Day 24 - Get 'er ready!

Since we'll be doing Thanksgiving 6 driving hours away from the house, and the closest market will be a 45 min one-way drive away...I've got to bring EVERYTHING with me. No last minute store runs for us this year.

Not shown in the picture that I'll be bringing with us too: 2 17lb turkeys, celery, onions, eggs, 5lbs (yeeeessssssssssssss) of butter, fruit, all the baking staples (flour, sugar, brown sugar, vanilla extract, almond flavoring, etc), and of course the Kitchen Aid mixer with all the attachments.

My big splurge this year was that I bought a whip cream maker. It comes with a canister of pressurized air and you hook it up to a contain filled with whipping cream, vanilla (choose a flavor) and nutmeg and whoosh! whipped cream in 5 seconds. SWEET!

Also - rumor has it that someone I just realized I had knew in high school, who also happens to be the chef at Williams-Somona where I was taking those classes....maybe stopping by on Thanksgiving as she'll be about 45 minutes away...oh I guess I could call on her for a shopping run!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone :)

Day 22 - Bruises

I give blood as regularly as possible. I've got something special that preemie-cancer babies need. So any blood that I give goes straight to them for them. It makes me feel particularly great! Yes great! Last year the Red Cross forwarded an email to me from a very thankful family who described how their child was sick and was saved due to the blood she received. The letter was addressed to the Red Cross with a request to pass it along to the donor. They did and I completely lost it sitting at my desk. Not only did it make my day; but it got me on the bandwagon of recruiting others to donate too.

Now for the topic of this post. This past week I had an appointment with the Red Cross. They conveniently come to work and spend 1 1/2 days there getting tons of blood from us. It had been a slow donation time due to people generally not feeling well, and the Red Cross will advise you NOT to give blood unless you are feeling 100%. I was feeling fine - so I decided to go ahead and donate.

Then it all started to go downhill...making the story short, after they stuck the needle in I completely stopped bleeding. A slight trickle would come out, that was all. Anyone family with the next procedure will know what I am talking about - once you stop bleeding a simple way to restart the bleeding is to move the needle around within the vein until it starts back up. Typically this is not pain-free and truly my only deterrent to giving blood. this time it did not hurt. Wow this is great I said to myself, seemingly unaware that this odd fact probably meant that something else was going on.

It appears that the nurse went in one side of my vein and right out the other. I've got bruises where the needle went in, and then all the way on the other side of my arm. What the hell! Hopefully the next donation won't be as painful or as colorful.

Day 21 - Everybody Thanksgiving

51 people - when did the family get soooo big!

This celebration is a time when we ALL get together regardless if we are together anymore. Divorce and remarriage are so common place these days and to get rid of the multitude of dinners; the miles of driving; the hours of duplication; my family has instantiated 'The Everyone Thanksgiving" probably a decade ago. We all get to see each other at least for one night. It is wonderful for the children to see that even though there are reasons why adults have decided not to remain together, that it doesn't mean that we can't all be around each other and enjoy the company for a few hours.

It starts at 5PM, I know that we've got 2 turkeys and a big roast already in the oven. I'm helping out with h'orderves. I'll be bringing spinach dip/bread; sliced apples and carmel dip; chilli and cream cheese with chips; Mom is bringing a veggie tray and dip; and cheese and crackers; Brother Bill is bringing his famous deviled eggs.

Day 20 - Coffee and more coffee

The first day of vacation started off like any other work/school weekday. Up at 6AM, get myself ready for the day, then off for coffee. Went to local Starbucks and what a madhouse! Today is the first LCHS CIF playoff game in years, and all the local teenagers were out starting a long day with a shot of caffeine. I got my usual, got the kid to school on time and came home to relax.

My friend Bev had breast reconstructive surgery this past week, and I returned to Starbucks (got a lot of weren't you here earlier looks!) to get her a coffee, double tall skinny vanilla latte, a drove to her house. We sat in her front yard on the purple bench in the morning sun drinking coffee. What a great way to start the day.

