Lead poisoning among low income kids, and the resulting brain damages, is kinda something that gets talked about a lot here. A lot of shady rentals violate the lead abatement laws.

beth- I know there is a group asking one to write to ones congressperson regarding the handmade toys/clothes-- is there a similar one for libraries? I would be happy to write if it could help... the whole thing seems well-intentioned, but really not well-thought out!

sara- I think you will be happiest if you go to the inauguration

Everyone- Doers anyone have a good black bean soup recipe-- I an cobble one together, but I'd love recs

I just made an itinerary for myself this weekend, and everything seems doable Too bad I would rather sit in my livingroom watching TV, but I think I can pull costumes, do laundry, go groery shopping, finally give my BF some belated X-mas gifts, and manage significant knitting time.

I can do so well if I plan, but I seem to have this mental block where having things planned makes me angry, and I resist it. Not in work life, where I am all for planning, but in home. I almost think that I am so afraid of beocming manic and overplanned that I opt for being a lump.

It's definitely not nothing, but I don't think these toys and etc. are anything compared to paint that peels off walls and kids eat.

In my childhood backyard, we planted a garden one year. The herbs and tomatoes grew fine, but carrots never would. At some point, they got the lead levels tested, and we learned that there is no way anyone should eat anything that grew in the ground, even if it would have.

Sophia - the CLA is collecting stuff to present to congress( I sure other state library associations are doing the same) and I suspect that there will be some sort of exception for libraries - but it is just one of those things that drive me insane. No one can think of every possible problem with a new law - but I thought thazt was why we pay people to to write, read and vote on such things.

Yeah- the lead levels likely to bei n library book vs the benefit of library books seems to make the law silly, compared to the actal PAINT in all these buildings. I would think that it would be better to spend the money helping landlords pay for lead abatement in a way that does not lead to increases in rent for poor tenants

But hey, I grew up in an asbestos shingled house! I could die at any minute I am pretty sure it was full of lead paint, too, and I spent a lot of time, un masked, taking off layers of paint and wallpaper as a child.

Doers anyone have a good black bean soup recipe

OOOOH. I have one. It's stewish and relies on canned, but adjust accordingly.

Ingreds: 1 onion
garlic (I used preminced, a couple tablespoons)
green chile (if I can only get canned, I do 3 or 4 small cans. Frozen, I go berzerkers)
2 cans black beans
chopped up cooked chicken (a couple large breasts or a pack of the precooked)
pepper, cinnamon, salt to taste

Sautee onion with garlic and pepper in oil until onions just go translucent.
Add green chile and a good dusting of cinnamon and continue sauteeing until..well, not long.
Add 2 cans of beans, drained. Let that simmer for a bit, add more cinnamon if you'd like (and salt and pepper to taste.) Cinnamon adds a meatiness, but doesn't really taste cinnamony.

After a while (30 minutes, slow simmer?) add the chicken and simmer a little longer. I usually run 1 c of the stuff through a blender and pour it back in to soup it up.

I realize this is very cobbly, too.

I would not use the chicken, and add a beer. Also maybe do the carrot and celery with the onion etc.

sara- that sounds way better than my cobbly! I cobble Italian far better than Mexican/Southwest! I have dried black beans, but I think it will work as long as I soak them beforehand.

ETA- Maybe some chicken thighs would work, as they are $.49/pound!!!

Mona is set to arrive in the next 54 minutes. I am very nervous and excited.

Also, oddly, I am suddenly sneezing my head off.

I love the theme to FNL. I loved it best when the credits were mostly road views. Reminded me of driving the scenic backroads from Austin to Killeen, windows down at sunset in humid summer, through stopsignless towns. It was so dreamlike and made me imagine an impossible life there. (And this was long before FNL.)