How to Get Stuffed in Singapore on Thanksgiving

It was looking bleak. A few days before Turkey Day, Claire and I were still asking each other, "What are we gonna do for Thanksgiving?" Neither of us really had an answer.

"Dinner for two, I guess," she'd say.

"Sounds good to me," I'd say.

Pathetic.

But then... an email. One with an invitation from our friends Andrew and Ali, who were planning an epic bash at their pad.

Decision made.

We showed up at 7, stuffed oysters and champagne already going around a crowd of other thirtysomething Americans -- a couple from Tulsa, a guy from Ashville, a girl from Atlanta, at least half a dozen more we'd never met but were quick to make friends with. Ah, the ease of fitting in as an expat. At least for guys. Hear a familiar voice in a foreign country, conversation is cake.

We mingled for what seemed an eternity before finally taking seats at a long, elaborately decorated table. Dinner was served. It started with pumpkin-and-ginger soup and ended with pecan, apple and pumpkin pies. In between, there were yam-stuffed oranges, the fluffiest potatoes I've ever tasted, homemade cranberry sauce and even a Southern staple -- corn pudding, courtesy of that girl from Atlanta.

There was also more wine than you could shake an autumn-scented candlestick at. And port and cigars, to boot. As Billy Bob Thornton's character in Sling Blade would mumble, "Uh-huh."

The night wound down after the "movie quotes" game Andrew instigated in the living room petered out at about 2 a.m.

We won't forget Thanksgiving '09. But, we took a pic anyway. Here's me and Red, a couple glasses down, 'bout ready to dig in:

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