Hey, here's that cookie recipe I mentioned this afternoon. And all credit to Ouise for passing on this deliciousness to me:

Chocolate Melting Kisses

8 squares BAKER'S Bittersweet chocolate
2 tbsp (30 ml) Butter
1-1/4 cups (300 ml) ground almonds
2 eggs
3/4 cup (175 ml) granulated sugar
1/2 cup (125 ml) icing sugar

1. Heat chocolate, stirring often, over barely simmering water in double boiler (or microwave on Medium until semi-melted). Stir in butter until smooth. Stir in almonds and let cool to room temperature.

2. Using electric mixer, beat eggs with sugar util thick and fluffy. Fold in chocolate mixture. Chill until firm enough to roll, about 1 hour.

3. With icing sugar-coated hands, shape dough into >-inch (2 cm) balls; roll in icing sugar until thickly coated. Palce at least 2 inches (5 cm) apart on parchment-lined orwell-buttered baking sheet. Chill for 10 minutes.

4. Bake in 350 F (180 C) oven for 10 to 12 minutes or until cracked and slightly raised. Remove pan to cooling rack; let cookies cool completely on pan. Store in airtight container. Makes about 4 dozen.

Happy birthday, Tom! I hope the end of the day is better than the beginning.

ita, I'm sorry. Here's to money suddenly appearing in the budget.

shrift has had a day. May she not have one like it tomorrow.

I've never been to Boston, so I can't comment on the relative rudeness of its denizens. I love NYC to bits. It fits my personality well. I don't get in anyone's way and they don't get in mine. DC is a bit too slow for me. Even though I've been here for almost 16 years, I find myself walking at New York speed which means I'm a half-mile ahead of everyone else.

Don't get me started on tourists. They do the stupidest shit. It was 6 pm and everyone is trying to get home from work. I leave the parking garage and attempt to make the turn onto North Capitol Street. There is a woman STOPPED in the crosswalk blocking all traffic so she can take a picture of the Capitol. We've got the right turn arrow, and I tap my horn to give her a clue. The rest behind me aren't so polite. She doesn't move. I roll down my window and tell her to stop blocking traffic and her husband takes offense. I get the finger, but they get a ticket for jaywalking because there was a Capitol Police officer nearby.

juliana - 'member when we got stopped short on the Wharf because the tourists were looking at the FIRE TRUCK???

I believe NKOTB will be on the Today show tomorrow. I have no DVR.

I FAIL.

Must go to my parents house this weekend and dig out my t-shirts.

ita, I hope they renew or you find something fast. I'm sorry.

This weather is ridiculous. Mixed in with the rain are fat soggy clumps of...wait for it....SNOW. I guess it is technically slush. And ice pellets.

aims, you want I should record and burn you a DVD?

juliana - 'member when we got stopped short on the Wharf because the tourists were looking at the FIRE TRUCK???

Yesterday I almost stopped because I was about to step in front of someone taking a picture of something in Union Square. I looked to the other side of me and it was 3 police cars. PARKED. Whiskey Tango Foxtrot. So I walked right into the picture.

aims, you want I should record and burn you a DVD?

I will love you FOREVER!!

Joe might feel differently.

I would literally never get to work if I waited for there not to be someone taking a picture across the sidewalk. I would be more mystified about the people taking pictures of random buildings because they have the Wall Street address....except my pictures from London when I was in college are pretty much like that. "Hey! That sign is funny! Stop and take a picture! Everyone pose around the funny sign! Ha ha ha!!! YEAH LONDON!!!!" So.

Dear Lord, just when I thought this place was cleared out so I could get some printing done in peace without interruptions or conflicts over copier use, a co-worker who's on vacation showed up after hours to look for some textbooks to copy. And brought her husband. And gradeschool age kid. I am never getting out of here.

Ooh, I clicked on ita's link. But I like this shirt, it calls to the evil biologist in me. Or something.

I also like the one that says "Medium Pimpin'" and shows some coins...