A Fly on the Wall
Viewing comments for Chapter 15 "On Thanksgiving Traditions "A journal musings and assessments about situations
31 total reviews
Comment from juliaSjames
Oh what a writer you are, Rachelle. The contrast between fantasy and reality increased the entertainment quotient of the story to the nth degree ( or some such math formula)
Loved the entrails section. You don't know what you're missing. :-))
Blessings Julia
reply by the author on 08-Jul-2019
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Oh what a writer you are, Rachelle. The contrast between fantasy and reality increased the entertainment quotient of the story to the nth degree ( or some such math formula)
Loved the entrails section. You don't know what you're missing. :-))
Blessings Julia
Comment Written 08-Jul-2019
reply by the author on 08-Jul-2019
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I'm okay with that, Julia. Plus, it's probably better for my marriage. You wouldn't want us having to fight each other for those treasures right before a holiday!
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There's a dish called feijoada in Brazil ... but I'll say no more ...
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I just looked it up. Lots of pig products! Pork, bacon, ham hocks. SoI bet it smells scrumptious while it's roasting!
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Aha! There's much more in the authentic dish ...
My sons, my daughter in law and my grandkids are vegetarian. The little ones refer to me and my husband as "meat eaters" - spoken with disdain
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Oh geez!!! That's brutal!
Comment from doggymad1
Thank you for sharing your fantasy versus reality. Personally I am with you in Hawaii.
Obviously we don't do Thanksgiving here, but it differs only slightly from Christmas. Elbow deep in stuffing and potato peels. And just to console you, my hubby eats the organs too - bleagh
hugs
Freda
reply by the author on 08-Jul-2019
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Thank you for sharing your fantasy versus reality. Personally I am with you in Hawaii.
Obviously we don't do Thanksgiving here, but it differs only slightly from Christmas. Elbow deep in stuffing and potato peels. And just to console you, my hubby eats the organs too - bleagh
hugs
Freda
Comment Written 08-Jul-2019
reply by the author on 08-Jul-2019
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Men! They can be so weird.
Comment from Sandra Stoner-Mitchell
LOL, isn't that life? We should be able to live our dreams, how much nicer our lives would be, (if the dreams are nice, of course) I'll go with yours, it fits me perfectly. :)) Your reality is too much like mine as well, Lol. Well done, my dear over-worked friend. :)) Sandra xx
reply by the author on 08-Jul-2019
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LOL, isn't that life? We should be able to live our dreams, how much nicer our lives would be, (if the dreams are nice, of course) I'll go with yours, it fits me perfectly. :)) Your reality is too much like mine as well, Lol. Well done, my dear over-worked friend. :)) Sandra xx
Comment Written 08-Jul-2019
reply by the author on 08-Jul-2019
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Sandra, I'm Jewish. A day without suffering means I really just did not try hard enough!!
Thanks for the fun review. xo
Comment from A. Willow Bends
Have you ever considered doing stand-up comedy? This is so cute, showing the perspective of both yourself (our REAL truth about the Thanksgiving prep!) and that your husband and his family. It is as if you were speaking this aloud and I honest to God, could hear a live audience relating and applauding. Great job!
Wendy
reply by the author on 08-Jul-2019
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Have you ever considered doing stand-up comedy? This is so cute, showing the perspective of both yourself (our REAL truth about the Thanksgiving prep!) and that your husband and his family. It is as if you were speaking this aloud and I honest to God, could hear a live audience relating and applauding. Great job!
Wendy
Comment Written 08-Jul-2019
reply by the author on 08-Jul-2019
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Maybe I'll do stand-up comedy next! (But you have to sit in the front row for moral support for me!) Awesome review. Thank you. xo
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O.K., I can talk Keven into taking me to your comedy debut. He has the same quirky sense of humor that you do. I think it's a date! And if it turns out you are really awful, we are nice people and will NOT allow people to throw things at you! Just sayin'
Wendy
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So, you'll only be my fans, but my bodyguards/human shields as well??! Now THAT's friendship! You've got a deal! xo
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Sure and trust me, I could use a vacation.
