THIS WEEK IN REFLECTION
This was another one of those weeks that felt 82 years long because so much happened. Last Sunday and Monday it felt like Nick and I just could not get it together. We were picking at and misunderstanding each other, and I felt like I was going mad. And then Rosalyn Carter died, and all the tributes emphasized how much she and Jimmy loved each other and were true partners. Nick and I hugged it out and went about our day. Later that evening, he confessed he backed into the garage door. Ups and downs, am I right?
Strangely, we found a new bonding activity: watching Cops. Why do I ever leave my house when I can watch Cops free on Pluto?? It is a nostalgia trip to see clothes that I remember my folks wearing when I was a kid. And there is something like 33 seasons on Pluto, so you can bet that I’m going to struggle with getting some things done over the last two weeks of the semester. It’s also lots of fun to wash dishes and quietly sing, “Police naw give ya no bre-AAAAk.”
Of course, Biscuit and Dad came for Thanksgiving. It was the first we have hosted, ever, and now that we’re in a house, it was even more special. Of course, I did not take Dad’s complaints about it being too cold in here seriously, and apparently, he almost froze to death at night. I told him, “Get a blanket.” Woops, he had two already. Here are the foods I made:
We got to talking about how we will do Christmas at their house and see my brother’s family. I asked Dad what he wanted me to make, and he said, “Nothing elaborate.” Of course, I asked him to define “elaborate,” and he said what we were eating on Thanksgiving.
Saturday, Biscuit signed up for a reindeer-themed 5K, so we drove almost an hour north to cheer her on. The folks announced winners by age group, and when they said, “Third place, women, ages 60-69,” they followed NOT with Biscuit’s name. Then second place, not Biscuit. She was so sad that she didn’t even place, like it didn’t even occur to her that she could be first place. She was first place!
She usually finishes right around 40 minutes, so we waited inside a coffee shop because we couldn’t see her anyway. Dad, though a thoroughly frozen human in my home, has no concept of what a coat is.
Of course, I accidentally almost made Biscuit cry because I said, “Just have fun and run back to me.” Sorry, Mom!
And of course, I wouldn’t be me if I didn’t find something unholy to terrorize people with each holiday, so I was texting this thing around on Thanksgiving:
IT DIDN’T MAKE IT TO GRAB THE LAPELS
Biscuit and I finished Night of the Living Rez by Morgan Talty. It’s billed as a short story collection, but reads more like a novel. One chapter is about David as a boy and then the next chapter he’s a man. Back and forth, though both timelines move forward chronologically to explain the disaster his life is in the present. Highly recommended.
THIS WEEK’S BLOG POST
Although there wasn’t a ton of traction of the review of Evette Dionne’s book Weightless, I get it. Not only was it a holiday week for Americans, and the end of the semester is creeping up for my academic homies, my review didn’t leave you with much to add. What do you do with a book that sounds like the same old song and dance?
NEXT WEEK’S BLOG POST
I will be cutting it close this week, but I plan to have either At the Altar by L.M. Montgomery or An Elderly Lady Must Not Be Crossed by Helene Tursten reviewed this week. I have several projects due in the next few days. I should have planned better with more audiobooks instead of listening to so many episodes of the Evolution of Horror podcast. The host is on the mind/body horror series, and I swear it’s all just David Cronenberg and David Lynch.
BOOKS I BOUGHT
Books I paid for (that are not textbooks) since January 2023: totaling $68.04. This number keeps creeping up. Yeesh.
BOOKS ADDED TO THE TBR PILE
Grab the Lapels 
Congrats to Biscuit on her victory!
That teddy bear turkey is the stuff of nightmares….
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I want to know what part of the turkey made the eyes and nose.
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Congratulations Biscuit!!!!
You had a full week! Well done on hosting your first Thanksgiving at your house. And extra kudos for using your blackberries for a dessert!
That turkey bear is horrific.
Good luck in the final weeks of your semester! Will you then get a long break until spring semester starts, or are you taking a class between terms? I hope you are giving yourself a rest!
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Lordamighty, I’m taking a class between semesters that will nearly kill me I’m sure, but on the positive side, I designed it myself?
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Oh, a self-designed class? Cool! What’s the topic?
