Just Call Me Rosie ... Oh, and Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving, all! We had one of our best, and funniest, Thanksgivings ever. Memorable for many reasons, all of them humorous.

The fun and merriment started on Wednesday morning before school, when Bill began preparing his Thanksgiving stuffings. He gets an A for effort, and you know what that inevitably means. Let's just say Julia narrowly escaped a serious brain injury when Bill opened the oven door to check on the chestnuts he was roasting (sounds almost romantic, right?), and gunfire erupted from inside the oven, spraying a white mealy material all over Bill and Julia. The chestnuts were literally exploding, one after the other, in the oven and outside of it when Bill opened the door to check on the noise. You may recall that Bill has some difficulty with small details, such as "split the spaghetti squash down the middle," or "cut an X in the top of each chestnut before roasting." It was the funniest part of Thanksgiving ... until this morning.


The picture of the crew above is the small troupe we gathered together to run the Feaster Five Road Race in Andover on Thanksgiving morning. We have been running the race for years, with family and friends joining us to run in the often freezing, windy cold. This year, we were joined by several friends and super runners (and still newlyweds) Kristen and DJ, in from Bellingham, Washington for the holiday. The sun broke through as the race was starting, and it turned out to be a beautiful morning for running.

As was the case last year, I ran with my friend, Jennifer Marois (another swim mom; her son, Marc, is one of Ethan's best friends and teammates). Jennifer and I attained respectable times in the 5-mile race last year, and we promised to boost each other up again this year so that we could guiltlessly stuff ourselves on Thanksgiving desserts later in the day. As the race got under way, we felt great. There is a rather long, steep hill at the beginning of the course, and, in contrast to several Thanksgivings when I could barely run the whole way up the hill, this year all my hard training paid off and Jennifer and I were still laughing, talking and yes, running, at the top of the hill. Then, because we were so obviously distracted by all the laughing, talking and running we were doing -- a lethal combination which completely drains the brain of blood, oxygen and common sense -- we made the fateful decision to turn left instead of running straight at the top of the hill. As a result, contrary to our best and sincerest intentions, we ended up traveling the 5 Kilometer route instead of the 5 Mile route to the finish.

Didn't you notice, you may wisely ask. Weeelllll..... we did comment on the fact that we didn't see a mile marker after the 2-mile sign. And, we arrived at the finish line in the blisteringly fast time of 34.14, sprinting (unheard of for me) to the finish line, exhilarated, proud and feeling very young. Of course, within about 15 seconds we realized there was no possible way we had run the 5 mile course, because, as much as this may surprise you, all of my training has not yet allowed me to run a 7-minute mile, under any conditions.

So, Jennifer and I were much chagrined, and shared our good (private) laugh with the kids on the car ride home. How could we miss the signs? Hadn't we run the race before? Weren't we paying attention? Did we really think we'd feel that good after running 5 miles? The Happy Thanksgiving telephone call later that day between Kristen and Melissa went something like, "Listen to this. Guess what Catherine did. Not only did she think she ran the 5 mile, but she actually finished in the 5-mile corral. Can you believe it? Blah, Blah, Blah."

Now, up to this point in the day, my biggest supporter was my heretofore unsupportive son, Ethan. Like any good criminal defense lawyer, Ethan wisely pointed out, "Mom didn't actually cheat, because she didn't run the 5K route On Purpose, she just made a mistake."

To which I say, "Thank you, Ethan. And, by the way, do you think everyone else will feel that way, or do I have to write a letter to the Eagle Tribune explaining the circumstances of my finishing 9th overall for women in the 5 mile race?" Check it out. Page 2 of the Sports Section. Catherine Sullivan, 9th, and yes, Jennifer Marois, 10th. Of course they got our ages right as well.

The congratulatory phone calls have already started coming in. My mother-in-law called at 9 am with her sincere best wishes, gushing, "Oh my God, Catherine, I'm so proud of you! All that hard work really paid off. I knew you were running a lot, but I had no idea you were that fast. That's wonderful. Billy must be so proud of you!"

