here.. have some turkey and stressing
Part 1: aren't you people supposed to like.. BE THERE already?
Thursday morning started out easy enough.
The plan was to drive our beloved "Rubymobile" on Thanksgiving morning to New York City that we may (finally) particpate in Patti's long traditional family gathering at sister Nancy's and hubby Richard's home.
In particular I had been looking forward to the event in that there were still some members of Patti's immediate and extended family that I had not yet been introduced to. Noteably, her uncle Eric and Gloria and Patti's nephew Adam. We tried to accomplish the same mission last year, but blond girl decided just at that time to give new definition to concept of "dizzy blonde" in her coming down with a severe case of vertigo which by the turn of the screw didst incur a not very pleasureable stay in the local hospital emergency room.
But that was then and this was now and by all accounts 'twas a fine morning for traveling.. cloudy but no rain or wind. I was feeling mellow and ready to rumble. Stress level on zero (Patti & I use the 0-10 scale for a lot of different things). This time we would succeed in making our way north to the big city. The day trip is about 270 miles.
"easy as pie", as they say.. also as they say "famous last words".
Gee, now who would have thunk ..that other folks would be doing the exact same thing? ..traveling on thanksgiving day. I mean, aren't you people supposed to like.. BE THERE already?
The roads were jam packed with Thanksgiving travelers on Thanksgiving morning, and it wasn't too long after leaving the Capital Beltway before all lanes of our northbound Interstate 95 were bumper to bumper and slow going like turtles in mud. Still, I'm pretty mellow and all, but the stress-o-meter is now beginning to kick-out some low numbers.
It took us 3 hours and 20 minutes to knock off the first hundred miles. no fun. seriously boring. go 60 miles per hour for a few minutes then go 15 miles per hour for awhile.. sometimes, it would be "let's just stop here and not go anywhere" for a few minutes.
Later, fortunately, the congestion lightened up after we moved beyond Philadelphia. ..and after some minor misturns (damn you MapQuest!) and corresponding increases on the ole stress-o-meter (into the 5's now), in the now darkened hours of the long driving day, we finally stumbled into the driveway of our final destination.
We made it.. got out of Ruby and knocked on the family door, which in turn set off a veritable firestorm of 4 barking Jack Russell terriers.
Damn.. I need a beer!
Part 2: Let's Party!
Now I have to say that the few photos I have on this Thanksgiving entry hardly depicts the actual event and the many family members that attended the festivities are not shown here. Sticking a camera into people's faces just did not feel right at that time (perhaps my sense of being the new kid on the block.. or "where'd Patti pick up that old thing?".. had something to do with my reticence in making a photographic pest of myself).. In any case it just did not feel right for me to go around and stick my camera into people's faces and cajole them to smile back at me so I could flash them onto the web as I am known to do.
Except I did do exactly that to Patti's uncle Eric..
In a previous life, Eric was a professional photographer who himself probably got into many a face and made-them-smile when there was nothing much to genuinely smile about... so I didn't feel too bad about doing it to him and his partner Gloria.. I think they understood me well enough in my kneeling in front of them and making a plum fool of myself (hey! it's a technique!) that I got him to smile for the little birdie and "click" goes my shutter. (you know what he is thinking here: "what is that idiot doing!")
Uncle Eric is pushin' 90 and he doesn't hear so good anymore.. which kind of leaves him out of the flow of surrounding conversations.. but I feel the 3 of us got along quite nicely with one other, which was important to me. I like being around the elderly... all have stories to tell in their long journeys through this world. Most all of them that I have known in my life have grown good and compassionate hearts in spite of unrelenting aches and pains and physical diminishments.
With a bit of luck, I may even graduate to becoming one of the ancients myself.
A little pre-turkey cheer
and multiple conversations and shortly thereafter the dinner bell was rung.. which also set off another canine maelstrom. Those beasts are such wirey, high-strung little spirits.. fortunately a word from Mother Superior Nancy and they can find their inner calmness.. at least for awhile. ARF!
Dinner is served, y'all
No pics.. sorry.. but what a thanksgiving spread it was! YUM!
When the plate was passed I grabbed a big turkey leg because I like dark meat better than white and the somewhat barbarous way one may proceed to devour a big ole turkey leg.. one hand holding the whole thing up sideways to the mouth. Spinning it around and jawing on it like some Viking warrior..
I did remember to use my napkin rather than my sleeve, I mean... let's try to not embarrass our Pioneer Princess too badly here, ok?
The conversation was invigorating to say the least! Mostly we covered religion and christmas and
it was great fun to watch how no one could agree on anything. Friendly antagonism seems to be the prevailing modus operandi at these yearly affairs... and after all is said and done, hugs and kissies and smiles all around as folks don their winter wear and head for home.
