the kitty sweater version 1

Her little elbows are trapped by the armholes.

ugh.

Well, compared to how well Channukah and Passover have always gone with my friends, Thanksgiving on my part yesterday was kind of a failure. This isn't to say anything negative about my guests - all my friends were incredibly gracious about having to wait forever because I hadn't started to fix the vegetables (only the pumpkin bread!) and they had to sit around chatting while I cooked.

I forgot to finish setting the table, I didn't have the serving implements in the dishes, I couldn't find the matches for the candles, I didn't have any proper substitute for the wine and Wax made orange juice from a box and served it in a plastic liquid measure with mL markings on the sides. I didn't have any spare wine when Sugar forgot to bring it. There was still enough food to stuff everyone and leave leftovers, but it didn't feel like Thanksgiving anyway because there still weren't enough dishes. bluesbell's heavenly apple pie was the best part. The roasted potatoes were a good second for deliciousness, but they weren't particularly fancy.

Maybe it's really just that I've been feeling depressed lately, but I was nervous and inadequate-feeling compared to the magical dinner-party powers of my mom and my aunts. I didn't even have a proper tablecloth on the table, or a real vase to put the flowers that Chi brought in. I really ought to have baked the pecan pie yesterday, but I didn't do that either. We actually didn't finish off the one pie, but it feels utterly wrong to have only one pie at Thanksgiving. Honestly, I'd like to look forward to Channukah and getting it right, but it seems likely that in a month's time I'll still be too full of fail to cook a full meal.

You know, growing up my Mom would always have post-holiday stress and depression around every main vacation or trip to visit anyone, feeling grumpy and growly during the whole period. That never happened to me, at least, not unless I was so terrified of being yelled at that I was hiding and withdrawn the whole time in self-defense; but maybe it was something like this.

instabbouleh!

Stockmann now carries tabbouleh mix, a sealed package of bulghur with greens and spices already in it. You soak the whole thing in water for 45 minutes and voila. We sampled it last night. I found it a little dry, but dressed in oil and lemon juice and sprinkled liberally with salt and garlic powder it's delicious. And more importantly, cheap and fast compared to the method that involves food-processing a triple bunch of parsley and chopping a shitload of scallions!

two-handed air heart, size small

The new Fast and the Furious is set in South America and has Vin Diesel and Paul Walker. And Michelle Rodriguez and Jordana Brewster. ("How did you meet?" "He used to date my sister." Used to? Weren't they sexin' it up in the trailer still?)