So we all know what traditional Thanksgiving dinner looks like: turkey, stuffing potatoes, pumpkin pie….but what bout Christmas? We were picking up a ham from Gartner’s last night for Christmas dinner with my husband’s sister and her family, and I mentioned that I didn’t realize for a long time that ham was traditional - we never had it for Christmas growing up. Our meal looked exactly like Thanksgiving - plus decorated sugar cookies.

So what do you have to have to make it seem like Christmas dinner? Or if you’re Jewish do you do any sort of traditional Hanukkah dinner? (Which I’d have to assume would not include ham!)

You know you’re not really doing any work today anyhow…so come on Portland, tell me what yer feasting on this next week!

I have no idea why, but I am obsessed with Anna Bananas on N Lombard. I actually make an effort to go there once a day. I don’t need tea. I have plenty at home. I find the interior a little dark and their beer a tad expensive, but I just have to go there.

I went on Thanksgiving and I’d go on Christmas, but I won’t be here. I’m thinking about getting one of their bumper stickers for my car, even though I am, to my core, opposed to any graphic that reminds me of the Grateful Dead.

But still, it’s where I go and I know I will get writing done. And it’s lucky. I’ve gotten more good news at Anna’s (that’s what we locals call it) than at my own home. I meet people there and overhear great conversations. The owners live down the block and they were really nice when I was said, “no, I really don’t get it. What’s 21X20?” It’s super kid-friendly and just in general, really cool. Except, I swear they were playing Bon Jovi tonight when I was taking that picture. But I can’t really complain because I finished a story and still had plenty of time to stare down the dark, wet strip of N Lombard while getting a little too tipsy on their Terminal Gravity Triple.

Almost two weeks ago, I complained vociferously here about the horrible placement of a new Flexcar parking spot at the NE corner of NE 33rd and US Grant.

I also fired off letters to Sam Adams and his transportation staffer as well, pointing them at that blog post. I didn’t hear anything back via email - but the holidays hit, the kid was out of school (thanks to PPS conferences, he had what he billed as a ‘nine day weekend’) - so I figured I’d pick the torch back up after Thanksgiving.

Today? The parking spot is gone. What’s more, there’s no evidence that it ever existed there (the white outline defining the space is gone, and the sign is down.)

My cynical teenager refuses to believe that I made a difference here. “MooooOOOOMMMM! There’s no way they moved it because one person complained. You’re not that important,” he scoffed.

I beg to differ, oh snarky son of mine…

• An adorable 2-year-old in a pink skating skirt and hearts on her butt doing sit-spins in the middle of the rink.
• One fearless 10 year-old boy who went fast, fell hard and was right back up again.
• An old man in knee pads and a helmet giving his grandson a hand.
• Two 40+ women in yoga pants, long hair and high-end roller blades gliding along like they were actually doing yoga.
• One roller-derby trained mom who knew how to make a graceful ‘landing.’
• A dad in a kilt, a mom with pink hair and their teenager in black.
• Three giggling 14 year-old girls alternately on their cellphones or looking for “the cute boy” when it came time for couples skate.
• Four 30+ women wobbling and laughing around the rink…oh yeah…that would be us.

One of my girl friends is going to a skating party for a friend’s birthday in Atlanta next month, and over Thanksgiving day cocktails was lamenting to us that she hadn’t been on skates in years and wished she could practice before going. Although I haven’t been to a rink in more than a decade, I used to dream of being Olivia Newton-John in Xanadu (that was actually my Halloween costume at age 11) and spent a good portion of my youth on wheels, our other friend had a similar vision as a child - and even spent a bit of time training to be in Roller Derby - so we hopped on the chance to go for a skate. We called in one more childhood roller-girl and hit the rink at Oaks Park Saturday afternoon.

The first lap around the wood was a little frightening - I felt wobbly and my calves began to ache almost instantly taking off across the floor. I actually had to stop after just one lap and step out to stretch. Next time around - just one more lap. I thought I’d lost it. I was in over my head. That the girl who used to skate not just forwards, but backwards, in pirouettes, on one-foot, under the limbo pole, and everywhere was too far gone, too old and out of shape. But the next time I made two laps. Then four. Then The Hokey Pokey. By the time we left about two hours later, I was feeling really good about it. I didn’t try any of my old ‘Xanadu moves’ but I think after another time or two I’d be able to. And my legs definitely felt it later that evening - but in a good way.

