Definitely one of the lowest key Thanksgivings we've ever had, but a great feast all the same!
It was made better when you consider that Alien is done with the Loser. I realize she's said that in the past, but a detail I didn't say earlier was that Loser is now dating Alien's former best friend (former as of the day she found out they were seeing each other). He even had the nerve to bring her to Alien's house to gather his stuff! Single Son made her wait outside (in the cold).
Pictures will follow once Single Son gets them to me.
Hope ya'll had an enjoyable Turkey Day, too!

Happy Thanksgiving To All of My Friends!

A little Turkey Day humor ...

And now an oldie but goodie ...

The turkey shot out of the oven
and rocketed into the air,
it knocked every plate off the table
and partly demolished a chair.

It ricocheted into a corner
and burst with deafening boom,
then splattered all over the kitchen,
completely obscuring the room.

It stuck to the walls and the windows,
it totally coated the floor,
there was turkey attached to the ceiling,
where there'd never been turkey before.

It blanketed every appliance,
it smeared every saucer and bowl,
there wasn't a way I could stop it,
that turkey was out of control.

I scraped and I scrubbed with displeasure,
and thought with chagrin as I mopped,
that I'd never again stuff a turkey
with popcorn that hadn't been popped.

Safe and Happy Thanksgiving Day wishes to You and Your Loved Ones.

Happy Thanksgiving ...

Yes, I'm grateful for many things. A family that doesn't always get along - but I do have a family and we do love each other. That we agree to disagree - that we can respect that we're unique individuals that make up our family, whether we agree with each other or not. I'm grateful for a vehicle that runs and that I have the skills needed to keep us safe while on the road, too. I'm grateful to my Creator - and Guardian Angel - for keeping me under their loving protection. I'm grateful to the friends who call to check on me, to make me laugh, to tell me they care ... knowing they're there for me - and I for them. I'm grateful to modern technology for bringing us the miracle of the internet ... and meeting all of my wonderful online friends. Wonderful folks who otherwise would never have graced and brightened my life.

I let Alien drive the hour and something up to my brother's house this afternoon. The drive went great. The roads were clear. I had absolutely no issues with Alien's driving!! Yeah, I teased her, but I am really proud of her, she's a good driver. Not fast, not too slow. Very aware of what's going around her at all times.

I wish my mother had been so well behaved. We had talked a few days before Thanksgiving. I said something about leaving the past in the past, and that if she brought up certain issues that she refuses to let go of I wouldn't hesitate to leave. Well, instead of bringing them up, she beats around the bush. I looked at her and quietly got up from the table mid-meal to go have a cigarette in my brother's garage. I was not going to let her anger (or mine) ruin the holiday.

Ate too much. Way too much. Brother had made a traditional Thanksgiving meal this year. Turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, his "secret recipe" cheese biscuits, and brocolli cheese dish. Delish as always!! I passed on the pumpkin pie and chocolate cake.

Mother started running her mouth again after dinner. I've come to realize that no matter what I do, no matter who I'm with ... this woman will never be happy. I mentioned that there's just no pleasing some people. I could work the ultimate job, marry someone with the wealth of Donald Trump or Bill Gates and she'd still look down on them!!

I then excused myself from the table, cleared my dishes and hung out talking to my brother for a few.

I love my family, but I really would have been happier with a ham sandwich at home. Alone. Less stressful, that's for sure! And just think, I get to do this all again next month for Christmas. Oy vey!

It was snowing and it just didn't look too good out, so I decided it was time to leave. Alien talked me into letting her drive again, but would pull over if she felt the roads were too slippery or she was uncomfortable. Soooooo ... off we go. The dirt roads were great! The minute we hit the main roads they were frozen over. Black ice. Nasty stuff. Alien pulled over in a hurry!! Not three minutes after I took control of the driving we were to encounter the first of three bad accidents.

The first was when some moron felt traffic was moving way too slow for him. He was directly in front of me. I believe he was probably going to go into the left lane and pass us all. Only it didn't happen that way. He hit some black ice and lost control of his SUV. I missed him. Barely. I lost control of my car, but quickly regained it, too. His SUV ended up ditched. It wasn't pretty. Alien was just freaking out!! Thank the Goddesses she wasn't driving or we'd have been hit for sure.

The second was pretty much the same as the first. Only we weren't in danger of being hit. It was pretty funny to watch some moron who thought he was better than the road conditions (again black ice) and ditched his truck.

By the end of the second accident I was actually laughing. Hysterically. Nervous laughter, really. But then I started to realize that I missed seeing Alien totally freak. Funny how now she's got a whole new respect for drivers, and driving. Poor kid was shakey for the rest of the ride home!

The last accident was sad. I don't know the details. All I know is that they closed down the highway we were on. Detoured us around that accident. The only time they close down the road in that town for an accident is if there's a death. I closed my eyes when stalled in detour traffic and said a prayer for those involved.

Hoping your Thanksgiving was a good one. That you are all safe. That you ate too much, laughed too hard. That you spent it exactly how you wanted to - with family and/or friends or enjoying a quiet dinner at home alone.