Hi and Happy Thanksgiving! Wow - going to Maine!!! Here's hoping you don't run into any snow and ice. Edison, NJ is right next to Rahway and is it Kearny you were at? Kearny is where Western Electric is - where Grampa worked lo, those many years ago. It's a pretty rough place.

Well, my pies look beautiful BUT (and it's a big BUT) I think the apples were too dry, the crust on the pecan pie looks too thick, and (Can you believe this?) Scott wanted lemon merangue and there wasn't a package of lemon pie filling in town! I got canned filling - you think I was going to buy lemons, cornstarch, etc. and make my own? Then I read directions for merangue wrong and put in wayyyyyyyyy too much sugar. Oh well. Ellen is coming with her punch bowl this morning and will assemble the pumpkin trifle. I tasted the pumpkin concoction - delicious. Katie and Mark are here already and Fritz is wearing himself out jumping on them and licking faces. He is so cute.

Talked to Shannon yesterday and could hear Jaida in the background saying 'let's go now'! Hope she is not overwhelmed with all the dogs - Sandi, Fritz, Max, and Brutus! Think she's met them all except Brutus. Max seems to be happiest here when he is in the yard - runs around like a gaxelle - leaping in the air and bounding all over the place. He is huge now, but sweet disposition and friendly.

Dad is still asleep as are Katie and Mark. I have to get busy soon and get everything together. I hauled out the crystal, silver and china - all is polished and clean - just need to set the table. Oh yeah, and wrestle the turkey to the sink and get it cleaned and stuffed. At 23 pounds i can hardly lift it - hope i don't have an accident - like dropping it on floor.

Hope you find a nice restaurant to have a Thanksgiving dinner - we'll be thinking about you and missing you too, but Christmas will be here soon enough. BTW, Ellen want's to go shopping tomorrow at some fancy new mall in Richmond (biggest shopping day of year!). Told here NO - all I plan to do tomorrow is eat leftovers and smoke - problably won't even get dressed!

Talk later - drive carefully - luv ya
Mom