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.

There appears to be no Cost Plus nearby. Bummer.

Theo, I have at least 2 Happy Hollisters books, and I think they might have been actually better than the Bobbsey Twins.

I read a lot of early 20th century kids books from Altemus press that no one has ever heard of, like The Motor Maids, The Campfire Girls, Grace Harlowe (who went to high school, college, and then drove an ambulance in WWI)

vw, one of my favorite reds is Blackstone Napa Valley Merlot (not their California Merlot, which is cheaper, but is not nearly as good). I think the Napa Valley Merlot is about $17/bottle, though.

We also get Yellow Tail Shiraz a lot, though, and it's really affordable. I can't remember what the regular sized bottle costs -- but the big bottle is only $11.99. It's a very decent table wine, and goes well with foods like lasagna.

I hear that Paris Hilton is having her birthday bash this weekend in Vegas. A friend just asked me if I wanted to go. "I have a seat on the jet, so if..."

Yeah, no. Not even for research purposes would I have pressed to see if he was serious. Not about his seat on the jet--he has that. Just about me going.

You should go ita. Not because it's Paris Hilton's birthday, but because it's NBA all star weekend in Vegas. Also, Micheal Jordan is having his birthday party in Vages this weekend. I wonder if those two parties will combine. Aieee!