I have cranberry-satsuma-ginger sauce cooling on the stove, and a ground almond pie crust just came out of the oven. This will be the first year in over a decade that I don't make a maple-walnut pie for Thanksgiving: my niece requested chocolate cream pie instead.

My boss is retiring in December, my most-competent coworker is going on maternity leave for 5 months in January, and we have no idea who is going to replace my boss, or who will be the interim team lead while the hiring process grinds slowly to its finish. I don't actually want to be the team lead, but wouldn't mind the interim job, if it comes with a short-term salary bump. In the meantime I'm just sort of grinding along on my own projects, with minimal oversight. It's not so bad, I must remember how awful it is to have a micromanager.

Cool! What's the verdict?

It looks good. Not eating it until tomorrow. Running out of gas now, but I've done a lot of precooking.

Tomorrow should be relatively easy. Except for the part that we may have to drive 90 minutes north to drop off Thanksgiving food with Emmett if he can't come down.

So, they don't have a quick test, but her symptoms are concerning enough that they are recommending against Emmett coming down.

We will cook Thanksgiving in the morning, and drive up halfway to deliver Thanksgiving to him at the Novato Park and Ride (halfway).

Fuck it! I'm not going to get down about another bullshit 2020 disaster.

In fact, now I'm going to make AN EXTRA PIE. The most complicated one of all. Take that 2020! Go fuck yourself in the ass with an unpleasantly splintered broken broomstick.

I hope everyone tests negative!

I found out at work they are providing food tomorrow and Friday, I didn't think they could but they are doing box lunch/subs so not as awesome as some of what they've had before but at least we are being fed.

And I discovered a lot of people will be off. I will be there at 7 am And we are encouraged to wear holiday pajamas. I have none that are suitable for work (they are cozy and I get hot at work) but I'm going to dress comforably.

Matthew is making Thanksgiving dinner and he and I may drop off a plate to Mom or she said she would meet us half way if we wanted to do that.

No customers tomorrow in the store at least

Tim is working this evening, and they're doing a Thanksgiving potluck. He's eating at his desk to be appropriately socially distanced. He texted me "Somehow we have 2 turkeys. Do you want real turkey tomorrow,* because I can bring you leftovers?"

I replied "TURKEY LEG TURKEY LEG TURKEY LEG."

*We only got a Tofurkey for Tim, because there's more than enough for me to eat some, too, and I was not going to cook a whole separate turkey breast for me. But if he can bring home leftovers, I'll definitely eat real turkey.

David, I look forward to hearing how it is. I'm sorry about the last minute change in plans today mean no Emmett at the actual table.

Good luck tomorrow and Friday, askye.

My dark chocolate bourbon pecan pie is out of the oven and looks good. The GF crust looks good, and little crumbles taste good, so I have high hopes.

Hec, I'm sorry Emmett can't be with you, tomorrow. I hope his friend is okay. Good luck with your extra pie.

msbelle, I'm sorry for your loss.

Laura, I hope your DH will be okay.

Teppy, I hope your father-in-law is okay. Enjoy your turkey leg.

I hope everyone is well and has a good day tomorrow. I keep popping in and reading, but not posting. I am sorry for the things I missed.

Today was my daughter's 22nd birthday. I made her cake yesterday, so we had it as dessert to our very fancy dinner (McDonald's takeout).

DH made the two chocolate cream pies today, and did some yard work.

I made the two pumpkin pies (I'm sending pie over to mom), maple butternut squash, green beans, and stuffing today, and prepped the turkey. I decided not to bother with the apple pie. I don't think anyone will miss it but me.

All I have to do is heat the non-pie items tomorrow, roast the turkey, and make the potatoes, gravy, cornbread, and whipped cream. I'll have my kids stuff the celery tomorrow. I'm not going to bother with the other pickies we usually have, since it's just us. I hope the weather will break our way, so we can visit in the yard with my mom for a little bit, tomorrow.

My older son's Covid test came back negative last night, and he's isolated for the past two weeks, so he's here tonight. He'll probably stay tomorrow and maybe Friday, too.

Gonna go watch "Pangs" now and rest my aching arse. Goodnight, Buffistas.

My older son's Covid test came back negative last night, and he's isolated for the past two weeks, so he's here tonight.

Excellent! Good news!

I'm having a turkey roulade with chorizo/cornbread stuffing, collard greens, mac and cheese, rice, gravy, and apple pie with pecans and dried cherries.

I made the stuffing, pie, and mac an cheese today, so tomorrow, all I have to do is stuff and roll the roulade and make the greens. The pie is an invention - last year I made apple pie and a maple pecan tart. At the end of the process, I had some apple bits, crust scraps, and some bits of pecan and cherry in the syrup. So I made a little snack for my niblings by rolling out the scraps, tossing the apple bits in the syrup, piling them on the dough, and folding into a crostini. It was really tasty so I decided to try to recreate it.

I made a regular apple pie and a gluten free version Sunday, froze them, and mailed to bro and family. I'm sad I can't be with them, but they got the pies today, so they'll be thinking of me tomorrow.

I decided to try something new and thus I am now the proud owner of a purple sweet potato pie. The color is surrealistically saturated and turned wash water blue. So pretty! Purple sweet potatoes were everywhere this year and I really liked them baked steak cut style with dipping sauce.

I’m prepared to spend the holidays without seeing my family but I’m beginning to wonder if I’ll be overly anxious next time I talk to more than one other person. I hope I haven’t lost the knack for it.