NSR* Happy Thanksgiving! -How are you spending it?

Drumwoulf · Post by **Drumwoulf** » Mon Nov 23, 2009 2:47 pm

Watcha doing for Thanksgiving?

In my area of NJ there's a great Italian restuarant called Giamanos, and the owner there is a wonderful person. She and her family and staff prepare a ton of turkey and alla trimmings for a community feed for people in less fortunate circumstances, and many local church people and people from the Sally help to serve it up... (And it's also done at Christmas time too!)

Usually it's held in the local firehouse or in the Salvation Army building, and me and my lady usually contribute some $$ and attend. But what's especially cool about it is that many of the local musicians I know also attend, and we play and jam for the people a mixture of jazz, Afro-Cuban, West African percussion, rock, Gospel, (-you name it!), while happily stuffing ourselves with turky and fixin's! It's a rauckus, noisy, family affair, and ends up with people with full bellys taking bags of food and donated clothing home...

Playing good music and enjoying good food together, while also doing something to help others,
-man, you can't get a happier Thanksgiving than that IMO!

And then maybe Saturday, if the weather's still holding up here, a few of us JSSC scooterists may take a last group ride
for the season to one of our local scooter emporiums...

So, Happy Thanksgiving, -I hope it's as good for you and your family too!!!!

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ScootStevie · Post by **ScootStevie** » Mon Nov 23, 2009 3:32 pm

Well, we did our Thanksgiving yesterday. Why you ask? Because I'm in Rome and they don't know what it is

But I cooked a traditional dinner for 10 Italians and believe it or not...they loved it!! The turkey came out great!!

UnionZac · Post by **UnionZac** » Mon Nov 23, 2009 5:54 pm

driving up tomorrow afternoon straight through the night to CT with my girlfriend, and a cousin that lives nearby. Gonna spend the time w/my extended family on thanksgiving day, most likely dodging questions about when i'm gonna marry my girlfriend (still i'm glad they like her, better than asking when i'm gonna dump her right?). Then saturday heading to Boston to hang w/my little sister and meet (read: give my approval of) her boyfriend. Flying back sunday night.

The weekend marks a pretty important life event because I will be leaving my Saab 9-5 for my mom to drive, making my scooter my primary source of transportation.

Happy Holidays everyone.

[email protected] · Post by **[email protected]** » Mon Nov 23, 2009 6:45 pm

ScootStevie wrote:Well, we did our Thanksgiving yesterday. Why you ask? Because I'm in Rome and they don't know what it is But I cooked a traditional dinner for 10 Italians and believe it or not...they loved it!! The turkey came out great!!

I had mine saturday

Cheshire · Post by **Cheshire** » Mon Nov 23, 2009 6:49 pm

I'll be driving down to my parents' with puppy in tow on Thursday. Let the dogs play together, try to keep mine from destroying my parents' house, enjoy my mom's cooking and hang out with my family for the day.

The hardest part is going to be trying to avoid controversial topics with my dad and sister, such as my choice in career and mode of transportation.

Eh. Same routine every holiday, really.

gr8dog · Post by **gr8dog** » Mon Nov 23, 2009 7:03 pm

Wife, 2 daughters and I will be going to her Moms house for food, drink and football. The extended family from her side will all be there. We all get along, so, no fireworks. The Packers play the Lions who are on a red hot one game winning streak. We will be home in the early evening so the kids can get in their jammies and watch A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving.

Last year at this time we had snow on the ground and below freezing temperatures during the day. My scooter was already packed away for the winter. This year I am hoping for another week or two of riding.

