I hope it is the beginning of a steady stream.

The ceasefire deal is for four days. Israel should get 37 more hostages (I do hope they're alive) over the next three days, with additional 10 hostages for every day the ceasefire is still on. While there are still over 200 hostages there, it's unfortunatly not likely that they're all alive and that Hamas knows where they are.

My turkey was dry.

My brother was complaining that the turkey had weird bones and not a lot of meat. He's carved the turkeys for years so it wasn't inexperience. He cooked it - and thus was trying to carve it - upside down.

Bonus, that was good turkey. Super moist and tasty.

My beloved Niecelet was mortified since she'd helped with the turkey but honestly, I'd try the upside down technique in the future. But flipping right side up for the last hour for browning.

The mushroom stew in the pastry cups continues to be the favorite dish.

I was going to bring mushroom croustades but my oven failed to oven. So it was a creamy mushroom dip on crackers. It would have been better in the toasted cups that I couldn't make or in the pastry cups but I couldn't find any for sale.

The sunny side of this situation is that the remaining is going on a pizza or on some pasta. I don't think the croustades would have left me with extra mushroom deliciousness.

Timelies all!

Thanksgiving at my MIL’s went very well. No meltdowns or tantrums from Mr. S. Of course, when we were back at the room and it was time to settle down for bed he had a tantrum complete with throwing things. Baby steps, I guess.

Mr. S getting through a whole Thanksgiving sounds like a big step. Not the final step but you gotta start with the baby steps. I'm glad you had a good meal even if he had some rough moments back in the room. I wish you the best. It's a struggle, I know.

While there are still over 200 hostages there, it's unfortunatly not likely that they're all alive and that Hamas knows where they are.

EDIT because I forgot to reply to this but. My heart aches for everyone trapped in this stupid conflict. And it burns with anger for those who continue and escalate it.

honestly, I'd try the upside down technique in the future. But flipping right side up for the last hour for browning.

Huh. Interesting idea. Not that I have cooked a turkey or likely ever will.

smonster, happy to hear it's behind you now. All the ~ma. You are smart and incredibly brave.

Thank you, Shir and all. R castigated me for not even having the courage to talk to them before showing up with friends and deputies to get my stuff; that stung a little until I realized I had the courage to stand up for and choose myself over doing things “the right way,” and that is big progress for me. I’m hoping I can continue to learn to be more assertive and direct.

I had leftovers from my neighbor for lunch but I’m hungry again. I also kind of want a nap.

Finally watched Blue Beetle, which I had tried to get R to watch without success. It was delightful and heartwarming.

It sounds like a lot of good Thanksgiving-ing going on.

Mine went fine. It’s usually three of us, but one had to cancel last minute. But the other friend and I can keep the conversation going for a few hours with no trouble. After dinner, seconds, pie, and pie seconds, we rambled around our very quiet college town Pokémon-ing.

Today I’ve been doing my traditional tree trimming while watching the Lord of the Rings (extended editions). I’m just wrapping up The Two Towers, and the tree is all done. Now for further leftover noshing.

Well, smonster, I wouldn't want to do that, but if some part of your intuition told you you should, it's probably good to pay attention to it.

R castigated me for not even having the courage to talk to them before showing up with friends and deputies to get my stuff; that stung a little until I realized I had the courage to stand up for and choose myself over doing things “the right way,”

Yeah, R does not have the moral high ground. Things (that R did) broke the relationship for you and you took care of yourself. This is good. I'm sorry because I know we were all rooting for you and wanted you to have the happiness you deserve, but we still are. You deserve to be happy.

She's starting a new job and has been off to Fairfield for two weeks for training and orientation.

Fairfield! That’s way up here by me! Why on earth would anyone come here for training?! Regardless, sounds like a lot of goodness, good to read.

We ended up roasting the turkey thighs (none of us were able to source drumsticks that weren’t already smoked) rather than braising, and kind of improvising the recipe out of what my mother had looked at surveying recipes - turned out quite well. I do think I liked the braised better but we didn’t have all those ingredients anyway. The microwave individual pumpkin pie recipe I randomly came across on one of our brand sites came out very nice indeed. The second batch I made where I forgot to add the arrowroot seems less successful but probably still okay. And today’s lunch of stuffing and turkey hash with gravy + sweet potatoes and the last of the salad because it won’t keep was very satisfying. I brought some additional leftovers home and am currently working on the open bottle of Merlot because it also will not keep. And I still have a weekend in front of me! So nice!

I realized I had the courage to stand up for and choose myself over doing things “the right way,”

Yes, good.

I love hearing about what everyone had! Two more of my neighbors graced me with leftovers so I’m probably good for food for the weekend, hallelujah.

Well, smonster, I wouldn't want to do that, but if some part of your intuition told you you should, it's probably good to pay attention to it.

Wait, which part?

I think, now that the relief has peaked and is ebbing, and my little money crisis has eased (you know who you are), the sadness is starting to really creep in. But hey, I’m like a pro at grief by this point (NOT a dare, Universe, thanks) so hopefully I can get through enough this weekend that I can function somewhat normally at work Monday.

ETA I feel like the grandma in Blue Beetle. “And now we cry.”