Did everyone have a great Thanksgiving? I know I did. I decided at virtually the last moment to take last Wednesday off from work, and drive all day to mom’s house instead of all night. It was a good decision. I left early, and though there were a few slowdowns, for the most part the drive was uneventful. It only took three extra hours. Whee!
Raymond outdid himself by making his best turkey yet. Evidently the cellar steps up there on Dogwood Knoll really have some sort of brining magic, or something. Delicious! I can’t wait to have my sandwich today. Raymond’s son and grandson also came over, and it was lovely to see them as ever. I can’t believe how big and tall and, well, old that boy is getting. Sheesh. These kids, and their growing-up. Won’t it ever stop!? I did mention to my stepbrother that it seemed as though our house belonged in Opposite-World…the husband was in the kitchen, slaving away over a hot stove, while the wife was in the living room watching the game. I had to chuckle.
Of course, a highlight of the weekend was spending Friday afternoon with MS, at her place in town. It was so so so great to be hanging out in the kitchen, and on the old sofa, just catching up and chatting the day away. As she said to her mom at one point, “It’s just like we’re 14 again, except we can drive ourselves now.” Hold on, dear heart, it will all be alright. After nine years at The Firm, I can definitely relate and I feel your pain. Any time you need me, just call. And thanks for having me over!
Once I got home, Mom and I discovered that the big Backyard Brawl was on TV, so of course we drove poor Raymond out of the room and watched our Mountaineers come through with an absolutely thrilling last-minute victory. Hooray! We were quite tempted to set our couches on fire, but figured it would be a bad idea. We decided a good idea, though, might be to make a trip to the Hoyas-’Eers basketball game in Mo-town next spring. I hope we can get our act together for it, because I think we’d have a lot of fun.
The drive home on Saturday took just as long as the drive to NY. Not because of traffic; that was relatively calm and free-flowing. Instead, there was a massive accident on the Turnpike, and it was shut down for more than 2 hours. Motorists got out of their cars and wandered around; some families played catch in the roadway. I settled in to read a book behind the wheel until we got moving again. After the road was re-opened, I passed by the single worst-looking accident I’ve ever seen. A tractor trailer was simply disintegrated on the side of the road. I was sure it had totally exploded, killed the driver. However, the state police say that it was a single-truck accident wherein the driver hit something and the truck caught fire. Since it was carrying paper products there was just a whole lot of fuel to burn up. Amazingly though, the driver was taken away with serious, but not life-threatening, injury. Wowzer. A Thanksgiving miracle!
So today the Christmas season can really begin in earnest. The office decorations are coming out, and I’m stopping on the way home to get a new string of lights for the balcony railing. And to start the season off right, the folks at U.-Va. seem to have finally begun to get some damn sense, and fired Al Groh. A Christmas gift to all of us!
I spotted the headline on a commuter’s Post front page this morning, and nearly leapt out of my seat on the Metro to do a happy dance. Of course, I didn’t — that would have meant giving up a precious Metro seat! But it’s good news, nonetheless. I have always been dissatisfied with Coach Groh. Aside from poor game-day decisions, poor recruiting (for the most part: Chris Long, I am looking at you), and generally poor results, he tried to wring some of the things that make going to U.-Va. a unique experience out of the students’ lives. We can paint our faces and cheer just as well, if we are wearing our khakis and blazers and dresses and ties, Coach. I know, I did it. Wear orange? So no one can tell if a person’s rooting for Tech or not? Or for Miami? Yeah. That was a great idea. OK, OK, I’m nostalgic. But seriously. Going to the game, dressed in a sundress, with a date, was a fun and unique experience. I still managed to paint my face and cheer like a mad thing. It’s always been extremely disappointing…an alumnus like Groh should know these things.
It’s not like A.D. Littlepage is any great prize, but at least there might be a smidgen of hope for the future now. Could my boycott finally end? (Probably not…there’s still the whole band issue…) Cross your fingers, ‘Hoos!
- Lyric of the day: “It cheers our hearts and warms our blood to hear them shout and roar”
- Flashback of the day: Bill and Jethro, The Linemen Next Door
- As I write this, what’s playing? Rise Against’s “Savior,” off Appeal to Reason.
- Photo of the day:
Happy Birthday, JK!
So, welcome back to the routine, everyone. Get ready for holiday happenings!
