OCBob
VIPER POWERED
Just a note to let you know I am hoping to see you Thanksgiving Day. But….
Martha Stewart will not be dining with us this Thanksgiving. I'm telling you in
advance, so don't act surprised.
Since Ms. Stewart won't be coming, I've made a few small changes:
The sidewalk will not be lined with homemade, paper bag luminaries. After a
trial run, it was decided that no matter how cleverly done, rows of flaming
lunch sacks do not have the desired welcoming effect.
Once inside, my guests will note that the entry hall is not decorated with the
swags of Indian corn and fall foliage I had planned to make. Instead, I've
gotten the kids involved in the decorating by having them track in colorful
autumn leaves from the front yard. The mud was their idea.
The dining table will not be covered with expensive linens, fancy china, or
crystal goblets. If possible, we will use dishes that match and everyone will
get a fork. Since this IS Thanksgiving, we will refrain from using the plastic
Peter Rabbit plate and the Santa napkins from last Christmas.
The centerpiece will not be the tower of fresh fruit and flowers that I
promised. Instead I will be displaying a hedgehog-like decoration hand-crafted
from the finest construction paper. The artist assures me it is a turkey.
We will be dining fashionably late. The children will entertain you while you
wait. I'm sure they will be happy to share every choice comment I have made
regarding Thanksgiving, pilgrims and the turkey hotline. Please remember that
most of these comments were made at 5:00 a.m. upon discovering that the turkey was still hard enough to cut diamonds.
As accompaniment to the children's recital, I will play a recording of tribal
drumming. If the children should mention that I don't own a recording of tribal
drumming, or that tribal drumming sounds suspiciously like a frozen turkey in a
clothes dryer, ignore them. They are lying.
I toyed with the idea of ringing a dainty silver bell to announce the start of
our feast. In the end, I chose to keep my traditional method. I've also
decided against a formal seating arrangement. When the smoke alarm sounds,
please gather around the table and sit where you like. In the spirit of harmony,
we will ask the children to sit at a separate table. In a separate room. Next
door.
Now, I know you have all seen pictures of one person carving a turkey in front
of a crowd of appreciative onlookers. This will not be happening at my dinner.
For safety reasons, the turkey will be carved in a private ceremony. I stress
"private" meaning: Do not, under any circumstances, enter the kitchen to laugh
at me. Do not send small, unsuspecting children to check on my progress. I have
an electric knife. The turkey is unarmed. It stands to reason that I will
eventually win. When I do, we will eat.
I would like to take this opportunity to remind my young diners that "passing
the rolls" is not a football play. Nor is it a request to bean your sister in
the head with warm tasty bread.
Oh, and one reminder for the adults: For the duration of the meal, and
especially while in the presence of young diners, we will refer to the giblet
gravy by its lesser-known name: Cheese Sauce.
If a young diner questions you regarding the origins or type of Cheese Sauce,
plead ignorance. Cheese Sauce stains.
Before I forget, there is one last change. Instead of offering a choice between
12 different scrumptious desserts, I will be serving the traditional pumpkin
pie, garnished with whipped cream and small fingerprints. You will still have a
choice; take it or leave it.
I hope you aren't too disappointed that Martha Stewart will not be dining with us this Thanksgiving. She probably won't come next year either.
Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!!
Best wishes and tasty dishes,
Martha Stewart will not be dining with us this Thanksgiving. I'm telling you in
advance, so don't act surprised.
Since Ms. Stewart won't be coming, I've made a few small changes:
The sidewalk will not be lined with homemade, paper bag luminaries. After a
trial run, it was decided that no matter how cleverly done, rows of flaming
lunch sacks do not have the desired welcoming effect.
Once inside, my guests will note that the entry hall is not decorated with the
swags of Indian corn and fall foliage I had planned to make. Instead, I've
gotten the kids involved in the decorating by having them track in colorful
autumn leaves from the front yard. The mud was their idea.
The dining table will not be covered with expensive linens, fancy china, or
crystal goblets. If possible, we will use dishes that match and everyone will
get a fork. Since this IS Thanksgiving, we will refrain from using the plastic
Peter Rabbit plate and the Santa napkins from last Christmas.
The centerpiece will not be the tower of fresh fruit and flowers that I
promised. Instead I will be displaying a hedgehog-like decoration hand-crafted
from the finest construction paper. The artist assures me it is a turkey.
We will be dining fashionably late. The children will entertain you while you
wait. I'm sure they will be happy to share every choice comment I have made
regarding Thanksgiving, pilgrims and the turkey hotline. Please remember that
most of these comments were made at 5:00 a.m. upon discovering that the turkey was still hard enough to cut diamonds.
As accompaniment to the children's recital, I will play a recording of tribal
drumming. If the children should mention that I don't own a recording of tribal
drumming, or that tribal drumming sounds suspiciously like a frozen turkey in a
clothes dryer, ignore them. They are lying.
I toyed with the idea of ringing a dainty silver bell to announce the start of
our feast. In the end, I chose to keep my traditional method. I've also
decided against a formal seating arrangement. When the smoke alarm sounds,
please gather around the table and sit where you like. In the spirit of harmony,
we will ask the children to sit at a separate table. In a separate room. Next
door.
Now, I know you have all seen pictures of one person carving a turkey in front
of a crowd of appreciative onlookers. This will not be happening at my dinner.
For safety reasons, the turkey will be carved in a private ceremony. I stress
"private" meaning: Do not, under any circumstances, enter the kitchen to laugh
at me. Do not send small, unsuspecting children to check on my progress. I have
an electric knife. The turkey is unarmed. It stands to reason that I will
eventually win. When I do, we will eat.
I would like to take this opportunity to remind my young diners that "passing
the rolls" is not a football play. Nor is it a request to bean your sister in
the head with warm tasty bread.
Oh, and one reminder for the adults: For the duration of the meal, and
especially while in the presence of young diners, we will refer to the giblet
gravy by its lesser-known name: Cheese Sauce.
If a young diner questions you regarding the origins or type of Cheese Sauce,
plead ignorance. Cheese Sauce stains.
Before I forget, there is one last change. Instead of offering a choice between
12 different scrumptious desserts, I will be serving the traditional pumpkin
pie, garnished with whipped cream and small fingerprints. You will still have a
choice; take it or leave it.
I hope you aren't too disappointed that Martha Stewart will not be dining with us this Thanksgiving. She probably won't come next year either.
Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!!
Best wishes and tasty dishes,
