happy turkey day

Happy Thanksgiving. This year Sam and I have even more to be grateful than ever before. His mom is continuing to improve and is even able to leave the nursing center for a turkey dinner. We aren't living in our library this year during the holidays since our dry rot has been fixed thanks for my dad's handy skills.

Since our house is no longer under construction with the bathroom remodeling and our bedroom is once again habitable we are able to have Thanksgiving at our house this year.

Am looking forward to spending the day with family and eating much more than I should. I think I will put on the loosest skirt I can find to give myself a bit more room for that extra slice of mom's pumpkin pecan pie.

sharing

I have a large extended family. And by large I actually mean huge. My dad has 7 living brothers and sisters and most of them have children and then some have had grandchildren. If you do the math it means large family reunions.

For holidays it would be a bit challenging to find a house large enough to hold us all. Before my cousins started having their own children we would have holidays together. These would involve figuring out a way to expand the table. After all I don't know of many tables that accommodate 35-40 people.

Luckily my family is pretty handy and quite a few are in the construction trade so this was part of the fun. Think large sheets of plywood which most of the family conveniently had around their shop.

My sisters and I have named these gatherings "Schober Fests". In fact we always said you couldn't marry into the family unless you had attended at least one Schober fest. We have fun together but lets be honest if you weren't born into it it can be a bit intimidating and loud, okay that is a large understatement.

Food is very important to my family so most of the day (and days before the event) are spent preparing the food, eating the food, eating some more food, and cleaning the dishes before the next meal. Yes in my family we have the holiday meal around 1 and then we somehow feel the need to eat again around 6 or so.

The first time I had Thanksgiving with Sam's dad and stepmom I experienced a bit of culture shock. When only his dad, stepmom, brother, and the 2 of us were the only ones there at noon I started asking when everyone else was going to show up. Turns out it was just the 5 of us. Wow - growing up in my house at dinner we had a minimum of 6 for dinner every night with just my parents and sisters. I had a hard time wrapping my head around this. You can have a holiday with less than 25 people - I had no clue.

Then I started thinking - Sam had already attended several Schober Fests and survived and was still with me. I can't even imagine how he felt the first time he got together with my family. I had told him we had a big family but I don't think that even came close to preparing him. I mean tables going throughout different rooms of the house to accommodate all of us, multiple turkeys, serving up 3 plates of each items so the food would make it around the table, having to borrow silverware.

Sam doesn't even have a first cousin - not even 1. I on the other hand have 17 first cousins. I do feel badly for him but then really this is one more reason it works between us. I don't think I would want him to have a huge family - I probably have enough and we can share.

It means I get to have small intimate family gatherings occasionally with large bashes thrown in as well. In reality I get the best of both worlds - large boisterous noisy family events with smaller ones where we can actually hear each other talk. Sharing is good.

apple cup - how sweet it was

All Cougs want a winning season but ultimately we want to beat the Huskies. Even with our losing season a win over the Huskies suddenly makes it a much more successful season. The season we went to the Rose Bowl and lost to the Huskies still holds bitter disappointment for me. Sam didn't even try and speak to me all Sunday that year after the game, he just knew better.

I must be honest and admit I had my doubts and was nervous to watch the game. It wasn't looking good until my new buddy Ty chose to punt when the Huskies were on their own 36 yard line. Now I have really liked him for a few years now since the Huskies have sunk to new lows under his leadership but he really upped his stock on Saturday afternoon. Thanks for giving us the opportunity to take it into overtime - Ty you are definitely on my Christmas list now! Maybe some of that yummy Cougar Gold cheese?

It wasn't pretty but it was a win over the Huskies. I have to say though watching it the second time was even better. I even taped it for Sam since he was with his mom in New Mexico so he can relive the game that for just a few hours made us forget the rest of our pitiful season. I am certainly up for watching it for the 3rd time.

A whole year of bragging rights once again! Thanks Cougs for never giving up even when I had almost nailed the coffin shut.

caffeine fix

The death of our espresso machine 2 weeks ago was a truly sad event. Sam then had to make the decision of what kind he would purchase to replace it since this is a necessity in our house. The coffee maker is only used for guests anymore like the true Seattleites we are we must have espresso, well lattes really, not coffee.

This is serious business at our house - anyone in doubt should spend an early morning with Sam and then you would understand the extreme importance of his espresso machine.

