Another one gone.

Oh hai! It’s my birthday. I’m spending the morning renewing my driver’s license, and then shopping for Thanksgiving dinner. Y’all talk amongst yourselves, and maybe we’ll have some cake later in the day.

And this link’s for Jeff Borden.

Posted at 1:24 am in Same ol' same ol' |
 

60 responses to “Another one gone.”

  1. Rana said on November 25, 2008 at 1:41 am

    Happy Birthday, and Happy Thanksgiving!

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  2. Dexter said on November 25, 2008 at 2:08 am

    Happy birthday!

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=glNjsOHiBYs

    Many more.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5FO7XaDs_8Y&feature=related

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  3. JGW said on November 25, 2008 at 2:26 am

    Happy Birthday Nance!

    But still shopping? I was done for the most past two weeks ago, except for a few dairy items set for Wednesday night. This year I went with a Cranberry-Pineapple relish. I had to hide the only stuff I did not jar or freeze, was finding spoon marks in the container. And not from me, I found something teenage boys like….

    Cranberry-Pineapple Sauce

    1 (20 oz.) can crushed pineapple in juice
    2 c. sugar
    5 c. fresh or frozen cranberries
    1 tsp. ground cinnamon
    1/2 tsp. ground cloves
    1 tbsp. grated orange peel

    Drain pineapple reserving juice in a 2 cup measure. Press to remove as much juice as possible. Add water to make 2 cups liquid.
    In a large saucepan, combine juice and sugar. Bring to a boil over high heat, stirring until sugar dissolves. Add drained pineapple, cranberries and remaining ingredients. Return to a boil; reduce heat to low. Cover; simmer until cranberries stop popping, about 15 minutes.

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  4. whitebeard said on November 25, 2008 at 5:15 am

    Happy, happy birthday and thanksgiving together

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  5. James said on November 25, 2008 at 6:55 am

    “I wish I had a birthday cake,
    I wish I had a birthday cake,
    I wish I had a birthday cake,
    Right here in this toyshop.”

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  6. alex said on November 25, 2008 at 7:32 am

    Cheers! I’m raising my mug to you this very moment.

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  7. brian stouder said on November 25, 2008 at 8:23 am

    I’ll clink my mug w/Alex’s, and join everyone here in the wish that your birthday – and your rapidly unfolding holiday season – are pleasant and enjoyable. (my only tip: if you have enough chairs, everything tends to work out!)

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  8. moe99 said on November 25, 2008 at 8:33 am

    happy birthday fellow Sagittarius!

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  9. MichaelG said on November 25, 2008 at 8:41 am

    Have a happy birthday, Nancy. I’ll tip a glass (not Two Buck Chuck) to you later.

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  10. coozledad said on November 25, 2008 at 8:59 am

    Happy birthday. We’ll drink to you this evening. Or maybe this afternoon.
    There’s a nice wine store in Durham (the Wine Authorities).
    They sell a huge selection of mid-price wines, a lot of them from family vintners. I’m getting psychologically prepared to swill a couple of bottles of Vi D’Agulla, which tastes fine to me, but might very well be an artisanal Spanish Boone’s Farm. It’s got bubbles.
    http://www.wineauthorities.com/in_stock_list.php?tab=producer&producer_id=587

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  11. Dorothy said on November 25, 2008 at 9:15 am

    Happy Birthday to our proprietress! And Happy Thanksgiving to all of you in Nancyland. We’re heading to Pittsburgh on Thursday in the wee hours of the morning so y’all take care and I’ll see you on the flip side.

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  12. alex said on November 25, 2008 at 9:38 am

    And here’s even more cause for merriment:

    http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/11/25/ann-coulters-jaw-wired-sh_n_146248.html

    Hope someone breaks her kneecaps next.

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  13. mark said on November 25, 2008 at 10:05 am

    Happy birthday nancy. Please share your thanksgiving feast plans.

