The Big Lug

*I need a camera *To my eye*To my eye, reminding*Which lies have I been hiding*Which echoes belong*I’ve counted out *Days to see how far*I’ve driven in the dark*With echoes in my heart*Phone my family*Tell ‘em I’m lost on the sidewalk*And no it’s not okay*

Thanksgiving was a success – turkey and casseroles galore and fun with family. And unfortunately no pictures.
Sunday was my birthday and Mr. Lug and I celebrated by going to the movies to see Casino Royale. Um, yeah the new James Bond is my new *TV* boyfriend. Then we went and ran around and had dinner at a local restaurant. All I wanted for my birthday was these, and Mr. Lug bought them for me:


Black Uggs. Yay! I have a brown pair that I wear the crap out of all winter and I wanted a black pair. They’re the bees knees. If I were to ask for another birthday gift it would be a new camera so I took my birthday money from my family and bought myself a new camera which can be seen in it’s inaugural bathroom mirror picture…

It’s not the fanciest camera in the world, but it was the one I’ve been wanting. It’s more megapixels and much lighter than our old camera. I think it takes good pictures. Here’s one of Mr. Lug at dinner.
Also a mystery has been solved. I do believe my friend Kate sent me these guys for my birthday in a package that came mysteriously with no return address:


It’s a cute kinetic robot toy for the baby’s room and a FM3 Buddha Machine, which is pretty cool! So thanks Kate.
And thanks Betsy for sending me this birthday sheepy mug!

If you have ever recieved a gift from Betsy on your birthday you know how super generous she is and how she can make you feel really special when you get a package in the mail – so thank you Betsy and everyone leave her comments about how sweet she is.
*Oh Wilco, we love thee…

And so it begins, the Thanksgiving day preparations. Every year for the past three years we’ve had Thanksgiving at our house. And the planning – I plan the menu, the shopping list for the menu, the game plan for cooking the menu, and yes even the dishes that I need for the menu.
Seriously.
Is it a bit much? Maybe. But I am a project manager by trade people and this is my favorite project to manage. I actually pull out all the casseroles and pans I’m going to need and label them so I’m prepared. I also start cooking Wednesday night so I only have to warm up some items.
So what’s on the menu you ask? Well my mom is in charge of the main dish – the turkey and the ham. Then I’m in charge of the side dishes. Sweet Jebus the side dishes:

• Sweet potatoes – the kind with marshmallows
• Mashed potatoes – this year to be made in the crock pot
• Stuffing – this year I’m trying my friend Mark’s recipe and it involves sausage and bacon – how can something so write be wrong?
• Corn pudding – it may not sound good to you but if you’re a fan you know it’s delicious
• The aforementioned pineapple casserole
• Asparagus – or as Mr. Lug called it as a child – Ass-barf-a-gus
• Rolls, cranberry sauce, and the like

Oh so yummers. I can’t wait.
And then Sunday is the 29th anniversary of my birth. I’m making Mr. Lug take me to the movies where I will have a giant tub of popcorn that I will not be sharing. Not on your life. Oh am I a walking cliche of the pregnant woman? Well perhaps, but if I took away your ability to drink alcohol you’d probably be sitting right there with me smacking peoples’ hands away from your popcorn too.
So have a happy turkey day. Happy food – happy 3-day weekend. Happy times with your family and rent this movie if you don’t like Thanksgiving – because it rocks.

There’s me with my 20-week big belly. Yesterday we had an ultrasound and we found out that the baby lug has a wiener folks. It’s a boy lug! You know what that means: little trucks and robots and boy toys and the chance that as an adolescent he’ll be in a kick ass metal band which would make Mr. Lug oh so happy. So go forth and knit me blue things! Okay so you don’t have to knit me anything but someone should be knitting ’cause I haven’t touched my knitting in weeks!
I’m looking forward to Thanksgiving next week, as we have it at our house every year. I’m working on my menu now. Any kick ass favorites you want to recommend? I got a pineapple casserole recipe from our friend Heather last year and it’s become everyone’s favorite, so I’m open for suggestions.
And of course my birthday is coming up (11/26), but I don’t plan on a big party because quite frankly I don’t want to watch everyone else be able to drink while I can’t! Selfish? Maybe, but it’s my birthday so I think Mr. Lug and I will go to the movies and he will buy me whatever I want to eat, which at this point is everything! Current favorite food? Still pancakes, but craving fried chicken wings.