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Tuesday, November 20, 2007
T.I. to “host” Thanksgiving for needy
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Atlanta rapper-actor T.I. and his Grand Hustle K.I.N.G. Foundation are hosting Thanksgiving dinner for the needy Thursday.
But by “host”, we gather the press release announcing this effort meant, “financed.” T.I., as you may recall, is on bond and restricted to his lakefront Jonesboro home, after authorities said he illegally tried to buy machine guns and silencers last month. His charitable ways continue, however, with the dinner at his Club Crucial (2517 Donald Lee Hollowell Pkwy) from 6 to 9 p.m. . Plus, his label rep says he is donating 400 turkeys to the Atlanta Parks & Recreation Center, to distribute to Atlanta families.
And “T.I. has and continues to reach out to celebrity friends to help raise $150,000 for the Hosea Williams Feed the Hungry Thanksgiving Day Dinner Event.”
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You shouldn’t have!
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Have you ever dated someone who gave you a gift that left you speechless? Not the good kind of speechless! When it comes to dating and relationships, things can certainly get prickly when it comes to buying gifts. Different stages in a relationship can dictate various levels of gift giving. You wouldn’t buy a person you are casually dating the same thing you would buy someone you have been madly in love with for years, right?
So, with the holidays rapidly approaching, let’s help each other with a few tips to guide couples in gift giving:
Blind date gone great: you are shocked you hit it off so well. Great chemistry and conversation but you know precious little about them. Do NOTHING. Put in a phone call and let them know you are thinking of them. If you must buy something, make it fun and campy, play up your sense of humor.
New guy or girl: You just met Labor Day weekend, but they are already occupying a lot of your time, attention, and maybe even your place. Be careful, you don’t want your gift to send the wrong message: No lingerie, big ticket gifts, or jewelry. Best bets: new cd or itunes gift card, cool hat, or book - hopefully you know their taste in these already.
My shmoopy. That’s right, you guys are at the nauseating pet name stage! I totally love this stage of dating, You are all euphoric and silly. You have established exclusivity by now so the gifts can show you are in it for the long haul. A pet you co-own, a trip somewhere fantastic in the future, concert or sporting event tickets. At this point, a special, well-thought out gift that proves you really know the person would go over well. Try to recall things that they are hardcore about, hopefully you listened!
Ball and chain. Just because you are married or have been together since the first Bush was in office, doesn’t mean you have stopped dating! Gifts at this particular stage should be romantic, sentimental, and meaningful. Gifts can range from things like sexy lingerie or something naughty to spice things up in the bedroom, to jewelry or electronics they have raved about. You have about 5 weeks, good luck!
Do you have any tips to add to the list?
Do you think that some gifts can be relationship/romance killers? Have you ever received a gift that was well-intentioned but turned you off instead? How did you handle it?
What was the best gift you have given someone? How did they react?
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Hold the turkey, please! Non-traditional meals
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
What? No turkey and dressing for Thanksgiving dinner?
Not in my grandmother’s kitchen.
Nothing but the big bird would grace our holiday table, even though most of it would eventually be thrown out. We weren’t huge turkey fans, but that’s just how Thanksgiving was done.
I was nearly carved up once for suggesting lasagna instead of turkey.
We had prime rib one year, but Mr. Gobbler still lurked near the mac and cheese.
Ribs, salmon and Tofurky (think tofu here) have found their way onto holiday tables. Metro resident Ces Alberto said her children don’t like the taste of turkey so she opts for traditional foods like pancit, a noodle dish, from her native Philippines.
Have you ever had a non-traditional Thanksgiving dinner? What did you serve? Were you nearly trussed?
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Holiday Turkey Mythbust
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
For years, turkey has been blamed for the notorious “after dinner snooze.” This supposively came from the knowledge of experts that state that the high amounts of tryptophan (an amino acid) increases the amount of serotonin produced in the brain. (I did my research and I can’t find who the “experts” are). By the way, serotonin is a hormone that helps you feel relaxed.
Well, whoever the experts were, they didn’t do a good job on their hypothesis. It is now known, that the amounts of tryptophan in Turkey is not high enough to make you go to sleep. This is unless, of course, you eat nothing but turkey on an empty stomach and in high amounts.
If you haven’t figured it out by now, you can blame the sluggishness on the high amounts of carbohydrates, simply stuffing yourself, and alcohol. I guess there is no better reason. Have fun this Thankgiving.
Don’t forget to check out some of my Holiday Eating Tips from last week.
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How many dinners will you eat?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Over the river and through the woods, to grandmother’s house we go.
Then it’s back into the minivan, and hit the road again to grandfather and his second wife, and her children, for another big dinner.
Or maybe you’re a young married couple, and you have one Thanksgiving with the wife’s family and one Thanksgiving with the husband’s.
Does this sound like your Thanksgiving? Do blended families or modern living arrangements have you eating two Thanksgiving dinners? How about more than two?
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Any luck with office potlucks?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Sure, Hank’s a great accountant but do you really want to eat his chicken casserole?
Do you cringe when your cubicle mate, who always has cat hair on her clothes, offers you a slice of homemade pumpkin pie?
Yes, it’s that time of year again: Time for the office potluck.
Holiday potlucks have become a workplace staple around Thanksgiving and Christmas.
How do you survive office potlucks?
Do you have a co-worker who forgets to bring anything but always shows up with an appetite and Tupperware? Or do you have a stingy co-worker who only brings a small bag of chips but eats enough for two?
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Who’s sleeping in your bed?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
It can be a year-round dilemma, but one that’s especially pronounced during the holiday season: Your visiting family will be staying with you for a few nights, but you don’t have much guest bedroom space in your cozy little two-bedroom, one-bath.
Or, maybe you’ve got a 6,000 square foot, five- bedroom manse, but your extended family will more than take up that space.
So, here’s the question: Do you give up your own master bedroom and let some of your guests sleep there?
For some people, giving up their bedroom for a guest is a symbol of selflessness and graciousness. For others, giving up their master bedroom for a guest is invasive at the very least.
Where do you stand?
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