I hear you, Keith...Been trying for six years to climb out of my rut...Hey, How
come you never told me you were originally from Chicago? Or for that matter,
did I tell you Chicago's my home town?
[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: i'd love to see pictures of that. what a
really cool extended family you have! As for letting the permanent doldrums set
in, i'm well aware of that. When i first moved to Atlanta (from Chicago), i
left one job, got one i didn't like, and left that one. i was then unemployed
for a while and i sunk into a morass of depression. i actually got to the point
where i didn't want to talk to my friends. Phyllis helped me come out of it.
Since we lost Dad and now Mom, my brothers have been talking about not doing
anything for Thanksgiving or Christmas. Well, one does, but the other spent
Thanksgiving alone--after visiting my parents' grave. Then he mentioned not
doing anything for Christmas. I've been talking to him about the need to keep
the tradition going, even if we only exchange small gifts (nowadays we
typically do DVDs and gift cars). He wants to ignore Christmas this year, but
I'm going to make sure we keep the tradition going. Like
you said, it's too easy to get used to staying
in a lonely depressed state, and difficult to get out of it.
-------------- Original message --------------
From: "Tracey de Morsella (formerly Tracey L. Minor)" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> We usually go to my Mom's or my adopted brother's house, although some
> years, like when there has been illness or death in the immediate
> family, we eat at my mom's favorite hotel restaurant or I know this
> sound jaded, but she would pay a caterer to cook. What can I say, grief
> and depression can be overwhelming. I know you know what I'm talking
> about.
>
> Now that we are living away from most of our relatives, and we have the
> little one, we are trying to start our own family thing for the years we
> do not fly into Philly.. Since Me and my husband, brother in-law, local
> friends and even my little one are into scifi, it so far has included a
> scifi DVD rental. I was asking you guys about Wii because I thought
> with all the scifi buffs in the house, that might be fun to do.
>
> Except for my adopted Brother's( He's a family friend) family events ,
> our family dinners have gotten smaller and smaller in recent years. We
> had bad to back deaths and debilitating cancers a few years in a row.
> Since then, the celebrations have been kind of splintered. But the
> year we got married, it was very big. We wanted to elope to Sandals,
> but they were a few little girl in the family who wanted to be in the
> wedding, so we had it at Christmas (actually on the Winter Solstice) in
> my mom's house, so they would not miss school. The family flew in from
> Hawaii, China, and Italy, and Tunisia. We did a Christmas theme with
> Santa and Mrs. Clause giving out small gifts to all the guests. We
> mixed the Christmas theme with a few African, Italian, Chinese and
> traditions of family members. A few guests from India wore Saris and a
> few of our friends wore Kente. All that, with mom's 85 piece Nut cracker
> collection, holly everywhere and huge African sculptures sent as a gift
> from the Tunisian part of the family and it was pretty much an
> advertisement for diversity in weddings and the holidays. It snowed
> on Christmas eve, and we had the fire place going, so the kids were in
> Heaven. Also, my daughter Kira was conceived on Christmas day, so it is
> one of my favorite Christmas' as an adult.
>
> I used to do dinners with my Dad's people dropping off gifts and then go
> eat with my Mom's people and give gifts. While I have packed bags for
> My grandmother's food bank for thanksgiving, I have never served Is
> this event big in Atanta. I remember the impact of the loss of loved
> ones my my holidays. Try not to get too isolated during the holidays.
> Once you get in the habit of not being among friends and family, it is
> hard to return to it.
>
> [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:.
