Thanksgiving at our house.

I used to have a three-things rule - get three things done during my day, or, in the case of my blog, cover three things in each post. I haven't really been keeping to my three-things rule. I generally like rules that I make for myself, though you'd think I'd be better at following them than I am at following those rules imposed on me by others. Doesn't seem to be the case. But I can make efforts to change that - starting now!

Thing One: 5K!

Brace yourself for this news - I am running a 5K! I am quite excited to be running in the Cambridge 5K Yulefest, as this will be my first 5K, and it gives me a reason to push my efforts at jogging, getting past my 18-minute-and-then-collapse routine into something a bit longer. The race is December 18 at 10am. If you come to watch it, I'll be the runner at the back of the pack with no costume other than my stretchy running pants, t-shirt, and my earband and gloves. My goal is to finish the race and to not stop to walk. I've been doing well at training for it so far - I have been doing 9-minute miles (approximately) both on the treadmill and outside, and I have successfully, several times, run for 30-minutes straight, also both on the treadmill and outside. If I can keep this up I should be able to meet my goal on the 18th.

Thing Two: Sherman

I haven't written about Sherman in a while (mostly because I haven't written about anything in a while) so here's my latest Sherman update. Sherman's October biopsy showed that he has some kind of allergy. Naturally, the vets do not know what is causing his allergy. We have him on special food (which he does not like and I do not like because it is sticky and smells), we are giving him prednisone, and we are supposed to be continuing with the Advantage treatments, even though he doesn't have fleas and doesn't seem to have mites. He has also tested negative for ringworm. So. Where does that leave us? It leaves us with a cat who is scratching at his head much, much less, but still scratching. It also leaves Doug having to force-feed Sherman his prednisone pill each day, which Doug does by straddling the poor thing.

I really think that it's the prednisone that is helping the cat feel better, because as we decrease the dosage he is getting itchier and itchier. This means that when I call the vet to tell her Sherman's progress I am going to request that Sherman continue with a higher dose of prednisone. Is it okay to keep your cat on these steroids for eternity? Because that's how long Sherman is going to need to be on them. Because no one can figure out what is making him itchy. And I really don't want the cat in the cone for the rest of his life. It looks like Sherman and prednisone are going to become the best of friends, and Doug is going to become expert at forcing pills down cat throats (which, believe me, is a real skill).

Thing Three: Thanksgiving at our house!

Doug and I are hosting Thanksgiving this year. We are giving my sister and brother-in-law a break from hosting the whole extended family at their house for this most wonderful holiday and having the smaller immediate family to our house for Thanksgiving - for the very first time. I'm more excited about this than nervous, though I do think I am nervous about people liking the food. Mike, my brother-in-law, is a great cook. Like, really, really good. He mixes traditional items with non-traditional items, traditional flavors with non-traditional flavors, and the result is always outstanding. I like to try new recipes and I like to cook and bake, but that doesn't mean that things always come out so good (you've seen plenty of evidence of that). But, fingers crossed that the cooking gods will be smiling down on me tonight and tomorrow as Doug and I prepare for Foodfest 2011. Here a peak at our menu:

Herb turkey (a 15-pound bird)
Herb gravy
Herb biscuits
Sautéed brussels sprouts
Honey-orange glazed carrots
Buttermilk mashed potatoes
Wild rice with mushrooms and dried cranberries
Chewy molasses cookies

All of this will be homemade by me and Doug (Doug's got turkey duty). Scared yet? I am. My sister and brother-in-law are bringing a pumpkin soup and cranberry sauce, as well as a dessert, and my mother is bringing her homemade breads and pies. I don't think we'll starve! At least not all of us. Those of us who have already poo-pooed the brussels sprouts and wild rice (ma soeur! dear nieces and nephew!) may, but that just means all the more for the others.

So. If I live to tell about Thanksgiving I'll have to do so here. Expect photos.

Happy trails.

There must be a quote by some kind of sagely person floating around out there in the sea of collective wisdom that says something to the effect of "Life is better when traveling." If there is not, then I will be the person to declare that life is better when traveling. And by traveling I don't mean getting on a plane and flying across time-zones, or even staying in hotels. I just mean leaving your cats and your chores and your life behind for a little fun away from home.

Doug and I have had a bit of that lately. We spent the weekend of the October nor'easter in Provincetown and it was wonderful. Granted I was just coming down hard with a bad headcold, and we only had about five hours of dry conditions before the winds and rain kicked in, but we enjoyed each and every minute of being near the water.

We had such fun daydreaming about buying a small condo on the far east or west end of town and spending weekends near the water. I pictured myself sitting in a light and airy room with my sewing machine, sewing whatever new creation was inspiring me that day. Artists abound in P-town (even those that compose their art right on the beach), and Doug and I like the creativity in the air there (not to mention the fresh, ocean air).

I came home to a week of feeling like poo, which is what bad colds usually do to people, and unfortunately no amount of Halloween candy could make me feel better (believe me, I gave it my all). But the bright light at the end of the tunnel that week was a trip to New York City to see Doug's band play at Arlene's Grocery. Initially I was not that thrilled about seeing him play and then having to make the drive up to his parents' place in Monroe (I'm notorious for going to bed early), but I'm glad I stayed awake for it and paid my $10 in support of his cause.

Hot Molasses played well, considering that both Doug and Julia were sick. They looked good on stage, and, even though this wasn't their best show, they had energy and sounded so much better than the band that played before them.

Doug is funny about these shows. He acts like they are no big deal, but the need to debrief is always very strong. I'd like more Doug in the songs; more Doug-driven songs. A song about Puritans could be a great addition to the set list.

What was potentially more exciting (for me, at least) was walking around SoHo. This was my first trip there, believe it or not. I've been to NYC before but never to the Lower East Side, and I think I'll be going back. I made it to Purl SoHo and The Strand! That may have been worth the lack of sleep for me. I now have two and a half more yards of fabric to craft into something very useful

and have a souvenir from one of the most overwhelming (in a good way) bookstores I have ever been in.

How much are rents in SoHo? Could we afford to live there? I could get very used to walking the twenty or so blocks up Broadway between Purl SoHo and The Strand, though I may not have any money left for rent (or any room in my minuscule apartment for all the fabric, yarn and books I'd buy).

Keep traveling. That's what I say. Those are the words I will live by.