I do think that we might have been the only adults there that didn’t have children in tow - but we had a blast and are totally going back. And if you too spent your junior high years chasing boys (or girls) and dreams of roller-skating fame…you should check it out too!

Although a day late, I thought I would make my first post a sort of “thanks” to Portland in the name of Thanksgiving. A quick note before I get started:

My wife, beagles, and I recently (5 months ago) moved to Portland to seek a new life and new adventures. I was born and raised in Oklahoma. I will save the rants on the troubles I have with this state for my upcoming posts. I promise to not make them too painful, but they will provide a nice contrast with this great city of Portland.

So, let me list/explain some things that I am thankful for relating to PDX…
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Okay, do tell. How was Thanksgiving. No, not the answer you tell people in passing. The real answer. Did your Aunt Fanny bring her 20-year-old boy toy whose only relationship to the world revolves around pro-wresting? Did your cousin’s new girlfriend’s stand up in the middle of Thanksgiving and offer a cheer? How many members of your family stopped speaking to each other?

Mine was pretty drama-free, though I did wonder how my brother-in-law avoided his family before text messaging. And further, I’m a little concerned that for the rest of my life, each time I hear that double beep of a text arriving, I’ll go all Pavlovian and start tasting turkey.

Spill it in the comments where you are at once anonymous (if you choose) and among friends.

Oh, and in the interest of being Portland-specific, are those big green things water towers? And for extra points, can you name the location of that particular tower?

A great way to get over that post-Thanksgiving food coma is to get up and dance. One of Portland’s best dance parties is marking its fifth anniversary at the Fez Ballroom on Saturday, November 24. ANDAZ features bhangra and Bollywood music as selected by DJ Anjali and the Incredible Kid.

As part of the anniversary festivities, there will be a bhangra dance lesson at 9:30 PM and a dance performance by a local bhangra dance troupe at midnight.

DJ Anjali and the Incredible Kid were kind enough to answer a few of my questions.
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No, I’m not shamelessly begging to have dinner at your house, with your family. I’ll be making a Thanksgiving dinner tomorrow afternoon with a friend (turkey’s in the refrigerator, all the fixin’s have been procured), and don’t much want to horn in on someone else’s family celebration today. And I’m not bemoaning my ‘alone’ state - I am currently reveling in the peace and quiet at home, and have a nice mix of plans for the rest of the holiday weekend.

But the kids left just a few minute ago to spend the weekend with their father - and suddenly, the thought of having a quiet home-cooked dinner here doesn’t sound as appealing as it once did.

Sure, I could find a Denny’s or Village Inn - but I want something one giant step up from that.

Soooo….where should I go for a nice glass of wine and pleasant meal (turkey not necessary) later today?

Portland Metblogs would like to wish all of Portland and our readers not in Portland a Happy Thanksgiving. Whether you are deep frying your turkey*, making a Turducken, enjoying Tofurkey or a field loaf or grabbing some Chinese, we wish you all the best.

*please be careful and don’t pour the used peanut oil down the sink.

Since my Thanksgiving is a party of one, I tend to wait until the last minute to shop for my special meal. It’s good to know I’m not alone. I stopped by the Concordia New Seasons Market this evening after work and although there were shopping carts available, it was still bustling. One of the busiest aisles seemed to be the bulk foods area with everyone grabbing up spices, nuts, and other ingredients needed to make their family recipes. The produce area was busy as well. I enjoyed the near-empty frozen foods aisle.

Fortunately, there seemed to be fewer “wanderers” as people were going through their list, getting everything they need and heading for the checkout instead of lingering.

To help manage the checkout process, New Seasons had a traffic cop of sorts guiding people into a line by the books and magazines and then waving them on to a checkout line as another customer finished their purchase. I think it was a great idea because it may save people from getting testy if someone were to cut them off.

So while it was very busy, I was still able to get out of the store in about 30 minutes. If you still have shopping to do, I suggest you stop reading this entry and go now.