Happy T-Day Travels

We're headed for Seattle for the holiday. I hope all of you have a wonderful Thanksgiving and are safe if traveling.

Thanks Dianne. You too! I loved Seattle, it's a beautiful city.

Have a ball. I'm assuming you'll be with family.

ANyone else traveling?

We will be here, but will have some guests. One nephew and his wife and two year old son, and another niece and her beau. My sister from NC is also coming to town but will be staying in a hotel. She's no fool!

Nope. But, I am working from home so I can watch the turkey defrost, chop what needs to be chopped, mix what needs to be mixed and bake what needs to be baked.

Have fun, Dianne!

Happy Thanksgiving to all.

I also will be chopping and mixing and baking. I love the smell of a roasting turkey!

Has your turkey thawed? Mine just got delivered today and it is stone haaaaaaaard!!! I've put it in the tub to soak.

You probably won't believe me even though my experience cooking is exemplary. You can cook a frozen turkey. I have cooked many of them. Just put it in a cooking bag, breasts down, and pop in the oven. I NEVER stuff my turkeys, I make the stuffing on the side. So being frozen is no big deal. Cook as always but a little longer, say 35 to 50 minutes. This will be the moistest turkey you have ever cooked. The giblets inside will also cook and can be removed and chopped up for giblet gravy.

If you ever forget to take out a chicken or even a roast, just cook it frozen so long as it's in a cooking bag or wrapped in aluminum foil.

Has anyone had to change or cancel their travel plans for Christmas or the New Years? The city here is bracing itself for a monumental amount of tourists for New Years Eve especially with the mess in New York city.

Christmas day will be at a Casino with my son and grandson for dinner, then back home. On New Years Eve I watch fireworks on my big screen TV, have snacks and wonder what kind of fun can anyone have being stuck on the Vegas strip, among thousands of strangers, shoved in together like sardines; unable to move practically??? Not my idea of a good time.

This year we're not going anywhere during the seasonal holidays. More about cost-saving for us.

Well, I'm sure you have found ways to avoid the maddening crowds there over the years.

Vancouver B.C. will be socked in the head next Feb. 2010: city of Vancouver is anticipating 100,000 visitors DAILY into the downtown area for 2 wks. during Winter Olympics. The city officials want people to aim hard not to drive their cars downtown since there will be a serious lack of parking. Several roads near our building will be closed off..to allow hordes of pedestrians to walk. Instead use public transit, walk or bike.

There are several major public gathering areas and indoor spectator viewing facilities: we live within a 1 km. radius of several of them. We can't escape. And going on vacation somewhere else costs us money too. Renting home is in my opinion pointless because it costs money to store belongings, deal with possible suite damage, etc. (Not worth headache for so little $$$ in the end.) Just to give an example the stadium for opening and closing ceremonies accommodates 50,000 people for each event.

Noise bylaws have been relaxed to allow um..music, crowd noise, etc. Noise up to 11:00 pm every night during that time. Store owners and businesses can only have delivery trucks come in and out of downtown between midnight and 5:00 am. Yep.

So right now, it's all peace and I appreciate it before the hubbub starts. At this time every day, temporary tents, shelters for gathering spots are being built.

Once started Orchid, how long do the festivities last?

Feb. 12-28, 2010. I think the Olympic torch arrives in VAncovuer on Feb. 17. Actually in a park converted stage area not far from us.

I'm not kiddin'. It is abit surreal to see Canadians elsewhere quite enthusiastic, even emotional to carry torch in relay, see torch. Despite the financial rip-offs to any Olympic host city, I'm glad that the Olympics has some symbols to motivate people to take positive action in their lives, fitness or simply achieving a major positive change at a personal level.

Are you within walking distance? Do you have tickets to ay of the events?

It should be quite a show. I am so glad Canada got it.

Presumably chatty you meant that so the U.S. avoids a financial debt.

Anyway, we are taking a short trip in a few days to north-central Washington state. Area has snow and a faux German town sitting in a valley near mountains. We'll find it abit kitschy no doubt, but it sounds like a pleasant quiet place.