Monday Morning Questions Post: What Are We Doing for Thanksgiving?

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Happy Thanksgiving week!  I get to only work 3 days this week, yaaaaaaaay!  And I have Big Plans for the weekend.  I’ll tell you mine, then you tell me yours!

First, as always, you can ask me any question you want from the personal (“what movies are you watching on Thanskgiving?”) to the specific factual (“why is Thanksgiving the second to last Thursday in November?”) to the general discussion (“moving up the date of Thanksgiving: good or bad decision by Roosevelt?”).

Now, on to the holiday celebration!  I am going to spend the 4 day weekend putting together a kitchen cart, and then taking everything out of my kitchen cupboards, washing it, rearranging it, and putting it all back.  The kind of project that takes longer than a weekend to do, but you also really really don’t want to get stuck stopping in the middle.  Oh, and I am also having dinner with Mom and Dad and Grandpa on Thursday.  And if I finish all my kitchen work, I get to reward myself by putting up all 6 of my Christmas trees.

So, what are you doing?  And aren’t you relieved that Diwali and Thanksgiving aren’t next to each other this year so we don’t have to abandon our families to see the Diwali releases?

 

(also, yes I know that not all of my readers, or even the majority of my readers, celebrate Thanksgiving.  But you can still tell us your weekend plans!  We are all interested!)

45 thoughts on “Monday Morning Questions Post: What Are We Doing for Thanksgiving?”

    • Thank you for asking! I find this topic fascinating!!! My wonderful new apartment is perfect in every way, except that it has no drawers in the kitchen. And therefore no place to keep silverware or wax paper roles or all sorts of things. Also, it has minimal work space. So the cart has a nice big top to work on, a huge wide drawer, and then a cupboard and shelves underneath. And it’s all on wheels so I can move it as needed. And it is only supposed to take 6 hours to put together! They also say I should have a magnifying glass for tne instructions, which is a little nerve wracking.

      On Mon, Nov 20, 2017 at 7:46 AM, dontcallitbollywood wrote:

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        • Yes! I love it when I have something to show for it at the end of the day. And it’s gonna be such a big thing to show for it!

          Also, it’s bright orange! I forgot to mention the color, that’s my favorite part.

          On Mon, Nov 20, 2017 at 8:30 AM, dontcallitbollywood wrote:

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          • I’d love to see a before and after photo! Of both you and the cart, lol. Do you have a friend who is particularly good at helping with those types of projects–either from the practical or moral support side of things?

            I’m a bit sad for the holidays this year because I’ll be missing out on both Thanksgiving and Christmas with my mom and family in Ohio. Both for nice reasons–this Saturday I’m traveling to Cairo to present at a really interesting conference for work, and I’ll be spending Christmas with hubby’s side of the family in Surrey, England. But–this will be the first time in 10+ years that I won’t see my Ohio family for one or the other holiday. 😦

            Thanksgiving and Easter are my favorite holidays because they are about gratitude and celebration–and cooking and eating!–and not about shopping. But I wish the history of Thanksgiving wasn’t tied up in our bloody settler/colonization history. What do you think, is there a way to re-habilitate Thanksgiving in the way that Columbus Day is being changed slowly into Indigenous People’s day?

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          • I do have such friends, but I am pretty sure they are all busy on Thanksgiving. So instead I will have my movie friends to support me, probably crank up a Shahrukh songs DVD to keep me company while I struggle. And I am pretty sure this is going to be one of those “take a shower and change clothes after I finish” kind of projects. I see the possibility of much dust, sweat, and tears. And possibly blood, depending on splinter size.

            In Cairo, mention Amitabh Bachchan. I have been told he is HUGE there. Although Shahrukh is coming up behind him in popularity.

            In England, obviously, they are also both big. Oh, and watch out for muuuuuuurder while in England, I’m about to finish Father Brown and I am convinced that death is lurking around every corner. Especially at Christmas time, what with all the holiday TV specials.

            I feel like Thanksgiving works well as a “thankful for the harvest” festival. The time to think about all the good things we have gathered this year and what we have stored up as we go into the winter months. And, in the more modern timeline, the time to stop and be grateful for what we already have, before the giving/taking fest that is Christmas. It doesn’t have to have a historical background to it, not like Columbus Day, which has the guy’s name right there.

            I also really like that it is an American holiday. No religion, no cultural heritage besides “American”, and it’s not just a consumer fest created by advertisers (like Valentine’s), it’s a real thing with history around it (not the history of the Pilgrims, but the history of families getting together and having turkey for at least a hundred years now) that can welcome you into the American identity.

