A holiday break

Well, it's that time of year again.  Time to take a break from the work-a-day week and get some practice in for the big holiday season coming up.  Time to reflect and celebrate the fact that a few hundred years ago, we brought our syphilitic, alcoholic, barbarian asses across the Atlantic and destroyed entire native civilizations and species.

Yay - go us!!

But it's an excuse to stay home, cook, drink and spend time together.  We're eschewing the big family and friends get-togethers this year, and staying home in our pajamas instead.

On the menu today - some traditional fare and some not so...

• 40-garlic-clove duckling
• Spicy sweet potatoes, roasted
• Traditional homemade cranberry sauce
• Roasted brussels sprouts
• Sausage apple dressing
• Homemade pumpkin pie with fresh whipped cream (from my very own pumpkin!)
  
• A 2006 Artesa pinot noir
  

Hey - any holiday that finds me in the kitchen drinking grey whales (also known as the madras cocktail  - vodka, cranberry and orange) at 10 am is good with me.

And we'll be staying put at least through tomorrow - Black Friday - when Americans lose their minds over a select few sale items being offered at ridiculously low prices and then stampede and kill each other - where usually the store security guard or employee is the casualty.

Nuh - uh - none of that for this boy.

To my American peeps - if you are traveling, be safe.  Celebrate smartly - don't become a statistic.  Have a warm and happy holiday.

And to everyone - no matter where you are - I am giving thanks for all of us being able to communicate, laugh and share. 

Hug your loved ones, send a message of cheer to someone, and give thanks that we're all here.

Cheers!!