Thanksgiving this year was full of friends and cooking at home. I’m going to NYC this weekend so I stayed home for Thanksgiving this year and invited friends to spend their Thanksgiving with me. Or at least stop by my house after they celebrated with their family. Angela and I cooked a bit on Wednesday night and then a little bit more on Thursday morning before she went to her family’s gathering and I took a nap before the big dinner.

I discovered a new-to-me cooking blog, The Pioneer Woman, and used a few of her recipes, including the turkey brine, turkey roast, and the butternut squash puree. I have to say, the turkey this year was one of my best turnouts. Here’s the proof:

The butternut squash puree was absolutely delicious and I think I’ll make it again at Christmas time for my family.

Of course we had dressing, green bean casserole, sweet potato casserole, mashed potatoes, gravy (Angela gets all the props on that one), salad, bread, desserts…and more! About 8 people actually ate dinner with me, and then a few others stopped by after their family gatherings. Overall it was a great dinner!

I cannot promise this will make complete sense. There are HUGE thoughts wrapped in these few sentences, so take from it what you will.

Over the years, I’ve come to the realization/belief that things don’t happen TO people, things happen BECAUSE of people. Good times, bad times, etc., are only defined as such by the people who lived them. Basically, an experience is what you make of it. It sounds like an easy concept, and one to which many people subscribe, but yet I still hear people say all the time, “Why is this happening to me?” or “How could that have happened to you?”. It might just be the way we communicate concern or care, but I think it is destructive.

As an extreme example, my father’s passing isn’t something that happened TO me. My father died an unexpected death and I was his daughter. As his daughter, my life was affected greatly. Did it help shape me? Sure. But, I wouldn’t go as far as to say it “changed” my life. How could I possibly know it changed a life I hadn’t lived yet? It WAS and IS my life. It didn’t happen TO me. I am the woman I am today because of the choices (good and bad) that I’ve made in response to that life event.

In essence, I guess I’m saying that we should take responsibility and/or credit for the things that happen in our lives. Again, it is easier said then done, but even though we live in a world where everyone is interconnected, we are all still our own self. And the way one person processes/rationalizes something is unique to that person. So you cannot expect others to process or rationalize things the same way. I’m talking to myself now, you see. :) Although the above thoughts are ones I strongly believe, I also understand they are just the way _I_ have chosen to interpret this life I’m living. So I must also not judge/criticize others who hold different beliefs.

My weekend in Atlanta was a whirlwind of excitement and we had a great time. The audition went well, but I didn’t walk away with an answer, which usually means it’s time to move on. I’m really proud of what I presented to the judges and casting agents, so that’s all I can do! It was very valuable experience and I’m very glad I went through with it.

But now it’s time to get back to work!

My last post was about going white water rafting and, boy, was that fun! I took the front seat along with Kristin and we steered that raft like pros. I even “rode the bull” over two of the rapids, which means I straddled the front of the raft and held on for dear life as the rest of the crew maneuvered us down the river. The water was cold, the guide was a hoot, and the overall trip resulted in two new friends from Atlanta. Here’s a good shot:

And we get to see those friends this weekend cause Kristin, Tom, Angela and I are heading to Atlanta for my audition for FOX’s MasterChef Season 3. I’ve been hosting tasting dinners over the past few weeks and think I have my audition dish ready to whip up for the casting team. You can see pictures on my Kamikaze Chef site: http://www.thekamikazechef.com.  I’m extremely excited about this opportunity (I even have a “Jump the the front of the line” pass) and I can’t wait to get in there. This could be a life changing weekend for me. I’ve been so fortunate to have a great job for 8 years, but I can’t help but think I’ve missed out on a real passion of mine. If this could help turn that passion into a lifestyle, I would just be beside myself. Wish me luck!