    I’ll pass on the opportunity to celebrate the holiday and the new politics of Barack Obama by wishing physical injury or acts of violence upon those I disagree with politically. I’m sure others here will take up the slack.

    Best ever Thanksgiving turkey tip, unless you are one of the few remaining people who still take joy in carving a turkey at the table:

    Follow your own preferred instructions/preparations (mine include brining).

    When a meat thermometer inserted into the breast shows an internal temperature of 150 to 155 degrees, take the bird out of the oven.

    Carve away the breast lobes. It’s simple once you get past the wishbone and takes only a couple of minutes.

    Cover the breast lobes with foil to retain heat but do not return to oven.

    Cover the chest cavity of the now breastless bird with foil.

    Return breastless bird to oven and continue cooking until dark meat is done.

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  14. Julie Robinson said on November 25, 2008 at 10:39 am

    Many happy returns, Nancy. Has having a birthday so close to a holiday been an issue in your life? My sister’s is Dec. 17 and she has whined for years about getting lumped together with Christmas. Note that she has gotten more than double the number of presents as a result. Mine is two days before Halloween so I just always figured it was my special holiday. Both our kids were born near a holiday, Mother’s Day and Labor Day (great synergy, huh?). Mother’s Day was alright but so many people travel on Labor Day weekend that she usually had to wait for a party.

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  15. Danny said on November 25, 2008 at 10:42 am

    Nancy, a very happy brithday to you, girl. I hope you have a wonderful day and a great holiday. Cheers and a toast to you later when the drink changes from coffee to wine.

    Mark, I think I will follow your turkey tip.

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  16. derwood said on November 25, 2008 at 10:46 am

    Happy Birthday Nancy!

    d

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  17. Jeff Borden said on November 25, 2008 at 10:50 am

    Hey Nancita,

    Happy happy. I hope you do it up right. Thanks for the nostalgia trip, by the way, as I have very fond memories of Zoom and his birthday song to me.

    If your journalist readers want another good laugh at Lee Abram’s expense, the big goof is quoted on Romenesko’s site today suggesting anchors on the Tribune TV stations stop wearing suits and ties and opt for business casual.

    Yes. That’s exactly the solution to the problem of declining ratings and revenues. Those damned suits and ties.

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  18. LA Mary said on November 25, 2008 at 11:07 am

    Happy Birthday! I’m toasting with some Trader Joe’s Pinon roasted coffee at home. Took the day off, since the rest of the week my office is closed. The coffee at home is much better, and I have milk for it rather than hazelnut creamer in little plastic thimbles. I’m baking two cakes today, and I will psychically dedicate one to you. One is for the in house Brit’s office potluck, the other is for the house. Pumpkin pound cake with golden raisins and pecans.

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  19. Mindy said on November 25, 2008 at 11:14 am

    Happy Birthday! I’ll dedicate my next cup of great coffee to you and your day. Here’s a little something for the freezer meant to go with future cups of coffee. Enjoy.

    http://www.notmartha.org/tomake/piesbakedintinyjars/

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  20. brian stouder said on November 25, 2008 at 11:17 am

    Pumpkin pound cake with golden raisins and pecans.

    Woooh – that sounds good! I think I’d beg you for a piece!

    As it is, I’m involved in the Great Pie Debacle, and before the day is over I’ll either have a fresh-baked apple pie & a fresh-baked pumpkin pie & a fresh-baked pecan pie….or I’ll have nuthin’ at all!

    (don’t ask)

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  21. Julie Robinson said on November 25, 2008 at 11:28 am

    We have cranberry orange pecan bread in the oven right now, yummy. Banana bread and pumpkin bread already made, pumkin pie tomorrow.

    For the audio geeks–anyone know of a really inexpensive stereo receiver? Like $50? Don’t fall over laughing, this is for someone on a limited budget to buy. When the DH redid the garage he installed four speakers but he has no receiver.

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  22. crinoidgirl said on November 25, 2008 at 11:46 am

    Happy birthday!

    And Ann Coulter’s jaw wired shut – there’s a reason for the season after all.

