I Digress

We left Jacksonville at 3:30 on Monday afternoon and drove nonstop (almost) to Statesville, NC. It was nearly 10 pm when we picked up dinner at one of Statesville's finer gas stations--Doritos and a 24 oz Bud Ice for Jim and Fritos and a 24 oz Bud Lite for me. Talk about your acid reflux. We were on the road again at 8:30 or so the next morning. No one was home when we arrived at Windy Hill Lane but a key had conveniently been left for us beneath a pot on the front steps. Being the first to arrive, Jimbo and I had our choice of bedrooms. We chose Chris's Pumpkin Room. The walls and bedspread are about the same color as Chris's hair. The mattress is extremely comfortable. Good deal.

Bobby and Gail were next to arrive. Angie and Andrew were scheduled to fly in from Texas on Wednesday morning. Michael, Tim, Mary and Joe would drive up together from Baltimore and arrive sometime late Wednesday night. The party started as soon as Mary and Matt arrived home from work. Mary cooked some killer chili which was not too spicy for me. The others who don't care for bland chili quite as much as I do, were free to add hot peppers, onions and cheese to spice things up a bit.

Matt and Mary have a mini-gym in the basement. Everyone has used the treadmill to "earn" the extra calories we have been taking in. Everyone except Uncle Tim of course. He arrived Wednesday night with flask in hand (and reportedly two more among his baggage). He fashioned a shot glass out of a McDonalds condiment cup. He even offered some Jack Daniels to me of all people, but I politely turned him down. His doctor told him to cut back on the drinking....I wonder how much he was drinking before he started this so-called cut back. He polished off one flask and 6 beers (by his count) by the time he was finished on Wednesday night.

Prior to the arrival of the Baltimore contingent, the rest of us went to The Winking Lizard, as has become customary on the Ohio visits. The wings were very good and a good time was had by all. Usually the trip is made on the Friday after Thanksgiving but since Jimbo and I are leaving on Friday morning, a concession was made and we went on Wednesday evening. Tim may talk everyone else into a return visit on Friday night but by then we will be well on our way through the mountains of West Virginia on our way back to 70 degree weather.

It has been snowing since we got here. There are several inches on the ground and an occasional squall blows more snow on top of what is already there. Ohio does a pretty good job of responding to snow situations so I don't expect we will have too much trouble getting out of here. I certainly hope there is not too much snow in the mountains of WVA because I don't think there is really any other way out. Andrew and Joe were the only ones who ventured out into the snow. Andrew was born and raised in Phoenix so he hasn't had a lot of experience with snow. Joe brought in some wood so we could have a fire in the fireplace.

Ahhhhh.

Dinner was wonderful as usual. Mary is such a good cook. Gail and Jim helped out by making the sweet potatoes and mashed potatoes respectively. Owen and Michelle gave us a bottle of California wine which we brought along for all to share. It didn't take long for it to disappear. I am cooling my heels, avoiding the after dinner dishes by updating my blog. By the time I finish, it should be time for pie! We have pumpkin, pecan and cherry. Yum. Traditionally, the womenfolk take an after dinner walk around the neighborhood. The snow has caused a cancellation to that particular tradition. We have joked that as a substitute for the tradition, one of us can get on the treadmill and the others could walk in place alongside. That way we could still get in our Post Thanksgiving dinner jaunt/talk. Well, I think it is about time for pie so it is time for me to stop rambling. Happy Turkey Day to all who venture here.