V4N8A

THE TMH

The Thanks/Mas Hiatus is the time spent at home waiting for the completion of Thanksgiving and Christmas. It is generally accompanied by drifts of snow and cold weather. We are now enjoying the TMH of 2001 at our summer hacienda. In order to completely appreciate the TMH, we were required to find a place to "ditch" the motorhome so we wouldn't have to drive it south in the snow.

We started home by leaving southern Georgia and stopping at our home park in Arley, Alabama just west of Cullman on I-65. We were there for a couple of days, packing the car and our clothes for the 1000+ mile trip home.

Of course Sharon thought I was nuts for complaining about winterizing the coach in Bermuda Shorts and 75 degree weather. Somehow I felt there was something wrong with the picture.

We left Arley November 17th on the first leg of our journey, headed toward Sharon's sister's in Lexington, Kentucky. The trip was uneventful except for not being able to remember the right exit from the Interstate, which traverses their back yard. And now it was dark.......Damn! A quick phone call, and a cry for help soon found us at Sandy and Charlie's. We stayed long enough to see Missy and Phil and the kids who arrived that night and left the following morning. We were merrily on our way the morning after. As we headed for home the gas seemed to be getting cheaper and cheaper except between Chicago and Racine, Wisconsin, our next stop, at my sister's. Wally and Marge were very hospitable, and were more than willing to fleece us at the usual game of cards. This was already turning out to be a hell of a trip. It was a good thing that Sharon was going back to work or there would be no fun in this trip at all.

We made it home just in time to go shopping for the food for Thanksgiving, and to shovel a monster snowstorm that damn near killed both of us. We're getting too damn old to shovel this crap. If only it would just lay flat and we could drive over it without shoveling.

By the time we got home I realized we should have had a list of things we should have done to the motorhome. We should have left the cabinet doors open to help keep the pipes warmer in case it gets cold. I forgot to throw the "Master Battery Disconnect" switch so our batteries could be dead. And I should have set a couple of mousetraps for unwanted varmints. I guess the only good thing is, if we get mice they won't have any lights to see with, because the batteries will be dead.

Thanksgiving

We gathered this year for the annual "slaying of the bird" on November 22. Most of the local clan was present including the Charettes, Den, Drema, Eric and Laura. Along with the Nettells, Tom, Jen, Nicole and Brady. And of course, us, along with Jessica and Mike Mindok, her fiancee'. And last but not least, Granny Rocheleau.

The actual day was accentuated by the victory of the Green Bay Packers over the Detroit Lions, which wasn't appreciated by Denny in the least. Also not caring was the only Miami Dolphins fan, Eric. (Where did he come from?) For the rest of the Packer fans, this day was starting out really well.

The pre-meal "liquor-consumption period" ended when the deceased Turkey made its grand appearance. It was a succulent morsel accompanied by Dressing, Mashed Potatoes and Gravy, Sweet Potatoes, 2 kinds of Cranberries, Green Bean Casserole, Broccoli and Cheese Casserole, Olives and Fresh-Baked Dinner Rolls. We also enjoyed wine to chase the bird down. After all this, who really had the room for the 5 different pies that were present. The pies were Pumpkin, Apple, Pecan, Raspberry-Lemon and Chocolate- Peanut Butter. The meal was truly a culinary extravaganza which left no one wanting for more, except for Sharon and I who thoroughly enjoyed the leftovers for the next 2 weeks, like always. Yummm! Yummm!

Christmas

Christmas every year is a two-fold experience. On Christmas Eve we go to Sharon's brother Denny's house to devour Drema's absolutely fabulous array of food. She always seems to have the right combinations of food to go together. And then there are always the little individual delights like Ham Rollups and the Water Chestnuts in Fried Bacon. We always walk away from there saying, "Damn, that was really good."

This year we were thoroughly entertained by the antics of Nicole and Brady. I don't know if it's healthy to laugh THAT hard. And then Tom reiterated the funny things that they've both done over the past year. If there had been enough room to "Roll on the floor laughing," we would have. As it was, the tears rolling down our faces would have to suffice.

On Christmas Day we went to Jen and Tom's for dinner. Jen had laid out a beautiful collection of Italian food that everyone thoroughly enjoyed. She accentuated the feast with a Porketta. And If you like Italian.......you would have loved this meal. She also tried out new recipes which included a couple of "hot" (spicy) dips for crackers and pretzels. As much as we ate on the dips we hardly made a dent, so Sharon and I took a care package home with us, along with some porketta.

There is nothing like food to make a Holiday worth remembering, and this one will stay with us for some time.

WEATHER

One of the things that could have made our holiday miserable, but didn't, was the weather. We got home in November to a heavy wet snowstorm that it took both of us to shovel. But since then the snow has held off for the past 6 weeks. I know the skiers and snowmobilers are not happy, but I'm pleased as punch. As I sit here on Dec 26 the break in the weather is over. It has snowed the last 2 days, and will continue for the next 4 or so. When we leave tomorrow, we'll hopefully drive out of it. "HOPEFULLY!"