I remember seeing a wedding picture in the paper once - bride in her long white dress, groom in a tuxedo, and their dog (a golden retriever) in some kind of wedding attire. It was a cute picture ... can't remember if the dog was actually in the wedding.

You know if Tim ever gets married, the beagles will probably be ring bearers. And then they'll run away with the rings, dive in the pool, and the rings will be lost somewhere in between the gates and the tower.

But they'll still be cute, and Tim will have to resort to twist ties from Wonder bread to tie the knot.

God. I hope he invites me.

I just had about fifteen minutes where I could hear thunder, was sitting in sunshine in my backyard, and the weather radar that I could look up on my computer showed a storm pretty much overhead. That was one really LOCAL storm, as in practically over the other side of the hill.

Anyway, the name "Italian beef" is not getting across the humdrum sandwichy nature of the thing.

Italian beef is good stuff!

And it's only when I realize that other people don't know what this shit is that I realize that I have more Chicago in me than I know, even though I didn't grow up there. But my mom is from there, and we visited a lot.

I wonder where that "coming soon to Seattle" place is going to be! And I wonder WHEN coming soon is! It gives no indication...

I know! I poked around the website looking for an address, but no such luck.

I'm currently very jealous of one of my assistant managers at B&N. She just left today for a week in Majorca, Spain. Her husband is one of those with a very cool job--he's a professional mediaeval fighter/stunt guy who is training local Majorcans on jousting techniques for the newly opened equivalent of Mediaeval Times, and part of his contract was that they'd pay for her to come out and visit at least once in the six months he's over there. She probably won't get to see him very much (he's very busy right now), but at least she'll have some time with him and the Spanish sun.

Okay, everyone, what should we eat at our next party (which is -- gulp! -- the weekend after next)?

The goal is lots of finger food-ish stuff, largely vegetarian but with both some vegan and some meat. All should be edible standing up, as we usually have 30 or so friends and 4-ish chairs (so little satay skewers are likely but big honkin' shish kebab ones are not). The grills will be going. Grill bread, fancy popsicles, and plantain chips have already been promised.

I am seriously willing to try anything. But am looking for new ideas for tapas/apps/snacks/whatchamacallems.

Bacon-wrapped figs are my favorite tapa-bar item. Yummmm.

Bacon-wrapped figs

noted!

I like Greek -- spanikopita, dolmades, various dips. Also fake-Mexican -- taquitos and seven layer dip and whatnot.

People seem to be enthusiastic about the marinated mushrooms and artichokes I make. I just put out a bowl and toothpicks.