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I can't decide what I want to do. I had almost convinced myself to go out for Black Friday's sales. But then I didn't find the perfect, fabulous bargain that had my name all over it.

(Unless, of course, you're looking at the GHM! Dept., in which case, everything made by Club Scrap has my name all over it.)

Anyway, I wuz gonna go out for the sales in search of a computer for my very well-behaved and much-deserving son, but I just have not seen the perfect computer at the perfect price. So now I don't have any reason to go out early except to get a turkey breast on sale.

Yep. I'm looking for a proper Thanksgiving dinner. Again.

Ever since my darlin' sister Amy moved to Las Vegas (4 years, 3 months, and 2 weeks ago -- but who's counting?), my Thanksgiving has been totally messed up.

In 2004, Amy came home for Thanksgiving, but I got my schedule all out of whack and we had an absolutely terrible meal in a restaurant. Ugh! I swore, "Never again."

Then in 2005, Amy didn't come home, and I made the whole, huge, gargantuan meal -- without Amy's unparalleled contributions of the world's best broccoli casserole and a honey-baked ham. It was so depressing. I remember sitting on my porch, smoking a cigarette, and bawling my eyes out.

2006 was the first year we went to Louise's house. Louise is my mother-in-law, and she doesn't like me much. Not surprisingly, I don't remember a single thing about that meal. I've searched my email archives and even read my old blog on blogspot. Nothin'. It was apparently a very empty affair, and I made myself a leftovers-and-roasted-chicken pseudo-Thanksgiving meal on the Friday after.

Thanksgiving 2007 was crazy. My MIL didn't behave herself nicely. I was flummoxed. I made marinaded asparagus and everyone worshipped the dish, while they also complained because I hadn't brought the expected green beans & glop dish.

So this year, I was making more than ever -- green beans & glop (do y'all want the recipe? I'll be happy to share), Wesley's famous cornbread and sausage dressing (made with my own two pans of cornbread, yum), my mother's incredibly tasty pecan pie, the store-bought croissants that my MIL wanted, and...

...I went all out this year and made yeast rolls. Mostly I made them for me, and my oldest sister Martha, who loves them. They are, as most yeast breads are, totally complex and worrisome. I've discovered, though, that with practice comes improvement. Every time I make these rolls, they get better and easier to make.

I was quite surprised and gratified when my nephew, who is incredibly cool and fun to be around despite his age (20) and his major (pre-med), declared the rolls "delicious" and demanded a bunch of leftovers. I would have left him more rolls in a baggie, but I really did want my sister Martha to get most of them.

However, Woodrow also loves the rolls. And he helped to make them. So I might be making another batch very soon, even sooner than Christmas.

I think -- while composing this post, I have had time to think -- I think I will forego the big Black Friday sales. Except at the grocery store. I hope they have a turkey breast left in the deli! So I can have a delicious leftovers dinner Friday night in a no-stress, MIL-free locale!

Last thing -- check out my old blog for a picture of my corgi puppy. I still can't post photos here with any ease, and my daughter's laptop needs repairs. It's still under warranty, thank heaven!