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You definitely do!!! xo
Comment from James W. Reynolds
Well done. Your fantasy overlaps mine - and probably many readers'. But this is a funny though probably all too realistic take on Thanksgiving. The descriptions are vivid - such "tiny little packages of organs." More importantly, it is a humorous snapshot of marriage (or any long-term relationship) built on compromise.
reply by the author on 08-Jul-2019
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Well done. Your fantasy overlaps mine - and probably many readers'. But this is a funny though probably all too realistic take on Thanksgiving. The descriptions are vivid - such "tiny little packages of organs." More importantly, it is a humorous snapshot of marriage (or any long-term relationship) built on compromise.
Comment Written 08-Jul-2019
reply by the author on 08-Jul-2019
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Definitely that! In fact, I think you've hit on why it's so hard for people to remain married these days: compromise is a lost art form. Today's idea is compromise is: I get what I want, and you have to just simply suck it up. Sorry/not sorry.
Thank you for you (obviously thought-provoking!) review. xo
Comment from Michele Harber
Oh my goodness. As one who has hosted Thanksgiving for both sides of the family, even at times when they were barely on speaking terms, I can definitely commiserate. Like you, I do all the cooking myself. My husband thinks I'm crazy - and I'm not inclined to argue. Luckily - for his sake - he's never tried to suggest that the holiday is relaxing. If he did, I'd go one step farther than you and duct tape various of his body parts together. Luckily, it hasn't come to that - yet.
As always, your writing is very humorous, and you have the Seinfeldian way of making the ordinary funny and enjoyable. Your "The Reality" section tells just the right amount, not too much or too little, but just what you need to get the information across and set up your "punchlines."
Of course it wouldn't be me if I didn't proof. In the first line, "renown" should be "renowned." I've heard many people say it as you did so, even though "renowned" is the grammatically correct word, I actually looked up a few sources to see if "world-renown" was acceptable in the current vernacular, but each source said "world-renowned."
The next point is picayune, and one that most people wouldn't notice, but I'm a stickler for proper usage of commas. When you say, "We are being waited on hand and foot, plied with nothing but the best food and drink, and no matter what I ingest, I don't gain an ounce," you should put the comma between "and" and "no," making "no matter what I ingest" a parenthetical phrase. The way to know if you've properly placed your commas is if you can lift out the parenthetical phrase and be left with a complete, grammatically correct sentence. In this case, if you take out "no matter what I ingest," you're left with "We are being waited on hand and foot, plied with nothing but the best food and drink, and I don't gain an ounce.
In the first sentence of the reality section, I'd suggest you add the word "but" before "I am also up to my elbows ... ." It's not that the way you have it is grammatically incorrect, per se, but that, when you precede that phrase with the words, "I am not only sporting a frizzy ponytail," you set up the expectation of a "not this but that" scenario.
When you make your (a) and (b) references later in the paragraph, the corresponding verbs should begin with lowercase letters, as they're still part of the same sentence.
Your next two paragraphs are perfect: informative, funny and, in the case of the first of the two, very definitely hunger-inducing. I think I put on 10 lbs. just reading the paragraph.
reply by the author on 08-Jul-2019
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Oh my goodness. As one who has hosted Thanksgiving for both sides of the family, even at times when they were barely on speaking terms, I can definitely commiserate. Like you, I do all the cooking myself. My husband thinks I'm crazy - and I'm not inclined to argue. Luckily - for his sake - he's never tried to suggest that the holiday is relaxing. If he did, I'd go one step farther than you and duct tape various of his body parts together. Luckily, it hasn't come to that - yet.
As always, your writing is very humorous, and you have the Seinfeldian way of making the ordinary funny and enjoyable. Your "The Reality" section tells just the right amount, not too much or too little, but just what you need to get the information across and set up your "punchlines."
