Tina Turner aka Living Legend

As if Thanksgiving dinner and all its excess wasn't enough, Les Girls had the privilege of experiencing Tina Turner in all her fabulousness, truly a theatratical, spectacular and inspiring performance. At 69 years old (!!!), she absolutely killed it.

Countdown to Thanksgiving, part 2

Getting down to the wire now. The refrigerator is bursting. There's still room for the turkey but not much else.

Thanksgiving is a time when I really feel the presence of my mom. She's hasn't been around for almost 14 years and she ceded Thanksgiving to me at least 5 years before she died. The transfer was signified by her giving me the special hand painted turkey platter and very specific instructions on how to roast the bird to be placed on it--breast side down, massaged with obscene amounts of butter, draped with butter soaked cheesecloth and obsessively basted every 20-30 minutes with, you guessed it, more butter. Every year, I've considered experimenting with different cooking methods--high temperature, tenting with foil, special glazes, etc.--but every year, that turkey gets cooked exactly how she taught me.

My mom, she really did know best.

Countdown to Thanksgiving

What a balabusta am I!!

This year my preparation for Thanksgiving has reached new levels of efficiency. It's Monday and with three days to go...

Gravy: in the refrigerator
Cranberry relish (two different kinds): in the refrigerator
Apricot chutney: in the refrigerator
Applesauce: in the freezer
Onion confit: in the freezer

To me, Thanksgiving is all about the sides. And this year, thanks to the active participation in planning, shopping and cooking of Ms. Sweet Pea, we will have a dazzling and seasonal array of side dishes, some tried and true but others that will be new to the table. My goal is to make sure that everyone--vegetarians, lusty trenchermen and quirky eaters alike--will have a surfeit of delicious choices Thursday night.

Me and Madonna

Sleeping in an oxygen chamber, schmearing myself with special unguents, eating nothing but nuts and seeds and weird concoctions, working out 4 hours a day--hey if that's what it takes to look like Madonna, I'm almost there.

Last night, Liz and I watched in awe--from fabulous seats just a yard from the stage--as the 50 year old icon showed off her dance moves and her incredible body for two straight hours. In a word, the show was stupendous.

If you want to see us freaking out along with the rest of the audience click here.

Celebrating Jeelu

Something wonderful happened this weekend. Five women--two mothers and three daughters and all friends--spent four days together at Blackberry Farm in eastern Tennessee. During the day, we roamed around the property or snuggled in front of the fire in our luxurious farm house. At night, we enjoyed incredible dinners--think grits with white truffle and lots and lots of cream. But mostly we celebrated the very special and talented and loving Ms. Jeelu Billimoria. Here is my tribute to this wonderful, wonderful woman that I love so much.

TO MY SISTER…

We all know Jeelu. She’s a fantastically talented producer with a shelf of Emmys to prove it; a doting and supportive mother to Sanaya and Asha; a devoted and caring daughter who calls her mother in India every day; a patient, loyal and loving wife to Elliot.

But I know her as a very special friend and surrogate sister. Someone who took off my clothes and put me to bed when I had one too many and never chastised me the next morning about my behavior. Someone my daughter could turn to when she needed help in a crisis when I was far away. And, most significantly, the other half of “couple number one” who is always ready to dance until the music stops and the lights go on.

You know you are really good friends with someone when the “getting to know you” part of your relationship is lost in history. I’ve known Jeelu for over 30 years now but somehow it seems like we’ve always been constant and close companions despite the fact that we haven’t even lived in the same city for some 25 years. We’ve traveled together, mourned together, raised our children together, analysed our husbands together. There’s not much we haven’t done together…except work out, I guess. Although I do remember doing yoga on the roof together in Greece. Maybe there’s hope yet we’ll hit the gym together at some point.

To me, Jeelu epitomizes character, courage and commitment. She left her family and home at age 19 and voyaged half way across the world to a foreign country. Could any of us imagine taking such a giant step at that age? She faced up to the challenge of breast cancer with tremendous fortitude and then used her experience to help so many others through her ongoing TV specials. Her parents, her children, her mate, her friends have all benefited from her wisdom, her love and her ferocious powers of organization. She is truly someone who takes pleasure in caring for others.

For some years now we’ve called each other sister but we’ve never experienced sibling rivalry. We don’t have to share a room, fight over clothes or vie for our parents’ attention. We can laugh together, sometimes cry together and always just enjoy each other’s company. My sister, my friend, let’s promise to keep on dancing for many years to come.

All my love,
Ellen

Diagnosis: PES

I am suffering from Post Election Syndrome. What are the symptoms? A constant urge to surf the internet for news about President-Elect Obama, the country's awesome new First Lady, Michelle, and those two absolutely adorable children, Malia and Sasha. This is a habit that will be hard to quit. Of course, I want to know who's going be in Obama's cabinet. And sure, I'm following the debate on how big the stimulus package should be. And yes, I want to find out if Al Franken beats Norm Coleman. But what I really want to know is where are the girls going to school...what's Michelle going to wear to the inauguration... and other such matters of great national interest.

OBAMAOBAMAOBAMA

Two days after and I am still euphoric. Now can we get Bush to take early retirement? I mean how much more damage can he do before January 20th.

In the meantime, thanks to DJ Abby Klein for sending me this amazing image.


Pass it on.

Yes We Did!

Trite but true: Words cannot express the joy, the amazement, the happiness and, above all, the relief I feel today.

Barack Hussein Obama will be the next President of the United States of America.

We watched the returns come in, hardly believing what we were seeing but when the fairy tale ended with the wicked old ogre banished from the kingdom and the handsome young prince smiling in triumph, we ran out onto Broad Street and cheered and cried and felt proud to be a witness to this incredible story.

Happy Birthday, Moses!

Well, here we are in Utah to celebrate Mo's 21st birthday!!!

I can see snow on the top of the mountains that ring the view from Mo's house but no trace of a Barack/Biden lawn sign or poster in Ogden, the Salt Lake City suburb where Mo lives. Steve and I, of course, are proudly wearing our buttons. Must show the colors even in enemy country.

This afternoon, we went to lunch at "The Cheese Steak Deli." (I think I need to send the very nice lady behind the counter to Pat's for a training session. She was way too pleasant and the place was definitely too clean.) And tonight we're having the birthday dinner at some chuckwagon. Slim pickings here in Ogden for a vegetarian.

Mo loved all his presents so far (pics to follow in a later post)--mostly sports related items picked out by his dad, of course.

We're home tomorrow in time to cast our votes for Barack Obama and then watch the returns on TV. Do you think that when Barack is officially declared the next president of the United States--I can't wait to hear those words!--that people will run out onto Broad Street and start celebrating? I mean what's more important, winning the World Series or saving the country?