            On Mon, Nov 20, 2017 at 9:06 AM, dontcallitbollywood wrote:

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          • I had a friend whose parents were Polish and Cuban. So every Thanksgiving, they drew a line down the center of the turkey, and one half was spiced Cuban and yummy, and the other was plain and serious and Polish.

            On Mon, Nov 20, 2017 at 9:40 AM, dontcallitbollywood wrote:

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          • Yep! Apartment cream. But I also have my massive ten foot wall hanging of Veer-Zaara in the kitchen, so it’s more Veer-Zaara colored than anything. But I feel like a bright orange kitchen cart would have really cheered Veer up during his 20 years in jail.

            On Tue, Nov 21, 2017 at 4:59 AM, dontcallitbollywood wrote:

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          • Nothing would have. That was his default face!! And that film was so massive in Pakistan that my Pakistani BFF at the time (a dude) made a new email id called veerzaara!

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  2. Question: How do you find time to put up so many blog posts? I love it but your ability to churn out blog content is jaw-dropping.

    Plans: My son and I have the week off so today we’re going swimming, then to The Last Bookstore which is an amazing treasure trove of books and art. Tomorrow is Universal Studios (god help me). Thanksgiving itself we are going to a restaurant since everyone we know is out of town this year so we are keeping it simple. Will fit in ice skating at some point. It’s going to be a lovely week.

    I watched Talaash last night and I LOVED it. I think it’s my favorite Aamir performance so far, which I wasn’t expecting at all. He’s just so damned good in it and so are Rani and Nawazuddin Siddiqui, who was heartwrenching.

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    • Stay tuned, I have a bunch of posts about my blogging process going up on Wednesday! But generally, I can tell you that I write really really fast. And I am very very organized (a lot of the posts are pre-scheduled, I figure out my week and write a bunch of stuff in advance when I have time). And also, I live alone. Which makes a huge difference.

      Your week sounds really nice! Even Universal Studios.

      Talaash is so so so so good! It possibly my favorite Aamir performance as well. If you haven’t seen it yet, you should check out Ghulam, for the other Aamir-Rani movie, and Sarfarosh, for the other Aamir-cop movie. Both of them are similarly excellent, and really interesting to see Aamir-Rani as a young couple and then as an old married couple in Talaash. And Sarfarosh, Aamir has a similar lowkey attitude to police work. He cares, but he doesn’t get angry about it, which is different for a Hindi film police officer.

      Oh, and the same director co-wrote Luck By Chance, another movie I’ve been bugging you about because of how it gives you a glimpse as to how films are made.

      On Mon, Nov 20, 2017 at 9:10 AM, dontcallitbollywood wrote:

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        • Hmm. I really liked it. It’s by the same director as Bajrangi Bhaijaan, but very different. Salman plays an aging superspy, lots of action sequences. And he falls in love with Katrina Kaif, and they make little jokes about their age difference, so that is nice. But then Sultan was also by that director with Salman, and you didn’t like that. I would say, give it until Katrina is introduced, and then decide if you like it or not.

          If you do like it, the sequel looks to be very similar and is coming out on 12/22, and would be a really really great First Indian Film in Theaters for you. The crowd for a Salman film is always kind of rambunctious. So you should at least try Ek Tha Tiger before then, so you can decide whether or not you want to see Tiger Zinda Hai.

          On Mon, Nov 20, 2017 at 11:14 AM, dontcallitbollywood wrote:

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          • Then no matter what you should watch Ek Tha Tiger. Based on the trailer, there will be a fair number of callbacks. And it will let you know what kind of a movie you are in for.

            On Mon, Nov 20, 2017 at 11:28 AM, dontcallitbollywood wrote:

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          • There seems to be a little misunderstanding here, unless I misread Margaret’s reply above. Ek Tha Tiger was directed by Kabir Khan, as was Bajrangi Bhaijaan. But both Sultan and Tiger Zinda Hai are directed by Ali Abas Zafar.

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  5. We get split up for Thanksgiving, but that’s ok. Our daughter and son-in-law head will be with his family in West Virginia (along with the grandchildren), and our son and his girl friend will be coming to our house. It’s ok, because everybody comes to our place for Christmas. My husband does most of the cooking — I am just doing a side dish (green beans with shallots and lemon) and playing sous chef.

    In between cooking and courses, we will be watching movies. I’ve chosen Baahubali: The Beginning for my LOTR- loving son, and he is bringing something he thinks I will like. I will let you know what it is later this week.