Day 18 - Economy is hitting the .gov - finally

So, it has been a tough week at my work which ends in a .gov . We have been very very lucky in the fact that we have yet to feel the effects of the economy at work. Yes we had zero raises, yes we had a raise in taxes and health insurance costs. BUT we've been exempt from layoffs, from salary decreases, etc. The recession has finally found its way in through the gates and we are looking at layoffs. Sadly, I am faced with doing the laying off - which honestly is better than the opposite but is sucks to do this. It also doesn't look that it will be getting better anytime soon.

Hope we all make it thru the holidays this year.

PS - I've missed Days 16 & 17. Sadly I don't know why or have a decent explanation :(

Day 15 - I love to cook

I guess the proper term would be baking.

I especially love making desserts; but I am always looking forward to this time of the year. Our family has many traditions, we have 2 Thanksgiving meals and come Christmas used to have 3 large meals, now it is down to just 2!

Around town/work/some family/friends...I'll hear people himming-and-hawing about the BIG Turkey dinner! How difficult it is, and how they aren't looking forward to cooking it all. It really isn't all that hard - it comes down the planning the dishes/times the day before. That way, the day of the cooking is relaxing and catching up with family and friends take priority of the rush in the kitchen.

This year we'll be celebrating our 2nd Thanksgiving meal in June Lake, CA. What a great place! Usually we are in Hermosa Beach, CA - another great place! I'll be doing the Turkey, gravy, and stuffing and bringing lots of other great goodies just for snaking over the 2-3 days that we'll be there. One trick I learned recently is to make corn bread in the crock pot. Put it on low and walk away - wha-la!

Off to bed, got a long week ahead...

Day 14 - Madeline's

Last night I had dinner and drinks at Madeline's in Pasadena, CA. Everyone should go and enjoy the Wine Bar. Here's a photo of the fabulous pear and apple tart dessert that I had. Yummy doesn't give it justice.

Day 13 - Today is my birthday

Day 12 - $75,000 mistake :(

Oops.

Nothing like making a $75,000 mistake at work. Thankfully it is works $$ not mine - but OMG! I'm gonna pay for this one.

Day 11 - Big Bertha

Just for fun, Nick and 4 of his friends went to the local Mexican food joint Los Gringos Locos, and 3 of them attempted to eat "Big Bertha" in one sitting. If you are able to consume this 3 pound burrito full of pork, chicken, beef, rice, beans, cheese, lettuce, onion, and a little tomato you get to wear a cocky sombrero, and get your photo taken and put on the 'wall of shame' for all to look at. Needless to say, it was not a problem for my boy or his friend Randy. They both got their photo taken, whereas their friend Daniel struggled and just couldn't do it. This photo is from Nick's iPhone not the one on the wall. If I get in there soon, I'll post a copy of it.

They'll never forget the date - Nov 10, 2009 or 11-10-09.

Day 9 - Nick's birthday

I missed blogging yesterday !!!! Urgh. My excuse being that we went to dinner at this new place in town to celebrate Nick's 16th birthday. It was great! Anyone familiar with the Shogun style show/dining entertainment event should be ecstatic that Sakura has opened its 20th restaurant in town. What fun!

The best part was when they came out to sing to both of us. Luckily we did not have to wear a lucky "Cat Hat", instead we got to "bang a gong" while making a birthday wish.

The worst is that I am sitting here dealing with too much salt

Here's a shot from our dinner!

Day 8 - William Somona classes

The local William Sonoma has classes during the holiday season for FREE! Yipee!!

You have a choice of either Sunday mornings or Monday evenings. Honestly, I haven't learned much (I already knew all the turkey tips they handed out) but it is nice to hear a real chef talk technique and listen to some of the complete novices who have decided to step into the kitchen!

