A Lovely and Sauced Thanksgiving Weekend

I don't think we really saw ourselves drinking in a dive bar and dancing to latin punk music the night before Thanksgiving.

"Lemme buy you a drink" was a phrase that happened way too often that night from people who could barely walk the 10 ft from one end of the bar to the other. I blame my good friend for befriending everyone around us--a trait I wish hadn't been stunted in me with the warning: Don't talk to strangers.

After accepting a drink, swatting away the drunks, and laughing with old friends, we relocated to a wine bar to talk in a more relaxed area. Eventually we were sauced and laughing at the nastiest and most ironically named cocktail, The Diablo, for it's lack of devil-like qualities.

It's really nights like these, where time flies so quickly, that makes me love getting together with old friends.

Five A.M. rolls around and I am back home.

Being 'the cook' of the house, I decide to begin prep work for the Thanksgiving meal as soon as I got home. Sure, chopping vegetables and prepping the turkey after consuming a few glasses of wine, might not be wise for most--but I am a pro.

I rocked out a good meal--moist turkey, carrot curry soup, cous cous, vegan mac & 'cheese', and a homemade cran-pumpkin pie (completed #26 of my 101 in 1001). Overall a nice twist on a traditional Thanksgiving meal that my family enjoyed. There were only a few sad mentions of my impeding departure, but overall good times.

Five weeks left in the States and I'm glad this past long weekend was successfully spent with a bunch of people I love.