Question to the hivemind: I bought a leather coat from the thrift store with a polyester fake fleece lining. Unfortunately the previous owner was a smoker. I'm assuming washing will get the smoke out of the liner, but what would be the best way to get it out of the leather?

I'd try. Noise ordinances or something. Or if your city has a non-emergency line (we have, um 311? I think?) I'd call them and ask for advice

Thanks, sarameg. I think I will if it continues. We def. have a non-emergency number which is what I'd call. I don't consider the annoying alarm 911-worthy. Okay, on Friday when I was trying to rest I thought it was totally 911-worthy, but I was cranky.

I vowed a long time ago to never have a fight about dinner. "Here's what I made. If you don't want it there's cereal, toast or a PB&J. That's it."

That was my mom, perzactly. Although, toast was not an option for us. Cereal or a sandwich. And we had to make it ourselves. Perfectly reasonable from my point of view, even at 10.

I think I always had a certain-number-of-bites rule. Which, when it's something nasty like zucchini, was ROUGH.

Top Chef: I had heard rumors about hair cutting but uh, that was disturbing and I think Sam should have been more proactive in getting Cliff to stop. And Padma almost had me with her "pack your bags and go to Hawaii." I guess it was just fortunate that the person with the least favorite dish was the one who crossed the line.

You know, my dad had a "you can't leave the table until you clean your plate" sort of upbringing and he HATED IT so we never had that. I don't think we even had the you have to eat x number of bites. (I know somebody whose family said that you had to eat as many bites as your age.)

Whatever. If I follow the routine and give him time to understand what dinner will be or give him some options, then all is fine. He will eat fruit at every meal and also bread.

sara - pasta is only sometimes ok to him now.

It's just a control issue. We just don't have time in our day for a half hour sidetrack.

anyway. my work from home work is as done as it is getting tonight, so I'm off to shower.

I hope tomorrow is a better day for you, msbelle.

It's just a control issue.

And those are SO FUN. Wishing you a nice relaxing shower and AWESOME DAY tomorrow.

I think I eat like a child.

Normal Room site has enthralled me.

I had a cat who had nightmares. She would startle awake howling and run. One time she ran down the basement stairs and I went to the top of the stairs and called her name; she turned around, saw me, ran full tilt back up the stairs and literally leaped into my arms. She put her front legs around my neck, put her nose in my ear, and I held her and she purred until she stopped shaking. Then she got down and walked away like nothing happened. We never spoke of it.

Top Chef (again): WTF was Ilan thinking with the chicken liver in the ganache. Liver truffle? Yech.