The best Thanksgiving ever

[sabrinamari]

It's been the best Thanksgiving ever so far, for unusual reasons. Though the early week was unpleasant and sad, mid-to-late week has more than made up for it. I spent some time in the city with Cat and loved it. Geo did so well---at every point so far, his progress has exceeded expectations. Time spent with him was rewarding for this and because it had been awhile---too long---since I had been able to laugh with my old friend. And time alone with Cat is not easy to come by, yet I had her mostly to myself for 2 nights and a day. I delighted in this selfish pleasure!

And there was no guilt---I made progress on field notes and all. Plus, Cat had an unexpectedly wonderful sci-fi novel, my favorite crack aside from sushi, massage and fantastic sex. Finally, Cat introduced me to Sushi Samba, a Brazilian-Japanese fusion place with multiple locations in the city. Oh, wow...ceviche and sushi in the same evening in wildly unexpected individual combinations...yum.

Then I made it back to Journal Square on the Path and my beloved was there to swoop me up. I briefly met some new friends, includng a gentle greyhound named Titus, and late yesterday morning we finally went Thanksgiving shopping.

Well, I destroyed the sweet potatoes by overcooking and my beloved created Elmer's mashed potatos, and then we dried out the turkey and burned the pies. Oh, and never add natural juices to brown gravy mix...and we laughed and made love on and off the whole time. I guess playing and cooking do not go well together if the goal is impeccable cuisine. It's easy to burn things when you are not paying attention. But then, the goal is never impeccable cuisine...

We laughed so hard at our silly little dinner for two, then curled up in the soft nest of our bed to nap entwined. Finally, two friends we rarely get to see dropped by late in the evening---another unexpected gift---and we watched "Monsoon Wedding" curled up on the couch.

It was the best Thanksgiving ever, ever!

Copied from Cat:

Sekhmet Observant, authoritative, indulgent, moral and witty. Colors: male: green, female: turquoise Compatible Signs: Bastet, Geb Dates: July 29 - Aug 11, Oct 30 - Nov 7 Role: Goddess of war and vengeance Appearance: Lion-headed woman with the sun over her head Sacred Animal: lion What is Your Egyptian Zodiac Sign? Designed by CyberWarlock of Warlock's Quizzles and Quandaries

Comments

[rio-luna.livejournal.com]

wow.yes.

[jeneralist.livejournal.com]

"Madam, I like your cheese soufflé
I think your cheese souffle is wonderful.
But when you look at me that way
How can I eat cheese soufflé?

I regret to say I'm unable
To partake at your table
You'd be more delish
Account of you're my favorite dish

Madam, if I don't eat a bite
It's not because I lost my appetite...."


From a Danny Kaye song that makes it to my Beltane mix most years....

[(Anonymous)]

Hee hee...delightful!

[flamespirit.livejournal.com]

Nice to hear about ur happiness :-) Yay!

[sabrinamari.livejournal.com]

Thank you, honey. I send you back a big hug.

[vgnwtch.livejournal.com]

Good :)

And, hi - I'm Isis.

[(Anonymous)]

Hi Isis---I have your copy of "Garden of Vegan", silly me. can I call you tomorrow in the am? Or now, if you are still up?

[sligoe.livejournal.com]

It's nice to hear you laugh all the way down here!

GOod to know that Geo is doing well---I was going to call today to see if there was any news---now I can relax about him just a bit. Thank you!

Hvae a wonderful holiday weekend!

Hugs.

[sabrinamari.livejournal.com]

Thank you for your good wishes, hon. May this day be lazy and happy, and the close of a lovely long weekend.

[onyxtwilight.livejournal.com]

I *love* Monsoon Wedding! :-)

Okay, now I'm all for as much good sex as possible, but that doesn't mean you get to burn dinner. We have to do something about this. I will think on it. :-)

If I accomplish nothing else during my time in NJ, I will ensure that you never reach for an envelope of shitty gravy mix again. Sheesh. I'm gonna tell Geo on you. Blue Star 3* using shitty gravy mix. Who the hell trained you, anyway? >;-)

[vgnwtch.livejournal.com]

There's such a thing as packets of gravy mix? That's just... wrong.