The first purchase Sam made for our boat after we purchased it before it even arrived was an espresso machine. He chose a Nespresso one since he figured the pods would be easier on the boat. It was a great choice and we start the day and often end the day while on the boat with a latte, or two.

Now he had to decide if he would get the same brand we had on the boat or the one we had before. After a stop to look at the option he opted for a Nespresso one. Of course we had to get the upgraded version so now Sam will definitely be using it every morning to pay for it. Of course with our caffeine intake it won't take very long. And best of all when anyone visits they can ask for a latte - Sam is happy to show off his new toy.

As for the pumpkin lattes those are still a work in progress. Hey I got my latte this morning while blow drying my hair - I can wait on the pumpkin latte for a bit. Mornings are a much more pleasant experience around here now so those holding off visiting us can now show up knowing Sam will have his caffeine fix.

forget football its basketball season

Finally I can switch gears and move on to college basketball season. I love college football but the Cougar season has been so painful I have stopped watching and listening to the games though I still check online, I just can't help myself. It has gotten so bad that I am surprised we even got the one win. When your team has to hold open tryouts at the college because the 3 quarterbacks on the roster are injured they are in sorry shape. Oh and it seems #4 was hurt this weekend.

Instead I have been wishing and hoping for Cougar Basketball season to start. A few years ago I dreaded and often ignored our basketball team since they were almost as bad as our football team but the past 2 years have changed all that. March Madness anyone? Now basketball has kept me sane and hopeful during our miserable football season.

The first game was Saturday evening and the Cougs beat Mississippi State 75-25. At first I felt a bit bad but then I remembered the beatings we have suffered in football this season. When USC takes a knee a few yards from the end zone in the second quarter you are bad. At least Mississippi State scored unlike several of our football games this season. When was the last time the Cougs didn't score - well I am too embarrassed to even bring it up but trust me we had the 2nd longest scoring streak in the nation until this year.

So I think it was time we were on the other end of the beating - we were so. Thanks to our Bball team giving me hope during the past few miserable months of a football season one I typically wait for all year. I just kept saying and thinking at least Basketball season is coming soon.

Go Cougar Basketball! Oh did I mention the Husky Basketball team lost to the superpower that is Portland. After all the best Coug weekend for me is a Cougar win and a Husky loss.

another reason to love fall

I had another reminder this morning about why I love fall so much - eggnog and pumpkin lattes. I have been a huge fan of eggnog lattes for years and am always bummed when they are gone for the season but last year Tanya convinced me to try the pumpkin latte. After a sip I was sold - I mean seriously what else says Turkey Day or a crisp fall morning like a pumpkin latte.

Now I just have to figure out how to get Sam to make those for me. But first we have to get a new espresso machine - ours is dead. This is a horrible tragedy since Sam cannot function with his morning caffeine. Diet Cokes are excellent but this doesn't quite cut it in the morning. Trust me on this one I have been commuting in with him on the way to work the last two mornings.

Please Sam hurry up and decide which machine you are going to buy. We desperately need to get you your morning latte caffeine fix and you really need to learn how to make pumpkin lattes for me. This is at the top of your to do list this weekend!

thanks to our veterans

Happy Veteran's Day. As a nation we should be so grateful for those who were willing to serve our country. My parents sent me an email that I thought was worth sharing - I am not sure who credit goes to on this one.

It is the VETERAN,
not the preacher,
who has given us freedom of religion.

It is the VETERAN,
not the reporter,
who has given us freedom of the press.

It is the VETERAN,
not the poet,
who has given us freedom of speech.

It is the VETERAN,
not the campus organizer,
who has given us freedom to assemble.

It is the VETERAN,
not the lawyer,
who has given us the right to a fair trial.

It is the VETERAN,
not the politician,
Who has given us the right to vote.

Thanks to my grandfathers, dad, father-in-law, and my 2 sisters who served in the military. Their sacrifices have helped make our freedom possible. Don't forget to say thank you to a veteran today for all the freedoms we enjoy. Our country has its share of problems - which have certainly been highlighted lately - but there is no place I would rather live.

happiness steps

The BBC did a study for 3 months in a town in England to find out if these simple things could make a difference in their happiness - turns out it worked. Here are the 10 simple items:

1. Plant something and nurture it
2. Count your blessings - at least five - at the end of each day
3. Take time to talk - have an hour-long conversation with a loved one each week
4. Phone a friend whom you have not spoken to for a while and arrange to meet up
5. Give yourself a treat every day and take the time to really enjoy it
6. Have a good laugh at least once a day
7. Get physical - exercise for half an hour three times a week
8. Smile at and/or say hello to a stranger at least once each day
9. Cut your TV viewing by half
10. Spread some kindness - do a good turn for someone every day

Some of these I already do but not as frequently as I should. I am going to give it a try and modify it along the way as I see fit. I definitely think my treat each day will have to be good quality chocolate - should have brought more chocolates back from Brussels.

fall is in the air

Fall is my absolute favorite time of year. One would think in Seattle it would be summer but while I love summer (or what little of it we had this year - where exactly is global warming taking place anyways) fall is the season I love.

In part it has to do with Halloween and Thanksgiving, here are 2 holidays that focus on my favorite things - chocolate and turkey or in my case turkey sandwiches. I also love the crisp air - or soggy air here and the leaves changing color. Since we have someone who cleans up our yard the leaves seem to be even prettier now that we don't spend days raking them up. Though we do have a few less with the removal of one huge maple in the front yard.

I terribly miss not working in downtown Seattle but my drive to our Redmond office is beautiful this time of year and since we move so slowly on the road I definitely have time to enjoy it. It does make the commute go by faster and and I love seeing the fall colors and the morning fog on the lake.

Plus fall means pumpkin lattes and soon we will have eggnog lattes - just another reason to love fall. Oh and did I mention boots which means more shoe choices in the fall season no wonder fall is my favorite time of year.

feeling a bit devilish

Here are our 2008 Halloween costumes. I had actually picked something else out but that will teach me to wait to order until a week before Halloween - those vacations really can interfere with my to do list. I won't share my original idea as now I will try and order those costumes for next year. Maybe I can even get them on sale if I actually remember to do it this week. Unfortunately Halloween is over for another year but I can already start my planning again.

no more mudslinging

I cannot wait for the elections to be over just so I no longer have to see or hear political ads. I cannot believe these influence anyone to vote for one candidate over the other. I seem to get annoyed enough not to vote for the person running the negative ads but then I hear them from both sides and then am just irritated with both of them.

If any candidate would offer not to run political ads I think they would have my vote regardless of anything else just because they gave me some peace and quiet for a few months. Oh well it will all be over by tomorrow evening- at least if we don't have a recount again. In actuality they will keep talking and writing about it so I may have a few more days of this to endure.

Please, please be able to actually count ballots so it can finally be over and I am not frightened to turn on the radio, read the paper, or watch the news. Never mind I still can't read the Sunday paper the way the Cougs have been playing. Even though I badly want to read all the scoop on the Huskies losses I can't get through the Coug's dismal performances to be able to pick up the paper.

halloween boating

It had been over a month since Sam and I had been out on the boat. Considering since we had finally gotten it back from the yard we had been out on it at least once a week with the exception of 1 week it has been a long time. With Sam visiting his mother in New Mexico, our trip to Amsterdam, and the rainy weather we were long overdue.

A Halloween party at Bell Harbor Marina helped get us back out on the boat. Now since Elliott Bay is only about 2 miles from Bell Harbor Marina we didn't exactly spend much time actually traveling on the boat but we did get to spend 2 nights sleeping on it and according to Sam he never sleeps better than when he is on the boat.

I did learn a few things about Halloween costumes and decorations on boats though.

1. Don't pick a costume where your skirt has a petticoat underneath - boats have limited room and taking all the room up with a skirt might not be the best plan from a space perspective.
2. Docks have many birds and other sea critters who think the docks are their own personal heads. Long skirts aren't the best ideas in such places.
3. Do pick a warm costume - as a child you don't get cold and are willing to sacrifice so everyone can get the full effect as an adult you will want to be a bit warmer. Actually this might not be true in my case - I skipped the coat though a costume where boots can be work underneath is a good idea.
4. Glitter isn't a good idea. Just keep the glitter off the boat as anyone sitting on our boat will now leave with a few sparkles attached to them.
5. Roasted pumpkin seeds are excellent but leave them at home. They fit nicely in all the cracks and crevices on a boat.

Another excellent weekend on the boat. Looking forward to our next boating adventure - Sam may even convince that winter cruising is an option. After all there is a race sponsored by Elliott Bay next weekend and I didn't yell out an emphatic no way when he mentioned it as we were carting our stuff off the boat. Of course I didn't wholeheartedly agree either but trust me this is progress.