> >
> > man, that is so cool. i've never eaten out on Thanksgiving or
> > Christmas. Phyllis and I always cook here. As for Christmas, in the
> > last twenty years living in Atlanta, I've only spent two or three
> > Christmases here. Most of the time I go back to Texas, where both my
> > family and Phyllis' would cook food. Since we grew up only thirty
> > miles apart, we typically eat *two* Christmas meals the same day. This
> > year it was just the two of us for Thanksgiving. That, and the sadness
> > over the two deaths in our families in the last three months had us
> > thinking about going out to eat, rather than sit around here. But it
> > turned out to be cold and wet, and we did have some friends over, so
> > we decided to cook here. I think next year we'll go down to the annual
> > Josea Williams' Feed the Homeless on Thanksgiving. This year I have to
> > work Christmas week, so will be in Atlanta for the first time in ages.
> > I think we'll still cook at home, then maybe go out to the movies and
> > visit frie nds.
> >
> > I bet your family get-togethers are a real blast with all the diversity!
> >
> > -------------- Original message --------------
> > From: "Tracey de Morsella (formerly Tracey L. Minor)"
> > > > >
> >
> > > I Purchased a brined Bird because I heard they were moist. Chris put it
> > > in the oven after cutting slits all over it and stuffing the slits with
> > > fresh rosemary and garlic, He also made the stuffing without an
> > > recipe. He said, "I know what I like". However, he did let me give him
> > > some hints sometimes when he got into trouble. I had my laptop open and
> > > was pretending to be posting to you guys but I was really checking out
> > > recipe databases. There was only a few of us, most of our family is in
> > > Philly and Italy. We did not make alot of stuff, so we had Green Bean
> > > Casserole, Corn Bread, Cranberry Relish, Candied Yams, Spinach Salad
> > and
> > > Chris' Stuffing and Turkey. We also had Play-doh smiley face waffles
> > > and green spaghetti with tea courtesy of my daughter. Except for having
> > > dinner at midnight (just kidding - but it was late), everything turned
> > > out pretty well for out first holiday dinner ever.
> > >
> > > My people in Philly are from Richmond, New Orleans, and Maryland, so
> > its
> > > a Southern Thing with way too much food: Greens, String Beans, Mac
> > > n'Cheese, Candied Yams, Salmon, Roast Beef, Corn Bread, Ham, all kinds
> > > of pies, the list goes on. Sometimes that that included Pig's Feet or
> > > Chtlins ( I try not to think about it) I have an adopted brother from
> > > the islands who is vegetarian, so depending on who is coming from his
> > > part of the family it may include Tofu , goat, oxtails and in my
> > > opinion, hopefully something Jerked
> > >
> > > [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
> > > >
> > > > So Chris can cook, huh? Did he cook it in the oven, or did he deep
> > fry
> > > > it? Heck, last year I eschewed cooking any bird, and I got a
> > bucket of
> > > > chicken from KFC. it was great!
> > > > what else did y'all cook? You're originally from Philly: are there
> > any
> > > > local dishes there that people cook for the holidays? Similar to the
> > > > Black/Southern people down this way who may still pull out the pig's
> > > > feet, turkey necks, or oxtails?
> > > >
> > > > -------------- Original message --------------
> > > > From: "Tracey de Morsella (formerly Tracey L. Minor)"
> > > > > > >
> > > >
> > > > > Belated Gobble Gobble Everybody!!! First the first time ever,
> > instead
> > > > > of going out to somebody else's house, we cooked thanksgiving
> > > > Dinner, so
> > > > > the pressure was on and I fell behind one wishing you a happy day.
> > > > > Except for a few mishaps it was a success. Chris decided he was
> > going
> > > > > to make the turkey and he refused to look at any recipes. I was a
> > > > > little terrified but it turned out delicious,but it took forever to
> > > > > cook. Sounds like we were not the only ones with a late bird.
> > Anyhow,
> > > > > he says he is doing the bird from now on and promises to start
> > in the
> > > > > morning.
> > > > >
> > > > > Martin wrote:
> > > > > >
> > > > > > That we do.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> > wrote:
> > > > > > i hear you, we'll need to hook up!
