Random Dozen, early this week

1. Are you sticking to traditional Thanksgiving foods this year, or are you being culinarily adventurous?

Mostly traditional: fried turkey, mashed potatoes, apple/sausage stuffing, sweet potato casserole, green bean casserole (my sister was told "that must be a white-people thing" by her roommate), cranberry sauce, crusted grape salad, homemade bread, pumpkin, apple, and cherry pies, cheesecake, apple cider. Did I forget anything? Last year The Mother Ship made sauteed Brussels sprouts with pancetta and pignoli. She was the only person who liked them. Weirdo.

2. Tell me something concrete that you're thankful for. (Something you can literally touch, see, etc., not a concept like "hope.")

Having both of my sisters here at the same time. We're best friends, and we're hardly ever all together. It's exciting.

3. You knew the flip side was coming: Share about something intangible that you're thankful for.

The love of Jesus. And family.

4. Share one vivid Thanksgiving memory. It doesn't have to be deep or meaningful, just something that remains etched in your memory.

The first time Padre announced that the men would do the dishes since the women had cooked. Shock. Joy. Amazingness.

5. What is one thing that you know beyond a shadow of a doubt is going to happen this Thanksgiving because it always does, year after year?

Somebody will tease The Mother Ship about lumps in the mashed potatoes. It's a family joke.

6. Do your pets get any left-overs?

It depends. If Padre puts away the leftovers, yes, because as much as he wants to be a mean old curr, he just can't resist the puppy eyes. If the Mother Ship puts stuff away, poor Pete won't get anything.

7. Does your family pray before the big meal? If so, do you join hands while seated, stand, repeat a formal prayer or offer a spontaneous prayer? Who does the praying?

Yes, but we always thank the Lord before we eat. We always hold hands, usually while seated, unless we're eating buffet-style (which we will do on Thursday, with 23 people), in which case we will hold hands while standing up. Unless they want to sit on the kitchen floor. Padre prays or he asks someone else to. It varies.

8. Will you be watching football in the afternoon? If not, what will you be doing?

What else do you do on Thanksgiving Day?

9. There are two distinct camps of people on this issue: How do you feel about oysters in the dressing/stuffing?

The Mother Ship always makes apple and sausage stuffing, which sounds weird but is AMAZING. Personally, I can't stand oysters. They make me gag. The Mother Ship and Padre like them though.

10. Do you consider yourself informed about the first Thanksgiving?

Yes, and I always remember that they had stale popcorn. Yum yum.

11. Which variety of pie will you be enjoying?

Pumpkin, cherry, and apple, as well as cheesecake. I will be enjoying all of them—that's called pig-pie. And another of our traditions is that we eat pie for breakfast on Friday. I'd say I'm going to have to work it off, but we all know that won't happen.

12. Do you feel for the turkey?? (This is a humorous throw-back question related to the 12th question in another Random Dozen!)

Oh heck no. It's delicious. I could never be a vegetarian.

And in other news (laziest transition EVER), I turned on the water this morning to take a shower, and nothing happened. Nothing. I have no idea what's wrong with it. Naturally this would happen when it's 5:30 in the morning and I'm the only one up. Naturally.

Leah