For some reason one of my hot weather foods is chili - bean chili flavored with just a little meat.Tonight's was black bean bison chili: black beans (dry beans soaked overnight, not canned) bargain bison, onions, chili powder, garlic, salt, pepper, and a little jack cheese crumbled in. Not traditional in any tradition I know but good.

I rarely remember my dreams, Shir, so I have not idea if they are interesting or not.

WOOT! I finished the zabuton for the baby. This is the sides up picture. It fits into his play pen relatively well (the bumpers aren't fab, but they don't suck either). So cool! It's a little messy and there are some mistakes, but given that I made it without measuring and without a muslin and without a pattern, I did okay.

I have been up for 2 hours and 50 minutes. Parents were taken to the airport, and I'm now showered and dressed, drinking coffee and doing a load of laundry.

All this productivity before 9 am may do me in.

I can't go into work early because a) cat and b) need to drop off lease.

Best quote from my mom this week: "Well, some of us come when the teakettle whistles." t dead silence " I didn't mean THAT!!"

My family. They drove me a little batty at times, and lord knows I snapped at dad one too many times (always makes me feel like I am kicking a puppy) but I don't really need to complain. It was all petty stuff, and mostly me going ACK over dealing with others. Like when my parents thought *I* was lost in Fells Point and dad went looking for me and nearly got lost. Um, no. It's funny now, but boy was I irritated at the time.

I have many choices for dinner tonight: left over bul gogi, hummus and curry nan and english cukes, strawberry shortcake or fairly good storebought coleslaw.

We celebrated my birthday early last night (they'd wanted to be here for it, but it wasn't to be) and I got a lovely platter of my favorite pottery, a small piece of gorgeous acoma pottery, a pair of mother of pearl (or abalone?) long earrings and a green chile and chicken stew mix. YUM. They left 2 more packages to be opened on the actual date.

And, as per usual, my mother snuck money into my wallet and then told me at the aiport to check a box in my bedroom. More cash. I swear, I could be a multimillionaire, and they'd still sneak money to me when they visited. She's also planning on sending me a large check to help out with "a down payment" which I keep insisting is not necessary, but I think it is a losing battle.

And my lamp works now. Heh.

20 more minutes before I can get my laundry.

sarameg, your post this morning reads to me like a list of all the little ways your parents show they love ya.

I've taken the dog out and had a cup of coffee this a.m. When the coffee kicks in, I can attempt bagel toasting.

I've made lunch and cleaned up the kitchen (dad's coffee stains EVERYWHERE. I said I wasn't going to complain...) and bathroom sink. Reading paper.

My parents and I are really close. It was funny, mom was saying they wished we lived closer. "But not closer than 4 or so hours drive. Any closer would probably be too close for you." It wasn't a criticism, just an acknowlegement of my independence and their urges to still want to take care of me.

Anyway, they're off to my brother's and after a week there, will take 5.5 year old D to NM for 2 weeks, which should wear them out completely! The day he flies back to B'ham, dad is flying out to Mongolia.

sarameg, I agree with Sparky about your parents. They sound like mine.

And good morning, Americanistas. You all sound really busy...

Waaaay too busy for this hour, if you ask me. Now ask Kat, and it is a regular day for her.

Finished paper. Now to sit around for a while. And find things to clean up. Oh! The day I was gone all afternoon for the root canal, my parents wandered over to Home Despot and got me a "Sentimental Blue Balloon" plant. Really pretty flowers. Lavender, not blue. It's potted on the balcony now.

Your parents and the plant sound really nice.

Hey, I missed the Hopkins ER series, didn't I?