CABECITA LOCA: THE ACTION OF THANKS

LA TROPA

MENOS YO...LA FOTO ES ASÍ:

SARA, REYES, ROSA, EMILI, JUAN JO, BEA, INMA, BLANCA, ANA MARI.
ONLY ONE OF MY CO-WORKERS CAME (BLANCA) BECAUSE THE OTHER 4 COMMUTE INTO CALATAYUD FROM ZARAGOZA AND IT'S PRETTY HECTIC AT SCHOOL RIGHT BEFORE THE HOLIDAYS.

Thanksgiving in Spain was a success.
Our menu went like this...

APPETIZERS:
homemade pumpkin hummus
roasted brie cheese spread, topped with berries and walnuts
(legit) Indian (pop)corn

LA CENA:
Homemade herb and garlic rolls
Taters of course! Butter bomb infused with roasted garlic
Vegan mushroom/garlic/spiced/onioned/soy/drop of vinagarette gravy
Roasted green beans and corn
Sweet potato casserole (cazuela de boniatos/batatas)
Stuffing (traditional)
Gravy normal
AND A GOLDEN BROWN, ABSOLUTELY THE OPPOSITE OF DRY, WITH NECK AND ESOPHAGUS AND INNARDS INTACT, GOOD ENOUGH TO HAVE ALL THE SPANIARDS SECOND GUESSING THEIR ONE FAITHFUL LOVE TO PORK, LEFTOVERS FOR DAYS, TURKEY.

To Finish Up:
Apple crisp pie (tarta de manzana)
Bizcocho (chocolate and lemon cake, basically)
Sprinklings of candy corn
and my baby: 1 fresh baked Pumpkin Pie + 7ish bite sized mini-morsels. Why would anyone ever buy a pie at the store or use canned pumpkin again? Thank goodness we found nutmeg (nuez moscada) and ginger (jengibre).

The profesoras and one profesor loved the dinner. True to (an Americanized) Spanish custom, we ate hearty food, drank bottle after bottle of wine, topped the evening off with espresso and enjoyed the company of 10 beautifully spirited and unique individuals for six hours, until they basically noticed that we, the three Americans, had indulged our souls with too much comfort food and basically fell asleep at the table. Yes, the Spaniards outlasted the Americans, and at half past one in the morning, they decided we should get some rest.

Leftovers were a plenty, so we had three friends (Óscar, Javi and Jorge) over on Sunday for a second, more informal Thanksgiving dinner. We finally learned how to play with Spanish cards (no 8's or 9's) and yet again, chatted around the table for at least 4 hours. By the way, by HAZ CLICKing on that link, you too can enjoy some local Spanish rap, recorded by Óscar, Jorge and a different Javier, known as Javi 1.

In other news, my 13 year old student ask me today if I have any childrens.

Lastly, we have yet another (it'll never get old saying that) puente (extended holiday weekend) starting Friday, which means no school until next Wednesday. And since I don't work Fridays, only 2 days next week of work, then Christmas vacation begins. Wow, I can't believe I've been here this long. It's happening again, just like in Barcelona... If I've identified this feeling correctly I think it's possible that I may already be feeling nostalgic to have to leave Cala-town. ¡Que triste! Pues, for the puente, the ladies and I are heading down south for some much needed sunshine. ANDALUCÍA!! Tapas galore and por fin, I get to see La Alhambra. We will be meeting Emily's mom in Madrid and taking a road trip to Granada and Málaga. Three American blondies and a spunky brunette driving 6 hours across the country of Spain...I'm already giggling. It is too bad we will be gone this weekend though, because apparently, we are missing out on some excellent cave parties in the nearby town of Paracuellos. We have a few friends from that pueblo and tis tradition for the Constitution holiday that the party relocates from the BIG city of Calatayud to the cave parties in Paracuellos. If I haven't already explained how the region of Aragón geographically functions, it's like this: Aragón is divided in 3 regions. Teruel, Huesca and Zaragoza. If you've asked for my address and wondered why the city is: Calatayud, Zaragoza, and not Calatayud, Aragón, well now you know. We are the 2nd biggest city in the Zaragoza region. So each region basically has 2 big cities, and there are hundreds of small pueblos surrounding us, most without high schools or any school at all.. Thus, all the kids bus in for school and for weekend parties. And (this one's for my family clan) everyone actually says: My pueblo.

Also, in one week from Saturday, I will be en route to Geneva, Switzerland, where I will be spending 2 days solo, then meeting with Adam and cruising to the Alps in the south of France for a few days. Did I just say that? Well yes, it's true. My life is incredible and I'm going to put in 200 percent effort at school that way I feel like I deserve this amazing break. So Geneva to France, France to Barcelona, Barcelona to northern Portugal, Portugal to Madrid to Cala, then to finish things up, Madrid for LA NOCHE VIEJA. My second New Years in this lovely country. ¡Que suerte!

Enjoy these foticos por favor. We'll talk soon.
Kephart......................................................out.

WE FAILED TO REMOVE THE NECK AND THROAT OF THE TURKEY. THAT WOULD HAVE REQUIRED US BREAKING THE SPINE AND PUTTING OUR HANDS IN THE BLOODY SEMI-HOLLOWED OUT GUT. A STRAW FOR AIR!

I'D SAY SOMETHING INAPPROPRIATE BUT GRANNY READS THIS. WHEN I ORDERED THE TURKEY, I ASKED THE BUTCHER HOW IT WILL LOOK WHEN I PICK IT UP. HE SAID, AND I QUOTE, "TÚ NO SUFRES" MEANING HE'LL CLEAN IT OUT, I WON'T SUFFER ANYTHING. WELL, SINCE HE DIDN'T EVEN PLUCK ALL THE FEATHERS OUT, YOU COULD IMAGINE SOME OF THE OTHER THINGS HE DID LEAVE INSIDE.

¡QUE FEA! AND I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT THE TURKEY..

PREPPING!

13 POUND TURKEY SUCCESS.

THIS IS MY BABY. ALTHOUGH, I MUST ADMIT, IT TOOK 1.5 ATTEMPTS TO GET IT RIGHT. AS IT TURNS OUT, HOMEMADE CRUST IS ALSO BETTER THAN STORE BOUGHT... IMAGINE!