I just didn't have the heart to explain it all to her. Not yet, anyways. I think I'll just enjoy my under seven-minute mile for a few more hours. Like the cornucopia we had for the table, my cup truly has runneth over.

RECIPES --- Healthy and Not-So Healthy Drinks

Talk about contrast. Well, I guess they're both pink. And delicious. And easy to make. Enjoy. (Don't laugh at the names. I needed something original for the martini. If you have a better name, send it along and I'll consider it!)

Kitty's Pink Martini

Fill cocktail shaker with ice. Into cocktail shaker place:

2 jiggers Rose's Lime Juice
2 jiggers Absolute Citron Vodka
4 jiggers Cran-Raspberry Juice Cocktail.

Shake like you're James Bond. Pour into chilled martini glasses. Makes approx. 3 drinks.



And now for the healthy....

Kitty's After-School Smoothies

Into a blender, place the following:

1/2 package silken tofu (approx. 1 cup)
1 cup frozen whole strawberries
1 banana (ripe, but not brown)
1 cup orange juice
Optional: 1 package sweet 'n low
Optional: 4 tbsp. whey protein powder

Add more orange juice if you prefer your smoothie thinner.

Blend in blender until smooth. Makes 2 large smoothies. So easy to make it's ridiculous.

The Big Buildup, or "Catherine's Rules of Holiday Engagement"

The countdown has begun. To Thanksgiving, to Christmas, and to New Year's. If your family is anything like mine, you are starting to notice the difference with each new day. The air is getting colder now that the leaves have all been collected, and even the dogs want to stay inside where it is warm and comfortable. No more asking each other, "Can you believe the heat went on?" We've brought out the blankets and slippers, and switched from sweatshirts to actual jackets.

Don't get me wrong. While I don't love freezing rain or endless days of stark, grey clouds, I certainly have some affection for winter, or else I/we would have moved away from New England long ago. I especially love a good snow storm, one that cancels All the schools and forces everyone inside for a day or two. We clear a patch of the yard so the dogs don't have to maneuver through piles of snow, and plan ahead to make sure we have plenty of fire wood, and starter, to ease the chill.

For me, the most difficult part of the transition between fall and winter, and then of winter generally, is the coordination required to maintain a life "inside". Like it or not, the cold New England air makes being outside difficult. So, family gatherings take place entirely inside. The cold weather prohibits cookouts, family baseball games and relaxing in the Adirondack chairs. Golfing is out of the question, as are early morning runs. While my children have outgrown carseats and all that is required to bundle up little ones, the kids still require care to make sure they wear hats after swimming, for example, and to make sure the cars are in good shape for the winter roads.

Then, there are the holidays themselves. I love Christmas Eve and I love Christmas. I even really enjoy Thanksgiving and New Year's. All of these holidays require a lot of work, though, especially on the part of mothers and wives, it seems. Work that no doubt can be fun, but is work nonetheless. For example, Christmas cards are a wonderful thing, especially from old friends, but putting them together takes some time and not an insignificant amount of effort. Ditto on holiday dinners and parties. Fun, but time consuming and often frenetic.

I haven't yet figured out a sure-fire way to get through the holidays completely stress-free. In fact, I'm pretty sure holidays and relaxation are oxymorons. This year, though, as we get into holiday planning season, I have been pleasantly surprised to find our family making some adjustments, conciously or unconsciously, to make the upcoming weeks easier and more enjoyable. Many of them may seem obvious, but I'm a bit of a slow learner when it comes to emotional truisms.