> > > > > >
> > > > > > -------------- Original message --------------
> > > > > > From: Martin > > >
> > > > > > Happy Thanksgiving to you as well, and I thank you for the
> > > > compliment.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Myself, before and after the hamfest (bird decided to take awhile
> > > > > > longer to cook, making himself ineligible for dinnertime),
> > there has
> > > > > > been football and more football.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Pork chops and gravy...hey, I do live in the same county... ;D
> > > > > >
> > > > > > [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> > wrote:
> > > > > > Happy Thanksgiving to everyone. Y'all are like another family
> > to me,
> > > > > > and i've really enjoyed the many, many conversations on all
> > kinds of
> > > > > > subjects. They've helped keep me going through some hard times
> > this
> > > > > > year. Anyway, hope everyone is well and enjoying the company of
> > > > > > friends and family. Even those who don't really get into the
> > holiday
> > > > > > season, there's still an importance in reflecting on the
> > > > importance of
> > > > > > family, outside the commercialism and focus on the material
> > things.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > So what's everyone do for the day? Never a big fan of turkey,
> > i asked
> > > > > > my wife if she'd serve up some of her great fried pork chops and
> > > > gravy
> > > > > > instead, which is what i'm chowing down on right now. Not
> > gonna tell
> > > > > > you how many biscuits I've downed sopping up that gravy. Back
> > to the
> > > > > > gym tomorrow! Also, had to have my wife's homemade sweet
> > potato pie!
> > > > > > I'm going to cook a buttermilk chess pie myself later. some of
> > you
> > > > may
> > > > > > not know about "chess" pies, but trust me: good eating! Since
> > there's
> > > > > > just the two of us here in Atlanta, we try to do a small meal
> > with
> > > > few
> > > > > > leftovers, then change the diet completely the day after
> > > > Thanksgiving.
> > > > > > Typically we go out and eat Thai or Mexican the next day. I'm
> > > > thinking
> > > > > > next year I'll want to do Italian or Mexican for the Thanksgiving
> > > > meal
> > > > > > itself. Gotta keep the sweet potato and buttermilk pies, though.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > I'm a huge sucker for all things Christmas: the music, the
> > shopping
> > > > > > crowds, the spiced cider, smell of cinnamon and apples wafting
> > > > through
> > > > > > the mall, kids running around almost overcome with excitement. So
> > > > that
> > > > > > means I'll be pulling my groggy and grouchy wife out of the
> > warm bed
> > > > > > for a chilly trek to the stores at 6 in the am. Might not buy a
> > > > thing,
> > > > > > but i love the shopping frenzy of Black Friday!
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Later the Christmas tree and decorations will get put up, and
> > I'll
> > > > > > move my movie stash out of storage for holiday viewing:
> > Charlie Brown
> > > > > > Christmas, Rudolph, Grinch, Year Without a Santa Claus, Little
> > > > Drummer
> > > > > > Boy, A Christmas Carol (both the b&w classic film and the
> > spooky as
> > > > > > hell '70s cartoon).
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Again, everyone be blessed and have fun.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Go Cowboys!
> > > > > >
> > > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> > > > > >
> > > > > > "There is no reason Good can't triumph over Evil, if only
> > angels will
> > > > > > get organized along the lines of the Mafia." -Kurt Vonnegut,
> > "A Man
> > > > > > Without A Country"
> > > > > >
> > > > > > ---------------------------------
> > > > > > Be a better sports nut! Let your teams follow you with Yahoo
> > Mobile.
> > > > > > Try it now.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> > > > > >
> > > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> > > > > >
> > > > > > "There is no reason Good can't triumph over Evil, if only
> > angels will
> > > > > > get organized along the lines of the Mafia." -Kurt Vonnegut,
> > "A Man
> > > > > > Without A Country"
> > > > > >
> > > > > > ---------------------------------
> > > > > > Never miss a thing. Make Yahoo your homepage.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > Yahoo! Groups Links
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > >
> > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> > > >
> > > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > Yahoo! Groups Links
> > >
> > >
> > >
> >
> > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> >
> >
>
>
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
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