Yeah, the one time I was using garam marsala, I made it myself. Of course, I never used the cardamom after that, but eh.

Every spice there but the peppercorns and the nutmeg appear either in the tikka masala recipe or the pilaf, though I don't have them in seed form. Ground or pods, I think.

I seem to have acquired a bit of a sunburn, and I don't think I was really IN the sun that much. Stuck to the shady side of the street and all. Went down to Hampdenfest and saw lisah's band, which was awesome. They have the best little maracas player (little girl who totally got into it, despite the heat, humidity and her yawns towards the end!)

But I think the heat and humidity caught up to me (it is seriously thick out there) and I just showered cause I was feeling so slimy and gross and thought I could still smell the street (stale beer) on me.

Chicken tikki masala sounds really good right now.

Too much rain here! We've had over six inches since it started last night, and they're predicted several more before it ends tomorrow night. If we're lucky, Ike will end up tracking south of us, in central Illinois, and skip us completely, because we don't need any more rain!

The parking lot at the bookstore was partially flooded and really fun to try and get out of. Luckily, the streets home were free of rain, if not people, but seeing all the rain in the yards I passed wasn't a good thing.

mmmm... chicken tikka masala sounds delightful.

Noah got his first haircut today. And subsequently he's been eagerly demonstrating his ability to toddle a few steps.

Tomorrow, BBQ fest and Polgara time. WOOT WOOT! And swim lessons.

I guess I'd better do something tomorrow, because today has been a total waste. Although for whatever reason, I was really wiped out all last week, so I guess I needed the chill time.

I watched Florida State kick the tar out of Chattanooga.

Woo Hoo...Go NOLES!!!!!

Ship Ike over here!

I settled for cereal, but it's hurting my face. Still, I might as well finish.

Kathy - is there alot of flooding by you?

It's flooding ALOT in the western 'burbs.

I've been hanging inside today and have no idea of the status of the Kish.

Emmett and I were puttering around on Haight Street and decided to go see Pineapple Express at the Red Vic.

It was funny but it wasn't entirely appropriate for Emmett. Still. After recounting that Franco, Rogen and Jason Segal were all in Freaks and Geeks, he insisted we bust the DVDs out when we got home. So now we're watching F&G and I'm pointing out all the actors who have crossed over to HIMYM.

Big news is: Matilda told JZ these very exact words, "I love you."

In fact, she's said it to each of us about seven or eight times now and we're all pretty much dying and giving her any treats she wants.

JZ now declares Matilda has achieved some kind of genius trifecta: she said "I love you," she ate and loved broccoli tonight, and now she's dancing around the living room to Joan Jett. She posits that a toddler could not be any better even if she were dipped in platinum.