I may not always follow them, but here are my suggested "Rules of Holiday Engagement":

1. Only do more of what you want, instead of what everyone else wants or expects you to do. Exception: Insist that each of your children do something kind for someone outside the family.
2. Enjoy the people who want to be with you, instead of concerning yourself with those who don't.
3. Sometimes less really is more. No one needs 20 of anything (e.g., gifts, desserts, stocking stuffers).
4. You can't please everyone, no matter how hard you try.
5. Always extend the invitation, even if you're not sure the recipient can/will/wants to attend.
6. There's always room for one more at the table; and, inviting guests for dessert is a good idea.
7. The house is never going to be spotless. There is going to be dirt, dust and every now and then a toilet seat up.
8. It's okay to use paper napkins, even though cloth ones are compelling. Forget about paper plates, as they're just not so great.
9. Take lots of pictures, of adults and kids, even if they complain. They'll appreciate them (and so will you) when they're older (point of fact -- Julia recently discovered a picture of my father playing the drums one Christmas morning! Priceless!).
10. You don't HAVE to run the Feaster Five on Thanksgiving morning. Plan on running, and then if it's freezing out or raining or snowing, stay home. Ditto for the Santa Parade. You'll survive missing an event.
11. Be sure to have plenty of wine and coffee on hand. In case a friend stops by unexpectedly, and, more importantly, to ease yourself through the days between Thanksgiving and New Year's.
12. Don't underestimate the power of attending church during the holidays, as this may be the only true peace you find.

Of course, you could also throw these out the window and just solve all your problems by having sex every day for the next 30 days! http://www.local6.com/news/15338180/detail.html
Whatever....

And Now For Something Completely Different

So, here we go. Griping. About my husband, my kids, the weather, Fox News, you name it. Griping. You knew it would come and here it is. It's what comes from spending too much time with my children, I think. Not that I don't LOVE spending time with my children. I do. Sometimes. Like, every now and then when he (for ease of reading, I'll use "he"; doesn't necessarily mean I'm talking about one of my male children) is in a really good mood. Which is, like, once a week.

So, I spent some time yesterday and today with one of my children. (You know the adage: "The more you pay for school, the less they go to school." No school today. An extra long weekend. Yay.) No names. It would totally get him/her, like, totally upset. On our way home from a swim meet -- okay, so that narrows it down to one of 2 children -- which we had to drive an hour to, on a Sunday, at 7:30 a.m., and then sit in 90 degree heat for four hours so he could swim for approximately 6 minutes total (Catch 22; the goal is to spend as little time swimming as possible, and even though it would suit my purpose for him to swim a long time to justify the time spent by me driving and then watching, it is really great for him to swim for only a very short time -- get it?), we struck up a conversation.

So, what do you think of my blog? Actually, now that I am thinking about it I said something like, "You haven't read my blog yet, have you?" A rhetorical question. No answer expected or necessary. Except, he doesn't know this. "No," he answered. "Why not?" I asked (not rhetorically). "Because, you are like sending them to me all the time." "So?" "So? I don't have time to read them." "You don't have ten minutes to read something I've written that I obviously want you to read or I wouldn't have sent it to you?" (Can you tell where this is going????)

I then realize how well he has learned from his father that the best defense is a good offense. Instead of focusing on his inability to find 10 free minutes for My efforts, he says, "Why are you writing a blog anyway? Just so you can write stuff about us and tell everyone what we're doing?" So, as with everything else in life these days, this blog becomes All About Him. In fact, at that point I'm thinking I should have entitled it "All [About] My Children." Then, they definitely would read. (Disclaimer here: I do believe the non-teenagers in the group read the blog rather faithfully; the other teenager reads the posts that have his name in the title, and the ones about puppies.)

You'll have to take my word for it that things progressed rapidly downhill from there. Lots of rhetorical questions and pointed statements. He thinks the blog is stupid, a waste of time, dumb, and, well, that. When I pointed out that he should not judge something he has not even read, and, more importantly that he should have enough respect for me to at least read my emails, he was smart enough to be quiet and not continue to defend/offend.

And, by the way, when asked if he could vote who he'd vote for, he replied quite matter of factly that he'd vote for McCain. Why? Because if Obama were to win, then there would be one party in charge of the Executive AND Legislative branches of governments, thereby compromising the full intent of the Framers of the Constitution to provide for wide-ranging checks and balances throughout our government. Wow. Not bad for someone who thinks it's All About Him. He has no idea that this answer saved him from eternal maternal damnation. It also had the unintended effect of my actually writing the blog All About Him this week. (I'm not worried about revealing our conversation; he never reads this so how will he ever know?!)