But in my opinion, the Belle of the Thanksgiving Ball was cousin Ruthie, hands down. She was on-a-roll in poking fun at all of us, cracking us up with laughter and landing the grand finale blow down squarely upon her poor husband Jerry. (that's what hubbys are for aren't we?) One could hardly imagine the relationship between califlower and insurance policies (and in order to protect you, the innocence reader who was not present with too much information on these seemingly unrelated subjects, it would be best that I NOT go into it here.. in fact put it out of mind as quickly as possible). But relationship there was.. Thankyou Ruthie.. and you too Jerry.. for uuh.. NOT demonstrating anything!. :-D
It was good.. all of it..and I thank you all for accepting me into your inner family circle. (I was accepted wasn't I?! :-)
Part 3: Party's over..say g'night Gracie
Patti and I stayed the night.. a somewhat restless night for both of us because of an unfamiliar bed for Patti and too much red wine for me the evening before.
But morning came as it does..
and after a shower and coffee we decided it was time to pack up and go home. But first, we made a glorious attempt to drive two cars to a restaurant and have breakfast with our generous hosts Richard and Nancy, before we left.
Alas.. it was not destined to happen for sometimes the ways-and-means of one do not always mesh with the ways-and-means of another to create a successful venture... even if it be something as simple as following along in our car to go have breakfast together before hitting the road home.
I shall be so bold to say (ok,to guess) that our Nancy has a Gold Foot (that's one electron more or less than the proverbial "Lead Foot")..while yours truly can sometimes visit oblivion in a la la sort of way while I try to drive and talk at the same time.
Nancy's car is a perky little zippety-do-dah.. while our beloved Ruby is only a wee bit better in going uphills than a VW bus.
Nancy can drive these narrow and windy and familiar roads at 50+MPH.. while Mr Bill doesn't know what curve lurks over the next rise and is compelled by the threat of impending death to drive accordingly.
Well.. all these things conspired together to prevent us from staying connected en route to the restaurant..
And then as Nancy and Richard vanished out of our sight over hill, round the bend and gone in 60 seconds, I of course guessed at and then took the wrong turn which finalized the deal. We disconnected and there would be no breakfast together this time around.
Well that's the way it goes.. no biggie, except I lost the moment to thank Richard and Nancy for their hospitality and everything else that went with it. So, if either of you are reading this, I will take the moment to say my "thankyou" to you both. It was fun.
Well then.. by the time we hit the Tappanzee Bridge a few miles later, both Ruby and I had put our moments of frustration behind us and in turning our noses into the wind, we stepped on it and headed for home. Patti took a few miles longer to accept the fickle finger of fate but happily has also reconciled the moment.
Ok then.. let's go home..
we're done here...
ARf! arf arf arf arf arf ARf! arf arf arf arf arf!!!!!!!!!!!! lick lick arf arf!
Thursday morning started out easy enough.
The plan was to drive our beloved "Rubymobile" on Thanksgiving morning to New York City that we may (finally) particpate in Patti's long traditional family gathering at sister Nancy's and hubby Richard's home.
In particular I had been looking forward to the event in that there were still some members of Patti's immediate and extended family that I had not yet been introduced to. Noteably, her uncle Eric and Gloria and Patti's nephew Adam. We tried to accomplish the same mission last year, but blond girl decided just at that time to give new definition to concept of "dizzy blonde" in her coming down with a severe case of vertigo which by the turn of the screw didst incur a not very pleasureable stay in the local hospital emergency room.
But that was then and this was now and by all accounts 'twas a fine morning for traveling.. cloudy but no rain or wind. I was feeling mellow and ready to rumble. Stress level on zero (Patti & I use the 0-10 scale for a lot of different things). This time we would succeed in making our way north to the big city. The day trip is about 270 miles.
"easy as pie", as they say.. also as they say "famous last words".
Gee, now who would have thunk ..that other folks would be doing the exact same thing? ..traveling on thanksgiving day. I mean, aren't you people supposed to like.. BE THERE already?
The roads were jam packed with Thanksgiving travelers on Thanksgiving morning, and it wasn't too long after leaving the Capital Beltway before all lanes of our northbound Interstate 95 were bumper to bumper and slow going like turtles in mud. Still, I'm pretty mellow and all, but the stress-o-meter is now beginning to kick-out some low numbers.
It took us 3 hours and 20 minutes to knock off the first hundred miles. no fun. seriously boring. go 60 miles per hour for a few minutes then go 15 miles per hour for awhile.. sometimes, it would be "let's just stop here and not go anywhere" for a few minutes.
Later, fortunately, the congestion lightened up after we moved beyond Philadelphia. ..and after some minor misturns (damn you MapQuest!) and corresponding increases on the ole stress-o-meter (into the 5's now), in the now darkened hours of the long driving day, we finally stumbled into the driveway of our final destination.
We made it.. got out of Ruby and knocked on the family door, which in turn set off a veritable firestorm of 4 barking Jack Russell terriers.
Damn.. I need a beer!
Part 2: Let's Party!
Now I have to say that the few photos I have on this Thanksgiving entry hardly depicts the actual event and the many family members that attended the festivities are not shown here. Sticking a camera into people's faces just did not feel right at that time (perhaps my sense of being the new kid on the block.. or "where'd Patti pick up that old thing?".. had something to do with my reticence in making a photographic pest of myself).. In any case it just did not feel right for me to go around and stick my camera into people's faces and cajole them to smile back at me so I could flash them onto the web as I am known to do.
