Goodnight, Travel Well
November 26th, 2008
We picked up a humidifier last night because our noses were about to fall off. My God, I’ve never lived anywhere so dry — the combination of forced-air heat, cold weather and a complete lack of humidity outside (unlike, say, Florida) left us inches away from having morning nosebleeds rivaling those of lifelong cocaine addicts. I woke up every morning feeling like someone was taking very thin, cotton-covered icepicks and delicately placing them into my sinus cavities, occasionally hammering them in. I am now terrified of the humidity-induced petri dish I’ve brought into our bedroom, but it beats sleeping with a wet washcloth over my face to prevent from crumbling like a Skeksis in the sun.
I’m in charge of my first Thanksgiving — for uh, two — and it involves a ham in lieu of a turkey. I’m not sure how I feel about this, but since Adam doesn’t really dig turkey and I’m more about the sides anyway, I guess it makes more sense. But still! No turkey! HAM. It’s a miraculous Harrington’s ham, for sure, but still. A HAM. Even my vegetarian friend Erica is having a Tofurkey, which is turkey-like. We fail at Thanksgiving.
This may also be because I forgot that it was a holiday this week until basically this morning, when I realized I’d be best served to get on the stick and do something about it. For the record, traditional turkey accompaniments don’t go well with ham, and all I’ve got is mashed potatoes and asparagus wrapped in prosciutto (a Silver Palate recipe, by the way, that is SO GOOD and SO SIMPLE). And … I got nothin’. Today’s grocery store adventure should be grand — with no plan and throngs of turkey-buying folks who are more prepared than I, I expect it will take hours.
We’re traveling the week after to see Adam’s family, as is the tradition, but extenuating circumstances on his sister’s side prevent us from doing it on the actual holiday. And I am THRILLED. THRILLED. We’ve traveled every year for the last ten years, and let me tell you, flying the day before Thanksgiving is as miserable as CNN tells you it is and then some. The lines! The delays! The angry travelers! NOOOOO.
Speaking of holiday splitting, we have always spent the Thanksgiving holiday with Adam’s family, Christmas with mine. One of the many joys of a Jew-Gentile relationship. This came up in conversation with my 21-year-old hairdresser yesterday, who marveled, “Wow, a Jewish family who celebrates Thanksgiving! That’s unusual.”
I … what? I don’t even know what to say here. Last I checked, Thanksgiving wasn’t really a religious holiday, but I … oh I don’t know. Even if she has no knowledge of Judaism, did she miss the lesson in elementary school about the Pilgrims, however fictionalized?
At any rate, I hope you all have a fabulous Thanksgiving. Despite the mess our entire world is in, not to mention the shitstorm swirling around our personal circumstances, there is much to be thankful for, and today, I’m all weepy thinking about it. For starters, I have a small person kicking me in the ribs, and the enormity of what’s to come terrifies and excites me more than anything I’ve ever imagined and for some reason, it’s hitting me today harder than usual.
And with that, I hope you have a wonderful holiday, wherever it may be. I should also add that as I wrote this, Adam announced he’d like to do a turkey after all. So, uh, off to the grocery store I go. I’m sure no one else will be there for any last-minute items. Stay tuned for pictures of the 30-pound bird I was forced to buy, as it was all that’s left!
Happy Thanksgiving!
*The Killers
Entry Filed under: Nuttin'
25 Comments Add your own
1. el-e-e | November 26th, 2008 at 8:31 am
Dude, no!!! Turkey breast! Turkey breast is all you need! Or 2 wee cornish hens! Don’t buy a 30-pounder, good grief!
Happy holiday!
2. Jen | November 26th, 2008 at 8:33 am
We’re cooking for two, too. (Er, or is it three? These days the baby almost feels like a separate entity, what with the violent rotissering.) Anyway, I was worried we’d be forced to purchase a gihugant turkey because we didn’t preorder a small one, but we managed to find one that weighs in at just 8.5 pounds. Which is sort of creepy in that I could be birthing a baby of that exact weight in about a month. What’s even creepier is that Roth plans to roast the turkey split in half (to reduce the cooking time, promote even browning of the skin), and something about him having to remove the backbone in order to properly splay the bird is just weird. But hopefully, TASTY!
Happy Thanksgiving to you!
3. derfina | November 26th, 2008 at 8:59 am
Maybe try to find just a turkey breast? (I think I’da had to bitch slap the hairdresser.)
4. Erin | November 26th, 2008 at 9:06 am
I am very very lucky because my fiance is completely in charge of the cooking of the Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner (except for the fruit salad and Sara Lee pies–I do those). I can mostly sit back and hang out and then clean up later. Last year I ended up buying half of our ingredients actually ON Thanksgiving because we had spaced them out earlier when we bought the Turkey and the crowds were pretty manageable–even at the scary grocery store that isn’t but feels like a WalMart.
5. Jess | November 26th, 2008 at 9:10 am
That’s hilarious about the hairdresser. One of the things I’ve always loved about Thanksgiving is that it’s the holiday that everyone celebrates. Except, of course, my husband. Not that it’s his fault. He’s just not American. And since we’ve been together, he has celebrated it, with me. And really, it’s easier because there’s no worrying about which side of the family to spend the day with. But still. It’s funny that after years of thinking of how great it was that Thanksgiving was the Inclusive Holiday, I married someone who is Excluded.
6. Carrie | November 26th, 2008 at 9:19 am
I want another belly shot! Isn’t it time for another belly shot?
