Dream Job

Sorry in advance to those who are reading this thinking I've landed a new job. Not the case. I don't even know if I want it to be the case. I'm just in dream-mode at the moment, and it feels good. It's been a while since I've been here...

I've been thinking a lot lately about what I'd actually like to do with my life. Unfortunately, I haven't come up with many realistic answers!

I currently work for a small nonprofit, and I have this fear that we won't grow as much as we expect to, and that as a result, I won't get to move up and grow with the company. Stressful, but not earth-shattering, right?

So as a result, I've been thinking about what I WANT to do. I keep dreaming of finding something that allows me to balance my creative side with my desire for structure...but apparently that's not exactly common :)

Mr. P and I have talked before about being food critics. We'd make reservations in my maiden name, and be just about the most unsuspecting customers at any restaurant! Then, we'd publish our commentary under our married name...seems foolproof, right? I know exactly how unassuming we look: young couple, probably not very well off [well, they'd be right about that part]..."crap, they're not even gonna tip us well!" (Little do they know...we probably tip better than most.) Since service means so much to us both, that would be a huge aspect of our critique. But since we both love food, too, that's just as important...hey, isn't that what a food critic is supposed to do? Combine Mr. P's opinions with mine (because no couple completely agrees on everything, and we're both about as stubborn as it gets), add in some of his restaurant expertise and my writing, and I think we've got a plan!

What Mr. P doesn't know yet is that I've decided to expand on this dream. I want to be a food critic and publish my commentary in local papers, etc., but I also want to be a travel critic and be published in national and international publications! I want to travel the world and experience different cultures and places to stay, things to do, etc. I want to get paid to live my dream...and I want to write again...so why not just write about living out my dreams?

(When Mr. P reads this, it wouldn't surprise me if he adds art critic to expand his list.)

I guess what I'm asking is this: who wants to fund my dreams?
Better yet: who's got inside job-landing connections to Frommer's, Fodor's or Conde Nast?

Turkey Day!

Technically, this isn't a food blog. It isn't an anything blog, except mine. BUT, in honor of the greatest gorge-fest of the year, a little note about Turkey Day.

While I'm not really sure I want to "give thanks" for taking over land that belonged to Native Americans and celebrating settlement in America, I'll certainly celebrate big, funny-looking, barely-flying birds...thus, Turkey Day. (I honestly can't remember the last time I used "Thanksgiving" to describe the day.)

My water aerobics class (wow, when did I become an old woman?) last night was spent working out and talking about Turkey Day...can we say cruel and unusual? Everyone talked about their favorites. My friend Beckie chose cranberry sauce, and our instructor actually asked, "the homemade kind or the kind with ridges?" I have to laugh, because the ridged kind is definitely the canned kind, and I prefer it :)

For the past couple of years, Mom has handed over the bird-duties to Mr. P, who has a thorough (albeit somewhat overly-meticulous) bird-cooking process. It starts the Wednesday before Turkey Day (which would be tonight), when he creates a brine for the bird. Then throw in some aromatics - apples, onions, celery, some other stuff (possibly apple cider?) - and soak overnight. On Thursday (the Day of the Turkey), the bird bakes :) I've never had a piece of turkey smell AND taste quite as good. Apparently, neither has Mom, because she's more than happy to let Mr. P continue the process, involved as it may be.

And while the turkey is amazing, it truly doesn't take much to get me going. I'm really a stuffing kind of girl. The basic kind. Mmm, mouth-watering! But I'm also the one who likes the cranberry sauce with ridges ;)

It'll be a small affair this year, just Mom, Dad, Mr. P, and me. I miss the days of the entire family getting together at Bam's place in Indianapolis, but it is nice to not be rushed by travel. Mr. P and I really wanted to get to Memphis or Indy this year, but unfortunately, he's stuck working Black Friday. So it's here in St. Louis for Turkey Day. Hope it's a great one for everyone!