Mad Manatees 2015.4 CLOSED (or Poptart/pet pic ticket) (Page 37)

Proof of life post.  Work is keeping me stooopid busy.  Not totally loving it.  I'm awfully glad we are in week 11 of 13....

Pretty much!

The ox part then?

Think the count is 50-some people coming over this year.

Yep, pumpkin pie is probably your best option unless you want to bake a turkey but then you'd have to make stuffing, potatoes, gravy,......

gotta go with pumpkin pie!

2 years ago we baked, smoked, and fried 3 seperate turkeys. Last year we went for a more moderate 2 turkey day, fried and baked. Actually, the baked is done on the BBQ grill, leaving room in the oven for sweet potatoes, greenbean casserole, stuffing, fresh bread/biscuits, etc.  I may smoke a small turkey this weekend, just to have some of the lovely, juicy bird in the house. Covered with my spice and herb rub and on low heat provided by an offset oak and rosemary fire. Yum.

In related news, I need to run more...

That's why I mentioned it.  His aunt is in her 90s and lives there.  She's retired from a college there -- I don't think Lebanon Valley.  I'll have to ask him. Anyway, Aunt Jean lives alone and has never been married and honestly, as long as we have known Walter, he's been closer to her than anyone else in his family.  Walter always stops to see Aunt Jean when they are on the east coast.

Anyway, we should have a fun visit with them.   My aunt and uncle have always spent Thanksgiving with us -- well, maybe we missed a few when my family was in Iowa but when we lived in NY and NJ and now here, they have been with us.  It's very nice.

Kirsten nailed it.  Pie -- pumpkin or apple or pecan. 

Anything cranberry.  That's assuming that you can get cranberries and their not uber expensive.

And we are glad that you are alive!

YES!  Pumpkin muffins, pumpkin bread, etc.  Pretty much anything pumpkin or anything cranberry.

My favorite flavors of the season are cranberry and eggnog

I try to resist the eggnog, DH goes through it like it's going out of style. I'm making him an eggnog cheesecake. Cheesecake is his favorite dessert so I thought I'd combine the two.

Mmmm, that sounds awesome!  Your dh is a lucky man! 

I definitely agree with the pumpkin.  A pie could hold up overnight and be re-heated. 

Cranberry can go right to Christmas for me. Yum. All this talk of food! 

I am trying to be good during the day at work - it's getting to be holiday time and i need to save my treats for when they really count! Soon, enough everywhere we turn someone will be offering chocolates, cookies, candy canes. It really is insanity isn't it? 

By insanity, you mean completely EPIC???? JK, it does get a bit out of hand this time of year. No wonder so many of us make New Year's Resolutions based on this.

Which is precisely why I decided to do my run hiatus in November rather than December

Of course, I am one of the worst at constantly making the goodies. I just love this time of year and the yumminess that goes with it.

I think that is very smart to have taken a bit of a break.  You hit it pretty hard at the end of the season and with an IM build coming up it's best to recharge the batteries.  IM volumes can be very draining and going into it fresh will serve you well.

Since you mentioned eggnog and I just saw this article, maybe you need to try the CHEG -- Chai Latte made with eggnog instead of milk

http://starbucksmelody.com/2015/11/23/spotlight-on-cheg-an-essential-holiday-starbucks-drink/

Been there, done that... made even better with a shot of esspresso

Actually, the eggnog chai is usually our first foray in to eggnog for the year

Due to my friend having other plans, I couldn't go riding this morning... so I decided to make myself feel worse by getting in the pool.

ETA: However, at the moment, a pumpkin choc chip cookie is making me feel better.

Good save!

As much as I absolutely hate running on a treadmill, I am considering one for Xmas.  I do not mind the cold, rain, and wind because I can just dress accordingly but I am beginning to struggle with running in the dark.  Even though I have a very powerful headlamp, it is getting harder for me to see irregularities on running surfaces at night.  I felt like I was feeling my way along last night and I didn't like it.  I am torn because I know I would only use it part of the year.  So wondering if I should just tough it out through the Winter or give in.  Has anyone found the treadmill to be enjoyable or at least tolerable over time?