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Well, the class is Sociology of Religion, but because not enough people signed up, it was canceled. I had already paid for it and didn’t want to lose my opportunity at reduced winter tuition, so I picked out the books and assignments. One is a report on what I learn after reading all the research I assigned myself and the other is a paper in which I will argue that religion is a benefit to society because 1) my school will dig that topic and 2) I like writing arguments whether I stand behind them or not. To me, debates are just a big puzzle.
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That all sounds really interesting!
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Woooooo!! Go Biscuit, go Biscuit!
Guess you’ll have to get your dad a couple super thick blankets for Christmas as a joke. 😛
My dad makes fun of me because I’ve lived downstate long enough now to have lost my thick Northener blood. :3 He’s not wrong. I used to be one of those people who were in a t-shirt when it was 40 degrees out because that was considered a heatwave. Now it’s 55 outside and I’m searching for my hoodie.
I’m glad that your Thanksgiving turned out well! ❤
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I used to be that college student who wore a hoodie and ripped jeans while trapsing through the snow in my cool sneakers. What was I thinking?? I get it now. I see people wearing the same thing I did as I walk across campus.
I have also been informed that my dad needs to wear pajamas. Interpret that how you will.
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Oh no! Nudist daddy! LOL.
I think I tried to do that tough bit in high school too. But living in the snow belt, it just a really dumb choice. I just pulled my snow boots out and stuck them outside to hopefully get any spiders out who might have found them cozy during the summer. :3
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Summer spiders; new fear unlocked. I guess I just assumed there were no spiders because this isn’t Australia. Now, I shall fear.
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OMG Biscuit that is so impressive! Night of the Living Rez looks awesome, love reading the Indigenous books coming out of the U.S.A!!!
That teddy bear is going to haunt my dreams, but your thanksgiving meal looked delish!!!
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I thought you had already read Night of the Living Rez, but maybe that was your fellow Canadian Karissa.
Just make sure to check under your bed every night, for Turkey Teddy wants to be friends real bad.
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AHHHHHHHH!!!!!!
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I have seen the Eastbourne turkey teddy before, but it doesn’t get less horrifying with time! Eastbourne is pretty near where my dad grew up, and everyone in that part of the country is about 100 years old, so I console myself with the idea that it must be a fake (basically no children to “benefit” from a turkey teddy).
Belated happy Thanksgiving, and well done Biscuit!
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Hahaha, I was hoping you would leave a comment about the area and that you would know it. I was also hoping you’d tell me that part of England is really squirrely.
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I wish you hadn’t shown us that teddy bear turkey – it’s leaving so many questions! Are you supposed to cook it? Do you play with it? Has the person who made that never met a child before? Because my kids would not touch that thing.
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I think it’s a joke, but the joke suggests this person will cook it for your young’ins, and they will be forever grateful.
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Woof. I physically recoiled at that teddy bear!
Way to go Biscuit!
Why is WordPress formatting these comments differently now? It’s really annoying. Oh, those mashed potatoes and that cobbler look amazing. I realized that I really need to make mashed potatoes more. I could eat them every day, seriously.
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Seems like they’ve instituted block editor in Comments. It’s terrible isn’t it.
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IKR!? WordPress has some crazy block thing now with comments that I thought was wonky, too. Mashed potatoes are pretty easy. Unfortunately, they are the list of foods that make Biscuit cry when she cooks them, so I took over.
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Ups and downs, yes, Melanie, love your honesty. Long term relationships do take work, don’t they?
YOUR dad – “Of course, I asked him to define “elaborate,” and he said what we were eating on Thanksgiving” – well, I love the look of your Thanksgiving meal. The veggies look great, and I love blackberry crumble. Good on you for hosting it. It’s not easy hosting big family meals. I know a few men who just want to eat meat and potatoes, no veggies, no fruit.
BTW Sorry I’ve been a bit AWOL. It’s getting busy and is going to get busier … but I will catch up.
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One time I made lasagna and a side salad, and I think my dad was going to disown me. You’re right about that meat and vegetables comment!
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I can only laugh Melanie. I’ve met too many men like this, but happily, not in my close family though, my father could be picky about certain things.
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I’m only a week behind now! I used to go to Eastbourne for days out to the seaside – eeps!
But mainly WELL DONE to Biscuit, excellent work!!
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