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  23. Catherine said on November 25, 2008 at 11:49 am

    Happy, happy! I hope the shopping is easy and any baking is purely for pleasure. I’ll lift an early glass of Thanksgiving Prosecco to you tonight.

    Here’s a good thing about November birthdays: There are decent movies in the theaters. Mine is in early summer, and this year my birthday trip to the movies was to see War, Inc. When Hillary Duff with an “Arabic” accent is in your birthday plans, you know it’s probably not going well.

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  24. Scout said on November 25, 2008 at 11:54 am

    Ya say it’s your birthday? Happy birthday to ya! We’re gonna have a good time…

    Have a great day, Nancy!

    Happy Thanksgiving to the entire Nancy bunch.

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  25. LA Mary said on November 25, 2008 at 12:12 pm

    Catherine
    I think we’re spoiled here in LA with end of the year movies. They cram all the movies for 08 Oscar consideration into theatres here and in NYC before the end of the year. They might not hit the middle of the country until February.

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  26. beb said on November 25, 2008 at 12:23 pm

    LA MAry, what you watch in February when we’re watching all the Oscar nominated movie that you saw in December?

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  27. paddyo' said on November 25, 2008 at 12:24 pm

    Happy birthday from a fellow NYT subscriber and ink-stained wretchfugee from daily dead-tree pulp newsrooms . . . thanks to a tip from my sister a coupla years back, you’re my only morning “must” read on the ‘Net. And (into the metaphor mixer I go) what a great posse you’ve drawn into your salon, Nancy . . .

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  28. whitebeard said on November 25, 2008 at 12:31 pm

    Julie Robinson, holidays and festive events. My birthday was on December 24th in 1937 and I missed being called Noel by thismuch. Yes, I got presents both days.
    I married my first wife on Valentine’s Day and felt the poison tipped arrows in my heart, but I married my current wife on St. Patrick’s Day in 1972 and it has been the luck of the Irish ever since.
    And I have been an dead tree refugee for more than half a century, Paddyo; I fell into the ink barrel by accidental osmosis and never climbed out because it is so much fun.
    And, I, too check on the birthday gal’s blog every day.
    Ah, come on, guys, the Dow numbers are red again, what set them off this time?

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  29. Catherine said on November 25, 2008 at 12:37 pm

    Heck, LAMary, I woulda settled for Quantum of Solace.

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  30. JGW said on November 25, 2008 at 12:57 pm

    I know it’s not funny, but I’m not a fan of third world nations trying to flex their military muscles on the world stage. Remember when the Indian Navy sank that pirate mother ship. Turns out it was a Thai fishing boat. One sailor rescued after being adrift 6 days, one body found, 14 missing.
    Good work there India…

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  31. Julie Robinson said on November 25, 2008 at 1:03 pm

    Whitebeard, some firends had an emergency C-section on Christmas Eve. The birth announcements spoke of the “evicton notice”, really cute. But I know he feels a little bit gypped too. One year someone gave my sister a poinsettia for her birthday. He won no points with her.

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  32. MichaelG said on November 25, 2008 at 1:07 pm

    Two food things:

    Mary, I do a green pork thing very much like you do. The jalapenos must be charred for that great flavor. I brown the pork, add the very thinly sliced onions, jalapenos, and a couple of finely chopped tomatos. Some stock and I put in some barley. It all comes together into a great savory dish. Oh and can’t forget the garlic. I’ll try with tomatillos next time. The barley pulls it together, like beans in chili. Freezes great for quick dinners later, though I would guess with two teenage boys and a Brit there’s not much left.

    Nancy, we got a great and simple recipe for carnitas from a guy who owns a Mexican restaurant. Put your bone in pork shoulder in a big pot in one piece. Add salt, pepper, garlic, a couple of bay leaves and cover with cherry coke. Yes, cherry coke. Simmer on top of the stove all day. You’ll know when it’s done. Don’t let it run dry. The cherry coke tenderizes the meat and imparts a rich, deep flavor. Ummmmmm, yum. I laughed at first but it’s not a joke. Give it a try.

