Time is, as always, moving quickly. Here are some things that have been running around in my brain the past couple of days. And some things I wanted to share.
- The other day in O'Hare (l'un des aeroports de Chicago, ndlr), I had this weird moment of clarity while I was asking someone a question. "I'm speaking English, I'm saying things, and I'm not even thinking about it!" I know you're saying, "Well, duh!" -- but it was a strange moment, because a couple of times I was about to launch into French. Then I remembered where I was.
- The new Harry Potter movie is excellent. I'll take my kids to see it when I get back to France.
- Today is Thanksgiving, my first in the States since 1993. I had forgotten just how BIG a deal it is. The first few years in France, I made a point of creating a Thanksgiving meal -- usually held on a Saturday -- but I gradually got to a "can't be bothered" phase. A shame, really.
- Last night I made a hazelnut-cranberry stuffing for the turkey. Ingredients: stale French bread, onion, celery, toasted hazelnuts, dried cranberries, sage, thyme, sea salt, freshly ground black pepper, chicken stock.
- I also made my mother's cranberry-orange relish. Recipe: Grind one bag of fresh cranberries (cleaned and picked over) and one navel orange in a food processor. Place in bowl and mix in one cup of sugar. Beautiful.
- Allan made his mother's green bean recipe, in which beans are cooked with a ham hock "until they're dead." (He said that, not me). And so we are melding traditions and making new ones: My mom never would have thought to put hazelnuts or cranberries in her stuffing; his never put the stuffing IN the turkey (which is why he keeps calling it "dressing").
- Speaking of Allan, he is sitting on the other side of the room, typing away like a madman. I have no idea what he's blogging about.
- Again, speaking of Allan, I just have to say how often he makes me laugh. Like, pee-in-your-pants laughing.
- That's a good thing. The laughing, not the peeing. I don't really pee when he cracks me up.
There you have it, folks. Lest I leave you with images of incontinence, let me wish you a happy day wherever you are. Be thankful for what you have. I know I am.
Happy Thanksgiving Alison.
I love you.
Posted by: Allan | November 24, 2005 at 08:50
Here's hoping you two have a beautiful Thanksgiving! You know you have plenty for which to be thankful!
Posted by: Denise | November 24, 2005 at 09:26
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving.
Posted by: cassie-b | November 24, 2005 at 10:16
Ha! This is a great entry. Laughter should be at the top of everyone's list. Especially on Thansgiving. ;)
Have a good one...welcome back/potato/patata/stuffing/dressing/home!
Steph
Posted by: not-a-fish | November 24, 2005 at 11:20
What fun! O'Hare is only one of the Chicago airports? There are more? My parents used to make that same cranberry/orange relish with an ancient silver grinder. Not enough people ate it so they gave it up. Have a wonderful day!
Posted by: Margaret | November 24, 2005 at 13:40
A very Happy Thanksgiving Ali! :)
Peeing when laughing....glad you manage the second without the first ;) lol
Posted by: Carrie | November 24, 2005 at 15:40
Happy Thanksgiving too, - here Thanksgiving (Erntedankfest) is celebrated much earlier - on the 1st Sundy of October & is not a family feast, but a church feast, whith a procession of carriages loaded with fruits of the fields & flowers going through the streets..
Posted by: Heimo | November 24, 2005 at 19:23
Awwww. ;-)
Happy Thanksgiving!
Posted by: Another Alison | November 24, 2005 at 22:09
Happy Thanksgiving (late, I know)! I'm glad you got to spend one with Alan here in the good old US of A.
Posted by: Chris | November 25, 2005 at 09:46
Happy Thanksgiving! And I have totally had those "I'm speaking English" moments. We always flew into Miami and it was seeing the ads as we walked through the concourse - in English - that started convincing me that we were in the 'States. But it wasn't until that first taste of a McDonald's hamburger and fries that it really sank in. To this day I have a fondness for McD's that has nothing to do with the quality of their product.
Posted by: edieraye | November 25, 2005 at 12:15
Of course, that was before there were McDonalds all over the world. Now I guess it wouldn't be that big of a deal.
So what kind of desserts did you make? Because, the dinner is just foreplay...
Posted by: edieraye | November 25, 2005 at 12:16
Joyeux "donner le merci"
Une bien jolie liste ma foi !
Posted by: ColdBear | November 25, 2005 at 17:34