sara, I'll buy you a virtual drink. And the nap is free, too.

I've heard that all that kept some people from walking out is they wanted to be there to support friends who were nominated for the awards.

Yup. Fortunately (she said smugly) two of my friends won Ritas and one won a Golden Heart. Which took all the sting out of the stupidity.

Wolfram, no, chopped cheese is all gritty. You want an actual grater. Hey! A Salad Shooter is finally on-topic!

You know what? Telling/asking someone try not to be too upset? MAKES IT WORSE.

Oh, totally. Annoying!

Wolfram -- I'm pretty sure you can get a grater blade for a food processor, but chopping is not the same as grating IMO.

Who do you know who won?

Is that the same thing?

Sometimes. I know mom has one that also has a grating blade. (Though the mincing blade is really useful with cheese for this canape she makes).

Allyson, is Maya doing Suz Brockmann's next thingy?

Probably. I just got off the phone with Maya. She was there! Not in the audience for that, though. She admonished me for not telling her you were going so she could meet you. I didn't even know she was going.

She said Suz just called her to ask what the hell happened, she missed the awards, too, and was hearing that something terrible occurred. Maya was amused that I knew what had happened before she did. She said she was calling Suz right away with the skinny.

Wolfram, you talking the stuff with whirling blades (like a miniblender), rather that a whirling disk with grater holes? If so, no. I do use the mince & chop gadget for onion and herbs and nuts, but never cheese. That would make a mess. There once was a device called a salad shooter that would slice and grate. I haven't seen them in the stores for ages, but they are awesome for cheese.

Another whine: it is not reassuring when your boss comes into your office with the statement "I don't know how we're going to do this." and then procedes to describe the management retreat coming up in which they brainstorm how to cope with future cuts (more layoffs.) Especially when there are hints that the next budget allotment for a project that is ramping up is $1 million LESS than planned minimums and already in the hole by maybe a billion. GO TEAM MORALE!

I nearly walked up to Brockmann and said Hey! I know the woman who does your thingies! But then I decided that would be too embarrassingly fangirly.

Susan, I'm friends with Jennifer Crusie and Lani Diane Rich (the Rita winners) and Chris Merrill (the Golden Heart winner, WHOO HOO!). The Golden Heart for Chris's category was especially since she FORGOT TO READ CHRIS'S NAME in the nominations. We all yelled at her to stop and one of us yelled Chris's name from the audience. Then Chris won and it was okay.

Wolfram,

[link]

Salad Shooter. I use mine for cheese and it's fab. I love it. Also great for making soups.

Susan, I'm friends with Jennifer Crusie

faints dead away at Betsy's feet