The Crash After Thanksgiving

Yes, I’m a klutz. It is a well know fact. And just last night I added to my collection of mishaps. Just to set the scene, let me provide a few examples:

• Slipped on ice and sprained my back.
• Tripped over gasoline hose to car and did a perfect face plant.
• Bounced down the stairs after doing a quick turn mid-stairs; sprained back again.
• Tripped (again) walking up the stairs, fell on my hand and severely strained tendons in hand.
• Separated rib muscles by leaning falling into a large garbage can to rescue a recyclable item.

Do you get the picture? On Saturday, I was getting ready to fix dinner; a real sit-down dinner at the dining room table, when I noticed that I had not shined up the chandelier. Instead of going to the garage and grab the step-ladder, I thought I would just stand on one of the dining room chairs. Bad thinking on my part. So as I stepped up on the chair, I lost my balance and proceeded to prove the law of gravity: what does up, must come down.

Yes, it was in slow motion, but no segment of my life flashed before my eyes. I distinctly remember hearing my skull crack the floor twice; hope I don’t get called for double-dribbling. As I lay on the floor (still clutching the shining cloth because I’m a dedicated cleaner), I found myself moaning while trying to catch my breath and ascertain if anything was broken. But my sense of humor won out and I found myself thinking,  “I’ve fallen and I can’t get up.”

After  several minutes, I was able to get up and get an ice pack on my head. It’s still very tender to the touch, but since I’m still here, assuming no brain damage (yet).  My back is sore, though a bit more rest will take care of that.

So now for a few pictures of post-holiday activities. The girls students young ladies went shopping early Friday, and later Friday afternoon too. When they got home, this was the result of so much shopping.

Too much shopping!

Joining in with the Bloomsday runners (metal sculptures by Dave Govedare).

Yum - picking goodies on the moving sushi track.

いただきます。 Baked ziti, green beans, ladieu salad, and garlic bread.

Everyone is back to college with all of their goodies (free advertising for Forever 21 and Hollister).

Everyone had a great time (cracked head and all), and I think there is still one piece of pumpkin pie with my name on it. Hope everyone else had a wonderful holiday too.

The After-Thanksgiving Love

What a great Thanksgiving! The family does a potluck Thanksgiving and everyone has their standard offerings.

I made green beans. And not the green bean casserole with the onion pieces. I bought fresh green beans, washed  mand snapped them.  Cook a couple of slices of bacon in a frying pan. When the bacon is done, remove most of the oil. Then carefully add enough water for about 1 inch in depth. Add the green beans, cover, and cook on medium high until the beans are to your satisfaction. Sometimes I like them barely cooked, and then sometimes I like them very cooked. Remove the beans and eat them all!

Fruit salad is my other responsibility. Use a can of fruit cocktail, or a can of tropical fruit cocktail. Then add whatever else you want. I try to keep canned fruit to a minimum and focus on fresh fruit, which is sometimes hard in the winter. This year I added apples, bananas, strawberries, blueberries, green grapes, and red grapes. Gently mix them and add whip cream. You can also add miniature marshmellows or walnuts if you want. Sometimes I sprinkle in a little of the unprepared pistachio pudding mix. That adds a very light green color and a slight pistachio flavor.

K roasts and smokes the turkey. He has this down to a science and we fight over the roasted skin when it is first brought to the table. G makes twice-baked potatoes that scream “eat me!”  S makes the best pies and this year was no exception. W bakes sweet potatoes with marshmellows. There is always stuffing, rolls, olives, cranberry, and eggnog (which I don’t like, so barely mention it),

Here are some of the highlights in pictures.

This sets the tone for the fun times. It was indeed fun trying to explain the signs to the Japanese guests.

Megumi and Kanna make crane napkins.

Let's get started; pass that food around!

Pass the fruit salad please!

One funny moment was Daughter trying to explain her uncle’s nickname of Pigman. This video was posted on a Facebook page, so don’t know if everyone can see it.
Explaining nickname

And I wish I would have taken pictures of the turkey in all its glory and the desserts. Twas just so busy doing other things, I kind of forgot.

The girls all went Black Friday shopping at midnight. They got home around 4 a.m. to grab a little sleep. And they headed out again around 1 in the afternoon. I was just reading and being extremely thankful for family, company, and the chance to relax and read!!

5000 and Counting

I just hit 5000 views! Not that I’m counting or anything.

Am back home after a boring non-eventful drive home this morning. Right now the girls are helping Daughter understand a Japanese game she ordered for language class. Of course, Kanna received 100% when she played. So far, Daughter’s highest score is 81%, though she did get 100% for Kanji (must be those 2 years of Chinese).

So fine to be home and not cleaning anything! Tomorrow will be a different story with all the Thanksgiving day preparations. I am thankful for family, especially Daughter who still wants to bring home friends.

Happy Thanksgiving to all who celebrate this holiday. And if you don’t, you are missing the best excuse for pumpkin pie all day!