What are YOU making for dinner?

As the traditional day of eating way too much is rapidly approaching, I am beginning to panic. I haven't made a Thanksgiving dinner since 1996. The minor meal in 2004 doesn't really count because a tiny breast and a baked potato is not a "Thanksgiving Dinner." {Scully--I guess the Canadian pilgrims didn't need any extra help from the Indians to survive the winter months. Seeing how Canada doesn't do Thanksgiving, I suppose the Canadian pilgrims were better at hunting beaver than the American pilgrims.) Usually, I stick to the philosophy that I make only one thing for dinner--Reservations. In the past, I either traveled to my sister's home for Thanksgiving or attended the Holiday Buffet at the local hotel and/or cafeteria.

My older sister has been preparing the traditional meal for many, may years: pretty much ever since Mom decided we would have hotdogs. My sister was having none of the Weenie Roast and skipped off to the grocery store for a turkey. The result of mom's decision: my sister cooks.

This year, my sister, her family and my mother are coming to my house for Thanksgiving. I suppose they are all curious about what I'm going to serve. I suspect they are taking bets on what I shall present to them. It's no secret that I make pretty food. I'm best at Frankenstein Cups and Witch's Bubbling Brew, eyeballs and brain jello, vertebrae roll-ups and finger sandwiches. Yep, Halloween type foods, not typical, autumn, family gathering foods.

I suppose I can heat up a can of corn and open a can of cranberry sauce. Even so, my family is bringing food to my house. My brother-in-law is bringing bread and my niece is bringing the pie. I wonder, does apple pie go with burritos? I make a mean burrito. I can also make the Juevos Rancheros. But that doesn't quite say "Thanksgiving", does it?

So, I'll accept my task and broil a turkey, fry up some corn, roast a green bean caserole, and bake up some mashed potatoes. It'll be good.

The Bell Ain't Done Rang Yet.

Is it any wonder why American students perform so poorly on academic tests? Yesterday, while earning my paycheck as a substitute teacher for 8th grade math, I actually heard the above sentence spoken to me. I began taking attendence and one girl graciously informed me that I shouldn't because, THE BELL AIN'T DONE RANG YET. This was a student in the 8th grade. What makes it even more appauling is that English is her first language. Now, I could forgive the poor grammar had she been a foreign student having been exposed to English as maybe her second or third language, but she was a native speaker! How horrible is that?

Later the same day, I actually heard a member of the faculty say, "I growed up with these kids." An educator actually uttered growed and used it in a sentence. It's not even a word! Frankly, if faculty can't speak English, how can the students be expected to speak properly?
GROWED.

I would really like to see a community where folks have a command of the spoken and written word. I'm sorry that our society condones celebrities who can't speak a coherent sentence nor write one. I'm disgusted with the whole eubonics approach to literacy.

I don't be nothing. I ain't no sick mess, aw'right. I don't want to be axing no pacific questions to none of them inbred igits. Aw'ight. My peeps don't be needing to be trippin' like dat. Peace out. Word. Oh, no you din't just go there. I sho nuff did. Don't be gittin' all like dat. Aw'ight.

This isn't an issue of race. It is simply an issue of education. These examples of unacceptable English are spoken by both whites and blacks. I have heard white faculty members slaughter English grammar. I have heard both white and black students speak horribly. Sometimes, the written submissions are not even legible. The chicken scratch that passes for penmanship is pitiful and that doesn't even take into consideration the "hooked on phonics" spelling. Granted, I am not the best speller, but I know that "my techr is nis," is a poor display of middle school academic performance.