irritated

I thought I bought everything I need for Thanksgiving -- and realized last night when I got home that I have no chicken broth.

Back to the stores tomorrow

grrrr

Thankgiving meal planning

Ok -- pre planning for Thanksgiving is making me a little crazy.

Being married for a long time meant that we knew each other -- and each other's tastes really really well

So this year -- it's Tgiving with Curt -- just us -- for the first time.

If you know me, you know that I'm not in the least bit intimidated by cooking -- even holiday meals. But making a meal that's tasty, and well received is really important to me. And I think part of this is that my ex was really bad at paying compliments -- and the only praise I received for (I kid you not -- at least the last 5 years we were married) was for food I cooked. So praise for food = love. Crazy? maybe a little bit -- but we all go a little crazy sometimes.

Curt has reallly different taste. How do you make Tgiving without onions? sigh

So here's the plan

Herbed Roast Turkey with Herb gravy

Mashed Potatos -- but I must admit that I watched a video of Julia at the Smithsonian making Garlic Mashed potatos (28 cloves of garlic!!!!) - that I'm tempted to try.

Dressing (never stuffing -- stuffing is just inviting a trip to the ER for you and the WHOOOOOLE family) -- but I have to rethink the rye bread, pecan, apple, sausage stuffing -- I have no idea how to make mom's Cornbread dressing -- I've been watching Food Network for hours looking for ideas

Creamed Spinach (I learned to make this from my late brother-in-law John -- I have to make it every year -- and Yes, I know that I'm the only one who'll eat it. )

Rolls

Cranberries? -so here's the funny thing -- I'm a major food snob -- but I love that jellied Cranberry crap that comes in the can. Somethings just taste like home.

We're going to go to Amy and Tyler's for dessert -- I think I'll take the espresso brownies. It's Amy's first Thanksgiving. First time I did Thanksgiving it was for Conrad, Mom and Dad and my Grandmother (maybe 1998?). We were living in Los Lunas, NM -- I had a huge kitchen -- well the room was huge, but it had an ancient stove.

I blame the stove.

I cooked the Turkey exactly the way Betty Crocker told me to.

Raw

bleeding

disgusting.

I had to cut it up and put it back in the oven. Everything else was ready when I took the raw bird out -- so all the sides were dried out when he bird was finally cooked -- oh -- and pretty flavorless too.

Did I mention that I didn''t have a dishwasher back then?

ugh.

Thank God for meat thermometers.

Have a happy Thanksgiving Day -- and tell the cook it's an awesome meal.....even if it's raw.

I want to paint

Damn me -- I have to finish clearing out my guest room so I can start.

Went to the National Gallery of Art -- There was a modern art exhibit that really inspired me.....it was arranged by type of painting -- categories like 'drip' -- and my personal favorite -- scrape

layers upon layers of paint -- that have dried on the surface -- then are scraped across -- or in some cases -- textures that have paint scraped across (very much like what I am working on for a painting right now)

I must paint

and I have to work this weekend.

so frustrated.

( -- oh -- and the picture here isn't from that collection -- its a Picabia -- and I'm in LOVE)

Can't win

Why in the world would rejecting a man and then ignoring him for 5 months -- no contact of any kind -- make him feel encouraged to try again?

I blame romantic comedies.

The idea that at the last minute the girl will come to her senses and rush into the hero's arms

lame

Getting into the Swing

Mark your calendar.

This is the first week when I feel like I really belong in the new job.

I finally have my arms around what I'm supposed to be doing and feel that I'm a normal amount behind instead of buried with no hope of ever seeing daylight again.

I'm sure this is a temporary feeling that will soon pass.

But I'm going to enjoy it until it does.