JZ confirms that we did indeed receive a McWarringle package filled with organic bathsoaps and baby wear advocating dirt play. We thank you!

Excellent. The bathy stuff is for her- take a look at the name of the massage oil, it cracked me up.

Hec, since we're asking, did you guys get a package from me via Amazon?

an AWESOME pan roasted broccoli recipe.

Oh that sounds so good. Share? I think my subscription lapsed and I only had it for this year, pretty much...

Hec, since we're asking, did you guys get a package from me via Amazon?

Apparently my presumption that JZ was thoughtfully thanking all the gift givers was wayyyy off base. Indeed we did get the bundle of books. On the same day we got books from flea too, I think. It was a good book getting day.

Thank you, AmyLiz. I presume these books have been kid tested on your own and fully vetted for entertainment value?

Yup, they're all read-aloud favorites. A little much for Matilda right now, perhaps, but she'll love them (I hope) later. And they're fun to read, as compared to the tedious Clifford books Jake had a yen for at one point.

basically, cut florets into relatively uniform pieces; peel and slice the stalk on the bias. put some (couple Tbsp) veg. oil in a sautee pan. Heat that oil hot. Real hot. Hotter than that. OK, you see smoke? Throw the stalk pieces in, in one layer. Don't touch them for 2 minutes. After that, throw the florets in, toss it all up to combine. don't touch for 1-2 minutes.

Throw in a mixture- that you made while waiting for the pan to heat up- of 1.5 Tbsp of water (we halved the recipe for the 2 of us, only cooked approx. 3/4 lb.), with 1/4 tsp. kosher salt, and some pepper, stirred till salt is dissolved.

After the florets have some brown color on them, throw the water/salt/pepper mixture in, clamp down the lid, and steam for a couple minutes. Then de-lid, stir around till any liquid is evaporated, serve and yum.

If you have the issue with the pepper panfried filet, it was in that one. It's a blue cover.

Thanks, Nora, that sounds delicious!

Most of my CIs are unopened and unread in the pile of unread magazines over by the TV. That's why I let the subscription lapse. I love the recipes when I make them, but they didn't fit my dietary needs very often...now that my diet is more flexible I need to go back through them and see what I can use.

Apparently my presumption that JZ was thoughtfully thanking all the gift givers was wayyyy off base.

Heh. Well, she has been rather busy, what with the birthing a person and recovering from surgery and taking care of the new human, and all.

OK, my stomach has won, because there were free meeting leftover goodies in the kitchen. Argh! Oh well.

Very Important Topic: it looks like we will be going to a Halloween party and will require a costume. Here are the specs:

• Both Tom and I are not so keen on the whole costume thing, but would like to try to get into the spirit of things (well, *I* would, at any rate... Tom's rather grumpy about the whole thing)

• Tom's rather grumpy about the whole thing, did I mention that?

• there's a theme to the Halloween party- Heaven and Hell. Tom is rather grumpy about that as well.

• I thought it would be fun to do a team costume

• geeky, silly, not too extravagant costumes preferred- not too much to shop for/invest in.

Any thoughts?

make tom the grumpy angel ( tom as a grumpy angel just strikes me as funny) and you the happy go lucky devil - just wing and horns. or maybe both as angels one with black wings - one with white

so it is a beautiful day - warm, moist, therefore: Allergies. and my answering machine doesn't work. good - no campaign messages. bad, because I am hoping to hear from my interview soon. not so sure I will. bah. should just watch tv - take it easy before work , but I feel restless. cranky.