Gobble Gobble

Today my Meg (well Ron's too) has a birthday and she called me to wish me a HB, I haven't bought her a Birthday present yet and so she is proving to be the smartest Kirschling kid ever.  Can't ignore a girl who calls her mom when it is her BD.  (Even considering Las Vegas next week)
Thanksgiving is two days away so I called Josh who is taking Gretchen to Paris for the weekend.  I sent them a travel book when I found out.  I am so envious cuz I would love to see Paris in the springtime...or in the fall...or any time at all...  Meg saw Paris in high school, on a bus and was told, "there is were the Mona Lisa is but the bus isn't stopping so if you ever come back here you will know where it is."  Meg tells the story much more humorously than I can...
So I HAVE A FRESH TURKEY IN THE COOLER ON THE BACK PORCH and am hopeful the raccoons don't come a calling.  Ron has actually put his five iron back in the golf bag for the season.

This morning I got a load of firewood dumped in the drive and I am not telling my Thanksgiving guests.  (No one reads this so my secret is safe here.)  Excecise after the trypophan OD... Sometimes I amaze myself as to how clever I can be!
Bought Love a Kindle yesterday and I can't download anything as we live in the woods.  But I did drive it by the hospital today and the signal bars were max.  I am keeping it cuz he will never ever come home now.   Last month he wouldn't even read his email on his cell phone and then he went to the corn fields of South Dakota and found out he could read the editorials in the Wall Street Journal on Fran's Kindle and he was hooked.  Meantime he has discovered the ease of email on the cell phone and this week it is the ease of the New York Times Sunday.  .  .  He was heard to remark, "damn the technology today is amazing."  The part I like about the Kindle is his birthday is a week away so I am having a blast.
Most recently my GREAT White Hunter survived a pheasant hunting trip with the boys and didn't blow himself (or anyone else for that matter) up.  I was amazed to hear he actually shot a bird!  I have seven (7!) in the freezer which I was going to cook instead of a turkey but decided to hold out in case they were on the menu for the next 'hunters' event. I am anxious to see if the drumsticks of these pheasants got "de-tendon-ized".
So all that's left is the menu for Thanksgiving and the Packer Game.  It is very important we eat at halftime or at games end.  As always the rutabaggies are the most important and none of the offspring will eat them or any description of a jello mold.  I have given up on the jello but not the rutabaggies.  I cannot look at a rutabaggie without hearing my mother say,  "We used to slop the hogs with 'em." Guess my kids do remember Grandma Mary.
The pecans are beautiful this year so I am baking a pecan pie tonight and pumpkin pudding.  Greg got a Chicago bus ticket to the Dells tomorrow and we pick him up at 8 p.m.  Sure cuts into my prep time.
Not to feel too sorry for me I am robbing Ron and stopping at Tanger to shop for a turkey roaster and a 'sea- food' boiler for Saturday's festivities.  Thanks to a past housekeeper in Biloxi I can mix a mean gumbo complete with liquid napam...i.e.,  Prudhomme Roux  (Guess I will be checking out Harry and Davids too)

No Snow this Thanksgiving infact the deer hunters are having their deer walk to the processing plants as it has been so warm.  Becuz the coyote and wolf packs are thriving the deer counts are down I am told.  However the cranberries are the best. . .reminds me, I have to bake a cranberry cake for my 56 y/o 'better half'.

Here is hoping your Turkey Day is full of family, fun and flavor.  I refuse to participate in Black Friday.
Wisconsin Rapids doesn't have a Target so the 4 a.m. was never an issue anyway. If I am awake at 4 it will be to read Ron's not-yet-delivered BD present.

Germany has Gretchen and soon

So we aren't home from Germany for one month and Meg has decided to join Gretch and Josh in the "hills of Baumholder."  I am excited for Germany, the kids, the opportunity but sad for yours truly... I have been a little teary and Ron is wondering if I am having feelings of abandonement from Meg.  "No Einstein," I am glad for Meg but this mom is sad Meg will no longer be just three hours and fifteen minutes away in MSP.  I know I have Skipe, e-mail, 2 cents a minute calling  and even $29.00/unlimited a month long distance phone plan to Germany but as it stands now Gretchen never answers her phone. So consequently I am going to have to resort to talking to the boys and hence I am "bawling."  I just don't like to talk to men: even Kirschling men: even though I have instilled in them patience, wisdom, consideration, carefulness and sensitivity; no one talks to me like the girls.  Okay, Gretchen is still in the developemental stages of a newly married 25 y/o and learning, but for "crying out loud":  Meg is my junior Anne Landers, Dear Abby, Emily Post, and infact she would out shine Gail King (This coming from another King girl) especially since she wouldn't try to sing on the radio.  (Gail, you need to "Shut your pie hole"  When you try to sing along with your guests you sound like a chorus of 'fingernails on a chalk board.'  Gail, you are ruining all potential "cougar" possibilities and I am not a guy.  "Cougar" or not..."Shut-up!")
There... like that is going anywhere. 
Meg has an opportunity to work in Germany as a Chiropractor maybe in the same building as her sis.  I think, better yet; the Halo Blue Mini Cooper Convertible may be in her sites.  It certainly was 'a fun looking ride' all shiny and new on the German show room floor. YIKES!  I wanna ride.