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  33. Lex said on November 25, 2008 at 1:10 pm

    Happy birthday and happy Thanksgiving, Nance!

    We’re not cooking this year. In fact, Harris Teeter is cooking. The good news is, we’re getting 20 relatives together in a hotel dining room with plenty of good food and drink and a big-a** widescreen HDTV, rather than trying to squeeze them all into Mom’s condo where, when the tenth person walks in, Person No. 1 gets pushed out onto the deck. The bad news is, all my Southern relatives will never talk to Mom again.

    I suspect she’ll deal.

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  34. Danny said on November 25, 2008 at 1:38 pm

    The coffee at home is much better, and I have milk for it rather than hazelnut creamer in little plastic thimbles.

    Mary, a couple of work/coffee survival tips. One, I bring a thermos because I hate the coffee at work. Two, I take my own cream in these little doo-dads from tupperware. I only take enough cream for the day so that I don’t even have to refrigerate them (because I am typically through with coffee before 11 AM) and I don’t have to deal with people borrowing from the community refrigerator.

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  35. Catherine said on November 25, 2008 at 1:48 pm

    We had shelf stable, individual serving half-and-halfs at a former employer in NYC. I wonder if you can get them in CA? Nothing like real half-and-half to perk up work coffee. Not very green, but a nice little thing.

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  36. brian stouder said on November 25, 2008 at 2:08 pm

    Icy cold Diet Coke is the way to go (if you ask me)

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  37. del said on November 25, 2008 at 2:19 pm

    Happy birthday Nancy. Have a birthday drink on me. And next time you meet johnc in the village for lunch or coffee let me know and it can really be on me.

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  38. Jeff (the mild-mannered one) said on November 25, 2008 at 2:20 pm

    My sister is a Christmas Eve baby, and she’s mellow with the whole thing, while others i know with birthdays out in the calendrical hinterlands get all angsty when people forget their birthdays — so there may be an upside. Happy Thanksgiburthday, Nancy!

    Of interest perhaps only to archaeologists who work in homelessness/housing issues who are from Indiana, but if there’s another one out there, this is fascinating — http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/11/081124130956.htm

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  39. Julie Robinson said on November 25, 2008 at 2:37 pm

    Fascinating, Jeff, especially their technique of not interacting directly with the homeless. Our daughter’s seminary had attempted a study in Chicago but without prior trust relationships built up, most of the interviewees denied even being homeless.

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  40. Danny said on November 25, 2008 at 3:03 pm

    …while others i know with birthdays out in the calendrical hinterlands get all angsty when people forget their birthdays…

    Crap, Jeff, you want angsty? Consider Brian and me. Our birthdays are around the grand-daddy of ALL holidays, St. Patrick’s Day. We not only have to deal with people forgetting our birthdays, but being too hungover to even care. Why do you think Brian is always pushing that “icy cold Diet Coke” bit?

    …{sniffle}

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  41. brian stouder said on November 25, 2008 at 3:07 pm

    Tell ’em, bro!

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  42. Dexter said on November 25, 2008 at 3:27 pm

    “Milk” open tomorrow on the coasts…will we ever get it here in the midwest before it hits BluRay? Penn will get an Oscar, betcha he will.

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  43. Jolene said on November 25, 2008 at 3:39 pm

    Happy birthday, Nancy. The little community you’ve created is one of the most appealing places on the web. I wish you many more years of NN.com’ing.

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  44. Julie Robinson said on November 25, 2008 at 3:42 pm

    Hearty agreement here!

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  45. LA Mary said on November 25, 2008 at 3:58 pm

    Beb, I haven’t gone to many movies lately, since the going price of a ticket is 12 bucks. For four of us, with popcorn and soda and parking, it’s a hundred dollar night. I’d rather spend the hundred elsewhere and wait for the movie on cable.