Have a great turkey!
7. Kris T | November 26th, 2008 at 9:21 am
It’s just my husband (a Brit) and myself so no turkey here either. I bought a turkey thigh to make myself for lunch over the weekend. But hubby dear is making a roast and yorkshire Pudding so it will be a good meal either way. Happy Thanksgiving!
8. Sadie | November 26th, 2008 at 9:22 am
A tip: don’t buy a frozen bird today.
Seriously, I am a Thanksgiving maven, I have been hosting it for a half-dozen years now and if you have questions or, are reduced to culinarily-inspired hysterics as your Twitter suggests, you can totally call me. Email me and I will give you my number, my family doesn’t come for dinner until 4.
You love vegetables right? Side suggestions: roasted brussels sprouts (these can cook right alongside your bird), roasted sweet potatoes, cornbread stuffing! I have idiot-proof recipes for all three, but so does the internet. Enjoy your holiday, sister.
9. Allison | November 26th, 2008 at 9:28 am
Oh, I was going to suggest macaroni and cheese to go with the ham. OR CHEESE GRITS. Yum.
We are having turkey, ham AND lasagna, which is weird to me, but David insists that’s what they had in Pittsburgh when he was a kid. No lasagnas at Thanksgiving in GA, that’s for sure.
10. H | November 26th, 2008 at 10:04 am
The hairdresser comment made me laugh out loud. That is too funny. I’m not sure how much freezer space you have, but might I suggest that if you end up with more turkey than you can eat, freeze the leftovers in recipe-sized amounts or throw together a turkey dish that can be frozen. The freezer items will come in handy after your daughter arrives and you want to whip up a quick meal.
By the way, you convinced me to try to pickled carrots. They’ll be prepared this weekend as they do sound yummy.
11. Cara | November 26th, 2008 at 10:45 am
My mom sometimes thinks Thanksgiving is like other Jewish holidays, in that it should be celebrated on both Thursday and Friday.
12. ali | November 26th, 2008 at 11:56 am
oh, since i live in canada, i’ll be having a lovely thanksgiving AT WORK. while my entire family is celebrating in arizona. ahah.
wait…what? i don’t know ANY jews who don’t celebrate thanksgiving!! except my inlaws. but they are british hippies.
13. Lauren | November 26th, 2008 at 12:26 pm
Years ago when my brother was little and used to get nosebleeds all the time from the dry air his doctor recommended that he use vaseline in his nose. Granted he was like 8 at the time, but I started doing it a few years ago when I had the same problem and voila! No more dry horrible nasal passages and bloddy loveliness. I’m telling you, it is a jar of pure MAGIC for any New Englander.
Also? Your hairdresser’s comment made me guffaw out loud. Priceless.
14. Regina | November 26th, 2008 at 1:14 pm
We are driving to PA tonight whenever the boy gets home from work, yuck! This year i get to stay home for Christmas! Hope you two have a great holiday.
15. Red | November 26th, 2008 at 1:23 pm
A couple of years ago I cooked a ham for Thanksgiving, too. My mother, the only one who actually likes turkey, was disappointed, but everyone else loved it. Plus, I made split-pea soup with the leftovers. Highly recommended. Enjoy your Thanksgiving!
16. Kristabella | November 26th, 2008 at 1:51 pm
Yay for turkey! Does this mean you get turkey-friendly sides now too? That’s the best part of Thanksgiving for me.
Hope you have a wonderful holiday!
17. anne | November 26th, 2008 at 2:20 pm
We too are Jew-Gentile and it just works out so well. No issues. Well at least none over that particular issue.
Have a Happy Holiday.
18. Jen | November 26th, 2008 at 3:35 pm
Skeksis? SKEKSIS? Oh my God, did you just go Dark Crystal all over our asses? Bonus points for being esoteric on a holiday!
P.S. I second the macaroni and cheese.
19. TwoBusy | November 26th, 2008 at 7:20 pm
So, according to your hairdresser… Skeksis: Sunlight = Jews: Thanksgiving.
Your life is endlessly fascinating.
20. velocibadgergirl | November 26th, 2008 at 7:49 pm
You win my undying devotion for referencing the Skeksis. *heart*
21. hollylynne | November 26th, 2008 at 8:52 pm
There’s really no way to talk about it without feeling like I’m giving way too much information, but . . . my allergist recently turned me on to sinus rinsing and MAN! All nosebleeding gone. It is MIRACULOUS!
22. Mauigirl | November 27th, 2008 at 5:40 pm
Hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving meal, even if it was ham! Both being only children and our families living in the same general area, we always celebrate all the holidays in one big happy family.
Since we’re going up to the Adirondacks tomorrow for a couple of nights we gave all the leftovers to my mom and aunt! They’ll be eating it for weeks.
23. Assertagirl | November 27th, 2008 at 7:52 pm
Happy Thanksgiving! I’m way more into the side dishes, too. Hope your turkey turned out!
24. wow items | Intel.com&hellip | November 30th, 2008 at 1:27 am
[...] Goodnight, Travel Well … travelers! NOOOOO. Speaking of holiday splitting, we have always spent the Thanksgiving holiday with Adam’s family, Christmas with mine. One of the many joys of a Jew-Gentile relationship. This came up in conversation with my 21-year-old hairdresser yesterday, who marveled, “Wow, a Jewish family who … [...]
25. Spence22Helga | June 2nd, 2010 at 2:13 am
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