Thanksgiving Must Haves

Our friend in Russia said to us, "No wonder your country is great. No other country  takes an entire holiday just to give thanks!"  That was 15 years ago. One might not agree about "great America" these days, but I hope there's no quibbling about showing gratitude.

An unusual holiday, its all about a specific menu. The same food--in my case--78 times. 

For all of that, each family has their traditions, and each person their must-haves.  One year when my mom suggested a potato casserole instead of mashed potatoes and gravy, my SIL, normally sedate and easy-going, was as angry as I ever saw her. Thanksgiving without potatoes and gravy!?  We each have our things.  Steve Urquhart wants pecan pie.  I want the cranberry sauce below.

One TV chef says to stick to fall dishes--nutty and buttery and dense like winter squash. In today's world we can get strawberries and asparagus year round, but save those for spring.  I always serve corn because, well, it just belongs.

 

My pro-tips for dressing: Use Mrs.Cubbisons. Don't put it in the turkey. Do add bacon grease to it; not bacon, just the grease. No one recognizes the bacon flavor but they like it. Also add water chestnuts since they keep their crunch.

Aside from food, it's a tender time. It's family time, and not much can make up for missing family.  The gratitude prospect does help ease things.

I'm thankful for YOU.

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                                                CRANBERRY SAUCE

• 1 1/2 C pure maple syrup
• 1/2 C. water
• 1 tsp. ground ginger
• 4 C. fresh cranberries.

Bring syrup water and ginger to a medium boil in a 2 qt sauce pan over medium heat.  Stir in cranberries.  Simmer until berries begin to pop, about 5 minutes.  Turn into bowl and let cool.

Our friend, Steve Jeffries, brought this to our TG one year in St. George.  My favorite.  I think he said the recipe was from Sunset Magazine.

Illustration 2019  DPSM.

Go to COLLEGE

Don't give up on college!

  

You say, "Four years of my life, plus 100K in debt for what?  A career clerking at a book store? No thanks!"

I say, "It gives you the foundation to becoming a thinking citizen.  It gives you validation for any and all future enterprises.  Stop looking at it as an investment-with-a-mediocre-return.  It's much more than a monetary investment.  Also, this time in your life as a single adult is precious. Use it for college!"  

               Having said that, do college on the cheap.

Do everything possible to avoid debt!

If you're still in HS, take every concurrent enrollment class offered.  Take anything.  Keyboarding, whatever--it may fill in an elective.  At $25 a unit, it is not only a tuition break, but you're saving room and board and time.  (Not the same as AP.  CE is guaranteed credit.  AP classes are enriching, but for practical purposes, CE is better.)

Try to clep out of classes. You pay a tuition equivalent fee, but again, you save room/board/time.  Consider American History or something you did well on in HS. See what they offer.  You can get a book and cram for the test.

If you know a second language, get language equivalency points. Again, you also save room/board/time.

Look for specialty classes:  An archeology or geology field trip that lasts just 10 days but gives 2-3 credits

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Apply for scholarships--any free money.  Pell grants.

Use only community college for years 1&2.  (Get the Associates Degree along with, just in case.)

Consider housing hacks.  Commute from home.  For years 3&4 look for free housing, ie, nanny for someone old or young, be a dorm parent, trade housing for yard work, etc. Or rent a room only; study and eat on campus. Buy a used RV to live in and sell it after graduation. Housing is a pricey ticket. (My cousin bought an old house and rented out rooms to fellow students to make the house payments.)

Take a full load of classes instead of getting a job.  Many schools let you take extra units for free.  (Think of it like having a part-time job.  Yes, it's more work, but you're getting some extra units for the $ you would make at a part-time job. And you save room/board/time.) 

Keep it short. If you can, do it in 3 1/2 years.  You'll  save room/board/time. 

Summers tend to be cheaper--both tuition and housing.

Don't own a car.  Use public transport which tends to be cheap in a college town, or get a bicycle or motorbike.

Curtail fancy expenses--avoid road trips, cool devices, spendy shoes, concerts. 