[onyxtwilight.livejournal.com]

Wrong beyond my power to tell of it. One of the most artificial, doesn't-remotely-taste-like-its-real-counterpart flavors I have ever encountered.

And it's not like gravy is difficult. Even lumpy gravy (which is easy enough to avoid) tastes better than that mix shit.

Sabrina, beware! Thy doom is coming! >;-)

[vgnwtch.livejournal.com]

Sabrina, beware! Thy doom is coming!

In the form of gravy mix.

[onyxtwilight.livejournal.com]

NO! NO GRAVY MIX!

BAD witch!

I am her doom! There will be decent gravy, or there will be BEATINGS!

[sabrinamari.livejournal.com]

With a wet noodle?

[sabrinamari.livejournal.com]

Oh no....oh noooooo!

[sabrinamari.livejournal.com]

Well, yes. But they are low-fat and safely free of yucky bits, you know?

[sabrinamari.livejournal.com]

(Laughing) I was trained by wolves, honey.

Ah, it's sad, but I like plain brown gravy. I just do. And I don't like the high fat yellow stuff. Perhaps there are other options?

[onyxtwilight.livejournal.com]

It doesn't need to be full of fat, and it can be any flavor you like, really. Preferably beef flavor, presumably, in this instance, rather than artificial-nothing-remotely-LIKE-beef flavor.

You do have to start with a *little* bit of fat, if you want a decent roux. There are other methods, but starting with a roux is easiest and tastes best, IMO. But you don't need a LOT of fat. (I'd be a lot more afraid of all those additives and chemicals than of the fat, anyway.)

It doesn't have to be from scratch, either. There are GOOD, refrigerated-paste type soup bases in the world, which can make decent gravy a breeze. There are also good beef stocks available in the supermarket, producing similar results.

(But there's nothing quite like fresh pan-scrapings for homemade gravy, I have to say. Depending on the pan, of course, and whether you burned the meat. ;-)

[lady-daegonna.livejournal.com]

I'm so glad you had a good time, and I'm so releived that Geo's okay. I was really worried.

[sabrinamari.livejournal.com]

So was I---but honey, he did so well, and he's still doing well, as I understand it. My relief is flowing in buckets. By the way, did you get your Amazon giftie via email?'

Sending love, honey!

[lady-daegonna.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I did. Do you have any recommendations for books on rituals?

[eleithyia.livejournal.com]

Yay for having a wonderful Thanksgiving! I'd love to find a time to come up to the city and visit...maybe after the winter holidays?

[sabrinamari.livejournal.com]

Oooooo, this sounds like a lovely, lovely idea. I would delight in seeing you, and I'd like to introduce you to Michael and Trent, and Michael and Trent to you. After the winter holidays would be ideal---perhaps you would like to join us at the Philly King Tut exhibit in January?

Hugs to you, honey!

[skyefyr.livejournal.com]

When looking for cool new appliances to deck out your home, think of splurging a bit on yourselves. Convection oven! (Mine's a combo microwave / convection.) They are nice because they cook quickly AND are on timers. So that if you're not ready when food is, it doesn't get burned. And since it's a microwave also, you can just nuke it for a few minutes and it's warm for you again. No matter how long you take to decide you might be hungry for food....

[sabrinamari.livejournal.com]

You know, I have seen of the wonder that is your convection oven. You made the rotisserie chicken in it, didn't you? If I had more space, i would buy one. Rotisserie chicken is so yummy.

I may just have to learn to consistently use a timer. Go figure.

OMG

[gwisteria.livejournal.com]

ceviche and sushi.....no I would just never leave

Re: OMG

[sabrinamari.livejournal.com]

We only left because we were so deeply satisfied with the food that our contentment floated us out of the restaurant.

Oh, the Green Envy rolls!