Maria, I don't know if you saw my post from a few days ago, but when you're in Northbrook for work, let me know--I live and work about two miles east of there (in Riverwoods and Wheeling, the next towns over). We can get together for dinner, etc.!

Ack! I must have missed it. Thanks, Kathy! My next trip isn't planned yet, but I'll let you know. I usually stay at the Hilton on Milwaukee, and they've taken me to a few different restaurants in Wheeling.

Of course my association with the more interesting parts of the animal comes from my father. It's the whole European waste-not-want-not thing. Not a big fan of tongue, or tripe for that matter.

My grandmother used to sometimes cook tongue. I always refused to even try it.

Of course, my association with mealtime tongue is from one of the Ramona books. Where her dad brings it home cause it is cheap and the kids freak the hell out.

And then, as punishment Ramona and Beezus have to cook dinner and they put yogurt in the cornbread and paprika on the chicken!! I think it's Ramona Quimby, Age 8.

Hil, I'll try anything once. If I don't like it, then no one can say I didn't at least make the attempt.

I wonder where all my old Beverly Cleary books are. You know, the ones you'd order from the Scholastic Book Club? The last time I saw them, they were in a box in the basement...perhaps I'll seek them out the next time I go to my parents'.

They just opened a Westin Hotel on Milwaukee and Lake Cook. In fact, I'm getting my first-ever massage this morning at Massage Envy, located right in front of the hotel ($39 for a 1-hour massage, a grand-opening special). Milwaukee in Wheeling is Restaurant Row, highlighted by a former top-10-in-the-country (but no longer that good, unfortunately) place called Le Francais, but including some more reasonably priced places, such as a Weber Grill location (some of the best grilled chicken and steaks around).

I'm thinking about it, but I don't remember ever reading Beverly Cleary as a kid! Some Roald Dahl, lots of Louisa May Alcott and Laura Ingalls Wilder, horse books by Henry, Farley, and Sewell, and other assorted classics, yes, but no Cleary. Obviously, a huge gap in my childhood reading. I read a lot of esoteric titles before junior high--lots of European kids books that were translated into English (featuring kids named Sven and Pippi, usually) or slightly older books from the 1950s and '60s (one I loved was about a girl who won an essay contest with the prize being flying lessons, and everyone was horrified that a girl was the winner).

Last night I was talking about kids book series, and for once somebody else had heard of The Happy Hollisters which was a rather undistinguished competitor for The Bobbsey Twins.

My cousins had a bunch of Happy Hollisters books that I liked to read!

So, anyone have a good red wine recommendation to have with lasagna (that's not too expensive)?

Do you have a Cost Plus near you? I love their Aaku line - Australian wines, about $7. HRM Rex Goliath, the 47 lb Rooster (no, seriously) is also a good one and a bit of a conversation piece.

More generally, I'm partial to a Shiraz over a Merlot or Cab. Or you could go traditional and grab a Chianti.