Goodbyes Are Not Easy
-Good morning everyone … it is the Wednesday before Thanksgiving – welcome to our blog.
-Out in the back yard this morning it is clear and very cold at 10 degrees above zero…not exactly a heat wave out there.
Color weather radar shows clear conditions all across Minnesota this morning – which is a good sign.
-The weather forecat for this Wednesday, here in the north land is:
Partly cloudy. Highs 28 to 33. Northwest winds 5 to 10 mph.
-The highly anticipated film Milk starring Sean Penn will premiere today.
Directed by Academy Award nominee Gus Van Sant, Milk is a biopic of San Francisco gay activist Harvey Milk. Josh Brolin, star of the award-winning Coen brothers film No Country for Old Men, play’s Milk’s nemesis Dan White. James Franco, best known for his role in the Spiderman films, plays Milk’s longterm partner Scott Smith.
Harvey Milk was an American politician who was the first openly gay man to be elected to public office in California, as a member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. Harvey Milk served almost eleven months as city supervisor and was largely responsible for a city-wide gay rights ordinance. On November 27, 1978, Milk and Mayor George Moscone were assassinated by Dan White, another city supervisor who had recently resigned and wanted his job back. Milk has become an icon in the city’s history and a historic figure in the gay rights movement.
-Saying “goodbye to my partner” will be hard for me to do – today. Steve will be up in about 35 minutes or around 6:00 a.m. … he’s all packed and ready to head off to work then around 7:10 a.m.
After work today around 5:00 p.m. … well, he’s heading to south central western Minnesota – to his home town – alone – for the Thanksgiving holiday with his mom, dad and sisters and other relatives.
It will be, as I have said off and on for the past week or so – the first time that we will be apart on this holiday event – called Thanksgiving.
It won’t be the same … saying goodbye to someone you love – just plain stinks … and goodbyes are not easy – at least for me.
As for me … well, I do have turkey and some food stuffs that I’ll be putting together tomorrow for my “own Thanksgiving” along with the dog – Buddy. The dog be able to eat some turkey at least – I think that is on his new diabetic diet.
I hate to say it, but this year Thanksgiving won’t be quite the same for me … but I am happy that Steve will have time to be with his family.
-This morning … about the same time that Steve leaves for work – I’m leaving also to take my cousin JoAnn to the clinic in the big city.
She is having knee surgery this morning about 8:30 a.m., and has to be at the out patient clinic early enought for them to “prep” her for the surgery.
If all goes well .. she is supposed to be done by about 11:00 a.m. or so – then I will pick her up and take her back to her home – just a few blocks from where Steve and I live.
-This week being Thanksgiving week, I thought each day I’d list a few things to be thankful for…during this Thanksgiving Season 2008:
- Shade trees
- Winter jackets
- Friends
- Smiles
- Snow covered evergreens
- Snowflakes
- Soft toilet paper
- Sunrises
- Sunsets
- Thanksgiving dinner tomorrow
- That I wasn’t in the obituaries today
- The color of autumn leaves
- The big lake
As I’ve said, I’m sure I’ll think of some more things by tomorrow morning … how about you?
There are just so darn many things that each of us can be thankful for … why not take a moment and make a small list of the things that you are thankful on this Thanksgiving week.
You’ll be surprised at how much you have to be thankful for.
-Just a reminder, if you have not yet visited Steve’s blog… titled “Steve On Sinema“, by all means please do. I think he’s done one fantastic job of learning how WordPress works and by composing this movie blog and putting it all together.
Steve has carefully laid out the photographs and worded ever so wisely his text … it just makes great reading.
I hope you’ll stop by and see Steve On Sinema … He’s got a new post … your going to love it!
-It is the day before Thanksgiving and I’ve got tons of things to do when I get home this afternoon. First off, I have to take the turkey out of the refrigerator later today and soak it in cold water. For each 1/2 pound of turkey you have (that is frozen) it takes one 1/2 hour soaking in cold water to thaw it out.
No fun trying to cook a frozen turkey – now is it.
Here is my “Thanksgiving List” for about 8–10 servings, except for the turkey itself, which should feed about 12 or more (I figured I wanted more turkey leftovers than anything else). Adjust proportions as needed for your own Thanksgiving meal.
Note: All ingredients needed are listed here. Check your pantry to see if you already have some of these ingredients at home before shopping.
=Thanksgiving Menu…
* Herb Seasoned Roast Turkey
* Cornbread-Water Chestnut Dressing
* Giblet Gravy made with Quick Turkey Stock
* Cranberry-Orange Relish
* Green Beans and Pecan Salad with Lemon Vinaigrette
* Pumpkin & Pecan Pies (buy these from a bakery or ask someone to bring them)
=Shopping List…
=Meats, Eggs & Dairy…
* whole turkey: (12-13 pounds)
* pork sausage: 1 pound, preferably mild with sage
* 2 eggs for the Jiffy cornbread mix: (use whatever ingredients your mix calls for)
* 2/3 cup milk for the Jiffy cornbread mix: (use whatever ingredients your mix calls for)
* sour cream and/or ice cream for pies
=Dry & Canned Goods…
* Jiffy brand cornbread mix: 2 boxes (each 8.5-ounce) (or equivalent)
* black olives: 1 can (3.5 ounces, drained weight) pitted
* water chestnuts: 1 can (8-ounce)
* honey: 2/3 cup
* corn (or vegetable oil): approx. 1-1/2 cups total
* olive oil: extra-virgin, 2 tablespoons
* walnut oil: 1/3 cup
* chicken or turkey broth: low-salt, 2 cans
* flour: 5 tablespoons
* sugar: 1-1/2 teaspoons
* Dijon mustard: 1-1/2 teaspoons
=Produce…
* onions: 2 medium
* celery: 3 stalks
* cranberries: 1 bag (12-ounces) fresh
* orange: 1 medium
* garlic: 3 cloves
* lemons: 3
* green beans: 2 pounds
=Herbs, Spices & Nuts…
* sage: 1 tablespoon fresh sage or 1-1/4 teaspoon dried
* rosemary: dried, 2 teaspoons
* poultry seasoning: 1 tablespoon
* bay leaves: 4
* red pepper flakes, crushed: 1/2 teaspoon
* cloves, ground: dash
* ginger, ground: dash
* pine nuts: 1/2 cup
* walnuts: 1/2 to 3/4 cups chopped (optional)
* pecans: 2 cups shelled halves
* peppercorns: for fresh ground pepper
* salt
=Other…
* white wine: 1/2 cup (optional)
* pies: pumpkin and/or pecan, either bought from a bakery or made using your favorite recipe
That’s it … my Thanksgiving list for you.
Whew – there’s a lot of stuff there, and hopefully I haven’t forgotten anything.
-Wow, I’d better get moving here – Steve will be up shortly – I’ve got another exciting day of retirement and I don’t work – so after lunch when I get back home – I’ve got to get going on getting all these ingredients ready … after all I’m having company for Thanksgiving dinner tomorrow – myself … and I want everyone to enjoy the big meal … as best I can.
Have a great Wednesday guys…be good and be kind.
If you don’t happen to pass this way tomorrow … Happy Thanksgiving to my partner Steve and to each and everyone of you.
-Until next time…
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