Every year since I was old enough to cook, I’ve instigated a big ol’ traditional Thanksgiving dinner. Not this year, though. Exams have taken too much out of me. Today we’re having the meal I usually make for New Year’s: ham, scalloped potatoes, brussel sprouts, rolls. I tacked on homemade cranberry sauce and a pumpkin pie (frozen crust, homemade filling.)

I’ll make a turkey and stuffing and whatnot for Christmas, I think. And then on New Year’s, if I’m feeling brave, I’ll attempt tamales. If less brave, then perhaps more pozole.

I’m in a strange mood today. My exams are not completed, since I was ill on Tuesday, which is when I was supposed to write the last 24-hour one. I teach MWF at noon this semester, so it couldn’t be done on Wednesday. My class and I had pizza, though, and talked through several videos and spoken word performances, looking for what we could learn about cadence and movement. Then Mister Husband and I took off exploring across the city. Today is devoted to cooking and hanging out. Tomorrow I’ll finish that damned exam.

I’m thankful to be very nearly done with writtens. Thankful for a wonderful family, excellent friends, and supportive colleagues. Health and hope, books and blogs. This world is such an interesting place, and there’s always something amazing around the corner. Yesterday I found myself face to face with three African lungfish (in a fish store, where else?). They looked sleepy, and content not to have to worry about breathing air. We have fifty or so baby corys, all less than three weeks old. I’ve never watched fish hatch and grow up before, so I’m fascinated.

I’m not sure where all that is going, so I’ll end it here. I’ll go be thankful in the living room for awhile.

Update:: I managed to create only one load of dishes in the course of making dinner. I sort of wondered if I could (since I often don’t manage it even in the course of a normal weekday dinner.) And something was up with the oven: the dial was set to 325 (and the thermometer read 350, as per usual), but everything took longer to cook. The potatoes took nearly an hour and 45 minutes, and the rolls took nearly twice as long as usual. The whole thing reminded me of the story about Tori Amos cooking for Trent Reznor in the house the Manson murders occurred in, cooking the chicken that refused to ever be done.