In anticipation of many busy days ahead, I want to write something - anything - for the meanwhile. There is not much to tell at the moment, which is odd, since I feel as though much has happened. Like as not, the feeling is more from the books and movies I've been watching than the actual state of things. Life is decidedly simple.

Tomorrow will be my first day working a good number of hours. That is, I might actually be earning enough to feed myself as well as pay off the creditors. Straight after work on Wednesday, I'll be driving to Long Beach to spend about 24 hours with my parents. I don't think I'll be there in time to serve Thanksgiving dinner to the homeless (they're serving it a night early, then a big breakfast the next morning), but there will be volunteers enough for that. Mom and I will wear our cornacopihats while making pumpkin pie and sneaking tastes of cranberry sauce. Were more people coming, I'd make the cranberry sauce Nick made last year in Edinburgh. It doesn't quite feel a year ago, but so time runs. The dish was incredible. Though I'll not be tasting it this season, I'll copy down the recipe all the same, for any who care to try it:

Nick's Cranberry Sauce
Dissolve 1 cup sugar in 1 cup boiling water. Reduce heat to simmer. Add the following ingredients:
1 (12 oz) package cranberries
1 orange, peeled and pureed
1 apple, peeled and diced
1 pear, peeled and diced
1 cup minced fruit, chopped
1 cup pecans, chopped
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp nutmeg
Simmer for about 30 minutes, until cranberries pop. Cool and serve.

I can assure you, it's better than the stuff in the cans. And I love the stuff in the cans. The little metalic grooves, the slippery way it ejects onto the platter, the silver of the spoon against the burgundy gel...

ah, Thanksgiving!

I'll get back to the desert sometime Thursday night, where Amanda will meet me on her way back from Minnesota. I think she's starting the long drive tomorrow morning. When I return from work on Friday, doubtless weary to the bone but of good cheer, my friend Martin will also appear on my doorstep after a less dramatic but still noteworthy drive from Arizona. I have not seen Martin in a year and a half - on the deck of the Midway. I am debating between putting him to work finishing the porch cover in the backyard (our own private Scottish monument) and actually entertaining him. Maybe he'll be wanting a wee nap as much as I will. :) In short, I will probably be busy till Monday. And since I've just told all I intend to do between now and then, there may not be much more to add when the freedom does come.