Hi sj, hi Zenkitty! Thanks! I'm glad you're feeling calmer, sj, I hope you have a lovely time at your Mom's.

Welcome, Helena.

I had a great day--hung around in the morning, made chex mix (which I am eating right now AIFG), went to meet an old friend and see his condo, then he and my BFF I'm staying with and I went to a diner place that had alcoholic milkshakes, and they make their own poptarts, and it was delicious. And then I met up with another friend and her partner and we hung out for apparently 5 hours at the same bar/restaurant (oops), and it was good times (...I probably could've left an hour or so earlier, but her partner is hella chatty and was a bit drunk, therefore would not shut up and kept ordering another beer).

Now here's hoping I drank enough water to combat the booze, and can wake up and do the race I'm supposed to, tomorrow morning!

I have not made any food other than the chex mix, but apparently WASPs eat Thanksgiving late? So the people's house we are going to had to be talked back to a 5PM dinner from 7PM, when most of us are used to more of a 2-3PM kind of thing (ie, "get up, eat brunch, cook a bit, eat Thanksgiving, sit around in a stupor for several hours until eventually you can nibble on some leftovers, go to bed") So I figure we can make the green bean casserole tomorrow afternoon.

Can I just complain for a minute about how Tim has worked late all week (until 8 p.m. Monday and Tuesday, and, oh, NOT HOME YET as of 10:17 p.m. tonight) and he's going camping this weekend? Thanks for spending some time with your wife, snookums. WHEN SHE'S ASLEEP.

I know that the camping opportunity is a family thing and they only do it twice a year, and we have all the other weekends of the rest of our lives together. I know that.

But it's boring and lonely working from home and being by myself all day, and then he works late and won't be around for the weekend, and it's just...shitty.

I'm thankful for him, no question, but I also want to punch him in the head right now.

Welcome back again, Helena.

sj, if you have questions maybe have a friend hit the scariness of Dr. Google and only forward you a few potentially helpful links?

I have no problem with early Thanksgivings but you should just call it lunch. Unless it's the kind of dinner where supper is the later meal. Maybe that's it. Since I am supposed to have a roast turkey meal ready tomorrow at 3, I guess I am only cooking Thanksgiving lunch. That sounds way less terrifying, actually.

I'm still at work. We just started a run through so I hope to be on the road home by 10 PM, which will hopefully put me at home by 11 or 11:30 depending on traffic.

Hello, Helena!

Safe drive home, Drew!

The person who needed a patch sewn onto her arm sling chose a very pretty flowery fabric - one of my very favorites in my whole stash. I bought this remnant I don't know how long ago, and have yet to find the right project for it. I am so happy that I will get to see it in use!

I baked pumpkin pie today! Oh and talked to my sister's former accountant, who agreed to take care of her back taxes and do the estate taxes as well. That's my version of multitasking lately.

And went out to dinner with my other sister and the husbands. That was nice.

ETA: number!

Oh, I said it elsewhere yesterday, but happy Hanukkah to those who celebrate!

Happy Thanksgiving and Happy Hanukkah to all celebrants!

Too crazed to comment on above posts, but too much to do...

Trying to keep my spirits up. My mom can't come and we are all pretending it is my idea saying it is too cold to eat outside and we are going to be so crowded inside. This that and the other excuse why she should stay home. Really she has to stay home because she has a heart valve issue and at 92 there are no good choices other than sitting in her chair and not doing anything. Cardiologist is consulting with others and I will talk to my cardiologist buddies, but we know the scoop here is not good. Her grandmother that raised her died on Thanksgiving day and we didn't even celebrate the day until we went to school and asked her what was up with no turkey day. She is always sad today and we all know what she is thinking with her feeling like she does.

Damn, no hugs and stuff required. I know this is a part of life. Sorry to be debbie downer. So now I have to continue cooking up a storm and entertain the rest of the family that is coming. I'll go to Mom's with leftovers tomorrow.

Awww, Laura, it's tough when the holidays get tinged with a loss like that.

My mom died around Thanksgiving also, and while I still enjoy Turkey day, the gray of the season does seem to work its way into my mood.

I was just reading an account by an acquaintance of her husband nearly dying last Thanksgiving. Just a nightmarish scenario, but he survived. And it does also make you grateful for who is present. You look up around the table and are just glad that you can see the people who are there.