I just did. I mean, I'll watch the almost 20 minutes I recorded to see if I get any pangs at having switched TiVo over to CSI, but I doubt it. There was no care there.

But I'm grumpy tonight. I can't get my phone to connect to my laptop.

I also adhere firmly to Daisy Jane's belief that a drink made out of vodka, vermouth and either an olive or an onion may be a delightful libation but it is not, strictly speaking, a martini.

Given that the name "martini" comes from the vermouth in it, I'm certainly not going to argue with you. In fact, if you said in someone's house in France that you wanted "un martini," you would get a glass of vermouth.

I think the objection was to the Vodka, not the Vermouth.

Some guy who wrote a book about meat,

But... all meat? In general? Or, like, how to cook meat? Or only beef? Was it an encyclomeatia?

ita -- it's this one, although even with shipping I found it cheaper at QVC's site. It seemed cute and small and functional. And the fact that the wine rack thingy is removable was kind of key. There were a couple of different finishes, if you're not into the natural wood.

I'll report on how easy it actually is to assemble when it gets here.

I think the objection was to the Vodka, not the Vermouth.

Damn you Trudy!

Yes, I missed quoting the first part of JZ's statement, which was:

I too adhere firmly to Jess's belief that a martini without vermouth is in fact a glass of gin.

If the wine rack is removed, is that bit tall enough to stand a normal bottle? My surplus is not of wine, but of spirits. Oddly enough I'm currently making do with a VCR rack.

I think so? Hope so. It looks like that section would be tall enough for a standing wine bottle, anyway. If there's room to stack 3 bottles sideways, I figure the bottom section must be 13, 14 inches.

Worst case, the mixers & what fits can go underneath and anything too tall can sit on top. I dig the wheels, but I don't think I'll be rolling it around at great speeds. Although it's a tempting thought...

Wait, I found measurements! Yay.

Nine bottle wine storage, open storage area (14"W x 10.125"H), utility drawer, side shelves (top side shelf is 11.5"H; bottom side shelf is 15.5" high; shelves can hold a bottle with diameter up to 3"); locking casters.

So without the rack, the bottom is probably between 14 and 15 inches. Which should suffice.

If you make it all the way through to the end of Grey's there is a scene in an elevator that is laugh out loud funny.

So, I'm going to a work conference in Huntsville, AL all next week. What's the can't-miss things to do, and more importantly, eat, in that vicinity?

I've got a wee bit of free time, maybe Sunday night and Tuesday night, and a rental car. Unfortunately, the days are all booked up with work.

You know, I've heard so many variations I'm now confused. What is the classic martini recipe anyway? Or, to avoid stirring up a fight, what are the two competing recipes for the classic martini?