Short update...I kid, I kid...

How quickly time flies! It seems like only a month ago that I wrote something in this blog. Wait, it WAS a month ago! Wow…talk about embarrassing! Anyway, I’m here now and am going to write a truncated version of everything that happened.

Several weeks ago, groovy’s parents came here for the weekend. A moment of brutal honesty here: Before they got here, I was rather concerned and nervous. This, I think, is completely understandable and, truth be told, had I not been nervous, then there would be something wrong with me. Anyway, they got here and came by my work and everything was cool. The rest of the weekend was great as well. It was good to be able to make a start at reconnecting with them.

The week following their visit was rather stressful for me. At work, we were looking down the barrel of an impending delivery of 100 computers. These computers would have to be deployed with some rapidity, and I was working on creating a new image for them. The problem, and stress, was stemming from the fact that I was getting little to no help. I got some help from the Sys Admin’s, but the one person that could have made the whole process easier had previously washed his hands of the whole thing and wouldn’t help. Well, once I got the image completed, it was tested. Some bugs were found which were repaired and then, much to my joy, we deployed quite a few of the computers…with no problems…yet. Do I think something might happen down the road? Sure…nobody’s perfect…least of all me. Do I think I’m going to catch hell from the guy that refused to help? Sure…of that I have no doubt either.

Thanksgiving was quickly hurling towards us at break-neck speeds…and let me tell you, it couldn’t have come at a better time. Just when I thought I couldn’t contain my frustrations at work any longer, it was Wednesday afternoon, and we could all go home. That night, groovy and I relaxed as much as we could because we knew we would be driving to Chapel Hill, NC the next morning. We put off packing until the following morning (why waste time doing something that can be done later...procrastinators creed, I know). We arrived at Lawyerette’s house around 3 the next afternoon and got to meet her roomie (who I’ll call St. Joseph). She was eating cereal and welcomed us inside so that we could pet Snickerdoodle (I kid you not) and Phantom…the two cats.

After about 15 minutes or so, Lawyerette got home and, after we all talked for a while, Lawyer showed up and we all began making supper. We had: Sweet Potatoes (with maple syrup as we didn’t bring enough brown sugar to cover everything), Green Bean Casserole, Tofurkey (I’ll get to this), Chunky Cranberry Sauce (“It’s supposed to have chunks!”), Dumplings, bread and cheese. Not just any cheese, mind you…we had Gouda and Wensleydale Cheese (“Cheese, Gromit!” **said with appropriate hand movements**). It was YUMMY! We ALSO had pecan pie and a slightly under-cooked pumpkin pie (which was good in spite of its cooked (or non-cooked) state).

I just found this site about the Wensleydale cheese (it had cranberries in it…check out the pics!): http://www.wensleydale.co.uk/

Now, about the Tofurkey. Lawyer and Lawyerette are both vegetarians. As such, turkey is kind out of the question! So, what do individuals do when they don’t eat meat? They find something that closely resembles it, and serve it! This site (http://www.tofurky.com/products/tofurkyfeasts.htm) shows the Tofurkey Feast, which is what we had. To be perfectly honest, it was good! I mean, it didn’t actually taste like turkey, but it was good nonetheless. Would I have traded my slice of Tofurkey for a slice or two of the real deal? Honestly? Holding nothing back, I would have to say, “No”. It was good, and a nice way to introduce myself to the world of vegetarianism.

Friday, we didn’t want to leave the house to go shopping for anything at the mall, so groovy and I met Lawyerette at Caribou Coffee for coffee while she studied. We were there more as a hindrance than to help, so we didn’t stay that long. Groovy got a cup of coffee and I had a nice, locally bottled, Diet Coke. I also chewed on what I dubbed “The Anteater Tongue Depressor”…that being the long wooden stick you stir your coffee with…but I gleaned no nutrients from it that I could tell.

Groovy and I left there and drove to the Farmers Market in Raleigh, NC. Its 75 acres (during the summer) of produce, arts and crafts and just about anything else you could think of. We ended up buying some stuff (including a cup of hot apple cider for me so that I could warm up in the 30 degree weather…it was my own fault for wearing shorts and a shirt). That evening, we thought about going to hang out at a local club, but then decided that if all we were going to do was “hang out” that we could do that just as well at home…so we didn’t go.

The drive home was filled with lots of discussion and eating…but I’ll save that for another time.