Except I did do exactly that to Patti's uncle Eric..
In a previous life, Eric was a professional photographer who himself probably got into many a face and made-them-smile when there was nothing much to genuinely smile about... so I didn't feel too bad about doing it to him and his partner Gloria.. I think they understood me well enough in my kneeling in front of them and making a plum fool of myself (hey! it's a technique!) that I got him to smile for the little birdie and "click" goes my shutter. (you know what he is thinking here: "what is that idiot doing!")
Uncle Eric is pushin' 90 and he doesn't hear so good anymore.. which kind of leaves him out of the flow of surrounding conversations.. but I feel the 3 of us got along quite nicely with one other, which was important to me. I like being around the elderly... all have stories to tell in their long journeys through this world. Most all of them that I have known in my life have grown good and compassionate hearts in spite of unrelenting aches and pains and physical diminishments.
With a bit of luck, I may even graduate to becoming one of the ancients myself.
A little pre-turkey cheer
and multiple conversations and shortly thereafter the dinner bell was rung.. which also set off another canine maelstrom. Those beasts are such wirey, high-strung little spirits.. fortunately a word from Mother Superior Nancy and they can find their inner calmness.. at least for awhile. ARF!
Dinner is served, y'all
No pics.. sorry.. but what a thanksgiving spread it was! YUM!
When the plate was passed I grabbed a big turkey leg because I like dark meat better than white and the somewhat barbarous way one may proceed to devour a big ole turkey leg.. one hand holding the whole thing up sideways to the mouth. Spinning it around and jawing on it like some Viking warrior..
I did remember to use my napkin rather than my sleeve, I mean... let's try to not embarrass our Pioneer Princess too badly here, ok?
The conversation was invigorating to say the least! Mostly we covered religion and christmas and
it was great fun to watch how no one could agree on anything. Friendly antagonism seems to be the prevailing modus operandi at these yearly affairs... and after all is said and done, hugs and kissies and smiles all around as folks don their winter wear and head for home.
But in my opinion, the Belle of the Thanksgiving Ball was cousin Ruthie, hands down. She was on-a-roll in poking fun at all of us, cracking us up with laughter and landing the grand finale blow down squarely upon her poor husband Jerry. (that's what hubbys are for aren't we?) One could hardly imagine the relationship between califlower and insurance policies (and in order to protect you, the innocence reader who was not present with too much information on these seemingly unrelated subjects, it would be best that I NOT go into it here.. in fact put it out of mind as quickly as possible). But relationship there was.. Thankyou Ruthie.. and you too Jerry.. for uuh.. NOT demonstrating anything!. :-D
It was good.. all of it..and I thank you all for accepting me into your inner family circle. (I was accepted wasn't I?! :-)
Part 3: Party's over..say g'night Gracie
Patti and I stayed the night.. a somewhat restless night for both of us because of an unfamiliar bed for Patti and too much red wine for me the evening before.
But morning came as it does..
and after a shower and coffee we decided it was time to pack up and go home. But first, we made a glorious attempt to drive two cars to a restaurant and have breakfast with our generous hosts Richard and Nancy, before we left.
Alas.. it was not destined to happen for sometimes the ways-and-means of one do not always mesh with the ways-and-means of another to create a successful venture... even if it be something as simple as following along in our car to go have breakfast together before hitting the road home.
I shall be so bold to say (ok,to guess) that our Nancy has a Gold Foot (that's one electron more or less than the proverbial "Lead Foot")..while yours truly can sometimes visit oblivion in a la la sort of way while I try to drive and talk at the same time.
Nancy's car is a perky little zippety-do-dah.. while our beloved Ruby is only a wee bit better in going uphills than a VW bus.
Nancy can drive these narrow and windy and familiar roads at 50+MPH.. while Mr Bill doesn't know what curve lurks over the next rise and is compelled by the threat of impending death to drive accordingly.
Well.. all these things conspired together to prevent us from staying connected en route to the restaurant..
And then as Nancy and Richard vanished out of our sight over hill, round the bend and gone in 60 seconds, I of course guessed at and then took the wrong turn which finalized the deal. We disconnected and there would be no breakfast together this time around.
Well that's the way it goes.. no biggie, except I lost the moment to thank Richard and Nancy for their hospitality and everything else that went with it. So, if either of you are reading this, I will take the moment to say my "thankyou" to you both. It was fun.
Well then.. by the time we hit the Tappanzee Bridge a few miles later, both Ruby and I had put our moments of frustration behind us and in turning our noses into the wind, we stepped on it and headed for home. Patti took a few miles longer to accept the fickle finger of fate but happily has also reconciled the moment.
Ok then.. let's go home..
we're done here...
ARf! arf arf arf arf arf ARf! arf arf arf arf arf!!!!!!!!!!!! lick lick arf arf!