The First Thanksgiving

Ok, ok.  Not THE first Thanksgiving.  More like MY first Thanksgiving.

When I first bought my plane ticket home for Thanksgiving, CK decided that he wasn’t going back to the ‘Burgh for Turkey Day this year.  Flights were too expensive, and when he first moved to Florida, he didn’t usually come home for Thanksgiving anyway.  He has some relatives up in Gainesville, and he’d typically drive up there to be with them for the holiday.  He’s not one to get sad about that sort of thing either, so it never seemed like a big deal.  

It looked like he got a little bummed as time went by, though, so I suggested we invite a couple friends over and have our own Thanksgiving here at the house before I fly home next week.

See, I’ve always wanted to experiment with Thanksgiving dishes (hello, I’m the dork who sat eagerly in front of the TV the other night for Ina Garten’s “Dear Food Network” Thanksgiving special!).  But, in my mind, there is NO room for experimentation on the actual holiday.  I need Mom’s stuffing, Mom’s mashed potatoes, and Mom’s gravy (those are really the only things I’m concerned with on Thanksgiving anyway…the turkey?  Meh.  Not a huge fan.  I mean, if something’s going to make me fall asleep on Thanksgiving, TRUST me, it’s going to be the wine).

Now, my faux Thanksgiving is TOMORROW already, and I’m starting to completely freak out a little bit!

My little Butterball turkey breast is dutifully thawing in the fridge, but I have NO IDEA if it’s going to be thawed in time to bake. 

I don’t know where my meat thermometer is.

I don’t OWN a roasting pan (do I HAVE to use one??).

Is the turkey breast even big enough to feed four people??!?

!!!!!!!!

So, my menu currently includes: the aforementioned allegedly-big-enough turkey breast, mashed potatoes, gravy, cornbread stuffing, salad, (a possible vegetable dish?  I still haven’t decided), and blueberry pie.  Oh, and cheeseball for an appetizer…(yum!).  Four of those things are things I’ve never made before.  I’m down with the mashed potatoes…no problem.  I think the stuffing will be fine (hopefully), and even the pie isn’t freaking me out at all…even though this is my first pie since I made one in a cooking class in high school.  The gravy will be an adventure, but it can’t go that far wrong, right?  (I said, “right??”).

I guess when I talk it out, I’m really just intimidated by the turkey. 

Unnaturally intimidated. 

What the H?  It’s just a stupid bird for God’s sake (um, he he…sorry, turkey gods.  Please don’t have your way with me tomorrow).

CK bought a bunch of wine, though, and we’re also having these glasses of deliciousness.  So, how bad could it all really taste?

Wish me luck!!

There’s Baseball in October?

Huh.  I had no idea.

I’m not a baseball fan.  I mean, I’m from Pittsburgh, so I guess I just assume this is implied.  I haven’t paid attention to baseball since, oh, let’s call it 1992.

But, since I’ve moved to St. Pete, I’ve come to realize that “exciting baseball” can be something other than a horrible oxymoron.  I’ve actually even witnessed a couple exciting games myself!  And, while I’m so far removed from the love I once had for the sport, I find myself being really happy for my new neighbors all the same.  Because, really.  When you go from being the worst team in baseball to being in the World Series the very next season, all you can say is, “how long until the Super Bowl?”

Just kidding.  Old habits…

Congratulations, Rays!!!!!!!!!

One (Singular Sensation).

Alone.  Alone.  A.  Lone.  Alone. 

It’s one of those words that sounds funny after you’ve said it a few times in a row.

Like Band-Aid.

Alone.

I’m by myself, if you can’t tell.  CK had to fly home for a friend’s father’s funeral this weekend.  It was unexpected.  And awful.  Makes you remember how short life can be.

But, I’m in the house alone for the weekend, and it feels strange.  I’ve always been a little bit of a loner.  Not in a weird, isolated way, I’ve just always kind of liked being alone.  It’s probably why I spent most of my 20s outside of a committed relationship.  I was just never motivated by loneliness to try to find someone to be with.  I was never lonely.  Even when I started dating CK, we were so far apart, geographically, that we only saw each other about once a month.  So, I worked all week, did all my chore nonsense, talked to him on the phone, went out with friends, visited my family.  I was busy.  And, as much as I enjoyed a rockin’ happy hour with Meghan, I always welcomed a Friday night in.  Just getting caught up on things, checking / writing email, drinking some wine…general downtime.

But now…working from home, being in a city where I only know CK’s friends - and, great as they are, they’re not my friends, living in a house that’s his, being away from friends…family.  It’s different.  A Friday night in by myself isn’t nearly as appealing as it was six months ago.

But, on the flipside, I have free reign over all decorating decisions for the next 36 hours…

October Sunset

Here are some pics from last night’s sunset on, appropriately, Sunset Beach. 

Dudes. 

I live here.