Went out to take food to the Occupy Olympia people. My respect for them greatly increased. No diminution in numbers in the face of 40 degree weather with biting cold rain driven by 30 mph winds. I was amused by the reactions to the food:

Turkey and couscous - polite appreciation. For the pumpkin pie and cranberry sauce - enthusiasm and cheers.

You are good people, Typo, bringing turkey dinner to the Occupy crowd.

I have moved on to the wine drinking, creamed spinach making portion of the day. Plus bonus bike ride! It's been a good turkey day.

Met DJ and her DH, as well as their two adorable dogs. All were delightful. It was a very nice time.

My brother is bringing a case of Alchemist beer

t dies of envy

Mom asks, "Is it irresponsible if we start a fire when we're going to be leaving soon?"

Um...

Apparently I inherited my lack of common sense with fire. Good to know.

Wow, I leave town without my laptop and I sure do miss a lot.

I love you all. I'm so grateful for you all, and this seems like the Buffista version of a family political discussion: but, like us, more civil, smarter, no one stumbling drunkenly away from the table (as far as we know).

Anyway, Happy Thanksgiving. I'm so glad to have you all in my life.

I got dark meat, which is more strongly flavored than I like.

Oooh, we could eat a turkey together peaceably, because *I* got a whole turkey leg as leftovers! No one wanted it, so I grabbed it up.

I am quite full. I had the best blue cheese I have ever had in my life, along with a TON of other good food and a lot of good wine.

My brother is bringing a case of Alchemist beer

t dies of envy

It's the Heady Topper IPA. I had a sip of it, and...I still dislike IPAs. I just have an excess of bitter-sensing taste buds or something. I can tell the Heady Topper is an excellent beer, but the bitterness of the hops is too much for me. It makes me sad that I don't like my brother's beer, but on the other hand, I really can't drink beer anyway (except for the handful of GF beers), so it works out for the best that I don't like it. If I loved if but knew I couldn't drink it without damaging my innards, that would suck.

I went late to my neighbor-family meal so as not to leave Bartleby in his straight jacket for too long.

When I arrived, I was introduced to a guest who appeared severely developmentally disabled. Nope. Just so drunk she could not speak. Both she and her husband apparently arrived drunk and went to town from there.

I did not enjoy myself half as much as I might have...which is what made having to get home to the little guy even more of a good excuse.

It's too bad. It was otherwise a very nice crowd with great food.

My annual contribution of fresh cranberry sauce was appreciated. I love the orange/ginger version I make every year and then add something new. This year was cranberry/apple. Have to say it was not awesome.

One participant waxed nostalgic about a cranberry-vanilla version I made about 8 years ago. It really _was_ good. Just wish I could remember how I made it!

I concur with Nora's assessment of DJ, her husband, and her dogs. I'm still here and we're out in the courtyard watching the Back to the Future marathon. New tradition!!

It's the Heady Topper IPA.

t still ded from envy

I had a sip of it, and...I still dislike IPAs.

Send it to meeeeeeee!

I'm still here and we're out in the courtyard watching the Back to the Future marathon.

Nice! We are pretty dead to the world right now. Tom did so awesome today with the socializing, and I wanted to leave before he ran out of steam (I could tell he was starting to). He's still having a hard time, post-funeral. But I'm psyched he did so well for so long! He's decompressing now.