Plus the store is in the Pasadena Commons which has some character, not just the standard concrete and traffic found all around here - and it is across from Green Street East and their yummy zuchinni bread loafs for sale (which are getting smaller and smaller as the years go by). Funny thing is as I am at their website I notice that the bread and the Dianne Salad (the staples) aren't even shown on the scroll! More detective work revealed them in the shop and ship section.

Day 7 - Burke Williams in my future

I just made an appointment for myself at Burke Williams Spa. Got a gift certificate so I'm not spending my hard earned money on this place.

Happy Birthday to me!

Day 6 - Nick is turning 16

My son is turning 16 on Monday. He is hosting 14 sixteen/seventeen year olds in our house for 10 hours to celebrate. Magic cards; Dungeons and Dragons; and Xbox - its a boys life

Subway sandwiches; chips; cookies; Big Mama's Pizza later; and cake! If you haven't ever heard of Big Mama's Pizza - they aint kiddin! I'll get a real photo and post it later but the pizza is 36" or 72" in diameter. Just incredible!

Day 5 - JV Football night

It was a great game, unfortunately LCHS lost by 2 2point conversions. Sadly they missed both of their attempts and Monrovia scored every time. #76 in beating himself up on his performance; but the triple triple, fries, and Neopolitan shake from In-N-Out made it a little better. I had myself a protein style cheeseburger but only after I picked him up after the game at the high school.

Best line of day - "Are you going to eat in your car tonight?" Really?!?

Day 4 - Fork Art

In today's Pasadena Star News (and all over the local news tonight) is a 'fork' at probably the most famous fork in the road in Pasadena. You can read the story here: http://www.pasadenastarnews.com/ci_13705662?source=rss

I like that they figured out who did it, and that they have gotten away with it - so far!

I hope the city keeps it!

Day 3 - Time Change

Here in Los Angeles, we change the clock 2 times a year to more align our 'human' lives with the life of the universe. I.e. as the earth goes around the sun on its tilted axis the sun appears to rise higher (or lower) in the sky and sets (rises) later (or earlier) day to day. It is easy to figure out which way to set the clock to an old saying..."Spring forward and Fall back".

So needless to say, this past Saturday night at 2AM miraculously changed to 1AM to correspond to the 'Fall back' part of the saying. I believe that March 11th will be the 'Spring forward' next year when 2AM will miraculously change to 3AM.

The time change used to be on a 6 month interval; but GB#42 changed that a few years back and now it is on a 5 month interval. Something to do with Economic growth and good for the country...whatever!

Okay so to get to the post topic...I get out of work ~5:30PM and last week the sun was just above the Western mountains between Glendale and Burbank; and now it is set behind the mountains and the sky is almost dark! Come December 21st or 22nd the sun will be set and it will be dark by 4:45PM. I do not like this time of year, it is too dark for me - but I do like the sky in November in the middle of the day. The sky is just sooo blue and the clouds are thin and wispy.

These are also the last days of 80F weather, come the end of the month we'll be stuck in the high 60F-70F range and heading for winter. Can't complain much about Southern California winters but I'll be counting the days 'till Spring.

Day 2 - Home with sick kid

Looks like Nick has the flu...coughing, runny nose and sore throat. Funny enough no fever (yet). He got the regular flu shot, so is this the H1N1 virus - who knows. I think tomorrow will be the turning day for him, either good and he'll get to play football on Thursday or not.

You can track the H1N1 virus on the CDC website here: http://cdc.gov/h1n1flu/update.htm

Blogging Challenge - Daily Blogging in November

Friends of mine who are pretty active bloggers have accepted a challenge to blog at least once a day everyday in November. today is November 1st - so does this blog count?

I'll talk about Halloween at my work. It is always the kick-off for the "United Way", a charity that reaches far and wide. This year the 501st Legion showed up to get the crowd going (http://www.501stlegion.org/members/garrisonroster.php?garrisonId=19). BTW, this is the day were we have a costume fashion show so these folks fit right in.

I also found this blog of one of the guys who was there: http://vfranco.blogspot.com/2009/10/jpl-visit.html

Until tomorrow! - Kelly