Post Thanksgiving Assessment

First Thanksgiving as a full-fledged vegan. I expected to be more tempted by the turkey and gravy, but that was not the case. I made the stuffing so it had all the usual ingredients like celery, onion, vegan margarine, apples, bread crumbs, herbs but instead of being in the bird, I added vegetable broth for moisture. If I do say so myself (and so did everyone else), it was quite yummy. I also made an apple cranberry pie with a toasted crumb crust that also was popular. I have to admit that I watched longingly as some ate pieces of pecan and pumpkin pie - these are what were tempting. So, we had the usual family good times and squabble time - catching up yet counting the hours until we could go home. I have such mixed feelings about the holidays. Part of me wants to get under the bed, pull the covers over my head, eat junk food and stay home. The responsible side of me usually wins out and we end up traveling somewhere to celebrate holidays since one member of our family is not able to travel. OK here is my poem about family get togethers:

My Thanksgiving Poem (not autobiographical at least mostly)

Who is fat and who lost weight?
Wasn't that a terrible crust made by Kate?
I really wanted that last piece of bread
but now it's gone - typical of Uncle Ted
My sister's kids broke a window again
They cheated at the game so Jim could win
That cousin of mine just sat on her ass
Didn't bring a thing and forgets to pass
My mother's dog chewed up my new shoe
Her boyfriend once again yelled f--k you!
Mona has cancer, Roland has gout
My Dad's boyfriend sits there with a pout.
Getting together is just so much fun
It's a good thing I don't own a gun.
Next year I'm going to stay home
Have popcorn and pizza and suffer alone!

Time for a Post - FIrst Snow Fall

Today I woke up to find my car covered with snow - it was a very unwelcome sight. I want to move - South - NOW!! The reality is I have to get my snow tires on now - clean off the boots, find the scarves, gloves, car scraper, find the shovels, the roof snow scrapers. Was man really meant to live in a climate where you need all these things? My Dad was born in San Francisco and I wonder what his parents were thinking when they all moved to the Northeast. Don't most people go the other way around???? Oh well, I guess I should stop whining now and move on to something besides the weather. Yesterday, I had to make a presentation in my department and it went very well. I haven't done that in a while and I realized how much I like public speaking and comfortable I feel. It put me on a high and now I am finding it hard to get back to the humdrum of a regular day's work after working so hard to get ready for the presentation. Anyway, I guess I will end with a poem by Edgar A. Guest
Things Work Out
By Edgar A. Guest
Because it rains when we wish it wouldn't,
Because men do what they often shouldn't,
Because crops fail, and plans go wrong- Some of us grumble all day long.
But somehow, in spite of the care and doubt, It seems at last that things work out.
Because we lose where we hoped to gain,
Because we suffer a little pain,
Because we must work when we'd like to play- Some of us whimper along life's way.
But somehow, as day always follows the night, Most of our troubles work out all right.
Because we cannot forever smile,
Because we must trudge in the dust awhile,
Because we think that the way is long- Some of us whimper that life's all wrong.
But somehow we live and our sky grows bright, And everything seems to work out all right.
So bend to your trouble and meet your care,
For the clouds must break, and the sky grow fair.
Let the rain come down, as it must and will, But keep on working and hoping still.
For in spite of the grumblers who stand about, Somehow, it seems, all things work out.

Hump Day

This week is flying by. Went to my niece's baby shower last Saturday and had such a fun 'girl' day. In fact, I was a bad girl - cheated at all the games and helped my great niece win one of them so she could get the prize. I had a nice long talk with my sister - don't get to do that very often. We are both having trouble dealing with our parents' deaths just about 3 years ago. She and I are very different people and don't have too much in common (except for music), but we both loved our parents with the same passion. The week since then has been flying by, weather getting cold and gray - UGH!!! My veganism is still making me happy - makes my shopping decisions so easy and my choice of restaurants. A local vegan restaurant is becoming my second home for food when I don't prepare it myself. Well, that's all the news for now. I think I will end with another poem:

The gray landscape was all around me
Reminding me - taunting me - challenging me -
Make some soup - hot tea - cocoa - comfort steamy food
Long johns, big fluffy scarves, wool mittens
Storms- snow - shivering - running with my eyes closed
Warning me to brace myself for the barren icy season to come

Relief and Jubilation

I am so happy the election is over and that Obama has won. I was so anxious on Tuesday, I could not watch the returns, read the news or listen to the radio. When I found out the next morning that Obama had won, I jumped up and down on the bed and screamed. Luckily I was able to catch his acceptance speech on the computer and was overwhelmed with emotion. My new passion is DVR - I love control and this is my new control toy. I watch the Daily Show and the Tonight Show every day now whenever I want and without sitting thru commercials. I am greatly indebted to whomever perfected this technology. That's it for now.

Glorious Sunday

OK - what a day, eh?? We gain an hour - the sun is shining - the sky is a magnificent blue. We walked to my favorite vegan restaurant for lunch and I am in a stellar "no cholesterol' induced sense of well-being. One less pig will suffer and one human body (mine) will not suffer because I had fake bacon!!! :-) I got Jack Teagarden cranking on my computer right now - you gotta love the trombone especially when he played it. AND the election is almost over. I don't mean to be so happy and therefore boring, but that is just how I feel today. To make up for this, I will publish one of my disturbing poems - maybe that will give my day a little needed balance. OK - here goes:

Hopeless

Gray goo still oozed from the wound.
Even your sweet kisses could not stop the pain.
It hailed, it stormed, no sign of the sun
my legs were going numb.
Sometimes I can't even remember your face
your smile so brilliant so welcoming
like hot steaming tea on a blustery day.
Starting to slip into unconsciousness
out the window, through the door
behind the dark curtain
where no safe soul can follow
disappearing into the bleak barren landscape.
My arms desperately stretch search toward the safety
of your soft cheek, your warm whisper
but you are gone, tired of sickness, weary of woe
preferring the soft light on the horizon to the blackness that is me.

Wow, now I am really depressed!! :-(