Living in the US - Where we say TO MA TOE and you say TO MAH TOW

[alipiggie]

Wow we filled the thread guys. So as I was about to Say UR you've probably had squirrel if you've eaten Chinese . Think I've had most things. Just don't ask eat. Roasting hot here, very busy but having a blast. Enjoyed our new gym yesterday and picnic in the park tonight which was wonderful. Live music, handsome young men - need I say more.

So I got remarkably emotional watching the Macy's Parade and realized that the boys and I need to truly make a new life for ourselves here and not rely on ExH. Sigh. Day was great with the boys - our holiday decs are up yeah.. Dinner could have been so much better. I'm feeling emotional and somewhat lonely sigh. Onwards and upwards.. Hope one and all had a great time.

Ali, I was surrounded by friends yesterday and still felt lonely. They were there with their DH's and then DS got picked up and went with his Dad and I was by myself Anyway, who knows where we'll be next year? Things can only get better, can't they?

Hope everyone is having fun. Dooney, did you get up at 4 this morning?

I got up at 4, and we were at Macy's by 10 till 5. We spent almost 3 hours there. That sounds bad, but Macy's is kind of the Mothership for MIL, too, and she still had a lot of clothes to replace for her and FIL because of the fire. I got a bunch of stuff for me, and she got about 3X as much for herself, and a leather jacket to replace the one FIL lost. I got DH some shoes, too. We got most stuff at 50% off, then I had a 20% off shopping pass we could use all day, and got an additional 15% off on most things with my Macy's card, so we made out really well.

I got her what she wanted for her Christmas present, and she got me what I wanted. Then we went to Target, and she got the kids their presents. We had a blast.

Wow Dooney - am very impressed.

We went shopping today and I got some shoes that had 70% off.

Snow on it's way. My sister is very excited. Me, less so.

How is Anorak?

Yuck, I drove through snow yesterday and am already not entirely happy with the prospect of more to come! Had a completely over-indulgent thanksgiving. Am now watching Annie, after a celebratory few bevvies with my bestest friends here. Am crazy homesick!!!!

Am now crazy hungover LOL. But I have heard from Anorak and it sounds like she's doing great I'm hoping to meet her for lunch on Friday before she heads back to warmer climes (jealous moi???? No...)... it's cold and rainy here today and dark and grey...ugh.

Hello to all. Glad to hear we survived Thanksgiving.

I had 18 for lunch, and did the brined turkey. It tasted good and it was a success, so thanks for your suggestions (esp Dooney). Think if I do it again, will cook for a bit longer as meat was a little pink near the bone. But everyone loved it. Other guests brought veg, dressing, fruit, dessert so I didn't do it all. Still, preparing the house/table/turkey/drinks/gravy/etc was exhausting. Am only starting to feel 'normal' today.

Really should be putting silver and good china away, but can't be bothered. I need a lazy day.........

Glad your operation went well Anorak. Hope you are feeling good soon.

Hello all, thanks for your good wishes. We went to the Prudential Center yesterday and I did far too much walking considering it was my first day out of bed really. But I managed OK and we had a very nice lunch. Then today we went to the Quincy Market and I was barely capable of walking so we kept our shopping to a minimum, had lunch and were back here by about 3 - and straight back to bed for me which is where I'm typing from.

All the doctors and nurse who've seen my wounds keep saying the surgeon has done a perfect job, so I'm very happy. And I'll be even happier when the three drains are removed.

I have friends who live near Dartmouth and they are coming to collect us tomorrow, we're going to stay with them till Wednesday. Should be lovely, my friends says that it's very rural where they are and they have deer coming up to their door.

Glad it went well, Earlybird. Sounds quite exhuasting.

Anorak, am gla dyou are out and about. Don't over do it, will you? Enjoy Dartmouth.

In-laws went home today. I love having them here, and we had so much fun, but I have my house back. MIL can't go anywhere without bringing her entire house with her practically, they literally filled a Chevy Tahoe full of stuff to come here, and it took up 3 entire rooms of my house. I don't do well with that.

Glad everything is going well for you anorak.

Happy you survived Thanksgiving, Earlybird. 18 people???? I was freaking out with 6 extra, I don't know how you survived. As long as your meat thermometer tells you that the turkey is done, you don't have to worry about the pink. If your thermometer tells you you're okay, just because there is pink meat, it doesn't mean your turkey isn't done.

Hi everyone, glad the turkeys came out well

Two of our good friends were killed in a plane crash on Monday - in Nashville if anyone caught it on CNN. We have been in shock all week. Funeral was today. I am still in disbelief. They were larger than life and leave a huge void in the whole community.

Thanks, cali. I just couldn't post about it before now. I can't begin to describe how wonderful they were and how they touched so many lives. The church was literally overflowing today. I don't know how many people 500? 600 maybe?

hi jabbs. Wished to say hello, and that little HSC dd of mime is more than fine!
Am sorry to read re your friends. It's "gulp" time, isn't it? Pebble and ripples in the pond and all of that. Sad.

Hope you and your wee ones are ok. You were mentioned at the Manchester meet up atthe weekend, by way of my prescence on MN. It's all your fault!!

Take care.

Pan! how good to hear from you I think of you often as I am immersed in the HSC world, lol. I'm so happy that your dd is doing well and amazed to be mentioned at a meetup Maybe one of these days I can coax dh to take a trip across the pond We are all doing pretty well. The dcs are not aware of the accident so dh and I are trying to cope without drawing them into it.

OMG Jabber How terrible

'sausage' meat sounds v good, Cali. Very clever of you to think of doing that.

What is HSC?

So sorry about your friends, Jabber. I'll be thinking of you.

Thanks for the explanation about the sausages, Cali, I really appreciate the little tidbits of info I wouldn't know otherwise. I'm not sure I'll be envying true British bangers and mash so much now. Sorry your turkey was so salty. I made DH rinse it obsessively. I can see the whole staying away from the salt if your family has BP problems. My whole family has awful BP and cholesterol problems, even my sister that is 17 years younger than I am. Somehow I ALWAYS have really low BP, and just fine cholesterol. We ate the last of our turkey today, and I threw out the last little bit of mashed potatoes, and we're done with Thanksgiving leftovers.

Oh jabber, so so sorry to hear about your friends. Let me know if there is anything you want me to do on your behalf as I may be in a better geographical place than you (as the accident occured in TN). Will be thinking of you and dh. XX

Thanks everyone. At this point we're just trying to get through the grieving process and the whole surreal-ness of it all iykwim

Jabber

I don't use peel in xmas cake. My local supermarket sells it but it is about $10 for a titchy pot. My xmas cake is all done a decorated. We're going to start eating it tonight.

What is mixed peel? I Googled it, and got several different things that popped up.

So I think I figured out my Christmas presents. It is a game I play every year to try to figure out what I got before I open it. DH doesn't know I play.

Speaking of presents, dooneygirl is officially done Christmas shopping for the 2008 season. I got the last thing for DH today, and only FIL is left to buy for. I bought SMIL's (s for step) and MIL's gifts every year when she was alive, even when I didn't really know them, and it is DH's job to figure out FIL.