I’m starting to think that the word November was created as a compressed version of the phrase “nothing very exciting to remember”. (cymbal crash). I say this because it is becoming apparent as I look over the few pre-Thanksgiving Novembers’ activities that the most exciting thing to take place in any of them is a few game nights, hanging out with girls, and my Grandpa Murphy’s birthday. Other than that, movie and television viewing seemed to be the rule of thumb.
Of course, history has a way of repeating itself, so I have found that much of November 2009 has been painfully dull. The weekdays saw me mostly watching movies and TV shows (The Andy Griffith Show is nearing the end – and I finally got the final season of Wings checked off my list). I even actually went out and saw a couple of films at the theatre, which I hadn’t done since March. I saw Paranormal Activity with Jamie on Saturday, November 14, and Zombieland with Heidi on Tuesday, November 17.
Of course, since the Bengals are doing pretty well this season, I have been more into football, spending most of my Sundays glued to the games. (They actually beat last years Super Bowl winners the Steelers in both games this year). In fact, the first full weekend of the month, I only left the house once on Saturday the 7th to visit and frolic at Marshall’s at Cross Point. Wednesday the 11th saw me home sick for a day, having left early on Tuesday – feeling as though my head and other parts were going to explode. I felt better once I did, and hopefully will continue to throughout the winter.
On Friday the 13th, I took up another habit that has proven to be quite fun. I went over to fellow Krogerites Kristy and Sly’s house to play cards following their housewarming party. I had always refused to learn or play euchre, but once they taught me Spades, which a variation of the game, I quite enjoyed it. I ended up staying there until nearly 3am, chatting with them and Jamie.
The next day, I went with Christi to Bob’s shop to check out a dent on her car and we came back home and watched Pineapple Express. Dad came over that evening for a visit and we watched some episodes of Ozzie and Harriet. Gosh, I love that Ozzie. Then I was off to see Paranormal Activity that night.
I suppose the biggest event of the pre-Thanksgiving month was the gathering at Marion’s to celebrate Grandpa Murphy’s 86th birthday on November 15 – which was actually the date of his natal anniversary. I enjoyed the pizza, chips, and root beer – in addition to the birthday cupcakes and brownies. In attendance were: Grandpa, Diana & Tom, Debby & Mike and Bradley and Tori, Mom & Bob, me, Bev & Ed, Susan & Charles and Sammy and Charley, Chris & Sarah and Livi (making her first appearance at a family gathering), Jim & Jan and Eric, Darlene, and Jacob & Lauren.
Mike oversees Debby as she tallies up the Marions money
Ed puts on his ‘holding the new granddaughter’ face
Close-up of Baby Livi – making her first public family appearance. Stay tuned as we watch her as her grow before the website readers’ eyes…
The Gelms: Charles, Charley, Susan, and Sammy
Tori didn’t like pepperoni so Mom put it on a plate for Little Brad and I to share. It quickly became a speed contest at this little guy shoveled in the entire plate in 47 seconds.
Baby Tori and her pepperoni-free pizza
The Murphys and their boxed-up leftovers
Proud new parents Chris and Sarah. Chris had to leave after Marions to drive back to North Carolina. Quite a commute.
We spared Grandpa from having to blow out 86 candles – and settled for this cupcake array
Successfully extinguished – the candles, that is
The after-lunch game of pass-the-baby begins
Bev proudly looks over her newest grandbaby as Mom makes faces at her and tries to make her cry
My first picture with Livi
Jacob and Lauren. Allyson stood me up.
The birthday boy and me
The attractive new family
Bev and Ed – after 37 great years
On Wednesday the 18th, I met up with my friend Ashleigh Heath at Panera during my lunch hour. She was in town from Raleigh, North Carolina – where she had hosted me for a day this past Summer- for the Thanksgiving holiday.
On Saturday the 21st, I reciprocated by hosting cards at my house for Sly, Kristy, and Jamie. We played Spades again, and I was able to road test my new poker chips when I taught them all the game. All newbies and I still managed to lose to Sly. We ordered in Donatos pizza and had an array of wine and snacks. Good times.
With poker buddy Jamie
As we neared Thanksgiving, Mom had a trial run when she cooked and prepared a great turkey dinner at her house on Sunday the 22nd. Grandpa Murphy joined us and we had a nice lunch with all the standard fixings and sides – even pumpkin pie. We then watch the Colts beat the Ravens and in an extremely disappointing game, the Bengals lost to the Raiders.
Mom and me ready to dig in
Mom, me, and Grandpa enjoy a pre-Thanksgiving meal
And finally on Wednesday the 25th, the day before Thanksgiving, I made my way over to Kristy and Sly’s once again for another evening of poker. Sly and I had some Corona’s before Kristy and Jamie got off work and brought some nice reuben and buffalo dips to soak up the beers. Since it got late after playing poker (and losing to Sly yet again) and then watching Twilight, I crashed in the guest room – and when I woke up, we had moved on to the second holiday in the big three.
Up next: Thanksgiving 2009…
Livi’s a doll!
Dave Chasteen
November 29th, 2009
At least you didn’t have to have kidney stone surgery as some of us did. So I guess November wasn’t a bad month for you.
GREAT PICTURES!
Bev
December 1st, 2009