Of course it wouldn't be me if I didn't proof. In the first line, "renown" should be "renowned." I've heard many people say it as you did so, even though "renowned" is the grammatically correct word, I actually looked up a few sources to see if "world-renown" was acceptable in the current vernacular, but each source said "world-renowned."
The next point is picayune, and one that most people wouldn't notice, but I'm a stickler for proper usage of commas. When you say, "We are being waited on hand and foot, plied with nothing but the best food and drink, and no matter what I ingest, I don't gain an ounce," you should put the comma between "and" and "no," making "no matter what I ingest" a parenthetical phrase. The way to know if you've properly placed your commas is if you can lift out the parenthetical phrase and be left with a complete, grammatically correct sentence. In this case, if you take out "no matter what I ingest," you're left with "We are being waited on hand and foot, plied with nothing but the best food and drink, and I don't gain an ounce.
In the first sentence of the reality section, I'd suggest you add the word "but" before "I am also up to my elbows ... ." It's not that the way you have it is grammatically incorrect, per se, but that, when you precede that phrase with the words, "I am not only sporting a frizzy ponytail," you set up the expectation of a "not this but that" scenario.
When you make your (a) and (b) references later in the paragraph, the corresponding verbs should begin with lowercase letters, as they're still part of the same sentence.
Your next two paragraphs are perfect: informative, funny and, in the case of the first of the two, very definitely hunger-inducing. I think I put on 10 lbs. just reading the paragraph.
Comment Written 08-Jul-2019
reply by the author on 08-Jul-2019
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Excellent. Thank you, FSBFF. I'll take care of these. I appreciate not only the corrections, but the reasons why they are necessary. This way, I hear your voice in my head next time I go to place a comma. (I see what you're doing there: saving yourself work in the long run!) xo
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[Hmm, less work, less money ?]
Uh, I really shouldn't be explaining these things to you. That suggests that I assume you don't know them, and that's comprehending - er, condescending, or cofefe or something.
Seriously, I used to give these explanations at work, and all I'd get was complaints that they were on deadline so they only wanted the egregious errors pointed out, and didn't have time for explanations. However, they did run a series of "Lunch and Learn" sessions, where staff members would teach about areas in which they specialized. When they opened the floor to anyone to come up with a course they'd like to teach, I volunteered to teach a course on tricks to avoid some of the more common grammatical and spelling errors (i.e., there, their, they're). To my shock, as I was a lowly secretary (OK, a highly secretary, as I worked for the CEO), they jumped at the idea. Initially, so many people signed up for the course that they had to switch it to a larger conference room but, the nature of PR being what it is, when it came time to teach the course, only eight people could get away from their desks to take it. One of them, however, was the head of HR, and she was so taken with the class that she asked me to teach it to each of the incoming intern classes. That happened once, then the head of HR left her job (whether voluntarily or involuntarily) and no one pursued the idea of the class.
I brought the class up, in the context of your comments, because my friend and coworker, Martha, who also worked for the CEO and sat right near me, would regularly say to me that she figured out the proper way to say things, in letters she was putting together for our boss, by referring back to tricks I'd shown in the class. I don't have to tell you that finding out that something you taught hit home, stuck with a person, and helped them is the most gratifying feeling.
Some of the tricks I taught in my presentation I'd learned in school growing up (I've always loved language, and was very attentive in all language courses, English and otherwise), and some I made up myself based on common sense. (Stop laughing; I do exhibit common sense at least once a week.)
My hard drive died a couple of months ago, and I lost a lot of documents I'm trying to have recovered (including a lot of unposted poetry - I'm so upset and it's all my fault for not backing it up), but I do think I still have a copy of the Power Point presentation I created for the class on a pen drive. If you ever want to see it, I'd be happy to try and find it. Much of it is very basic, and I'm sure you already know most of it, but I was amazed to find out how many college-educated PR professionals, many with advanced degrees, didn't.
