Turkey Tom

What I learned about Thanksgiving this year:

It takes at least 6 hours to make

20 minutes to eat

And there is no one to talk to when dinner is over

I don't know what people without families do during the holidays. I feel that I don't have one, even though I do. The four others that constitute my family are people I can barely stand being around. Thanksgiving was always my favorite holiday but now I just hate them all. I even believe that the family put on a show for my benefit all these years and can't stand being around each other at all. My grandmother and uncle decided to eat out today even though I made the whole meal at my parent's place, and they live downstairs. At first I was hurt and then I realized that if they don't care, nor should I. I am so sick and tired of all their crap that I just need to scrub the family and their value system and all this disappointment right off my skin.

Since I stupidly did everything for the dinner today; here is the plan should I ever make this meal again:

Tuesday:

make dessert. be sure to make sweet potato pie because it is my favorite and I didn't have time to make it today. (huge bummer)

Wednesday:

peel, chop, and soak everything. make cranberry sauce

Thursday:

put it all together and maybe even make a cocktail.

Lessons learned:

- roasted root veggies are way better than pan fried. thyme is key.

- use less butter if possible

- milk that goes into mashed potatoes needs to be warm or room temp.

- the turkey is supposed to measure 180 degrees in the thigh when finished

- allspice goes nicely in the cranberry sauce

- gravy is unnecessary

- vegetarian stuffing is the way to go: apples and currants are a must. don't forget a little melted butter, and preferably unsalted croutons; salted is overpowering

- make sure someone can help you with the dishes. my god, half the day is washing. my hands are killing me

- less is more

- and if you get invited to a friend's home for this holiday forget this mess and just go, which is exactly what I should have done. Bless L for remembering me today. I shall not decline next time.

Things I am thankful for in no particular order:

- a heated place to live

- enough money for food and bills

- my health

- Bell's Best Brown Ale

- love

- finding the ability to hold my own

- yoga

- writing

- good friends that call with funny stories or take me salsa dancing

- The Moth

- The Hyde Park Art Center

- purple nail polish

- having opportunities and choices

- silk pajamas