    Danny, I take a thermos sometimes. I have to remember to make enough coffee to fill my thermos after breakfast. Three coffee drinkers in the house and all the mugs are of the huge variety. Younger son is working his way through different black tea varieties. We bought a few different types in a tea shop this weekend and a new strainer with finer mesh, so there’s been some excellent tea around the house. If you’re ever in LA’s Chinatown, the big Chinese supermarket, the two story one, just north of Ord street on Broadway, has an amazing tea department.

    MichaelG, a huge honking pot of green chili with pork is good for two days max. Red chili with beef and beans goes a bit longer, and vegetarian chili is gone in about thirty six hours, since older son likes it with eggs in the AM. I’m ok with this, since they are growing like bamboo, and even with pork in there, leftover chili is probably better for them than cheetos or hotpockets.

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  46. Jolene said on November 25, 2008 at 4:02 pm

    Marc Fisher, one of my favorite WaPo columnists, has invited readers to submit ideas re how the Obamas can become part of/contribute to the DC area, something Michelle Obama said they would like to do in their recent 60 Minutes interview. You don’t have to be a Beltway insider to contribute. If he likes your idea, you’ll win a prize from his Vast Vat of Values, which is what he calls the pile of junk that people have given him in efforts to promote their events and organizations or whatever. Not too many brilliant ideas so far, so I’m sure you can do better.

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  47. moe99 said on November 25, 2008 at 4:12 pm

    A Kentucky treat that has become a Thanksgiving staple at my house

    chess pie.

    1/2 c melted butter
    1 1/2 c sugar
    1 1/2 t corn meal
    1 1/2 t vinegar
    3 eggs

    Preheat oven to 450. Use mixer at low speed to combine the ingredients in the following way.
    Combine sugar w/ melted butter. Then add eggs and remaining ingredients Pour into 9″ pie shell

    Put pie into oven and immed turn heat down to 400. Cook at 400 15 minutes, then at 300 about 20 minutes (these times are approximate and depends on the oven and whether the eggs are fresh–which takes longer) Pie filling will puff up full. Give pie a little jiggle to be sure center is firm before removing it. Place on rack to cool. Pie may be browned before serving.

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  48. Jeff (the mild-mannered one) said on November 25, 2008 at 7:23 pm

    Can’t beat the classics. Chess pie and strong, black coffee.

    Meanwhile, elderly folk all over our county are stocking up on ammo (we all have guns already, thanks), since there’s a surge going on here, in the county seat, of home invasion burglaries — old people, 10 to 10:30 pm, kicks down door, waves knife and demands wallets and purses. Five in a week.

    Could it have anything to do with 8% unemployment? Yeah, it just might. Pray for this kid, because he is incredibly likely to get shot soon (he did two last night, and same MO every time). Unless he got enough to buy the turkey already.

    We’ve got 150,000 residents countywide, and we’ve already maxed out our Angel Tree programs for kids’ Christmas gift support at 1,200. (600 Salvation Army, 600 Job & FamServ aka welfare office.) And the sign-ups were before most of the economic meltdown and massive layoffs locally had even happened.

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  49. lisa said on November 25, 2008 at 7:34 pm

    Happy Birthday!
    Hope you had a great day and you and yours enjoy your Turkey Day too. 🙂

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  50. Jolene said on November 25, 2008 at 8:09 pm

    I have two apple pie recipes that you might want to check out. Could add a little variety to your usual fare. The first is interesting because it contains pine nuts and rosemary. I haven’t tried this one, but it sounds really good.

    The second I have tried and thought it was really great. It’s put together in an unusual way in that the apples are baked for a while by themselves before being put into the pie. The ingredients are also a little unusual in that there’s no cinnamon. Pretty rare for an apple dessert. Made this for a group of friends a while back, and it was a big hit.

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  51. alex said on November 25, 2008 at 8:11 pm

    Last year one of the professional organizations I got dragged into did an Angel Tree drive. The Salvation Army couldn’t give away all of the tags. Thousands were left over, and this was last year when people were still putting zero down on new houses.

