Open heart surgery leaves me exclaiming, "you do WHAT with the WHAT?" because it seems so amazing. (and then I want to observe)

I'm totally Sparky.

I know I forgot stuff, but I'm pre-coffee so please forgive.

Only my excuse is skipping lots and having a sieve right there behind my forehead.

In local news, the students' strike is still going (yes, it was two weeks ago when I said that they're striking, and even then it wasn't the very first day. And yeah, the semester may be ruined. Nobody knows anything for sure yet). Instead of TAing, right now, I play online. It feels like the right thing to do, you know?

Open heart surgery is cool. Good open heart surgery on a relative of sarameg's is cooler.

I keep being tempted by dulce de leche, and then I remember the dulce is a swirl of sweet and I back off.

I play online.

one of us, one of us, one of us

sarameg, I'm glad your aunt is okay. My dh and his family are not forthcoming with the medical details and it drives me nuts. My family very much likes to know exactly what happened -- and where, when, why and how.

Nilly, I might be in favor of the strike, if it means more you for us.

If my mother had been the one to talk to my uncle, we'd have more info. But it was dad. My brother is the same way. Cue story of how I found out he was married and of impending aunthood. I think I've finally figured out when the next nephew is due (early June, but probably sooner, because she cooks fast.)

I love the Mayan Chocolate. But last night I went with B&J's Brownie Batter. It's no Americone but it's still good.

one of us, one of us, one of us

Was there ever any doubt?

You UnUnAmericans have much more sophisticated and complex ice-cream flavors than we do. Even the few B&J and H-D flavors that are imported here are much simpler than the ones you describe. I think the first time I had Cookies & Cream is was a B&J (later, two of the Israeli makers started to sell it, too), and there's definitely more variety and fun than a few years ago, but it's still not the same.

Also, the best vanilla, plain vanilla, ice-cream I ever tasted was Brewers (sp?), when I was in the USA. So there's that, as well.

sara, if you go by the Jewish calendar, today is the 13th of the month of Eeyar (um, not to be confused with Eeyore, which is pronounced quite differently, even though I can't spell it properly enough in English to show for that). Maybe you can convert for calendarical reasons (I mean, hey, Cindy's ready to convert for the food, right?)

[Edit: Hi, Cindy!]

the best vanilla, plain vanilla, ice-cream I ever tasted was Brewers

Bryers. They put bits of actual vanilla beans in the ice cream.

Hah! I don't think my bosses would be so understanding.

Breyers. Absolutely excellent vanilla ice-cream.