people asking him (the cancer patient) how he's doing

I refuse to say, "I'm fine."

My favorite answers have become:

• "I have good days, and I have bad days."
• "So far so good!"
  
• "Not dead yet!"

Which one I use depends on how quickly I want to shut down the conversation.

What are peeps doing for Thanksgiving this week?

I do the cooking so that's my week. I'll start cooking on Tuesday. EM will make pies and some side dishes. Emmett will make a fancy Mac and Cheese.

I'm meeting up with my friend Rachael today (my Pilates teacher) and we'll be poking around, and probably making Hungarian Mushroom Soup. It's grey and foggy today so soup and laced hot chocolate are probably in order.

We're having one, and it won't be awkward, but kind of anticlimactic, because we eat together all the time.As much as I like the trimmings, I'm not feeling it this year and could just as easily eat grilled cheese, but Mom figured out a trick with a roasting bag or something, so we're doing the whole dumb thing.(There's not really a way to have turkey for three without Marie Callender's, though, and we could still fight about politics because my brother is so moderate and just waiting for things to get "back to normal" with the election of a white guy with good hair in '28. )

I’m having tiny Friendsgiving with 2 friends. I am making pie and cranberries, gotta check that all the other required dishes are covered—I know they’re on meat (probably a chicken) and green beans and stuffing. But potatoes? Rolls maybe? Not sure what else.

Sorry about your friend ND. It sucks getting to this age in life where so many people keep having horrible health news. And it only gets worse from here.

This is also the time of the year where it's hard not to feel freakishly single, too, even though I'm not partnering up for an extra body at the Turkey Day table. I wish I'd met somebody, though--I'm such a catch.

Mom rented a cabin about an hour from here . My brother and his family and Dad are coming up . I work Wed but have off Thursday, Fri and Sat and we are going up after work.

It will be vegetarian potluck. Although some of the cooking will be done there. I wasn't sure what to do so I'm guessing Mac and cheese . The main course will be stuffed butternut squash .

Also Saturday is a baby shower for M's nephew's new baby. This will be their third. The oldest is 3. The nephew got is girlfriend pregnant in high school. Her senior year I think. And they got married the next year. But he has a really good union job can't remember doing what though

Feasting with my parents, catered by Whole Foods and CSA delivery. Mom said she’d make the stuffing and sweet potatoes (we have tried WF versions and they are not as good as ours) ahead of time, so all I have to do is show up and help warm things up and probably set the table. We are skipping the turkey this year in favor of Root Vegetables en Croute. I’m thinking of bringing the vertical tasting of pinot noirs I’ve been sitting on for a couple of years, find out if my complete lack of climate control has utterly ruined them or not.

Sounds like a lot of good food in the works up in here. Excellent.

Timelies all!

I'm sorry, ND

As usual, we are going to Gary's mom's place for Thanksgiving. Mr. S will be with us, as we have arranged to pick him Thursday morning, and bring him back Sunday morning. We'll see how things go.

I got an email from my brother, forwarding information from a high school friend looking to get in touch with me. I'll send an email later.

I spent so many years with Thanksgiving being a single day off in the midst of tech that I didn't think about planning anything this year. (A Christmas Carol opens tonight!) I need to put together a menu for myself so I can go grocery shopping tomorrow.