    I spent a hundred bucks on someone I didn’t even know. Best time I had shopping in years.

    Well, this year it looks like a whole generation is about to be disabused of any belief in Santa Claus. Ain’t that America.

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  52. basset said on November 25, 2008 at 8:23 pm

    my son’s birthday is Dec. 23, wife’s is the 18th. expensive week.

    found a stuffing recipe online somewhere which includes macadamias, pistachios, walnuts, almonds, onion, and a pound of uncooked sausage, among other ingredients… should be interesting.

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  53. Jeff (the mild-mannered one) said on November 25, 2008 at 8:26 pm

    Nah, Alex, we’ll cover ’em. Somehow, we’ll git ‘r done. Just gonna be a pain . . . we could use those extras from last year.

    I’m thinking about rosemary in an apple pie — the rosemary came in pretty well, and is tied up in bundles with the sage and lavendar and oregano in the utility room (the deer didn’t eat my herbs, but don’t ask my wife about the peppers and tomatoes). That might just taste good, especially with a hunk of colby cheese next to the slice hot out of the oven.

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  54. Julie Robinson said on November 25, 2008 at 9:38 pm

    Our church is involved with a neighborhood agency and we do dinners/game nights once a month for kids. For Christmas we have both a Santa w/ gifts and an area where the kids can “shop” for their parents and wrap the gifts too. Last year we took pictures of the kids for the first time, and they were thrilled. One boy was going to send the photo to his Dad, because he didn’t have any pictures of him. Doesn’t that break your heart?

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  55. adrianne said on November 25, 2008 at 10:06 pm

    Hey, Nancy – it’s your birthday! Sorry I’m so late in the best wishes game. I overstuffed my chore list today – work, work, work, wine shopping, parent-teacher-conferences, dinner and pie baking. Now I can relax with a second glass of grenache and smell the fruits of my labor – apple pie with handpicked Cortlands and spicy pumpkin pie.

    Hope your birthday was good (did you get a cake, or the pumpkin pie with candles alternative?)

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  56. alex said on November 25, 2008 at 10:11 pm

    Just did a killer a la vodka sauce. Too hot by half—overdid it with the red pepper flakes—but I swear, this is what they ought to have pouring out of that 32-year-old’s clogged artery on that anti-smoking commercial. A half cup of whipping cream, quarter cup vodka, shrinkwrapped pack of prosciutto. Three-quarters of a cup of grated fresh parmesan stirred in.

    And tomorrow bland puritan cooking. Harvard beets. Vinegar and sugar were the cure for any nasty dead thing the colonists could conjure on these shores in abundance, from roots to snouts. Gotta have some of that with the turkey. This year hoping to just go for the breast. The cooking legs remind me too much of some close apartments I’ve encountered where the smells weren’t coming from the kitchens.

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  57. jcburns said on November 25, 2008 at 10:14 pm

    hoping you’re feeling the love, Nance. Sammy and I send ours too, of course, from way down I-75. Really enjoying the document you shot me yesterday. They feel like real people.

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  58. Dexter said on November 25, 2008 at 11:24 pm

    Happy Thanksgiving.
    A song of hope…the song Colbert and Elvis Costello finished off Colbert’s Holiday Special with a half hour ago…
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=idnKd5iRT48

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  59. Catherine said on November 25, 2008 at 11:27 pm

    It just started raining here! My kids ran outside in their flip flops and danced around. Nothing like the end of a drought!

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  60. whitebeard said on November 26, 2008 at 1:03 am

    Julie, when I was in Montreal, the employees club would round up a dozen Santas to go to the two children’s hospitals. All of us had ample girth without the need for a pillow.
    In my assigned ward, one non-believing 13-year-old decided to yank off my fake beard. But she was startled when the rest of me followed because I had a real beard. “Mon Dieu,” she said, “un vrai barbe” and she had a twinkle in her eye that wasn’t there a minute before.
    All the looks on the children’s faces were priceless; remembering makes me smile even now, almost 40 years later.

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