Lostmycage · Post by **Lostmycage** » Mon Nov 23, 2009 7:13 pm

Ditching my family and taking a train to Disney World.

lmyers · Post by **lmyers** » Mon Nov 23, 2009 7:17 pm

My daughter, her roommate and I will be spending a very non-traditional Thanksgiving with my ex-girlfriend. Then we'll ride over to the movie theatre and argue about what to watch while my daughter and her roommate head over to her grandma's for a very traditional Thanksgiving dinner. Friday, Saturday and Sunday will be devoted to riding all over Northeastern Oklahoma.

babblefish · Post by **babblefish** » Mon Nov 23, 2009 8:04 pm

I'll be sitting alone eating a Swanson's turkey TV dinner watching TV with my 2 cats. Oh heck, since it's Thanksgiving, I think I'll splurge and eat 2 TV dinners. I might even buy a box of wine to go with it. And a Hostess cupcake for desert. I'll even eat both cupcakes at one sitting.

Just kidding. I'll be going over to my nephew's house where he's going to be cooking the turkey himself for the first time. Hmm, maybe I should just stay home and microwave a Swanson's and drink wine from a box....

B-rad · Post by **B-rad** » Mon Nov 23, 2009 9:17 pm

Working on MRAP's in Iraq. Oh well, maybe they will serve turkey at the chow hall...

Orange Guy · Post by **Orange Guy** » Mon Nov 23, 2009 10:59 pm

Our little house will be packed with family. The four of us, my parents, her parents, her sister and husband and my sister and her 2 kids. Here's the menu:
AB's Roast Turkey
Gravy
Cranberry-Sausage Stuffing
Cranberry-Orange Relish... Read More
Buttered Corn
Old-Fashioned Green Beans
Mashed Potatoes
Rolls
Strawberry Pretzel Salad
Pumpkin Pie
Pecan Pie
Homemade Gingerbread Cookies

And I don't care how much I like my family, I'm not sharing my Founders Breakfast Stout.

rajron · Post by **rajron** » Mon Nov 23, 2009 11:59 pm

I have to work.
My son can’t come up from Calif; my daughter is going south to Carlsbad.
So the wife and I are having a small Thanksgiving on Sunday by ourselves.

Perkussion · Post by **Perkussion** » Tue Nov 24, 2009 1:20 am

We both have four days off.

My wife and I will spend a quiet morning with good hazelnut coffee and fresh, hot biscuits.

She has a couple of things she has to tend to and since the weather forecast says it will be sunny/mid 60's,
I'll definitely fill up a fuel bottle and go for a long scooter ride in the country.

When I get back I have a turkey to fry and I'm sure we'll get a nap in later that afternoon.

Some days are just swell.

brape · Post by **brape** » Tue Nov 24, 2009 1:25 am

I will be working on my real analysis take home test. Then a small family dinner (with the family people I live with and have dinner with on a daily basis. Is it normal to have your 26 and 22 year old children living at home and still have a nightly family dinner?) Then I shall go for a scooter ride and try and stalk UnionZac

bigbropgo · Post by **bigbropgo** » Tue Nov 24, 2009 4:33 am

i get to do something i rarely can otherwise....sleep in. for some reason my parents and family all agreed to have dinner around 5:00. usually at 1 or 2 in the afternoon. so i'll eat until i can't anymore and try to spend as much time as i can with family i don't see to often. ya know...giving thanks.

Syd · Post by **Syd** » Tue Nov 24, 2009 5:15 am

brape wrote:I will be working on my real analysis take home test...

It's been some time, but

Post by **ericalm** » Tue Nov 24, 2009 5:20 am

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. It's about nothing but hanging out, eating, drinking, and not much else.

We often have T-Day at our house, usually for friends like ourselves who don't have family close enough to make the trip. I like doing most of the cooking myself, too.

This year we got a couple invites but for whatever reason, I just didn't feel like hanging with other folks' families and babies and odd Jello-based sides and so on.

We've done T-Day at a restaurant once and it was a disaster. Wrong restaurant; not my pick.

So now the plan is… um… to get on Yelp ASAP and figure something out.

pyrocpu · Post by **pyrocpu** » Tue Nov 24, 2009 5:25 am

Gee. Everyone seems so festive. I was just going to be antisocial and play quite a bit of Modern Warfare 2 on the PS3...