    Most modern holidays are problematic in some way, I think, whether it is a troublesome history or runaway commercialism, I focus on the positive aspects: being with friends and family, cooking and enjoying a meal together. Thanksgiving leftovers are the best!

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    • When I was little, I always felt bad for families that just had “grown-ups” at their holidays, tiny Thanksgiving with just a few people at the table, and Christmas without a bunch of presents and little kids. But now that my family has aged into being all “adults”, I kind of love it! It’s nice to have Thanksgiving as a time for pleasant conversation and relaxed enjoyment, instead of a dozen kids running around and two dozen adults squeezed into the kitchen and all of that. And I feel like I can truly “give Thanks” a little easier if I am spending the day reflecting peacefully instead of trying to make a meaningful connection with a bunch of relatives I hardly ever see, and juggling basting times with peeling potatoes and all of that.

      And Christmas is kind of nice with just grown-ups who all get to open their little presents and then take naps, instead of a pile so big you can’t see the tree and so many gifts you can’t even remember them all. Although, to be fair, my family still does Christmas a bit bigger than others. When we were little, opening the presents took about 6 hours. Now that we are old and mature, it only takes 4.

      On Mon, Nov 20, 2017 at 4:04 PM, dontcallitbollywood wrote:

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  6. I am hosting Thanksgiving for 35. I volunteered because I really really hate the way my mother-in-law cooks turkey — dry as the Sahara! Everyone’s bringing a dish, so really the ginormous turkey and setting up multiple tables is what I’m responsible for. Picked up my college son from Purdue today, and he has to go back Friday to play in the band for the Saturday football game. We’re going to that game — so pray for non-freezing weather for me. Hoping to squeeze in Justice League as a family, because seeing the super hero films together is a family activity for us.

    I’m hoping to catch that new Tamil film with Karthi this week too.

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    • Now I am terrified your mother-in-law is going to somehow find you on this blog and have her heart broken! Let me know if you need me to suddenly edit or delete this comment.

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  7. I feel okay (or even good and relaxed) with both…celebrating with family or celebrating alone/not celebrating at all…I simply adjust to the situation.
    Germans’ celebrating harvest is in early october and a predominent religious thing (on Sunday)…as family-festivities we have Christmas (ecpecially Christmas Eve on 24th) and Eastern – for me always related to celebrate with kids (I can easily skip both if only celebrated with grown-ups).

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    • My Mom to this day doesn’t let us skip Christmas Eve services. Which are nice once we get there, but it’s awfully hard leaving the house in the middle of the night in the cold. But we do the fun stuff, the presents and all, on Christmas morning.

      On Tue, Nov 21, 2017 at 1:38 AM, dontcallitbollywood wrote:

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    • ALWAYS!!! Always while I am asleep!!!!! It’s like they have a secret telescope into my apartment and say “oh oh! She finally went to bed! Quick, do all the exciting things on twitter now!”

      On Tue, Nov 21, 2017 at 7:14 AM, dontcallitbollywood wrote:

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      • Well, they announced it would be released on Nov. 21, so you were really done in by the time difference, rather than any conspiracy. 🙂

        Anyway, here’s the youtube link:

        I don’t care for it much. Maybe I’m the wrong age. 🙂

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  9. Pingback: Tuesday Tamil: Thuppakki, I Finally “Get” Vijay!!!! | dontcallitbollywood

  10. Do you think that Shahrukh will ever retire? Like stop acting for good and just kind of disappear from the entertainment industry? And how do you think you would feel about it?

    I’m asking this because Tony Romo, my favorite football player since I started watching football, retired last season. The day that he announced his retirement, I think I just watched a bunch of highlight videos and cried. Actually I still do end up crying whenever I watch some game clips or read an article even though it’s been 6 months.

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    • I don’t think Shahrukh will retire. Not because he loves the fame, or even loves acting, but because he seems like the kind of person who can’t stop working. Growing up poor, parents dying at a young age, and the way he talks about money and work, it all sounds like the kind of person who works because otherwise he would panic, feel out of control. It will never be enough money or enough security.

      So I will never have to give him up, yaaaaay! Not until he drops dead of a heart attack from working 20 hour days for 30 years. If by some miracle he does actually let himself retire, i think I would be happy. Because retirement is better than death, and not-working could probably add ten years to his life.

      On Tue, Nov 21, 2017 at 11:49 PM, dontcallitbollywood wrote:

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