Good Gravy

Thanksgiving 2008.

Rough start, but a great one.  Round one was at Dads place in Hilto

n. The menu was Ukrainian with Turkey... first time I've had smoked fish instead of st

uffing. And my step mom made THEE MOST DELICIOUS TORTE! It translates as "Drunk Cherry", and oh shoot, 

I just remembered it's still in the car. James and Jessica were energetic little entertainers. Pushkin wore a tuxedo. Dad and I talked electronics and music for a bit. He fixed my Grado Headphones, and I fixed his PC and Ipod. 

Jessica told various stories in order to humiliate James. This is what she told me when he went for my cell phone to "call the police"... 

James at the table, wearing his buffet pants.

Oh, you're so serious James.

Dad, an ambitious eater.  

Jessica showing me the the Rat King villain on the Barbie Nutcracker

Jessica and the little beast in his tux

And the amazing torte made by my stepmom!

Round two was at Moms place in Webster. Tryptophan might be a myth, but I definitely hit the couch for about 20 minutes. The food was excellent, and mom had enough leftovers for a village. Nick S came by, too, and made skinny remarks like, "I'm filling up on these cucumber slices"... come on. Grandma kept staring at him to eat more blintzes. Grandma and I also spoke briefly about visiting Ukraine the summer of 2009... it would be a dream come true. My favorite aunt came, and I can't believe how much my little cousin is growing up...man.. am I really almost 25?? I didn't take as many photos here, but the majority of the day was spent  "where life is worth living" (Webster). Lots of great conversation, and laughter, and "I can't possibly eat anymore"...yet we ate more.

An incriminating photo of my "I don't drink, and I've never been drunk" mother. Is that sparkling wine and a buzzed face? I think so!

The wonderful Dinner my mom made

The team. I asked everyone to hold up their knife and fork, no response.

And thats that! I worked "Black Friday" today at the cafe (nightmarishly busy), and now I'm off to work the box office. A documentary about the architecture of Antonio Gaudi is showing tonight, the only reason I recognize him is because of this wonderful flick from the summer... Lets hope it sells out.

Two Working Titles: Personal Remarks on Wednesday the 25th, er, 26th OR I must say, I felt nonchalantly poetic today

1. All day I thought it was the 25th of November

2. I was walking the dog and sneezed 3 times. A man across the street heard me, and waited to say "God Bless You" after he crossed the street towards me. I was surprised and a little confused... then again, it might've been rude for him to just yell it across the block.

3. At work, I saw a man and his mail order bride. He bought two coffee's, and later I overheard her asking the definition of "rebate". She was fashionable in an 1980's kind of way, he was in his 50's I think.

4. I heard a lady's accent change from an American accent to an English accent... as 

she was talking to an English woman. Did she think it wasn't obvious? Was she trying to impress her?

5.  Two things struck me as beautiful today:

--

The word, soliliquy. I just want to see it written over and over again in nice cursive. I want to hear it said in my ear in a whispered, deep voice  "soh--li-low-key". Don't you?

---

And then this photograph of Louise Brooks listening to records just took my breath away

(I feel that way too, Louise)

6. I sliced cheese for an hour at work, while listening to the classical station. And I thought to myself, " I could listen to classical music all day". I was overcome with a desire to see/hear live classical music as soon as possible. So, I think I'm going to see Stephen Hough @ Kilbourn Hall next Tuesday. I would love to hear Moonlight Sonata, but it's not in his program. 

 7. I'd like to start a supper club. 

8. Several friends from NYC  are back for Thanksgiving. I'm especially excited to see Alana and Phil.  Phil is the biggest rolling stones fan I know. 

9. Excited to see this movie 

 10. Tomorrow is Thanksgiving. I used to watch the big parade on the roof of my apartment building in Herald Square. Tonight we would've gone uptown to see all the balloons being inflated and lined up, and we would've stayed up late hearing the bands and marchers rehearse. I miss New York City, but I'm so happy here. I have so much to be grateful for. This has been my recovery year... and it's only going to get better.

Rut lifted.

Rut Lifted:

Now back to thinking about the things I prefer to think about, like: who's funnier, Buster Keaton or Charlie Chaplin? and, how many delicious combinations of turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, and cranberry sauce

 can I create on Thursday?

Last night was a most lovely night. Had dinner @ Vanessa and Alberts place (with home made fettucini, and home made everything else...  Vanessa is a woman among women, cook among cooks). Then we watched one of the most far reaching, aesthetically pleasing films I've ever seen: Shadows of our Forgotten Ancestors  , 

completing our Ukrainian Heritage Night ( a two parter, starting last week). 

Tonight Erin and I saw Diary of a Lost Girl, with Louis Brooks. A pretty abstract experience: silent film, accompanied by live piano, with German onscreen intertitles that were su

btitled in English! This time last year I  was in California, and I had a Louis Brooks haircut. I was pretty impressed with it, hence the dramatic photo... unfortunately it never looked that good again.

Funny thing happened tonight-- I was walking to class, listening to a special song, thinking of someone, and I actually walked in to that someone. How often does THAT happen? Cosmic.

Speaking of cosmic, I'm going to go dancing. Rut lifted, clarity achieved... I'm gonna do the twist to some old  motown records.