Thanksgiving prep:

Ok – so, it’s about 12 hours before I gotta put the bird in the oven. Still to do:

• Make sure the bird is thawed.
• Cuss – loudly! – upon discovering it’s not, and thus go to plan B.
• Um. Come up with a plan B.
• KFC (Yes. I worked there. And can I just say… ew?) training to the rescue!
• Put Turkey in the Sink under running water to thaw.

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The Turkey Platter

So, I’ve mentioned it here or there, so I thought today, while I’m in the midst of the 24 hour panic, that I’d pause and tell ya’ll about the Turkey Platter.

  Now, I don’t know where Mom got this Turkey Platter, but I seem to remember her saying one year it was a spur of the moment buy at some ‘Mart or another. So this isn’t necessarily a heirloom that’s passed down generations beyond generations. It’s just a plate, that has a goofy Turkey on it (eyelashes! it has EYE LASHES, people!) – but to *me* it’s more, and has become that heirloom status in my head.

I don’t remember much about childhood – I’ve always had a swiss cheese memory – so the things that stand out I cling too. This Turkey Platter is one of them. I can’t even tell you when exactly it made it’s first appearance. I just know that of all the Thanksgivings and Christmas Turkeys I remember – they sat on this plate. Every time we’d troop to the table, in ever increasing numbers, there it was – a gorgeous bird, roasted to perfection and resting, all serene before the inevitable slaughter about to occur, sitting on this Turkey Platter.

It was more then just a plate, of course. It was the symbol of everything family. It brought us together – even when we’re stompingly mad at each other over some (real or imagined) slight or another. It sat center stage as we gathered and gave thanks, and talked and giggled and forgot – if only for a few hours – whatever drove us nuts about each other. It bore witness to each of my babies first Thanksgivings; TheBoy cutting his first tooth on a turkey leg bone, Papa sneaking all the babies their first taste of forbidden foods from mashed potatoes to pumpkin pie to spoonfuls of Marshmellow Fluff, the ever expanding table to allow all of us to gather ’round as our family grew and grew and grew.

A few years ago, Nana was cleaning her kitchen and randomly said “If there’s anything you want, come get it.” because she was de-cluttering. I, ever soft spoken and rarely opinionated (we’ll wait while ya’ll stop choking… better? ok) said “THE TURKEY PLATTER! IT’S MINE! That little brat of a sister of mine CAN’T HAVE IT! It’s ALL I want! She can have EVERYTHING ELSE except the Turkey Platter!”

I may, or may not, have already been running down the road to rescue the Platter from the possibility of it landing in my sister’s hands and/or the giveaway box while talking on the phone. I may, or may not, have clutched it to my chest while looking around with a wild and possessive look in my eyes, daring anyone to try and take it from me. I may, or may not, have remembered to actually say ‘thank you’ for the gift of all those holidays wrapped up in a simple Turkey Platter.

So – just in case?

Thanks, Mom, for giving me the platter that holds so many family memories for me. It will proudly sit center table tomorrow, holding my own – hopefully edible – Turkey, and continue to bear witness to many more family meals to come.

AHHH!

Ok. So. Lessa hasn’t had a nap today. Wanna know WHY? Too bad, gonna tell you anyway. You see, When I rearranged the living room, I put the Pup’s desk over next to mine. Stupid me, I forgot that the plug into which I plug my power strip for my computer is right there. And while she was coloring this morning, and I was in the bathroom brushing my hair, apparently she kicked said plug, because she suddenly went “Mom? did you turn your computer off? I DIDN’T DO ANYTHING!”

Yeah. confidence building THERE, huh? So, anyway, I went DOH! and turned Lola (my computer. keep up, people! What, don’t YOU name your computers?) back on.

But the modem wouldn’t connect. So I did all the things you’re supposed to do – powered down the modem, reconnected. Still nothing. Changed the cord, and yay!…the cable light went on. Which has nothing to do with the cord I changed. And the network still was showing as disconnected.

Crap crap and DOUBLE CRAP.

So – I took the pup to the bus, and then came back and tried again, and then called my Computer God. He was impressed that I’d thought to change the cord, and then after checking a couple of things, had me drive on over. So I left Lola there for an hour, and when I went to pick her up, found out that… you ready?

Nothing was wrong with her.

Yes. Apparently, Lola had been behaving so beautifully for a year, she simply decided it was time to visit the Computer God. And visit she did, and satisfied (and cleaned up, and defragged) she came back home, and voila, everything works fine.

Harumph.

In other news – apparently I have a new last name. According to the people who labeled the boxes of the Girl’s fundraiser, that is. They spelled her first name right (a miracle!) but apparently – we are now the dcdonalds. And yes, we pronounce that just as it sounds. dickdonald. hahah.

Yes. I’m easily amused. You cannot possibly be surprised by this fact! If you are? You must be new. Hee.

And of all the pictures I took of my nephews’ birthday parties, this has got to be my favorite, because it makes my baby sister cry. *Snicker* She’s never been pleased to be shorter then I am… and now….
Look at the line of sight.

My baby sister has to LOOK UP in order to speak to my son.

BWAHAHAHAHHAHAHA!

Shorty shorty shoooooooooooorty!

(she’s gonna smack me now. just you watch…)

And finally – visions of the future, via balloons, and two very active imaginations:

By the end of the night – they each had 4 kids. Oy.

THIS WEEK? what do you mean it’s THIS WEEK?

Ok- So. Thanksgiving. Yes.

Now, to be fair, we were invited two other places for Thanksgiving, and I thank them for inviting me, but have my reasons for saying no. Heh. Also – at this point, even if nana and papa and auntie and fam, all decide to go elsewhere – we’re making that damn bird.

Yes! I said WE. Because The Girl? Is all KINDS of excited about this endeavor. She loves to cook. Clearly the “suzy homemaker” gene skips a generation and she got it FULL FORCE. So excited is she, she VACUUMED my living room. Granted, I need to pull the vacuum apart and unclog it so it does a better job, but the effort was made.

Today, she gets to tackle the dishes. Hee. (Yes – that’d be reason number ONE i had kids. #2? Carry in my grocerys of course. What, you think they’ll carry themselves in? I think not!)

So – the menu! Turkey and. Well. Turkey.

hahah. Just kidding. We’re all about tradition round bout here – so it’s Turkey, stuffing, mashed’tatos (looking into that browned butter recipe Nana – we think it’s a winner!) noodles (papa’s fave), sweet’tatos, green beans, and, of course, cheesecake for dessert.

No – I’m not making pie. I don’t make pie. I’m not even buying pie, because i have a perfectly good cheesecake in my freezer. Cheesecake trumps pie ANY day. *grin*

So there we have it. We have a plan. Now I must shop. Nana has the turkey (since we are very unsure how long the one in my freezer has been there – so we’re thawing it for ze noodles and such) and we’ve got various other things, and a single (…who am I kidding, I’m gonna forget SOMETHING. at least two..) trip to the store will have us ready to go…

I think. Hee! Won’t this be FUN? Sure ya don’t wanna come over for dinner??