Special Note:  Utah State University will give in-state tuition to any of our grandchildren as a legacy discount.  Plus, we offer free housing in Mendon to any one of you trying to get a degree.  And USU is not a shabby school.  Numerous people you know and love have degrees from USU.

       Thoughts on Election Eve:

“When our positions do not prevail, we should accept unfavorable results graciously and practice civility with our adversaries”  (2014)

     "Churchill was once a minority voice in Britain who warned of the evils of the Nazi government in Germany. Later, after many of his predictions came to pass, he became prime minister. Some of his colleagues in government wanted to punish those who had ignored his warnings and thus contributed to Britain’s lack of preparedness during World War II.

     "Churchill, however, saw folly in such an approach.

     “ 'There are many who would hold an inquest in the House of Commons on the conduct of the Governments — and of Parliaments … during the years which led up to this catastrophe. They seek to indict those who were responsible for the guidance of our affairs. This also would be a foolish and pernicious process. … Of this I am quite sure, that if we open a quarrel between the past and the present, we shall find that we have lost the future.' ”      --Dallin Oaks (2020)

The Opponent

What is wrong? Our problem is not Dems vs. GOP.  That content is incidental, almost inconsequential to a more serious issue.

The Something WRONG is the mechanics, how we go about making change in our society, for our country, for mankind.

General Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain in the Civil War models who we want to be, should be, in this account from Rachel and Paul.

"In early April 1865, the Civil War was winding to a close. Grants forces learned that Lee was going to surrender his troops at Appomattox. Chamberlain was given the honor of accepting the surrender of the Confederate troops as they marched for the last time to Appomattox Court House. What followed was perhaps one of the most moving scenes of the war.

"As the Confederate troops marched up the road, Chamberlain, on his own initiative, displayed a respect for his enemies that was remarkable after four years of awful, bloody fighting, the costliest war in American history. Chamberlain ordered his men to attention and to “Carry Arms”, as a salute to the vanquished, but respected foe. That gesture was not lost on his enemies. General John B. Gordon, one of Lee’s most trusted officers at the end of the war, called Chamberlain, “one of the knightliest soldiers of the Federal Army.”

Some believe that the gesture alone did more toward healing our country than any other program of Act of Congress.

 

No Contest

I've been thinking about “music videos” of the 80’s when teens were so adamant about their music choices, almost religious in their devotion. Alternative? Hard rock? Country?  A kid could take offense if anyone suggested he liked the “wrong” kind.

It bothered me a lot.  Something about it was unhealthy--artificial and extreme and abnormal.

How had this happened?  And why?  Of course, teens like current music and have favorite songs. Normal. It was not normal to identify so personally, so passionately. 

And it got worse.

One semester at Dixie, a few of my students became upset with me about rock and roll. Weird, since we hadn’t discussed music at any length, if at all. They challenged  me, angrily saying, “You’re trying to take away our rock and roll!!”  It mystified.

I began asking questions, and an astute student tipped me off. It had to do with the music videos they watched.   At home I watched some myself.  Turns out an MC/disc jockey with a personality like Rosie O’Donnell, in between songs, said stuff to the camera like, “Be true to your Rock and Roll!  Don’t let them take it away from you!!  Stand up for your music!”  A rallying cry, creating a cause and instilling a fear.

100% fabricated, and to what purpose?

When we discussed it in class, I pointed out that I and most probably no one had any intention of “taking away their rock and roll.”  Why would we?  Even if we wanted to, how exactly could that be done?

They were fully up in arms.  But in reality, there was no challenge, no conflict.

(I'm remembering it because today's conflicts are just like that. Boomers vs.Millenials?!?  Seriously?  And in politics, it's all so personal. Is it a weird carry over? )

What's for Dinner

Food surprises me.  As for us, we buy fast food, prepared items, or frozen entrees WAY more than ever.  I guess today in many households people “pick up dinner” on their way home from work.  Is that you, too?

Even here we have some good fast food choices like street tacos, Chinese, and good salads.  I still like Wendy’s baked potatoes.  (City families have even more choices, with Thai, Indian, etc.)  If we buy a rotisserie chicken it makes at least three meals for two.  I like take and bake pizza more than delivery—which is fortunate since we don’t have delivery.

