Group Effort

It is over. I'm sorry for missing last week, but the planning and pre-planning for this Thanksgiving was way over the mark.

This was my first attempt at a real turkey -- not some turkey roll or turkey breast. Why an actual bird this year? Families from both sides of the aisle were planning to attend, including my parents and Kim's father.

Now before you think it was some Hallmark moment with 20 people and 6 more at the kids' table, it was a much smaller affair than that. My immediate family consists of my mom and dad and one younger brother. Kim's nearby family is her dad and her younger brother.

Be that as it may, the pressure was on.

I decided since I was going to be adventurous, it was time to really go all out. I decided to smoke my turkey.

When I planned this, the temperatures were in the 60s and being outside with the grill didn't seem like a bad idea. However when Thanksgiving rolled around, snow was still present on the deck and the wind was biting.

My biggest fear -- okay, second biggest fear -- came true though. Things were getting done at different times and warming concerns became the focus of the meal.

All the good chefs use assistants -- or soux chefs. I had two that really helped me out with slicing and mixing and dealing with things I missed/didn't have time for/didn't want to deal with.

Smells and sounds drifted out into the living room and those who weren't cooking would make their way through the kitchen to observe, comment, taste and move on. At one point, I stopped and wedged myself into a corner to take it all in.

The holidays have always been about togetherness and making a meal -- this meal -- gave us all the chance to talk, laugh, argue and just be with one another. In a way, it is sad that it doesn't happen more often, but distance, schedules and plans have a nasty habit of getting in the way.

I hope all of you had the chance to spend the holidays with someone important or someone you just wanted to share the day with. It doesn't matter if your portion of the day is to sit, watch football and eat -- it matters that you were there when it all happened.

Being together.

Now, somebody tell me what to do with this turkey carcass? Mom won't let me throw it away.

And holy guacamole, could the shopping season get started any sooner? My friends at Starbucks have been decorated for Christmas since mid-November, but they at least refrained from holiday music. Now that we are past Turkey Day, I guess it starts in earnest. Let the elbowing begin.

"This song is called "Alice's Restaurant." It's about Alice, and the restaurant, but "Alice's Restaurant" is not the name of the restaurant, that's just the name of the song. That's why I call the song "Alice's Restaurant."" -- Arlo Guthrie

Touch 'em all with me, whether you agree with me or criticize me. I like the way you think! Tell me your opinion. Add a comment below and tell me what you think or write to me if you want to join the ever-growing e-mail list to have my column delivered right to your inbox.

Just Call Me Reverse Radio Shack

Time to play Q&A. Just some random musings I've had this past week.

1. Which would you rather do: eat anything you want and never gain a pound, but you have to sleep at least 12 hours a day OR sleep only 4 hours a day and feel fully refreshed, but immediately gain 25 pounds.


2. Would you classify politics as reactionary or visionary? And do you like it that way?


3. Is it still art even if you don't like it?


4. If groups want to ban video games for creating violence, why don't they want to ban automobiles for creating accidents?


5. Am I immature or childlike?


6. Which is more important: getting Christmas shopping done or exercising?


7. Is it that thought that REALLY counts?


8. What if the hokey pokey is REALLY what it is all about?


9. Can animals be evil?


10. Is it possible to watch the news and not think they aren't slanting it?

Ah, the musings of a madman. Now it is your turn.

Click on the comments link below and give me your answers -- or ask questions of your own. But I'm really interested to see what you think.

"I find your lack of faith -- disturbing" -- Darth Vader

Touch 'em all with me, whether you agree with me or criticize me. I like the way you think! Tell me your opinion. Add a comment below and tell me what you think or write to me if you want to join the ever-growing e-mail list to have my column delivered right to your inbox.

Reset The Alarm

I've been playing adult hockey for a couple of years now. And I still can't get into the swing of rest/non-rest times.

Games are held at 9:45 p.m., last a couple of hours and are really fun. By the time I get out of all the gear and pads, it is 11:15 p.m. We then talk about different issues

I get out of the rink and head for home around midnight. On a normal day, I'm up around 4 a.m. to head to work (and my keyboard), so 4 hours of sleep isn't so bad.
Or so I thought.

After a while, the four hours of planned sleep became 2 1/2 to 3 hours of actual sleep because I didn't account for the adrenaline rush and general excitement. I figured that would improve -- it didn't.

I knew I was in trouble when the word I hate to be called came out of my wife's mouth -- "grouchy" -- and so sleep has become a priority. And I'm not alone in my lack of drowsiness.

Difficulty falling or staying asleep is a common problem. About half of Americans report sleep difficulty at least occasionally, according to National Sleep Foundation surveys. These woes - called insomnia by doctors - have far-reaching effects: a negative impact on concentration, productivity and mood.

Researchers have found that people with chronic insomnia are more likely than others to develop several kinds of psychiatric problems, and are also likely to make greater use of healthcare services, according to the NSP. People suffering from sleep apnea are likely to have higher blood pressure while they sleep and suffer from excessive daytime sleepiness.

And I was just worried about being grouchy.

In the NSF survey, those who said they had trouble getting enough sleep reported a greater difficulty concentrating, accomplishing required tasks and handling minor irritations. Overall, sleep loss has been found to impair the ability to perform tasks involving memory, learning, and logical reasoning. This may contribute to mistakes or unfulfilled potential at school or on the job and strained relationships at home. In fact, sleeplessness has been found to be a significant predictor of absenteeism.

Forewarned is forearmed, or so it has been said. Now that I know, I'm making changes. I don't think so much after a game (I was usually replaying portions in my mind on the way home) and I make sure I get some sleep before the game. I cut back on caffeine and try to keep to a normal schedule as much as possible.

Shakespeare in Hamlet's soliloquy: "To sleep: perchance to dream: ay, there's the rub; / For in that sleep of death what dreams may come, / When we have shuffled off this mortal coil, / Must give us pause." I am not prepared to sleep the "final sleep" anytime soon, because I still dream. (Not some dumb jock after all, eh Amy?) However, it does give me pause (as opposed to my cats, which give me paws).

So, how do I know how much sleep I truly need? The NSF says if you have trouble staying alert during boring or monotonous situations when fatigue is often "unmasked" you probably aren't getting enough good-quality sleep.

Hockey rocks and I'm going to give everything I can. I want my teammates to be able to count on me as their captain and the games. But I know other people count on me too and I'm going to get my rest so everyone can count on me for anything.

And I can stop being grouchy! Maybe.

"I'm so tired/I haven't slept a wink/I'm so tired/My mind is on the blink" -- The Beatles.