WARNING! WARNING! -- This posting concerns Canadian Thanksgiving
which is tomorrow Oct. 11, and not on the third Thursday of November
when some have erroneously believed it should be celebrated --
WARNING ENDS HERE

First of all, let me say that I have no particular affection for
Thanksgiving. We never celebrated it at home because it wasn't part
of our culture and it has always been nothing more than another day
off from work for me.

So, this year, because I share living quarters with a person of the
English-language persuasion (and cultural baggage), we decide to have
it on Sunday instead of Monday. My wife invites her daughter's
boyfriend's mother because, she argues, the poor woman will be by
herself. I don't see the big hairy deal...I could easily put up with
being by myself on Thanksgiving...that's one thing I could give
thanks for :-). Then I'm told his brother will also be coming,
because if his mother comes, he'll be by himself. So, I argue, if
she doesn't come, the two of them could be together if it's so all
frikkin important. Some people don't get irony...

So, I decide on two 1.5 kg organic hormone-free chickens as the main
part, with braised brussels sprouts (with nitrate-free bacon),
sautéed yellow beans with garlic, and potatoes mashed with sour
cream. I'm thinking a sprinkle of nutmeg might be good. I'll make
my signature cranberry sauce with lemon juice, chopped ginger and
fructose. I'm jamming on the food here and I say I can do this by
5:30 no problem. Except that there is problem.

My wife decides at the last minute to make two pies, one apple and
one pumpkin. Seems easy but we're dealing with an organizationally
challenged person, by her own admission. So, with a menu already
designed to the time constraints (has to start at 6, be over by
7:45), this pie-making cuts in to my schedule (and she started this
yesterday!). You see, two of the participants (maybe all four) have
to be at church at 8PM (huh? I sez, but they're Polish and this is
apparently de rigueur). My view is: "Hey! you've been invited to
eat! Skip church. Think of it as communion. Your deity will forgive
you." Nope, I'm told this is non-negotiable. I can tell that I'm
not going to be a happy camper. All I ask is that once the menu has
been set down that we don't start introducing spanners into the
works.

This is one of those moments when I feel like a servant. I think
next year, they can fend for themselves and I'll go to Montréal for
the weekend by myself.

--

"It is easier for a rich man to enter heaven seated
comfortably on the back of a camel, than it is for
a poor man to pass through the eye of a needle."

Supply Side Jesus