Frozen entrees’ are the biggest surprise.  Trader Joe’s has several we like.  Good Chinese dumplings.  Just tried their meat balls and added sweet and sour sauce.  Rachel gave us some good ones.

I know food goes in and out of vogue and evolves, but grocery stores have changed SO MUCH in response. When I was young, the tiny frozen entrée section offered banquet meat pies or TV dinners or fish sticks--and “XLNT” tamales which we never bought.  That was IT.

The four biggest grocery store changes reflect where America is at:  1.) huge frozen food sections, 2.) increasing organic produce sections, and 3.) the snack aisle.  There was never a snack aisle.  When I was young, snacks were an apple or a carrot or graham crackers and milk.  Maybe leftover something or other.  Or a slice of bread.  4.)  And the fourth change is wine—outside of Utah. : )   The grocery store had a little beer, I think. Drinking was far less prevalent.

I still cook because sometimes I like our food at home more than what we can get out.  And since we live out of town, it’s faster and easier.

But I don’t like spending a lot of time so I like to have leftovers.  I cook extra salmon so I can have it cold for breakfast—with bagels and cream cheese and lemon juice. Pasta dishes are good later, too.  Some things don’t make good leftovers.  We loved a baked root vegetable mix last week but the leftovers not so much.   Just tried Hassleback potatoes and didn’t care for them the next day.  (Also, preferred thin-skinned red rose or new potatoes.)

We were taught to make up a weekly menu.  Most woman weren’t strict about it, but I still do it in my mind.  “Monday: rotisserie chicken/baked potatoes. Tuesday: leftover chicken in Asian veggies w/sauce,  rice. . .“

We eat so well that sometimes I feel guilty.  For a FHE we hosted we talked about old-style food.  We  served creamed peas on toast, using canned peas.  Yes, it was a legit dinner in our day.  It actually tasted good.  Everyone polished it off.   : )

Things I would tell you if you lived next door

 

Best bacon:  At Ikea’s cafeteria

Great store name:  “Bad Apple,” for franchise that repairs broken Macs.

Night time cold feet remedy:  Electric heating pad goes across the foot of the bed, under sheets.

  

Current Trader Joe favorite:  Dry mango, sweet.

Simple movie for when world seems out of balance:  Sully (2016)

Best book in a long time:  K. Graham’s bio, Personal History  (also, All the President’s Men)

Laundry tip: Hydrogen peroxide is good for stains like gravy, blood, etc.

Be Kind to Yourself

We all know about drug abuse, distracted driving, and other evils that will destroy us.  I didn't learn this until now because no one tells you this:

Bad things will happen to your body if you abuse it by overwork, lack of sleep, or bad eating—and I’m not talking about obesity.

• For a lark, college students stay awake until they pass out. 
• Busy people (ie., Everyone) thinks, “I work the hardest and longest so I win!” 
• Since we could all shed a pound or two, a missed meal seems almost wise. 

People live longer now. The ones who get weird diseases are often the ones who ignored their body when it said, “That’s it, time to rest. No, really. Stop now.”  One day your body no longer sends signals. It gets confused and doesn’t know whose side it’s on so it defects and you’re autoimmune.  Look up Parkinsons and the first fact is “Caused by damaged brain cells.”

• Mega-loss-of-sleep in even one prolonged episode kills brain cells.
• Our bodies are made to work—and rest and repair and restore.  Rest is not optional
• Regular intense dieting kills brain cells. (Carbs as a sub for food can be a form of starvation.) A little protein 3x a day.

 
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I've talked about everyone protecting your BACK by lifting with your knees, etc.
 
Now, here's a GUY version of the above caution.  Men are used to stepping up, carrying the heavy loads, moving the furniture, etc.  However, when a guy's body ages, it begins to lose muscle mass.  This is just ordinary.  But being guys, they keep right on lifting.  The result is damage to their shoulders, joints, back, spine.  Guys, be wise.  And in your older years, you do need to keep up a little more lifting at the gym or in your basement in order to protect your back and to continue to lift and carry.