{{smonster}} peace and ~ma to you and your family.

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And, because it deserves its own post:

I am so relieved and so happy the stress is over. Shanie arrives 3 weeks from Monday! OMGWTFBaby!

Yay, GC!!! Can't wait to see pictures of Shane!

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Post-toasties...

Well, crap. I got an email from my mom. A cousin, who is only 5 years older than me, passed away this morning. He had skin cancer that spread into his lungs. His mom's parents both died of the same thing. My poor aunt.

I don't need brackets or anything as I wasn't terribly close to him, but it still sucks and my heart is breaking for my aunt.

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ChiKat, so sorry for your family's loss.

First time turkey-cooking hivemind question: Ok, so I thought roasting a turkey was the same as roasting a chicken, only it takes longer. Turns out, some of the details are slightly different. For instance, frozen chickens are not usually collared together with a plastic thingy. The plastic thingy seems to be embedded into the turkey, so am I meant to take it out before cooking, or is it ok to leave it in there? Also, I found the packet, which I assume is the gibblets, and have removed it from the bird, but are there any other bits of bird that need to go away before roasting commences?

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GC, that is great!! So happy to hear the drama is done. And 3 weeks! OMG! Too exciting!

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Omnis that's sad about the pay cut. Does that mean the job is a total no?

Not yet. They posted the position. And it lists a single salary, not a range, which was curious. But, when you factor in cost of living differences, it would be a huge pay cut. Still investigating.

omnis, I'm sorry about the job. But that reminds me I didn't e-huged you in a while, so I'll take every chance I'll get. {{}}

I always up from hugs! {{{ }}} back at ya!

but I suspect the benefits and salary potential (not to mention job advancement) might be worth it...? (Yes, I'm hopeful!)

I'm hopefull too.

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Check the hole at the neck, WindSparrow. The neck and other parts might be shoved in there. I don't know about the plastic.

Successfully got my hair cut! I think I like it. Above the shoulder in front, completely off my neck, one length but with the bottom "texturized" so it's not all triangular.

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Thanks, -t. I found a link that indicated the plastic thingy was a truss, and was ok to be cooked with the bird.

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A cousin, who is only 5 years older than me, passed away this morning. He had skin cancer that spread into his lungs. His mom's parents both died of the same thing. My poor aunt.

I'm so sorry for you and your family, especially his parents and siblings.

When my mom came out to visit this summer, she told me that one of her cousin's sons, who was born the same month as me, has terminal cancer (I think of the esophagus, or maybe the throat) and isn't expected to last out the year. I haven't seen him since family reunions we would have back in the 70s and couldn't ID him on sight, but it was still a shock to think of someone my age dying of cancer.

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it still sucks

It certainly does. Your poor aunt, ChiKat, what a blow.

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How awful to lose your parents to something, learn that your child has it, and lose him to it, too. Much peace to your aunt, ChiKat.

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