Speaking of V-Day hijinks...when I was in high school, all of my friends and I would dump our guys on V-Day and have a "rotic" dinner (romantic without the man). It was always great fun. I kind of miss that tradition, although, I think I'd like to come up with a different name for it.

I just ate a Gardenburger™ Meatless Sweet & Sour "Pork" with Rice.

The fake pork was pretty good. Not quite sold on the point of making non-meat taste like meat, but this was tasty. Plus, it has the virtue of only being 14 grams of carbs per serving.

Actually? It was better than some traditional frozen entrees I've eaten.

This testimonial brought to you by a die-hard meat consumer.

Feeling a little better now that I'm enjoying blessed blissful solitude. But this contest entry is hell--it'd be wrong of me to disclose any details, but suffice it to say it's by far the worst of the five I've been assigned to judge, and is one of the worst things I've ever read. And yet I know there's a human being on the receiving end who loves her story as much as I love mine, so I'm trying to somehow couch this barrage of criticism in a manner that's helpful rather than soul-shredding.

Argh.

Actually? It was better than some traditional frozen entrees I've eaten.

This testimonial brought to you by a die-hard meat consumer.

My Mom and stepdad are vegan, and so I've tried a lot of meat alternatives at their house. And I gotta say, the good people at Gardenburger hit a home run with the Riblets. They are really really REALLY fucking good, and I say that as a committed meat-eater.

I start salivating just thinking about the Riblets. They're Pavlovian.

Oh, as usual, dear:

Mandatory health plans proposed

Bill would require coverage

SACRAMENTO -- Similar to the law requiring drivers to have car insurance, a bill introduced Thursday by a San Fernando Valley lawmaker would force Californians to have private medical coverage or enroll in a government-subsidized plan, if eligible.

[link]

Tep, our local TJ's just started carrying The Riblets, and the last time I was there I bought a package just because of your pimping. Haven't actually tried them yet but I am very excited about the prospect, as ribs are exactly 50% of the meat items I actually really miss.

My friend?(Well, ok, we're like acquaintances that still go back...dang, about twelve years...God, I'm old) Wendy the Crip Yenta has not abandoned her quest to find me a broken young man. I'm torn between "Yay!" and "just kill me now." And also thinking "I can write the end to my Fucked up Romantic Comedy. Maybe." Which CG thought waslike an hilarious idea. Either I've got to stop flattering his ego or he needs to give his writer-sensibility a rest. Or maybe my laughing through pain is too funny. Maybe I should stop.

I start salivating just thinking about the Riblets. They're Pavlovian.

I suspect they put crack in them. (Like the people who make Honey Bunches of Oats -- also crack.)

Tep, our local TJ's just started carrying The Riblets, and the last time I was there I bought a package just because of your pimping.

You will love them. LOVE.

The Riblets are Teh Awesome.