The Actual Day of Thanksgiving

So, yes, our strange family got up early and rolled out to Netarts, where the Bradfords and Maggie and Grandpa Vining and the fearless GrandmaToko awaited us. They'd arrived the night before. I had to quickly get the brined turnkey in the oven, and the girls had to get going on a snack.

Once all snacked-up, these ladies got to work on some Lincoln Log like action. Very fancy and rustic.

Others went out into the ridiculous gale!  The storm surge threatened them with many a sneaker wave!

Wet!  ERV likes to FACE the elements.

Meanwhile, G-Toko cracked some eggs and directed these grandchildrens.

Soon the whole team was put into action, fiercely preparing all manner of sumptuous vittles.  Pies and brussels sprouts, green beans and the like. All of this was done to some fierce amplified Japanese Martial Music; oftentimes G-Toko wears her MP3 player and marches around, oblivious (see earlier movie), but once we broadcast it you could feel the Vining Sisters blood begin to simmer.  (Sample conversation:  G-Toko:  "This song is about marching through the fields of China!" --march, march, march--  MAV:  "So it's about some kind of killing fields?"  G-Toko:  "Now, Maggie, that's not the way to think about it!  It's beautiful."

Anyway, so yes, what was I doing?  Flat wigging about the speed at which my organic free-range Heritage bird was cooking.  Too fast!  I was simultaneously submitting electronic letters of recommendation and figuring out how to slow that turnkey down!

Get out of my fricking way or I'll crush you between my biceps and my forearm!  Turnkey cooking makes me anxious and prickly and makes it hard to tell if the bird is any good.

But look at this outlay!

Miki ate nothing but cranberry sauce, just like her mother, 35 years ago.  And then I went to bed and left my camera out and someone took a picture of their bare butt with it.  I may share that image when I follow up on the day-after hikes and hijinx.

Thanksgiving: short version

Arthur, Arthur, Arthur

We were very excited to have Arthur come over on his birthday? Who wouldn't be?

Word is that Maggie's been very appreciative and desirous of Arthur as of late.

Sometimes, it's true, they help out a little more and don't just expect to be served and cleaned up after, but it was Arthur's birthday, after all.

Frosting!

"What's a birthday," Ida asks, "without the birthday song?" Nothing, Ida. NOthing. Some people are for him, and you know some people are against him, Arthur.

This is what 42 looks like, if you're handsome

Ice Skating

That's right!  Ella got tricked by a Google coupon and we all had to go ice skating.  The pressure's been on for a couple weeks, as that coupon was going to expire!

Check it out:


That's right, didn't take Ida long:

Elsie translated some of her ballet moves to the ice.  She did note that some girls were doing ballet moves.  This--Lloyd Center--is actually where Tonya Harding got her start.  We in Oregon are mightly proud of Tonya H.

Does Miki love ice skating?  Yes.  Does Ella where attractive denim?  Yes.

Theo is actually a much better skater than it looks like, here. And a good sport.

Speaking of good skater sports, I did make a short film of Arthur skating that I will hope to share before too long. THis man is the epitome of graceful! He told me was an extra in the hockey movie, "Slap Shot," and I could see why. An old creepy skating guy told Arthur that he himself had six children, and Arthur, without falling down, said, "Whoa, you must have really been humpin like a bunny!" That's smoothness on the ice for you.

November

These guys, who knows? Ida built her bag head all by herself. You best beware if you see them coming.

Look at these beautiful, possessed princesses! We went to visit our friend Madison this weekend.

"Wook, I'm pretty!"

Being a princess; it's not so easy as you might think..."

Yes, Fall is upon us; Miki ate all her tandy in one sitting.

Much talk about Xmas. Ida would like a stripey button and also her own dollar bill and sidewalk chalk for the whole family.

trouble

Obligatory Halloween Post

Oh, man! Candy!

Or "tandy," as some would have it.

These shots are from the Sellwood-Moreland Monster March, where we marched and saw several strange characters. Whoa.

Even Theo and this hot gorilla head lady!

Right after this shot, something about Maggie made that staring bald guy in the background go kind of berserk and attack that toaster thing! Madness!

Things calmed down the next day, the actual Halloween, when the Tumbleweeds gang ran loose on Woodstock Boulevard and had a good old time.

One piece of candy a day, until it's gone.