UnionZac · Post by **UnionZac** » Tue Nov 24, 2009 7:00 am

brape wrote: Then I shall go for a scooter ride and try and stalk UnionZac

if you can find East Hartland more power to you.

Post by **ericalm** » Tue Nov 24, 2009 7:42 am

Perused local restaurants. Too late for reservations at most places. Others, well, as much as I'd like to try Top Chef contender Michael Voltaggio's food, $110 per person is a bit much. More, even, than T-Day at other famous chef's restaurants. (Though this seems like a pretty good deal for $85!)

Decided on a modest turkey and trimmings for two at home.

KABarash · Post by **KABarash** » Tue Nov 24, 2009 4:20 pm

Older son and I are giong 'over the river and through the woods'

Driving to LonGisland to spend the holiday with my Mom..... He wants to see the Dog Show...

polianarchy · Post by **polianarchy** » Tue Nov 24, 2009 9:07 pm

My dad will be visiting Philly from DC for the last time before he moves to San Francisco, CA this December. We're going over to my boyfriend's grandma's house for a Harvest Celebration dinner on Thursday.

Cheshire wrote:The hardest part is going to be trying to avoid controversial topics

I am struggling with this exact same dilemma. My verboten topics are sociopolitical in nature. Hint: I let my personal politics spill here last year,

pugbuddy · Post by **pugbuddy** » Tue Nov 24, 2009 9:51 pm

I'll be driving my Mom down to Fort Worth TX to have Thanksgiving with the in-laws. Mom's been sick all week and is better now but doesn't feel strong enough to make the drive. So I'll be over there at 6am to hit the road.... The In-Laws want to see me again as it's been a few years.

Major Redneck · Post by **Major Redneck** » Tue Nov 24, 2009 9:57 pm

Work 4 12 hours days in a row... but on Thursday im going to go eat at a local church that offers a bird dinner... all my children have other plans...

brape · Post by **brape** » Tue Nov 24, 2009 11:16 pm

UnionZac wrote:
brape wrote: Then I shall go for a scooter ride and try and stalk UnionZac
if you can find East Hartland more power to you.

I believe that the Barkhampsted reservoir loop goes though/near heartland. (I used to ride the loop on my bicycle back when I had free time)

Christy · Post by **Christy** » Tue Nov 24, 2009 11:55 pm

I'm working the Cowboy's game for Ford and then hopefully going to a friends house for drinks...

JNV · Post by **JNV** » Wed Nov 25, 2009 1:34 am

I am working. My day starts at 2:00am. and ends at 2:00pm. After that I am cooking a Beef Tenderloin. I just got tired of Turkey.

pugbuddy · Post by **pugbuddy** » Wed Nov 25, 2009 10:41 pm

I'm working the Cowboy's game for Ford and then hopefully going to a friends house for drinks...

LUCKY!!!

jfrost2 · Post by **jfrost2** » Thu Nov 26, 2009 1:54 am

Final exams are done with, school is over for now until January 4th. I'll be sleeping in tomorrow for thanks giving.

db · Post by db » Thu Nov 26, 2009 3:50 am

Boston Market and then maybe a movie all alone

First time away from family. X-mas will prob be the same.

Skootz Kabootz · Post by **Skootz Kabootz** » Thu Nov 26, 2009 4:07 am

db wrote:Boston Market and then maybe a movie all alone
First time away from family. X-mas will prob be the same.

I have ended up having some of my best holidays at times when I would least expect it. Make the most of it db. Maybe invite your friends over. For sure call your family. They will be missing you too.

Syd · Post by **Syd** » Thu Nov 26, 2009 4:29 am

Skootz Kabootz wrote:
db wrote:Boston Market and then maybe a movie all alone
First time away from family. X-mas will prob be the same.
I have ended up having some of my best holidays at times when I would least expect it. Make the most of it db. Maybe invite your friends over. For sure call your family. They will be missing you too.

