Thanksgiving 2017

I am thankful for our friends Karen and Bob, who invited us to spend Thanksgiving day at their home in Greensboro with their family and neighbors. We had a fantastic heritage turkey that was cooked perfectly, home-made cranberry-pear sauce, traditional green bean casserole, ultra-fatty mashed potatoes, multiple pies, homemade dressing and lots of little munchables in between. We brought a marionberry pie from Deep Roots Market and roasted root vegetables that I cooked in two separated batches - one with carrots and fennel and shallots; the other with garlic, carrots, potatoes, and parsnips. Separating the batches was a smart move for anyone not sure if they liked fennel and carrots. Me and Bob enjoyed the little batch with fennel while Karen and MonsterMustDie could have the rest without the fennel flavor. Lots of spirits and conversation. Oddly enough, in a twist of normal roles, MonsterMustDie was very happy to socialize and he managed to say the most inappropriate things all night (not me!). Good times.

I work the usual four hours today at my little retail job. Should be interesting to be there on a Black Friday. Despite the fact that our store does nothing different for this day other than being open holiday hours now until the new year, I am sure it will be a wild time and grateful that I do not have to open or close the store today. Thankful for my coworkers.

Interesting Week

It's been a very interesting week, both good and bad. Mostly fun. This past week I got to see three friends who live far away - John from California last weekend and then Gillian and Brandon from Atlanta during the week. I was incredibly happy to see everyone. After the sad no-show at both gatherings I tried to get neighbors to attend in October, I was in need of love and I got it.

Tonight, the pipes under the kitchen sink decided to let me know they've had enough. The sink and the base of the cabinet aren't doing too well, either. MonsterMustDie thinks he can fix it himself. MonsterMustDie just got home from Phillipe's party where he drank too much. We shall see what his more sober thoughts on this are tomorrow - after I work my retail gig and he marches in the High Point Christmas Parade as a banner-bearer for BuzziSpace USA.

 

John and moi got to meet up for dinner at The Pit and a good hang out and conversation,

followed by watching him play bass with Lukas Nelson in Durham, North Carolina.

 

Then it was back to reality the next day, going back to my little part time retail gig.

I did something I rarely do - I actually bought something for myself. I could not resist buying the  Red Fox pajamas. MonsterMustDie has not seen them yet. I think it might be a good idea to spring it on him one cold night when I get home from work after he has already gone to bed.  I did confer with Gilli, Sandy, and Karen via text messages before deciding that I must have this. 

A couple of days later, I was delighted that Brandon and Gillian made a trip to High Point just to see me. Gillian, never missing a shopportunity, brought me multiple belated birthday presents. We gave Brandon and Gillian the short tour of Casa WereMonster. Then we had dinner at 98 Asian Bistro before they headed back on the road home to Atlanta.  

 

 Love you, Gilli. 

 

 

Ghost

I invited everyone I have met and my immediate neighbors to the house for jack o lantern carving and no one came. We did, however have one guest I did not expect.  MonsterMustDie's cousin, a political journalist and photographer, came to visit us on his way south for the winter.  He parked his van in our driveway and spent the night there. He refused our offer to stay in the guestroom,  preferring to stay in the van, which is his little home. It was a good visit for the cousins,  remembering family stories and mutual friends.  He left early the next morning. 

I invited everyone I could to come by Halloween night and only one couple I know showed up,  bearing food and beer. The four of us enjoyed trick-or-treaters together.

I will continue to host Halloween here because the trick-or-treat makes it worthwhile but I'm giving up on everything else.  I only hope I can visit  Atlanta next October and during the holidays next year.