Cocktail Hour, Issue No. 19: Water 💦

Happy Friday, y'all!

I hope you had a lovely day yesterday, whether you were celebrating Thanksgiving or spending the time another way.

We had a wonderful evening with friends and way too much food. I swear I cut the menu back, but the still refrigerator looks like it's about to pop.

It really was a group effort. Lovey mastered the turkey this year. It was succulent and amazing. Can definitely co-sign Mark Bittman's spatchcock turkey recipie. We cooked a 14-pound bird in 60 minutes, and both the white and dark meat were tender and juicy!

Meanwhile, The Bestie™ did much of the cooking while I set up the tables and decor. Shana's cocktail game was strong. Her milk punch — which is truly dangerous; it goes down smooth and hides its octane! — and The Tears of a Colonizer were big hits. And the perfect companions to my friend Amilea's dessert extravaganza. She literally came armed with eclairs, spice cake, lemon tarts and chocolate cake! Plus, her husband, Graham, shucked oysters for us.

We're definitely drinking lots of water today.

Hank was the good-est boy, except when he figured out how to open the trash drawer and help himself. June Carter Cat mostly hid, while The Overlord was a true asshat rather than his normal affable dickish self. He kept attacking people's ankles for no good reason. I guess every holiday table needs that guy.

I meant to take lots of photos to share, but somewhere along the way I lost my phone and didn't find it until after midnight. (It was in my apron pocket; would have never found it there without the aid of Find My iPhone. Definitely recommend!)

I'm taking this week off to spend time with The Bestie™ while she's here visiting. We're getting up to some fuckery today that will likely involves cocktails and holiday markets. I'll report back later.

I also have to get ready to leave for Los Angeles on Monday. I'm going to the BTS concert with my great a friend, Joanne, who writes the Open Court newsletter. I typically don't enjoy live music and crowded spaces, but Joanne has convinced me that this will be an experience. Either way, I'm intrigued and a few days in the sun with her will be grand. Again, I shall report back.

Before I go, though, The Bestie™ wanted to tell you about what's on her playlist this week. So here she is:

Now that the turkey has been eaten, it’s time to start blasting the holiday songs. One of my favorites is from the singer-songwriter Paul Kelly, an Australian national treasure. Like many of his best works, “How to Make Gravy” is a short story in a song, about families and memories and life not going quite as planned. And, bonus: It includes an entire, quite good gravy recipe.

Ok, y'all. That's it for me this week. But I hope to have something extra special for you on Tuesday.

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