More apartments

Sounds good, but I want a picture: [link]

On the water: [link]

The grounds look nice, but freaky overview picture. [link]

Still like this one: [link]

Take the Burlingame one right now, Lee. The one on Middlefield and Whisman is on the other side of Mountain View. There's a train that goes right through there. I used to ride my bike around there.

On Lost, I love when Hurley goes off on the French lady, because he's totally the voice of the audience.... the mysteries, going along with it, "But now I want some FRIGGIN' ANSWERS" The metanature of it all cracked my shit up. Kisses to David Fury for that much.

Hmm. I don't have anything planned this weekend. I could go up and look.

You SHOULD! Go get the apartment!

OH DUH, I have movers coming on Saturday. Maybe it will still be free next weekend, which would mean it is fate.

Crap. I just got an email from my mother. My 7 year old niece has been diagnosed with scoliosis. She was born with a malformed heart, which is fine now, after two operations, but the doctors have been on the lookout for scoliosis, since kids with her condition have a much higher chance of developing it.

Wait, do I have to stop sending the slightly-porny ~ma to Tomash now? What's our policy on this?

I don't know the policy but I take porny ~ma in all quantities.

Mock grilled cheese sandwich:

2 slices bread, 2 slices plastic cheese (American slices), 1 paper towel.

In popup toaster, toast bread to preferred darkness. While bread is toasting, peel cheese slices. When toast pops, place one slice on paper towel, cover with cheese slices, top with second slice toast. With flat of hand, press sandwich flat, turn, and press other side. Heat in microwave 30 seconds.

Results: Flat toasted sandwich, melty cheese, no added fat from grilling.

We use the microwave daily, for melting butter or making popcorn, heating a sandwich, occasionally heating a single serving of leftovers. We have a cheap but efficient two-slice popup toaster, a blender that sees use occasionally, and a frozen dessert maker that sees seasonal use. The espresso machine lives in the pantry and gets taken out for special occasions. We don't own a coffeemaker, otherwise. We have a sturdy dependable manual can opener. We rarely use the broiler or the oven (the range is electric), but we do a lot of stovetop cooking: braising or pan-grilling salmon steak, pot roast, chili, soups from scratch, beans. I have four cast-iron pans, including a single hamburger size and a deep-walled chicken fryer, all of which we inherited from my great-aunt. We have several specialized knives, which are easier to clean than Cuisinart parts if you don't have a dishwasher. Besides, chopping stuff on a board with a knife is a good stress-reliever, as is kneading dough by hand. We gave away our stand mixer, we don't bake. We have variety of whisks, though. And we've culled our pots and saucepans to one of every useful size. When we put together a multicourse meal, DH cooks and I act as sous-chef and wash everything for re-use as soon as possible, so we haven't felt a lack of multiples.

Oh Lee, I'm so sorry to hear about your niece. I hope it's easily treatable and quickly remedied.