I have CNN on in the background right now, and the correspondent is talking about Baton Rouge and saying it all French-like. I am from the northeast (practically Europe, if not for the Maritime provinces!), and even I know that's not how you say it.

Dudes! Pop The Big Easy into your DVD player some time!

(This in addition to the Dumb Reporter Questions, like, "Are people scared?")

In happier news, I have a blissed-out cat loafing on the floor next to me, offering her belly for a rubbing.

Is Teppy around? Katrina will hit Ohio on Wednesday. Of course, it will be significantly weaker by then, but it still will be some nasty weather for folks there.

Shit. Well, at least I'm driving not flying.

I've got nothing to add to the Hurricane talk, but I'm vibing major Safe-ma that direction

I have a low-class palette. I don't want rosemary, sage, thyme, dill, cilanto, or pretty much any other spice near my food. Garlic, onion, sesame oil, lemon, paprika, and salt are as exotic as I can ever get with flavoring of any kind. I've tried, I really have, and I've decided that I will never enjoy any sort of gourmet meal, ever. I can't eat at fancy restaurants. I get panicky at places where I can't order a hamburger, unless it's a pizza joint or chinese food.

I hate sushi, mexican, most thai and indian food, and have decided that I just won't enjoy anything new. I am a food curmudgeon. I don't embrace it, but there it is. I have no taste.

I have a low-class palette. I don't want rosemary, sage, thyme, dill, cilanto, or pretty much any other spice near my food. Garlic, onion, sesame oil, lemon, paprika, and salt are as exotic as I can ever get with flavoring of any kind. I've tried, I really have, and I've decided that I will never enjoy any sort of gourmet meal, ever. I can't eat at fancy restaurants. I get panicky at places where I can't order a hamburger, unless it's a pizza joint or chinese food.

Hee. My first thought was that it was very good of an entire country to do their best to make Allyson feel comfortable and catered for.

Hee. My first thought was that it was very good of an entire country to do their best to make Allyson feel comfortable and catered for.

Shut up.

I am either confused or humorless. Maybe both.

I have a low-class palette. I don't want rosemary, sage, thyme, dill, cilanto, or pretty much any other spice near my food. Garlic, onion, sesame oil, lemon, paprika, and salt are as exotic as I can ever get with flavoring of any kind. I've tried, I really have, and I've decided that I will never enjoy any sort of gourmet meal, ever. I can't eat at fancy restaurants. I get panicky at places where I can't order a hamburger, unless it's a pizza joint or chinese food.

You and me? Never going to have an affair.

Shut up.

Hey, I say it in the nicest possible way. And I would really quite like to see Chili's make it to Australia. (But what possessed them to change from their roasted vegetable sides into the watery packet mix they're using these days? Who's behind this?)

Confidential to bon bon: Of course I do know that Killers song.

Also, dry some of it, send it to sageless people in need of sage.

That can be done.

They may even be able to work some sort of rosemary exchange.

(My rosemary is insane.)

I'm very short on rosemary this year. I have three sprigs, that's all. So deals can be made.

I'll check the thyme and oregano as well. The thyme was out of control last I looked, but the oregano wasn't looking too hot.