Thanksgiving with the Ray's

Thanksgiving at my house went really well this year. My dad came, and Allison's mom and dad were here, and my friend Steve Zarella was here too. Steve and I have been spending Thanksgiving's together for over ten years now. He and I went to college together, were roommates for a while, and since he's from Massachussetts, he isn't usually able to go be with his family for Thanksgiving or Christmas. So I've always tried to make him feel welcome with my family.

My wife picked up the ham from Wal-mart. I was a honeybaked spiral cut ham, and was very good, even though we put the glaze on the side instead of on top. And I can't recommend too highly that you think about getting a fried turkey from Popeyes Fried Chicken. It was seasoned to perfection and couldn't have been easier to prepare--you just put it in the oven with a couple cups of water and heat it for an hour and a half or so.

Daddy made cornbread dressing. Allison made deviled eggs. It was a nice meal. We listened to Arlo Guthrie sing Alice's Restaurant. (A tradition that dates back from me and Steve driving to Bonham for Thanksgiving at my parents and listening to KZPS play it every Thanksgiving.)

After everyone went home, I spent the evening playing Fable on the X-Box and gradually getting sicker and sicker. I have another in a seemingly endless series of sinus infections, which usually make me worthless for just about anything other than a moan or two now and then.

My wife's planning to leave me with the kids today and go shopping. I'm sure she'll be gone forever and I'll be miserable watching my daughters, who are also both sick with a runny nose. Sigh. And I've got to do the dishes...