T-day plans finally set. Not going to St. Louis for our big family extravaganza. It's always really fun, but I'm busy enough and exhausted enough that I just wasn't feeling it. And that's before considering the 6 hour drive and having to get a hotel, because I'd have to take the dog with me.

In lieu of that, I've somehow agreed to go to T-day at my sister's boyfriend's parents' house. Hmm. Well, the food will be good, and there will be football. Hopefully won't be too awkward.

I'm a bit depressed about Thanksgiving this year. I can't travel (too pregnant) and so we're going to DH's aunt's house in Brooklyn. I thought my in-laws would be coming up too, but MiL has a work travel conflict (she has to be on a plane to Guatemala on Friday morning) and so they've decided to opt-out. So it will just be the three of us with DH's aunt and uncle.

Thanksgiving is normally my favorite holiday of the year - I tend to go overboard with cooking and the more people the better because that means I can make MOAR FOOD. There's a million reasons why small is better this year, but 5 people at a Thanksgiving table where I've had no input into the menu is making me pretty down about the whole thing.

I love the whole O Brother soundtrack. "I'll Fly Away" would be so lovely.

I also love June Carter Cash's version of "Will the Circle Be Unbroken," which I have on the Deadwood soundtrack.

Our Thanksgivings are always so weird. DH's family spent it travelling in Florida when he was growing up so he was never really attached to a traditional Turkey Day meal like I was. His parents are coming up for the holiday but he doesn't like turkey and doesn't want to prepare one. It's been two years since we had a turkey and I'm going to put my foot down and demands a turkey and trimmings. And by demand, I mean I'll cook them.

Jessica, you should throw a post-thanksgiving dinner for friends on Sunday or something. With Thanksgiving food, and send everyone home with leftovers! All those people who went out of town to their parents will be ready for more turkey at that point, right? (I am going out of town, and I would love it if someone did this and invited me.)

For me, I don't need a turkey so much as I need to be SURROUNDED by people and spend a month planning and three days cooking and be almost too exhausted to enjoy it by the time we sit down to eat. (Nobody in my family hates turkey, so we always do have one, but one of these years I'm going to decide to go crazy and cook goose instead. Or make everyone their own individual smoked cornish game hen.)

This year, I'll suck it up and have a nice quiet dinner with only 5 people at the table, but next year I want my shindig back.

I ended up accepting KCD's gf's invitation to Thanksgiving at her place. CJ seemed excited about the prospect and it would have just been the two of us otherwise.

We are supposed to bring homemade cranberry sauce. KCD remembers that from past Thanksgivings apparently. But he has also, apparently, forgotten that was made by my mom and the kids. Anyone have a nummy recipe to share? I remember seeing fresh cranberries and orange juice, but that is it.

Yellow Rose of Texas at my maternal grandpa's (not the Confederate version.) He was not from Texas. He just LOVED that melody.

I stained my patio set. I might be a little high on fumes.

I also love "I'll Fly Away".

I am not sure if I will be able to make family Thanksgiving because it is on Saturday, and not Thursday, and we are doing a full costume run of a show on Sunday. Since I do not drive, I can't dp part of the day.

My grandmother loathed "Amazing Grace" but it was my grandfather's favorite hymn ever, so they played this awesome bluesy version with a sort of barrel-roll piano.

Hey, Jess, did you ever get that box?