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<p><span style="color: #ff0000;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><strong>♦ Please see the end of this post for a very special Late Bloomer Invitation!  ♦</strong></span></span></p>

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<p>I used to think that being single on Thanksgiving sucked. </p>

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<p>Oh, how times have changed! </p>

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<p><span style="color: #800080;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><strong>Here are the advantages of a single girl's T-Day:</strong></span></span></p>

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<ul>
	<li>You get to spend it with people whom you <em>want </em>to spend time with, rather than people whom you are <em>obligated</em> to spend time with</li>
	<li>As much as I love kids, I prefer peace and quiet during a feast</li>
	<li>I am also a fan of adult discussions about music, art, and culture. </li>
	<li>Discussions that quickly fall into the gutter are equally as fun</li>
	<li>NO DRAMA</li>
	<li>Copious amounts of wine </li>
	<li>Eclectic iTunes playlists</li>
	<li>NO DRAMA</li>
	<li>Lots of laughter amongst good friends</li>
	<li>Plenty of leftovers</li>
	<li>NO DRAMA </li>
</ul>

<p>Kimeee and I have been spending Thanksgiving together since 2002.  Some gathering have been large, some have been small, some have included boyfriends, a few even included a fiancé (Kimeee's), and a couple have included our friend, Mark. </p>

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<p>This year we invited Laney into our inner circle.  A former wine rep, Laney knows wine and brought plenty of it.  Boy, did we <span style="text-decoration: line-through;">get lit</span> enjoy ourselves! </p>

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<p>Laney also presented me with the most deliciously lovely book which doubles as a fantastic future blog idea!  Hurrah! </p>

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<p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #800080;"><strong>The book:  <em>The Elixir of Life.</em></strong></span></span></p>

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<p>She had me at the title.  How perfect!   How apropos!  How Laney to pick something so perfectly apropos for moi!  xo</p>

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<p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #800080;"><strong>The book's tagline:  finding love and joy in the <span style="color: #ff0000;">passionate</span> pursuit of food. </strong></span></span></p>

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<p>Well, well, well.  Was Laney thinking of the <a href="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2010/11/27/day-60-3-yes-3-when-harry-met-sally-moments-during-1-dinner/" target="_blank"><strong>3 When Harry Met Sally "moments"</strong> </a>that I experienced at El Chorro the night before?  Hmmm?</p>

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<p>The book's mojo:  author Lisa Dahl travels to Tuscany, Italy, to celebrate the elixirs of the olive and the vine, and the elixir of inspiration that underlies her decades of Italian- and Mediterranean-influenced cuisine. </p>

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<p><span style="color: #ff0000;"><span style="font-size: large;"><strong>The book jacket goes on to describe Dahl's "lusty cooking". </strong></span></span></p>

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<p>Oh, yeah. </p>

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<p>AND...coinkidink of coinkidinks...Ms. Dahl resides in my fair state!!!  In magical Sedona, which I just so happened to introduce you to on <a href="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2010/10/22/day-25-sedona-woo-woo-and-other-adventures/"><strong>Day 25!</strong></a></p>

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<p>So here's my plan, peeps: </p>

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<p><span style="color: #ff0000;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><strong>In early 2011, when we are all whining about our post-holiday blues (or perhaps even Valentine's Schmalentine's Day), we are all diving into food porn together.  </strong></span></span></p>

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<p>We are going to be soooooo <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1135503/" target="_blank"><em><strong>Julie &amp; Julia</strong></em>,</a> and we're going to have a blast!  </p>

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<p>For one week, we are going to cook a different recipe(s) every night from Lisa Dahl's lusty book.  Yes, that's right.  We will all cook the recipes together in our perspective kitchens and then blog/comment about our experiences throughout the week. </p>

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<p>If you want to live vicariously through us and simply stalk us on the blog, that's fine, too.  Lusty stuff always involves creepy peeping Toms and Tinas.  Just kidding!  Of course, you are welcome to just follow along and let us entertain you.  Or maybe you will be so inspired and filled with lust that you MUST cook one of the recipes or your life cannot go on.  Now THAT would make for a great comment section! </p>

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<p>At the end of all of this cooking/living vicariously/lustfulness, I will travel to the enchanting Sedona, Arizona (twist my arm) to dine at one of Lisa Dahl's fine culinary establishments, Cucina Rustica or Dahl &amp; Di Luca. </p>

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<p><span style="color: #800080;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><strong>Now here's the outrageously fun part:  I am inviting all fellow Late Bloomers and Late Bloomer Wannabees to join me in Sedona for a Lusty Feast!  </strong></span></span></p>

<p><span style="color: #800080;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><strong> </strong></span></span> </p>

<p><span style="color: #800080;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><strong>Hell -- even the token male readers are invited!  If you are hot, we even <em>encourage </em>you to attend!</strong></span></span></p>

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<p>I am so excited about this that I don't know how I'm going to sleep tonight. </p>

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<p>Details to follow as the weeks pass. </p>

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<p>Until then, Buon Giorno!<br class="spacer_" /></p>