Your post made me tired

Seriously.

Holiday pix: [link]

From this I have learned that the Empress Dowager Lu is officially the historical personage I would least want to have as an enemy as evidenced by her treatment of the rival Concubine Qi. (I won't even link to it. It's too horrible.)

This story is in The Cartoon History of the Universe (a series of books I highly recommend). In the book, Lu's son, upon seeing what his mother has done, says, "Mother, this--this is inhuman!" Lu humphs and says, "Could an animal have thought of it?"

I would imagine generations of women said something along the following line with absolute sincerity: "I went though this and, though there is pain sometimes, I am better for it. And it will be the same for you dear one. Don't I always do what's best for you? There's a good girl."

Also FGM. It's always the women who perpetrate this atrocity on the next generation. I get a glimpse of some kind of logic once in a while. But it goes away in all the horrified inability to conceive of deliberately disabling anybody's child.

Yesterday I went Bed Bath and Beyond shopping for, amongst other things, a 3qt nonstick saucepan. Cheapest one I could find (most were in sets) was $80. I see cheaper ones on Overstock (although search/organisation isn't being very helpful) but I'm leery of buying a pot I haven't had a chance to handle.

What's a reasonable price range for that sort of pot?

I did get a great-looking 8" "green" skillet that I'm way too excited about. I need to make omelettes soon.

Target has some for $25, ita--might give you a chance to heft it, see how it feels.

Big Lots also often has nonstick pans at good prices.

Also since you are working, something to consider. If you can find a really good Titantium-ceramic nonstick those thing are reputed to last forever. They stand up to high heat and scratchy implements. I've had normal nonstick pans scratched by beans. Umm but Titantium-ceramic is expensive. Though you might find one at a bargain at after-Christmas sales. "Bargain" for Titantium-Ceramic being the $80 you were considering paying for a normal non-stick.

Thanks, Cashmere. Target.com has lots of good hits. Hopefully the store will have a good selection.

It seems like a really sensible idea for the pans to be further organised by volume. Someone should get on that.

My sister also bought out half of H&M. I managed a waistcoat and a shirt. I want more waistcoats. I used to have a big jones for them back in my drag-wearing days, but do appreciate now that ones cut for a girl will work much better.

eta: NSM on the titanium < $100.

I love TJMaxx for one-off pots and pans stock. But it varies really widely in current availability. But I started building my All-Clad collection that way.