Gronklies! And YAY TOTO! What marvelous news, vw!

Oddly, even though I only got to hang out with him for maybe 20 minutes, tops, I really miss Toto. He's just so ridiculously personable.

Homeowning: teh ugh. Although, weirdly, when I check Realtor.com, it looks like SF is actually more affordable (or anyhow less suicidally unaffordable) than Berkeley/Albany -- rents are considerably cheaper in the East Bay, but buying a home is deeply craxy. A quick search in SF turned up close to a dozen 3 br/2 ba condos, some modernish and some in Victorians, all in acceptable neighborhoods, most looking at least reasonably maintained and non-disastrous, for $379-500K. And probably another 2 dozen under $750K (which is crazy, I know, but a good 2-300K lower than anything you could find in SF during the worst of the housing madness).

Berkeley/Albany? 18 listings *total,* the lowest $750K and I can't even remember any of the other asking prices because they gave me hysterical giggles.

ION, bt's Wally reports and updates on the AS situation make me so very happy.

ICompletelyON, the highlight of my weekend was going over to meet up with a near-stranger yesterday for a ride to Faire workshops, and discovering that (a) she's just a thoroughly cool individual, and (b) her corner grocery store has a huge British food section. Dark chocolate digestive biscuits! Two different brands of clotted cream! Big bottles of rum and brandy sauce! Treacle pudding! Just about every single English candy bar you can think of!

They also have spotted dick in a can, which is rather less appetizing but much more startling.

Yay, vw!

Cats are not for stacking! (IOW, y'all went and reminded me of that game, and now I have to keep telling myself how bad my carpal tunnel got last time I was addicted to it.)

I have to keep telling myself how bad my carpal tunnel got last time I was addicted to it.

Susan, step awaaaaaaaay from the cat-stacking.

Dark chocolate digestive biscuits!

Ooooooh. Yum.

Yay for vw and Toto!

Ooooooh. Yum.

Seconding.

This points to one of the (few) concerns I had with using online dating sites. I want a relationship, but my romantic side also wants a love story, not just a transaction analysis. I want to be able to tell my children how their mother and I met and fell in love. I want something that makes our story unique. The experience of scrolling through a list of women like it's a menu still doesn't sit entirely comfortably with me. Efficient, yes, but not a love story.

Yeah, but it's still not like ordering Chinese food -- the woman has to like you back, and you have to work things out after that like any other couple. I think personals can certainly make it easier, but it's still not without romance.

I'm so glad to hear that Toto doesn't have Cushings. I hope they figure out what he does have soon!

Good news, vw! Yea, Toto!

JZ's housing costs numbers made me cry, despite the fact that they are no surprise to me. I suspect those listings in SF are low so as to start the bidding wars. That's what the realtors were doing in Berkeley/Albany for the past year to start a frenzy -- things would go for 100-250K over the asking price every time. Things are now selling for much closer to the asking prices.

I have an evil eye infection. Since the students are here, (another reason to cry), I'm going to make them all call me Professor Moody.

Gronklies.

Em is sick. Fever was up to 102, but it's been consistently down since Saturday night. Her and I are home today and I haven't had more than 3 hours sleep at a stretch in 36+ hours. I'm exhausted.

aw, Aimee. Hope Em gets better soon and that you are able to get some sleep.

Thanks Nora.

Know what else? $$ sucks. It's hateful.

Aww, poor Em, and poor Aimee!

Good Toto, though.

But poor little Em!

Oh, yum! Plei, could you send me the recipe, or even better, could we include it in the cookbook? I’ve been looking for a good peach or mango salsa. Peach mango would be a double treat!

What is this recipe of which you speak? Actually, I'll try writing it down here, so I don't forget what I did. Though it will be less than accurate, as I tend to make salsas and such to taste.

2 mangos
2 ripe peaches
1 jalapeno pepper
1 red bell pepper
1/2 medium or one small sweet onion, chopped fine
2 tsp sea salt
2 tbsp lime juice
1/2 cup fresh cilantro, chopped fine. (Substitute fresh basil if cilantro-avoidant)

In a large bowl, mix salt, onion, and lime juice and let stand while prepping the remaining ingredients. Chop mangos and peaches into small chunks, add to bowl and stir well. Seed and mince jalapeno, add to bowl and stir well. Seed and chop red bell pepper, add to bowl and stir well. Add cilantro or basil and stir well. For best taste, allow to sit for at least one half hour before serving.