Well, Happy thanksgiving! So far on this trip to the King Cabin on Tunk Lake, Maine, whiskey got involved with a (freshly killed) porky pine (leg), the underaged sibling was the first to remind us all of the beauty of actually OPENING the alcohol, and I've already watched three christmas movies on an extremely full belly. . . Details:
Ahhh... I can finally relax. I'm FINISHED all of my client orders and emails that all seemed to come in at once. Time to catch some Z's before heading off to Maine tomorrow morning ("at some point between 2am and 5am" is the ol' man's plan, and being that it's exactly 2:00 right now, I can only hope that our departure time hits closer to 5")...
...3:00am comes way too soon, and From the sound of my Dad's voice I realize (painfully and sleepily) that I've lost that wish. . . You know you're a true King when 5:00am seems like sleeping in).
So, along with one very ill little sister, one very insomniatic Dad, and three VERY excited dogs, I pile into the car (of course forgetting 95% of what I planned on brining). Thank God for determined, lead-heavy footed dads, because I basically slept the entire ride up while he drove, opening my weary eyes only long enough to see about 5 minutes of snow covered trees lining the freeway somewhere around New Hampshire.
We make it to the cabin in excellent time, and after unloading the car, all I want to do is sink into the rocking chair by the huge roaring fire (again, a TRUE King when the fire place is stacked WAY too high. . . I don't think the wood is actually MEANT to reach up INTO the chimney). I DO get that moment, to relax. . . After checking that the dogs are all OK (the boxers are passed out already in front of said fire, and whiskey is happy out in her corner of the house off in the woods - far enough to feel rebelllious and free, yet close enough that I can see her.)
I think to myself a few times over the next half hour "I should probably go check on her, just to really make sure that she's not doing something naughty over there" but alas, that fire is far to appealing to leave, and she IS a DOG, those great outdoors are good for her.
It's only when "grandpa" (dad, Whiskey's, dare I say, favorite man on this earth) comes home, and she still remains contented over in her corner rather than the usual RACING up to be the first to greet him, that I grow wary. So, I make my way towards her, and as I do, she circles around a bit and sits about 10 feet from where she had been, looking at me like "what?! Can't a girl just hang out, ALONE?!"
Oh you tricky little BRAT! I KNEW she was up to something. . . Moments later she proudly makes her way back to the house, and ohhh yes, she came bearing gifts. . . Well, one gift. . . To be more specific, one LEG, a very pokey, very FRESHLY detached porky pine leg.
The following three hours were spent worrying that she'd swallowed a quill, because she wouldn't stop hacking and coughing, and couldn't keep anything down. After calling about 5 vets in the surrounding 2 hour vacinnity (this is Maine, READ: ISOLATED and filled with people who like to close up shop and get home EARLY) I found the one place that's open late, (we're talking past 4pm!) and before I know it, Whisk and I are on our hour long journey to the animal E.R. (how many times will I have to make this trip to the damn ER with this dog? She's worth it, trust me, but MAN have she and I have spent a LOT of bonding hours in doggy-care waiting rooms).
Under anesthesia, the problem is found! Sure enough, dummy swallowed (or tried to) a quill, and it stuck into the back of her tongue/throat. No problems gettin' it out, though, it was all over within about 10 minutes. The biggest ordeal was getting the dog-who-loves-sleeping-more-than-anyone-in-the-world to come OUT of anesthesia. Double the dose of reversal, LOTS of yelling, rubbing and shaking, and 45 minutes later, she came out of it enough to look like a complete tripped out whack job. On our way out, she stumbled into another doped-out dog, and after a minute of ruffin' it up with him, completely passed out in mid bark. Needless to say, she slept like a brick the entire night (as did I, thank God).
The rest of the gang (Momma bear, Yaichy, and Gui-gui) got in late last night after I'd already passed out. . . Apparently I had a conversation with Mom when they came in, however I don't recall it at all.
THANKSGIVING! Gotta love waking up, and immediately preparing the entire day on a meal that you get full on within a matter of 5 minutes. Don't get me wrong, cooking in this family, especially when we all do it together in one kitchen, is a recipe GOOD times. And with chef Carolyn now having some culinary education under her belt, there's even more yummy experiments and additions to be had.
In prep for supper, I got Carolyn's support on my plan to crack open the wine, champagne, and whatever else tasty there was (to drink). With the table set, the only things missing (and MAN were they TERRIBLY missed) were Tamar, Ben, Josh and Kaylee.
Dinner conversation in this family usually consists of things that I probably shouldn't actually admit to or type out on the internet, which is reason #79743 why I love my family so much. Part of our talk over grub tonight, though, involved the explanation to Carolyn of what "background" music is (yes, Carolyn, music CAN be played to compliment an environment, and not be so damn loud and thumping that you can't hear yourself think).
"man, we are so classy" - Carolyn
"why do you say that?" - Me
"We're drinking champaign and listening to BACKGROUND music".
And by the way, this year, my family COMPLETELY broke tradition. I wasn't going to say anything while it was happening, because I was TOTALLY a fan of what was going on. . . But we put on the christmas music (the nutcracker) WHILE we were still eating, rather than waiting to be allowed to turn any on in the house until EVERYONE was finished eating thanksgiving supper. WHEW! Big moves in the King house this year folks! I can see it all now, come christmas time I bet we won't even all wait on the steps around the corner from the family room first thing in the morning, piled up on each other, while dad says "sorry kids, santa didn't come this year. . JUSTTT KIDDING".
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