Cold Chunky Beef Soup south of Tucson and McSomething in Barstow stand out 30+ years later as two of the best Thanksgiving dinners of my life. At the very least, this Thanksgiving will be memorable.

db · Post by db » Thu Nov 26, 2009 5:23 am

We'll see. Im honestly not that upset about it. I will miss my family but in a way looking forward to spending some time on my own. Friends and family will have to be called as none of them live here. I moved to CO on my own not not really anyone here.

Post by **ericalm** » Thu Nov 26, 2009 8:33 pm

I was determined not to have to roast a turkey this year. I've done it for the past several years and it's quite a chore because I brine it overnight first. Then it has to be cleaned and dried (or else the skin doesn't crisp).

So last night I set out to the store looking for an alternative. I thought you could buy just a turkey breast to roast or something like that. No such luck. All the breasts were these sad, pressed together kinds of things. I wound up with a turkey that roasts in a bag and can go from freezer to oven (because it was too late to defrost one and the only fresh ones left were humongous 20lb. beasts). We'll see how that turns out.

The morning then kicked off with the derby pie exploding in the oven. No idea what happened there—some ingredient boiled over. My wife was in charge of the pie but managed to pin this on me because I bought the crust.

Because it's just the two of us, we strayed from some of our tried and true usual dishes and decided to experiment a bit this year. So the cranberry sauce has vodka and Grand Marnier in it and we're having a corn bread and chorizo stuffing.

How about you guys? What'd you eat? Weird side dishes made from Jello?

Skootz Kabootz · Post by **Skootz Kabootz** » Thu Nov 26, 2009 8:39 pm

ericalm wrote:I was determined not to have to roast a turkey this year...

For the past couple of years I have shared Thanksgiving with the family of a close friend. A wonderful and eclectic group of people. Each year, we pick a different nationality and cook something from that culture. Usually something we have never cooked before. Last year was Spain and we cooked Paella. This year it is Indian... always a great experiment and a lot of fun.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

iwabj · Post by **iwabj** » Thu Nov 26, 2009 11:44 pm

bigbropgo · Post by **bigbropgo** » Fri Nov 27, 2009 3:15 am

The diner has ended and it was great. Now the "what's wrong with the world" conversations have begun. I'm to thankful and happy to be part of that. Hence, my logging on to MB. Hope all went well for you all.

gigi · Post by **gigi** » Fri Nov 27, 2009 4:02 am

My daughter & son-in-law are here from L>A> along with other daughter &hubby who live here. son couldn't make it--lives -works in Osaka, japan.We had traditional turkey, cornbread stuffing, wild rice stuffing w/ sausage, sweet potatoes (yams), green beans, gravy. asparagus, rolls, coconut, blueberry, pecan, and pumpkin pies and chocolate bread pudding, rose wine, and I had a french farmhouse style beer. long naps and now they're playing something on the Wii. fencing or something. I'll waddle into work happy tomorrow. enjoy life now--the next coors truck could have your number on it.

pugbuddy · Post by **pugbuddy** » Mon Nov 30, 2009 8:11 pm

After years of staying in Tulsa with my immediate family, I accompanied my mom down to spend Thanksgiving with the extended family! I was shocked and appalled to find that, while they had turkey, sage dressing, some great homemade bread and a lot of other stuff, there were no mashed potatos!!! I swore I'd never return (unless I'm bringing the mighty spuds).

Ms_Kady · Post by **Ms_Kady** » Tue Dec 01, 2009 4:02 am

We spent Thanksgiving in Blacksburg, VA and I saw a black Buddy scooter on campus at Virginia Tech!

Modern Buddy

NSR* Happy Thanksgiving! -How are you spending it?

NSR* Happy Thanksgiving! -How are you spending it?

Thanksgiving Dinner