N
Nerdy
Guest
Last week it dawned on me that we're in NOVEMBER and Thanksgiving is literally right around the corner! It was a shining epiphany made when cruising the grocery stores and watching people hiss and evil eye one another over frozen birdsicles formerly known as turkey, and it definitely cemented in me the desire to get Thanksgiving shopping done early and spend the rest of the next couple weeks firmly attached to Pinterest via the umbilical that is my laptop's charger cord.
Easier said than done since there appears to be a shortage of large birds this year and this family requires a minimum 24lbs bird, 26-28 being ideal to feed two bottomless pit toddler boys, a bottomless pit sailor husband, my sister, my mother, myself, 3 dogs, 5 cats... And maybe a scrap or two for our favorite outside denizens. And yes we definitely include the pets, they're family too and the dogs, all of which are over the age of 8, would cry mutiny if we stopped now. I'll also wager that there will be very little in the way of left overs - my sister is notorious for Thanksgiving 4th helpings
Anyway... The epic started on Saturday morning at BJ's and ended in the ER. True story.
BJ's consisted of all our bulk needs for the month plus Turkey Day and, starving, we ate at the BJ's cafe. I crammed 3/4ths of a hot dog, a gatorade, and went on my merry way to 3 other stores to hunt down odds, ends, an that elusive big bird before heading home to the comfort of my couch.
This was an epic win.
Why?
1.) Shopping was done early!
2.) Shopping was done SAFELY! A miracle since the last four years of Thanksgiving have consisted of me somehow managing to drop the damned turkey on my foot at least once in the process of trying to cram it in the freezer!
... Or at least I thought it was a safe trip.
I felt fine. Felt GREAT! Penned another 1500 words for my NaNoWriMo novel while hubby cooked dinner and life seemed grand. I was definitely feeling a bit cocky coming off a successful pain free Thanksgiving shopping experience.
And then it all went to HELL.
No sooner did hubby announce that dinner was ready, and I rose from the couch nest, did I have to make a sharp left detour on the flight path to my original kitchen destination to the bathroom... and barely made it in time, I might add, before doing my very best gastric impersonation of Mt. Etna in front of two horrified Scottish Folds.
... 5 times... In 25 minutes...
Crying, shaking, and unable to lift my own head, hubby swooped in and at my mother's demand, whisked me off to the ER where I was immediately sent to OB, stuck on monitors, placed on an IV for fluids, given a shot of phenergan, and monitored by one of the most amazing nurses I have ever met. I honestly hope to see her again when I go back to give birth.
Diagnosis? Food poisoning.
Apparently BJ's had gotten the last laugh in my pre-holiday shopping extravaganza
So... Let this be a cautionary tale to you ladies who think that nomming that quick BJ's hot dog, or food cart sandwich, is a good idea this holiday season while running to prepare for feasts, baby, and gift exchanges.
Newsflash; it's not!
Easier said than done since there appears to be a shortage of large birds this year and this family requires a minimum 24lbs bird, 26-28 being ideal to feed two bottomless pit toddler boys, a bottomless pit sailor husband, my sister, my mother, myself, 3 dogs, 5 cats... And maybe a scrap or two for our favorite outside denizens. And yes we definitely include the pets, they're family too and the dogs, all of which are over the age of 8, would cry mutiny if we stopped now. I'll also wager that there will be very little in the way of left overs - my sister is notorious for Thanksgiving 4th helpings
Anyway... The epic started on Saturday morning at BJ's and ended in the ER. True story.
BJ's consisted of all our bulk needs for the month plus Turkey Day and, starving, we ate at the BJ's cafe. I crammed 3/4ths of a hot dog, a gatorade, and went on my merry way to 3 other stores to hunt down odds, ends, an that elusive big bird before heading home to the comfort of my couch.
This was an epic win.
Why?
1.) Shopping was done early!
2.) Shopping was done SAFELY! A miracle since the last four years of Thanksgiving have consisted of me somehow managing to drop the damned turkey on my foot at least once in the process of trying to cram it in the freezer!
... Or at least I thought it was a safe trip.
I felt fine. Felt GREAT! Penned another 1500 words for my NaNoWriMo novel while hubby cooked dinner and life seemed grand. I was definitely feeling a bit cocky coming off a successful pain free Thanksgiving shopping experience.
And then it all went to HELL.
No sooner did hubby announce that dinner was ready, and I rose from the couch nest, did I have to make a sharp left detour on the flight path to my original kitchen destination to the bathroom... and barely made it in time, I might add, before doing my very best gastric impersonation of Mt. Etna in front of two horrified Scottish Folds.
... 5 times... In 25 minutes...
Crying, shaking, and unable to lift my own head, hubby swooped in and at my mother's demand, whisked me off to the ER where I was immediately sent to OB, stuck on monitors, placed on an IV for fluids, given a shot of phenergan, and monitored by one of the most amazing nurses I have ever met. I honestly hope to see her again when I go back to give birth.
Diagnosis? Food poisoning.
Apparently BJ's had gotten the last laugh in my pre-holiday shopping extravaganza
So... Let this be a cautionary tale to you ladies who think that nomming that quick BJ's hot dog, or food cart sandwich, is a good idea this holiday season while running to prepare for feasts, baby, and gift exchanges.
Newsflash; it's not!
At least the rest of the shopping is done though! I came to the same realization that the holidays are here when I saw someone hauling a Christmas tree on top of their car last night. We don't put up our tree until after Thanksgiving, but it made me think, "OMG Christmas is like.... TOMORROW! I need to do everything holiday related! I don't even have a Christmas shopping list!"
I can freely admit that I've been sorely tempted to start early, though.
