That sounds delicioso, do you have a recipe? I have saffron.

I was planning on just winging it -- basically just taking paella-like ingredients (saffron, shrimp, peas), and making risotto out of them. I use Marcella Hazan's risotto proportions, which I think is 4-6 cups liquid to 1 cup rice, but I'd have to double-check to be sure.

Jess, do you use reggiano in the risotto, or do you like a softer edged cheese with the saffron?

We too had Prosecco last night - entirely due to Deb's influence.

Now we're sitting around in flumpwear, drinking lattes, watching Lolita on TiVo. We're admiring Peter Sellars' genius, Shelly Winters' unflinching ability to play the most pathetic, needy characters, James Mason's King Perviness (obviously a role model for James Spader) and the proto-goth girl that Clare Quilty dances with at the teen party.

I think we'll go see Bad Education today. Maybe Sideways.

flumpwear

Ooh, me too. I like that word, I should say it often. Flumpwear, flumpwear, flump....done now.

I haven't had enough coffee to be thinking that far ahead. Honestly, I'll probably use whatever I have in the fridge. (Which is probably domestic parmesan, but I haven't looked.)

Good morning, darlings. I hope everyone had good nights. Happy New Year to all.

Also, HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SUSAN!!!

Z & I are slounging in our bathrobes and listening to Stevie Wonder. For breakfast, I'm having the lovely Joseph Schmidt truffles Deb sent me. I'll be breaking out the bubbly for mimosas later, after I work out. The only required thing we have to do is go feed our friend's cat and make sure she's doing okay. It has the potential to be a very good day.

Happy Birthday Susan!!!

I think jelly donuts would have been great, except for the difficulty of getting them onto the string.

Mwah! As I was wearing black, I called a plain donut early on. I didn't fancy the idea of being pulled over at 1 am on New Years Eve covered in white powder.

I'm awake, but only because of the Incredible Shrinking Bladder and my need to rehydrate. I suspect I'm going to crawl back into bed in a few.

I've been awake since 8:30. I suppose I'll get to sleep till noon again someday, when Annabel and her hypothetical future sibling are in college.

Oooooh. I wonder if one could make mimosas with a really good quality prosecco? Which, as it happens, costs about one-seventh what a really good quality champagne costs?

Man, there are Italian vintners who owe me. I have spread the prosecco gospel far and wide, yo.

Also, researching hotel prices in LA/WestHo/Beverly Hills for a four-day road trip, first week of February. I'm thinking either the Beverly Terrace (right where Doheny starts), an odd little very '50's motor hotel with tiny rooms and incredibly comfortable beds, or else the Valadon, which has a special going.

Next book my agent sells, we're going to the Bellagio for four nights and then to LA for three, and we're going to stay somewhere really frellin' luxe. Maybe the Mondrian...

Right now, though, cheaper is good. And I don't have to pay hotel parking, thanks to my trusty blue placard, which allows us to park on the street without limits.