The little lump

I got a call from the doctor's office and it seems that the little lump is nothing to worry about. That's good news, although I had pretty much stopped worrying about after I had the test, because it didn't look like there was anything there as I watched the ultrasound.

I do have to have another test in 6 months, but I am now reasonably sure I will be here to have it.

Thanksgiving

We are having 30 people over for dinner tomorrow, and I am the primary cook. This is the one time the whole year where we actually have a sit-down dinner. Arlina's family is so big that it just doesn't work without a lot of planning. It is the best kind of chaos, and I love being in the middle of it.

Cooking thanksgiving dinner is something I look forward to all year. I love the challenge -it is like the super bowl of dinners and I'm the quarterback. The planning, the execution, the drive down the field with the clock ticking down....My family thinks I'm crazy.

My american brother in law is bringing the turkey, and my filipino brother in law is bringing the fish. I'm cooking everything else. I'll skip out of work at about noon today and start getting ready. My two oldest nieces are coming over tonight to be my assistants and I will teach them how to make pies and the cranberry relish. yummy!

On the menu:
Herb crusted prime rib
Roasted turkey
Mashed potatoes
Yams
Green beans almondine
Roasted carrots
Sauteed mushrooms
Stuffing
Two gravies (one for prime rib, one for turkey)
steamed rice
grilled fish
cranberry orange relish
Homemade apple pie
Homemade pumpkin pie
Sweet rice (this is something that my mother in law makes just for me!)

If you're in the neighborhood, stop by. There's plenty for all!

The Empire Strikes Back

PLAINFIELD, Conn. (AP) - A wild turkey gave some bankers and townspeople a run for their money two days before Thanksgiving.

The hen turkey, weighing 15-20 pounds, staked out some turf at the Jewett City Savings Bank Tuesday and cornered customers as they tried to enter.

The bird first charged Dianne Beaulac, a customer service representative at the bank.

``I got out of my car and he just came after me. I threw my keys at it, my hair clip,'' she said. ``It chased me around my car. It was hysterical. Then the police came.''

It took hours before town employees, crawling along the building's roof and chasing the bird around the parking lot, cornered it.

Donald Tetreault, a highway employee who raises geese and chickens, finally caught the bird.

``I just grabbed hold of her wings and when she tried to fly away I got a better grip.''

Animal control officials took the turkey to a state forest.