Another enjoyable Thanksgiving

Dude, I’m tellin’ ya……..

Before I get into yesterday’s relaxing (and delicious) holiday, I just have one last warning to offer you NOT TO MISS the show tomorrow night for the Dick Ourada Band. The show starts at 9pm up at the bar in the Rolling Lanes bowling alley on Joliet Road in Countryside. They usually do 3 long sets and play until the bar tells them to shut it down. The band has a terrific opener in “Big Deal” Andy Plzak and throughout the show they are joined by other guests on some of the songs. They have slide show with pics of the band and their fans that plays throughout the night.

It’s always a really good time and they always pack this bar full. So check it out and have a great night out with a bunch of Dickheads.

So how was your Thanksgiving?

Mine was pretty damn good. I’m actually still stuffed full this morning and have no desire for breakfast or doing much of anything. Just continuing to digest my meal(s) and enjoy the holiday weekend.

Like most “younger” people in the US, my Thanksgiving holiday started on Wednesday. I went to a job interview which always makes for a good day. It seemed to go well, so when I was finished in the late afternoon, I celebrated with a few cocktails at home. Some friends stopped by to toast the holiday and share some good karma. And then the Blackhawks pummeled the San Jose Sharks 7-2 which I enjoyed with a few more cocktails.

A really enjoyable Wednesday night—–safe from the police fundraising scam in the comfort of my warm, cozy house—–to start the Thanksgiving holiday.

Thanksgiving Thursday started out with my brother and I meeting up with our friend at his home to toast the day and our friendship. We’ve known each other over 25 years and we honor that bond with a few shots of Wild Turkey. We toasted my departed cousin whose hijinks I described in the Thanksgiving Memories post a few days ago. And we toasted my friend’s mom who is now 82 and still kicking ass. There were many other toasts, but you get the idea.

It was the perfect way to start the day.

Then my brother and I moved on to my sister’s home where she and her family were hosting the dinner. Her in-laws are in from Boston (where sis’ hubby is from originally). I enjoy seeing these folks. It’s funny because I get a little kick out of their hardcore Boston accent. And I’m sure they get a kick out all of our Midwest “flatlander” accents. To me, they sound like Mayor Quimby on The Simpsons. But they’re very warm, engaging people.

While we (somewhat) watched the afternoon football games with hors d’ oeuvres, there were some cool conversations about Fenway Park and going to see the Red Sox. Apparently parking around Fenway is about as expensive and as much of a hassle as it is at Wrigley Field in Chicago. They said you might have to pay as much as $50 to park anywhere in the close proximity. That’s even worse than Wrigleyville. I have a parking lot I have found about 4 blocks from the stadium with very orderly parking for $15. And every time I leave, you can get out of the small lot in seconds and be back on Lake Shore Drive.  

So it was very interesting to hear about Fenway and the area around it like Beacon Street and some of the confusing cross-streets around the ballpark like Commonwealth.

My parents phoned in from Vegas to chat with everyone there and we all took turns passing the phone around. They were having dinner with some neighbor friends of theirs and watching football. Did some good-natured bragging about the nice weather out in Nevada as they usually do.

Eventually, we sat down to a (as usual) wonderful feast that my sister and her whole family contributed too. Her mother-in-law baked two traditional apple pies to go with the customary pumpkin. My brother-in-law made a tasty parsnip side dish and carved the turkey. My sister had prepared a small salad for everyone to begin with that included butternut squash and chunks of blue cheese.

She makes a veggie dish that is rather simple actually, but the family has loved it for years. I believe my mother introduced it a long time ago. But we have collectively come to call it “fantastic veggies”. It’s really a simple mix of broccoli, cauliflower, and carrots cooked into one of those big-ass blocks of Velveeta cheese. There might be an element of milk, sour cream or cream cheese or some other ingredient. I have no idea. But I asked my sister to make two of the cheesy casseroles because we always demolish it and I always find myself wanting more.

And it’s also one of those dishes that men-folk love, but only seems to make one appearance per year. You know what I mean, guys. I think I can speak for all men here (right now, most men are taking a hard GULP ! )……….women seem do this to us on purpose. They have a wonderful recipe. A real treat that we just love and look forward to. And it only seems to get made when they need to bring a dish to a social club meeting or a relative’s house. Only then do their own men get to partake and enjoy her wonderful cooking of this special dish.

Guys, can I get a “Hell yeah !!! ” on that one?

But my sister honored my request from earlier in the week and made two of these fantastic veggie casseroles. I have a heaping serving in my fridge with all of the other leftovers I brought home with me. Thanks, sis.

After the meal, we retired to the family room to let our bellies rest. A few cold beers, some music, more warm conversation and lots of laughs, memories of holidays past……….

It was a wonderful Thanksgiving and as I said at the dinner table…..(like many families, we go around the table and identify something we are very grateful for)…….

I’m just thankful I have a cool sister with a big, loving family and a warm, inviting home to go to on Thanksgiving. She does 90% of the work, although her husband and kids all really enjoy making a contribution (dish) to the meal. They let my brother and I drink and watch our beloved football—as long as we’re social at the same time. Without them and their love and hospitality, I’d have few places to go on Thanksgiving.

I hope your holiday was as enjoyable and fattening as mine was.

See you at the Dick Ourada show tomorrow night !!!