Today was the last sunny day I will see for awhile. Our first big winter storm is due to hit the SW Wednesday. Rain and wind, mudslides in So-Cal, maybe even snow up here. So much for our Thanksgiving camping plans! Forget that Thanksgiving BBQ, too!
Instead, we might see a movie or a play, anything where we won't have to drive too far. I might be forced to cook (ackkk, run for the hills!), but it won't be turkey (Sarah Palin has wrecked that idea completely). I will also be using the long weekend to catch up on some indoor projects. All boring stuff, nothing to blog about. And I'm not much in the mood for politics right now.
So until I can think of anything more to say, I'm posting one of my favorite readings by David Sedaris, from stories of Hope and Fear, This American Life series on NPR. I saw David Sedaris and Sarah Vowell performing live together in California a few years ago -- a thoroughly enjoyable evening of understated wit. At the time, I had only just read Barrel Fever, so I had NO idea what to expect.
This is the story of The Squirrel and The Chipmunk, a romance killed by miscommunication. Hint: JAZZ and bigoted family members are involved. No visuals, so you can listen while you work. This is one of many of his own short stories Mr Sedaris has read for NPR.
(7-minutes):
Does anyone else love David Sedaris? I'm planning a David Sedaris Christmas blog. You will have to stay tuned for that.
In the meantime, HAPPY THANKSGIVING, everyone! I suspect many of us will be giving thanks for the same thing this year -- i.e., that our presidential election turned out as it did. What are some of the other things you are thankful for this year?
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13 comments:
Happy Thanksgiving to you & yours. I don't have time to watch/listen to the item you posted right now, I am up to my ears in cranberry sauce & housecleaning. But hearing the hum of a functioning dryer is music to my ears! Yay!
Fran:
That's a heckuva lotta cranberry sauce! No worries about the Squirrel and Chipmunk story -- I'll probably leave it up top for a few days since I'm not in a blogging mood.
I sure picked a good time to be politically mum. Been watching the terrorist hits on Mumbai all today.
I'm SO glad you're not making turkey!! Maybe tofurky? Or lots of extra smashed potatoes?
I LOOOOOOOOOOVE DAVID SEDARIS!! My whole family does. Thanks for this, I can't wait to listen.
I just started "When you are engulfed in flames" and just finished "dress your family up in cordoroy." I can't put them down when I start them.
I love his sister Amy too. I didn't know Sarah Vowell performed. I didn't know who she was 'til I saw her on The Colbert Report. And she was awesome.
Helen:
No tofurky for me! But I'll make creamy mashed (combo of white potatoes & yams & cream cheese) and cranberry date walnut stuffing & gravy. Got some fresh green beans yesterday & some mini-cucumbers & asian pears for a salad. Pumpkin pie, too. Who needs turkey after all that?
I can't wait to read "When you are Engulfed in Flames" (love the jacket cover) ... that might be my xmas present to myself! Sarah Vowell was the perfect co-headliner w/David Sedaris -- their understated styles really pack a punch! I linked an excerpt of her "Assassination Vacation" novel in this post.
That just made me drool a little bit. Actually, the Tofurky is not my favorite part of the meal. It's always the smashed potatoes. And I SMASH EM. I'm not making them though this year so I hope the person whose party I'm going to understands the importance of good smashed potatoes. I myself like to make garlic smashed potatoes with sour cream.... ok now I"m drooooling again.
I'm making a pumpkin chiffon pie that is to freakin' DIE for. It's my strict late Irish Grandma's recipe, and people literally swoon over it. I call it "grumpy grammaw pie" and that's what'll be keeping me busy all morning tomorrow.
HAPPY T-GIVING!! I so love that you are one less turkey buyer. YAY!
Helen, you should post that recipe, the grumpy grammaw pie, HAH! If your Grandma was Irish, then she did not skimp on the fattening parts, the parts that make food supremely sinfully delicious.
Enjoy your Thanksgiving, even if someone else is making the potatoes! If you like them that smashed, have you ever tried putting them in a blender (after mashing)? A friend of mine, who won't tolerate even the smallest lump, does that.
I LOVE David Sedaris. Thanks for posting the story of the squirrel and the chipmunk, I hadn't heard it before. There's nothing like David Sedaris reading his stories out loud - his voice is so perfect.
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving.
MauiG:
Yeaaay, another Sedaris fan! Funny thing is his voice matches exactly how I imagined it when I read his stories before I ever heard his voice.
D.K. Ha! My mom used to put potatoes in the Kitchen Aid mixer, because I have 7 siblings and that's a LOT of potatoes, her arm would have fallen off if she tried to do THAT by hand. I usually smash 'em with a masher AND i leave the skins on. I don't mind lumps either but when I was a kid i hated them.
That's not a bad idea re: posting the pie recipe... hmmm... grumpy grammaw pies all over the place! LOL! That's a lot of yummy grump!
I love David Sidaris and Sarah Vowell. My friend Nick gave me a Sarah Vowell book last Christmas. Doesn't David have a hilarious sister named Amy? I love her too.
I'm now stuffed and starting to get sleepy. I loved our bit of bloggy chatting today. Your voice is so much like my own. This must be come kind of unhealthy narcissism in that statement.
UT, he does indeed (have a hilarious sister, Amy). The sisters that appear in so many of his stories seem nothing like her.
Uh-oh, your comment here just reminded me WHERE IS THAT LIST POST? I did it earlier today & "scheduled it" to post on its own without any oversight about 5PM. Hrumph! That's what I get for trusting blogger. Now I will have to go put it up manually! Hope you check back. I bet you've done almost everything on the list!
ps, I don't believe in narcissism, but I do believe in knowing thyself. Not many are as honest about themselves as you, UT.
great post...and hmm, a Christmas blog- can not wait;-)
( my word veri is" brumbug" I wonder what a brumbug looks like...I wonder if it is the thing in the corner of my bathroom...)
Enigma:
A "brumbug" must be a humbug that is so large, you need a broom to sweep him out! There are many examples of the species working on wall street & investment banks and even in our congress. The "bailout" should have included HUGE BROOMS!
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