Anyway, thanks for being open to this. When I start discussing commas, many people for whom I'm proofing just turn away and tell me to stick to the important things, having no idea of the important role commas play in meaning and inference (at least for that 1% in the know to whom I direct my edits).
Comment from Jerome Goldberg
Absolutely marvelous! You capture the dream and you captured the reality.
It is funny . Could not stop reading and then yearned for more. I, personally, have always loved Thanksgiving because it has no religious or political ties and everybody can pitch in and have a good time. Of course, if i were a Native American, I might have to reconsider my thoughts.
reply by the author on 07-Jul-2019
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Absolutely marvelous! You capture the dream and you captured the reality.
It is funny . Could not stop reading and then yearned for more. I, personally, have always loved Thanksgiving because it has no religious or political ties and everybody can pitch in and have a good time. Of course, if i were a Native American, I might have to reconsider my thoughts.
Comment Written 07-Jul-2019
reply by the author on 07-Jul-2019
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HAHAHAHA. That's hilarious, Jerome. xo
Comment from Phyllis Stewart
Very good little story. I can relate to frizzy hair. LOL! Good idea to serve the turkey the day after you cook it. Much less mess to clean up, for one thing. A hundred friends! LOL! Reality is probably just the family, all bickering over this and that. Typical Thanksgiving!
reply by the author on 07-Jul-2019
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Very good little story. I can relate to frizzy hair. LOL! Good idea to serve the turkey the day after you cook it. Much less mess to clean up, for one thing. A hundred friends! LOL! Reality is probably just the family, all bickering over this and that. Typical Thanksgiving!
Comment Written 07-Jul-2019
reply by the author on 07-Jul-2019
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The other nice thing about cooking on Wednesday is that instead of being in the kitchen, I get to spend the holiday with my guests!! Win/win.
Thanks for you very nice review, Phyllis. xo
Comment from judiverse
I like your contrast between the fantasy and the reality. Fantasize all you want! Preparation for a festive meal takes so much effort. I like to do things ahead of time so I won't be overwhelmed by trying to do it all the same day. I throw the packages or organs out, except if I'm lucky enough to find a liver among the contents, I'll cook it and eat it all by myself. You do deserve to have hubby pay for those Black Friday purchases. Fun reading! judi
reply by the author on 07-Jul-2019
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I like your contrast between the fantasy and the reality. Fantasize all you want! Preparation for a festive meal takes so much effort. I like to do things ahead of time so I won't be overwhelmed by trying to do it all the same day. I throw the packages or organs out, except if I'm lucky enough to find a liver among the contents, I'll cook it and eat it all by myself. You do deserve to have hubby pay for those Black Friday purchases. Fun reading! judi
Comment Written 07-Jul-2019
reply by the author on 07-Jul-2019
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Thank you, Judi; I will certainly tell him you said so!!
This was such a fun review. xo
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You're welcome. You can put it to a vote, and show hubby the results. judi
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GOOD!! IDEA!!! xo
Comment from Carla Trinklein
I love your sense of humor! My husband once brought home jalapeño flavored French fried onions for our Thanksgiving Day green bean casserole. I love French fried onions! I hate jalopenos! No one should ever, ever mess with French fried onions. I'm not sure I've ever quite forgiven him for that...
reply by the author on 07-Jul-2019
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I love your sense of humor! My husband once brought home jalapeño flavored French fried onions for our Thanksgiving Day green bean casserole. I love French fried onions! I hate jalopenos! No one should ever, ever mess with French fried onions. I'm not sure I've ever quite forgiven him for that...
Comment Written 07-Jul-2019
reply by the author on 07-Jul-2019
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Nor do I blame you. That's like chocolate cheesecake. Either of those commodities is wonderful. But they have no business co-mingling.
I love your sense of humor, too. It's our common bond. xo
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Absolutely! No chocolate cheesecake, either. Not only do we share a sense of humor, but we are both food purists. ;)
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Yes, definitely.