Post Thanksgiving (Grey Saturday)

It's really grey (gray?) and bleak outside. Surprisingly, the weather has been pretty good the past few months. It rains more here than it does back home, but I certainly wouldn't describe my experience over here as "rainy." I hope it stays that way.

I had Thanksgiving with my flatmates. It was really good.

We ate:

Beer Can Chicken

Stuffing

Twice-Baked Mashed Potatoes

And of course...

Cranberry Sauce

I am aware that it is heretical to eat something other than turkey as a Thanksgiving bird. To be honest, I would have loved to eat turkey! But after going to two butchers and a large supermarket, I could not find a turkey anywhere. So, I was left with either duck or chicken. I couldn't really comprehend eating duck for Thanksgiving, so it fell on me to get chicken. I still wanted to capture the warm nostalgic (and slightly homesick) feeling that I would have felt had I been eating turkey. The closest I could come to was beer can chicken. I don't know why beer can chicken feels like home to me. It could be all those times Dam and I spent poking and prodding the flavor-filled bird, arguing about whether it was ready or not. Or it could be the redneck in me, climbing to get out. I'm not really sure. All I know is that bird was tasty. Additionally, it was priceless to see Kuran's face when I explained to him HOW you make a beer can chicken.

The real hit of the night though, were the twice-baked mashed potatoes. I think I've found my signature holiday dish here. Alex and Rita, a couple of friends of mine that came over later that evening pretty much licked the pan clean. Even cold, the potatoes were a hit.

Also - sustaining a straight diet of Thanksgiving sandwiches. Those of you that know me really well, know that my favorite food in the ENTIRE WORLD is the Thanksgiving sandwich. Entire turkeys have been cooked after Thanksgiving so that I could continue binging on birdflesh, stuffing, cranberry sauce and mayo; all nestled between two pieces of bread. If I were on death row my last meal would in no uncertain terms be as many Thanksgiving sandwiches as the budget allowed for. Word has it that Han Solo loves Thanksgiving sandwiches too. That's how good they are.

So life is pretty good right now. It's gonna get really busy around here soon. I've got oral examinations in Chinese coming up, as well as a project for Stats class. I'm enjoying the high while I can, before I sink into a mire of work.

Things are grand, but I'm starting to get a little homesick.

No big though. I'll be heading home soon enough.

Keep on truckin'

- Jonathan "Potato King" Trenary