I so badly want to be in bed and not at work right now. Only a few more hours to go.

Hi guys. I'm in need of food suggestions, and I figured, where better to go?

My friend/neighbor MacKenzie and I are having a party Sunday evening, with the theme of celebrating fall/winter. I'm looking for good suggestions for harvesty/wintery foods and drinks. So far I've got:

Foods: Pumpkin pie, butternut squash souffle, some sort of soup (Mac is making that one), banana bread, whole wheat crackers with nice hearty cheeses (suggestions for particular cheeses would be appreciated)

Drinks: Hot chocolate, mulled cider, hot buttered rum, eggnog

Anything else that I should definitely be sure to include?

Also, the party is Sunday evening on the upper west side of Manhattan, and any NYCistas who will be around are invited. I don't even know if we have a mailing list, though, but if you see this: e-mail me for the address!

That all sounds so delish. What about doing a spiced apple/onion chutney to go with the cheese and crackers maybe? Although, I think that's a pretty good spread for a party already.

Definitely some fruit to go with the cheese plate - doesn't have to be fancy, just something to cut the richness (I always go strawberries and grapes because they're pretty and don't need to be cut up).

(I'd even offer to bring them, but I'm afraid I'll be at home nebulizing the baby. ON THE NIGHT BEFORE MY BIRTHDAY. Behold the unfairness that is my life.)

That is definitely unfair, Jessica!

Both of those suggestions sound good. Thanks.

Jessica, I'm sorry about Dylan's respiratory system problems. Hopefully he'll grow out of it like CJ did.

I haz dad update! The infection is all gone and the bone is regenerating! More importantly, he's able to do away with the neck collar and the lymphatic sleeve! They're now at a point where they are aggressively rehabbing him (about time!) so he's apparently making some pretty good progress pretty quickly. I am guessing he's in a completely different state than when I saw him just a month ago. Still has some problems, and probably still a very long way to go, but it's very exciting nonetheless. They've got a driving simulator at the hospital and he did pretty well, so he's eager to try a little driving on empty roads. This in and of itself will probably help him do so much better with healing. He really misses driving.

Fay, good luck with your dating adventures! I am sorry it gives you such agita, but I can't imagine someone not being charmed by you.

Gronk. Okay, finally home from work and have sent off the requisite update e-mails and placed the needed orders. I think I can crash for a few hours before I lock myself down behind ProTools for the afternoon to get the audio for Toy Story The Musical roughed in.

I haz dad update! The infection is all gone and the bone is regenerating!

Go, bone, go! (Or rather -- GROW, bone, grow!)

That's excellent news!

d, that's great news about your father!

Jessica, I hope that the wee bairn breathes easy soon.

d, that is fantastic news!

my own good news, although not nearly as good, is that my car is supposedly being painted today and will be ready on Monday (or maybe Tuesday)!