Week 15: doin the NaNoWriMo/and the holidays are here

Alright, it's true... You caught me.  I took some time off from the blog...  If you care, I am SO sorry.  It's been a bit of a crazy busy November.  First off, I started my new job on November 1 and it's been a whirlwind of adjustment.  The program is awesome, we actually make a difference in people's lives by finding them housing when they have no where else to turn.  I have worked with what can unfortunately only be called "the poor" for over six years now and I have often said it, and firmly believe, that the first step to change is providing stability in the form of a safe, clean place to live (along with a steady source of sustenance of course).

As if starting a new job weren't enough to have on my plate, I decided to participate in NaNoWriMo this year.  Basically, it's a challenge to write a novel during the month of November.  This is perhaps the main thing that has held me back from writing on the blog.  For the past 26+ nights, I have spent at least two to three hours (sometimes as much as five or six) at the computer plugging away on the novel.  I just haven't had much energy or inspiration to write for the blog.  Now that I am nearly done (I have 43k words when they require at least 50k to finish), I guess I have a little more space in my brain to think about my blog.

And now, well, you want to know what has been going on in our lives?  Thanksgiving and the holidays of course!  I have had the fortune to spend many holidays in Hawaii over the last 12 years and it's a great place to be.  They are already decorating the entire town with massive Christmas displays which we can't wait to take LK to see.  The Christmas parade should be coming soon during a weekend in early December.  And we had a great Thanksgiving!  Having cooked turkeys for many years now, I have perfected my gravy recipe, and this year was better than ever. 

This year, grandpa, the Big Kahuna, bought a flavor injector.  I used it to inject chicken stock under the turkey's skin and it made a huge difference in moisture.  I could not have asked for a better turkey.

Well, Christmas is here, so I will be blogging about our Hawaii Christmas activities.  Hope you enjoy, and have a great holiday where ever you are!