I am seriously considering getting DSL here. Even using a newer computer with a faster dial-up modem the wait for pages to load is just crazy. I think today's web pages just have so much going on, it puts a big load on the bandwidth. I was just now (started 15 minutes ago) trying to reply to old comments, and it took at least a minute for the page to reload after I submitted the comment, and then the comment part of the pages stopped coming up all together, so I can only do a few replies and then take a break hoping the comments will come back later.

The downside of paying about $15 a month for faster internet is that it's year-round even though we aren't here all year, and no vacation hold available. But I'm listing out other places where I can cut down to make up for it, like cutting down to one Netflix DVD at a time and watching more of their online movies, which the faster internet speed makes possible.

We don't have cable TV, but I could pretend we did and we gave it up for faster internet. In a sense that is the case, because if we get the DSL, I won't feel right about also getting cable. But I could do without either one of them, when it comes down to it. Sacrifice is good for a person's character, right?

I'll bet you thought this post was going to be about Thanksgiving; it is another example of what Steve calls distracted blogging. Like distracted driving, it's a dangerous thing to do.

No, I don't have a turkey roasting in the oven, so needless to say it wasn't soaked in an interesting brine in a 5-gallon pickle bucket in my refrigerator or the garage overnight, and I'm not basting it with butter and white wine. There is no stuffing made with oysters or sausage, and no creamed tiny onions with fresh parsley. No deep-fried brussels sprouts with anchovies. No cranberry sauce, canned or otherwise, and no relish trays. No sweet potatoes with Amaretto and pecans, much less marshmallows, and no mashed potatoes with a few bits of skin left on to show they aren't instant, and no lovely gravy to smother everything in warmth.

There is a frozen pumpkin pie, a gift from the casino, but no clouds of whipped cream delicately flavored with nutmeg and rum to put on it. No pecan pies, apple pies, or cheesecakes.

But that's all okay with me because it sure beats sitting across the table from someone's obnoxious, spoiled grandson, watching him show off by squirting whipped topping into his mouth, like happened last year.

I've got my Buddy the Feeling Better Cat, and Mr. Troutbend and we're watching football all day and eating canned chili con carne with grated cheese and onion on it for dinner and I'm going to make a batch of oatmeal cookies.



We'll have turkey and all the fixings next time we go to the casino buffet - they serve it year-round.