So, that's something completely different. Except for this. Tonight we had spaghetti squash for dinner. There was one in the fridge, and Bill put it in the oven with the baked potatoes to cook for dinner. When I ask Bill every now and then if he has read my blog, he answers, "Of course. I don't always read it right away, but eventually." So, tonight, when I looked in the oven at the squash he was cooking, you can imagine my surprise. There it was. Whole. Perfect. Untouched, unhalved, uncut, unseeded. Cooking away. Wow.

Recipe of the Week -- Mini Brownie Cupcakes

When I try new recipes, I'm never quite sure how they will turn out. In this case, I found a keeper, which I know you will all enjoy if you give it a whirl. It doesn't take long at all, and requires only basic, honest ingredients. Julia and her swim team friends certainly loved the cakes. As you can see here, Julia, Elizabeth and Caitlin are living proof that a little chocolate helps you swim much faster! I recently bought a pan that makes 12 mini bundt cakes (for all my Big Fat Greek Wedding friends), and had to find something to fill the molds. This recipe, from www.epicurious.com, which for the uninitiated is comprised of recipes from Gourmet and Bon Appetit magazines, among others, fit the Bill (hah, literally!). You don't have to use a mini bundt pan (what? you don't already have one?); you can use a regular cupcake pan or a mini cupcake pan for small, intense bites of sweet chocolate. Try the recipe and let me know what you think. For the chocolate glaze, I simply melted white chocolate with a little cream and put that on first, then drizzled melted bittersweet chocolate on for effect. Of course, Ethan took it over the top the next day by putting a mini cake in the microwave and then dousing it with Hershey's syrup ("Just like a restaurant...."). Enjoy. You can get to the recipe by clicking on the title above.

A November Night In Chicago

There will be plenty of time for us all to enjoy Obama's victory.

In the meantime, I thought you'd enjoy seeing the pictures taken by our close friend, Leigh Crawford. She and her boyfriend are living in Chicago and took pictures at Grant Park last night. Since so many of us couldn't get to Chicago for the history event, these close up pictures of Leigh enjoying the night will have to suffice. Just click on "A November Night In Chicago" above and it should take you to the pictures. Enjoy!

Some parting words of advice for those who chose not to vote for Obama:

1. Start acting as gracious losers. We've had enough anger and dispute over the course of this election to last a very long time.

2. Start using words like "historic" and "memorable" and "Who would have believed it," and it will be a lot easier to contemplate your loss.

3. Start focusing on all the potential good that may come from an Obama presidency. We have already significantly upped our reputation outside of the United States.

4. Start looking at what experts in the field have to say about Obama. You might start with Charlie Rose's interview of Warren Buffet, who declared it unfathomable that the lady who empties the trash cans in his office pays a higher tax rate than he currently does.

5. After you have done all these things, take a moment to breathe. Things will get better. I'm sure.

RSFFO -- Red Sox Fans For Obama

It's here. Finally, the end is in sight. My home and my marriage have survived two years of campaigning. Hopefully, tomorrow, I will have reason to celebrate. Now, though, I can't shake the feeling of doom and gloom.

Red Sox fans everywhere will appreciate, and sympathize with, my hesitancy to believe in an Obama victory. Like so many longtime Boston supporters, I will never forget that precise moment just before David Ortiz's walk-off RBI at the end of Game Five in the Championship Series leading up to the 2004 World Series. The Yankees had killed the Red Sox in the earlier games, so that the Red Sox then had to win Every game against the Yankees to make it to the World Series. We all knew they could do it, but we had been there so many times before that we were afraid to believe they Would do it. After years of defeat and heartache (point of fact: ALL Red Sox fans remember exactly where they were watching the game when Bill Buckner missed the ball through his legs) we came to expect defeat. Until 2007, when the Red Sox won the World Series for the second time in three years, we were practiced at being unconvinced that the better team would triumph, despite their grit, their integrity, and their superior natural abilities. Watching Big Papi that night, I had to get up from the couch and leave the room several times, afraid to watch.

