you used to be alright

the most wonderful time of the year

i actually don’t believe that (for me, it’s spring, when basketball playoffs for both the ncaa and nba are in full swing, baseball starts and the sun comes back), but that’s how the song goes.

anyways, there are several reasons why i do enjoy the fall, aside from escaping the sweatbox that has defined summer ever since i left california in 1996 (a horrible decision in retrospect, as i continue to rack up years in hot-n-humid climates like guangzhou, hong kong, houston and shanghai).

first, starbucks holiday drinks. yes, its not coffee. yes, it’s $5 for a cup full of sugar. i don’t care what you think, i just know i enjoy my toffee nut latte. and even in religion-less and non-christmas celebrating china, the local starbucks still cranks out the toffee nut lattes.

mine didn’t look half as nice (no whipped cream), but it still was awfully tasty.

i only wish starbucks china would start in with the gingerbread lattes. now we’re talking.

but that’s only one-quarter as exciting as the emminent arrival of the best holiday of the year: thanksgiving! a day to eat one’s weight in buttered foodstuffs. i see no way this could end poorly. this year (and its the third year we’ve done this) we have about 20 people going to my friend colin’s apartment. we’re getting out turkey and sides from boxing cat brewery (a change from bubba’s – since bubba never acknowleged my reservation email.)

here’s the beginning of our menu

1 Whole Butter Roasted Turkey ; Apple Cider Giblet Gravy
Jalepeno Cornbread Stuffing
Cranberry Relish Creamy Mashed Potatoes
Maple Spiced Roast Sweet Potatoes

we’ll probably end up with a lot more food – there’s already talk of pie and macaroni and cheese and more pie and some salads and pie and maybe banana bread. it’s going to be epic.