I almost never sleep late in the morning but for some reason woke up at 10.30 this morning, sniffling and sneezing, so didn't get to my chaplaincy round. It didn't come to anything, this cold I thought I had, so went shopping at Walmart. Being the day before Thanksgiving the car park was very full, even far out, where the fat people have to go, but there weren't queues at the checkouts, I think people were just browsing the bargains which will be on sale on 'Black Friday', when they start their Christmas shopping.
Been getting the house tidy and in order, as one does before a holiday, even if no one will see it. Kevin kindly invited me to his brother's house though tomorrow, but I think he wants me to be all ready to jump in the car, he said he is coming at 11, but will ring just before he leaves.
He said everyone is bringing something, would I like to take either a green bean casserole or a dessert. Green bean casserole is a southern thing, and a mandatory side dish at Thanksgiving. I love them - they are green beans stirred into a creamy mushroom sauce topped with crispy fried onions (usually bought ready fried and crisp in the supermarket) but I certainly didn't want to make something American. I opted for dessert, and bought a pecan and a pumpkin pie (also mandatory desserts at Thanksgiving) and this evening made some little chocolate orange cakes (I don't know how many are coming but am guessing at quite a crowd) As I haven't iced them yet, this is what they are supposed to look like -
While they were baking I popped a bit of the chocolate in my mouth and it was very bitter. I'd got 100% unsweetened cacao thinking it would give a good chocolaty flavour; the bitterness though wasn't apparent in the cake which was quite nice, and I found some semi-sweet chocolate in the cupboard for the frosting, so they should be alright.
In the news...........
I am sure you have heard about the race riots which have broken out across the nation because a white cop shot an unarmed black teenager who had just robbed a convenience store, and who incidentally was wrestling through the car window for the officer's gun. The black community, and probably the liberals, think the cop should be charged, preferably with murder but at least with manslaughter, and certainly not get off scot free, which is what has happened
The police officer was interviewed on television and my heart goes out to him, he is twenty eight years old and his career is over, he will obviously have to move away to another state, I wish him all the best.
What I also found very heartbreaking yesterday in the dreadful riots and chaos going in the town where it happened, was a young mother who had a little business making cakes, and she was standing in the middle of her looted, destroyed shop with tears running down her face.
This morning though there was good news. A lot of people sent her money to help her get back on her feet, and donations poured in. And she was interviewed today looking very happy and positive. Americans are so generous like that, they do rush to assist anyone in need. When I had a major repair to the car, I never said anything about cost of it, or affording it - I'd rather die - but probably because it is a beat-up old car so I am obviously not affluent, a kind friend in the church asked if I needed help with the repair bill.
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