When the hit finally came and the Red Sox won, Bill and I were jumping and screaming like maniacs. We couldn't believe it. Good had triumphed over evil at last! We finally believed it was possible, that the Yankees were going down, and going down hard. We still weren't sure the Sox would win the World Series, but we felt they had a fighting chance.

That feeling is the same one I have had for the past several days. I am completely unwilling to believe the polls, the pundits, the newspapers, radio or any "knowledgeable source" who claims to have divined the results of today's election. I am not convinced that Obama will win. Truly, I feel I should prepare myself for a Republican victory, if only because I have a gut feeling that Sarah Palin just might pull it off. Which, of course, leaves me terrified.

What I do have faith in is my belief that Barack Obama is destined to make history. And, more importantly, my belief that a huge majority of people throughout the United States, and abroad, believe that this country needs an Obama presidency at this time in our country's history. We need hope. We need change. We need someone we can rely on to reach out to others, in different countries and across the aisle, to put the best and most capable individuals in decision-making roles. When I look at the choices in front of me, I cannot in good conscience even consider voting for Sarah Palin, or for the individual that believes she is capable of leading this country, especially given the issues confronting us as a nation.

Unlike other elections, I will be up late tonight, watching CNN until the victor claims his spoils. I will wake up my children to watch, no matter how late it is and no matter who wins. This is an historic election. It is an election we will tell our children and grandchildren about in years to come. Then, when we have the wisdom and history behind us to better look back at this day, we will (hopefully) be proud of our nation and proud of the choices we made today.

Recipe of the Week: Squash

I have to confess that lately I've become obsessed with one particular food. Squash. Spaghetti squash, to be specific. If you haven't tried it yet, you are Missing Out!!! Trust me. It's delicious. And, it goes with anything and everything. More importantly, you can eat it plain or use it as a base for just about anything -- tomato sauce, cheese, chopped veggies, cheese, sliced steak, cheese. Oh, and did I mention that it tastes just perfect with a pat of butter (the real kind) and a smidgeon of cheese? I've also included a recipe for Butternut Squash Gratin, since I'm always looking for a way to dress up butternut squash and recently found a quick, easy way to accomplish this. Enjoy!

Spaghetti Squash

Cut stem end off of squash and slice in half lengthwise (this is the hardest part of the recipe). Remove seeds, as you would a pumpkin. Place skin side up on a cookie sheet already covered in either greased (or non-stick) aluminum foil or a silpat liner. That's it. Bake at 400 degrees for approx. 20-25 minutes, until the top skins are light brown.

Remove from the oven. Place your hand in an oven mitt and then hold the squash so the fleshy side is up. Take a medium-sized spoon and gently scrape the flesh into a bowl. Voila! Spaghetti that has few carbs and is actually good for you. Put a pat of butter on top and grate some fresh parmesan and you are good to go. Save leftovers for a snack tomorrow.

Butternut Squash Gratin

Peel, halve, and de-seed one butternut squash. I buy it already peeled because peeling it does a crazy thing to my hands (allergic to squash? not sure...). Slice the squash into 1/4-inch semicircles. Place squash into boiling water until fork-tender, approx. 10 minutes. Drain squash. Into a butter baking dish, place one layer of squash. Layer with cheese of your choice -- I've used cheddar, but I'm thinking Fontina would be the Best here -- and another layer of squash. Sprinkle the top with a bit more cheese and then some Panko breadcrumbs. Sprinkle on some salt and freshly grated pepper. Bake for approx. 20 minutes at 350, until cheese is melted and squash is completely cooked. Remove from oven and allow to cool a little while before eating -- squash can get extremely hot.

Let me know if these recipes don't cause you to become obsessed with squash. The least the recipes will do is allow you to think about something besides tomorrow's election!