Random Tuesday and did you order your turkey yet?

Yay!!! It's Tuesday.
OK, before I get too random. If you've never cooked a fresh turkey and have always made a frozen one, do yourself and your family a favor and get a fresh turkey this year. If you want one though, you need to let your grocery store butcher department know this week. All the grocery store chains, that I know of, take orders. Give them a call,  let them know how big a fresh turkey you need and what day you want to pick it up. They'll get it in and hold it for you in their fridge,  instead of taking up space in yours. Plan on picking it up on, Wednesday, so that you can brine it overnight. I'll show you how during Thanksgiving week. The difference between a  fresh and a frozen bird is like the difference between a handmade fresh hamburger and those frozen hockey pucks masquerading as burgers. Get one ordered today.

Now on to our regularly scheduled random program!

I love black Friday sales! You can really find some great amazing bargains both in the stores and online. Do  you like finding BF bargains? If so, have you discovered Black Friday Ads website? I swear by it and they don't even know I'm telling you, I just love the site and the money it saves me and thought I'd share. There are a lot of stores that have already started releasing their Black Friday deals so don't miss out. Walmart already had some of their BF electronic items for sale this past weekend.  The stores are really starting early this year plus it has to be easier on their staffs to spread the insanity out a bit.

On the way home from my 5am airport run to drop my hubby off, pulled into my favorite coffee place  to pick up a pumpkin spice latte and low and behold they've already started serving their holiday flavors. Peppermint Mocha and eggnog lattes!!!! I was as happy and excited as I could be at 5:30 in the morning, after an hour driving in the car with no coffee! I only wish I'd seen the sign before I ordered my pumpkin one. Oh well, I might just have to go get one as a treat. I usually limit my trips to Monday mornings. I'm worth it.

Where did 2009 go? Man this year flew by.

Any ideas for some great family games for a family of 18 and older kids?  We love cranium, Blokus and card games. I always try to buy one new family game for us all to play over the holidays, that and I still need to find PJ's for everyone to open and wear on Christmas Eve.

Why are retrievers always happy? No matter what they're doing, they just wag their tail and perk their ears and have a good time. They're stupid but happy.

My youngest kid, who is a senior, had her pre-college meltdown this week. I'd been waiting for it. It happens to lots of seniors.  They get all excited about applying to colleges and start in on the applications, then they freeze up and stop working on them. I then ask how they're coming along and it happens: tears and fears come pouring out.  The realization that they will be leaving home and growing up and on their own hits them (and me). We both had a good cry and I assured her that as sick and tired of me as she is now, she'll be ever more tired of my by next August and if she doesn't apply to colleges, she'll be living with me forever. (Not really, I'd be sending her off anyway but, it helps create a horrifying picture of mom telling them what to do forever). It's just the reality check they need to get those apps finished and in on time. She got most of her 3 early decision applications done and 2 others turned in within hours. Nothing like negative motivation positive encouragement and support, to get kids moving.

Where have I been? I just heard about the "pumpkin shortage". I looked it up and it's been in the news for 2 months. Of course I made 2 batches of pumpkin muffins yesterday out of my last can of pumpkin. I was developing a new recipe.  If I can't find pumpkin for my pies and cheesecake I might just cry, stomp and throw a fit. I might do that anyway just because I feel like it! I'm heading out today to try and find some.  Wish me luck!!

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