That makes sense, Barb. I'm all about baked pastas, soups, and chili in winter. I love the taste of roasted veg in summer, but I don't really like turning the oven up high to make it.

I'm trying to convince myself I can't go back to sleep because I am meeting friends for lunch later.

The weather we're having right now is my favorite cooking season - the summer veggies are still in season, but it's cool and rainy enough for me to want the oven on.

Last night I made a killer mint and walnut pesto to go over fettucine with zucchini ribbons. Tonight I'm roasting a chicken. Nom nom nom.

Ooooh... I love roasted chicken but Lewis doesn't like chicken on the bone. (Whackjob) He'll eat it, but it's not his favorite preparation.

long it takes for her to re-arrange herself back to Most Favored Side Status.

I still have a favorite side. My hair is noticeably thinner on that side, actually. I even rearranged my room so that non favored side would face the wall, which I thought that I wouldn't like, but nope, doesn't make a difference.

I toss and turn all night. Less so since I got the new bed, but I still never know what position I'll be in when I wake up, other than not on my back.

I burned out on cooking a bit when I was making my Dad a week's worth of meals and shlepping them to Kernersville every weekend. But my interest is starting to re-emerge. There'll be the annual Baking of the Apple Pie which means autumn's here, and possibly some sort of foodie thing around my birthday in October. I'm starting to get interested again.

Also Reagan/Dulles/Baltimore Any of these airports I should exclude?

I don't know whether it's too late to comment, but if you have an option, I'd advise avoiding National if you're at all a nervous flyer. It's very close to both highly populated and security sensitive areas. Which means taking off is a lot like riding a roller coaster. (On the other hand, if you're not nervous, and you're on the correct side of the plane, the view of the Mall is spectacular.)

Not nervous. And to tell you the truth will choose comfort and convenience over safety even in the face of actual danger - up to a point. Not too late still finalizing.

I fly in and out of National at least once a year and it is far and away my fave choice in the DC area. Largely because my mom works in Arlington so it is super close for pickup. The takeoff is sharp but doesn't seem more so than other airports (San Diego is worse). And it is a little annoying to not be able to leave your seat for the last 30 minutes...but i guess i'd be a little testy too about security when flying almost directly over the pentagon.

Mom cooked a huge meal for friends the other night and brought me a ton of leftovers.

The other day on the radio talking abut thanksgiving, Rebecca Kolls couldn't bring up the word "leftovers" to mind, and said, "you know, the delicious... after.. meals..."

I think that could make a new-speak name for leftovers. "Delicious aftermeals."