I'll stand by Hec in gin-and-cheese snobbery. There's nothing wrong with admitting you like Kraft green-can parmesan cheese, but it does mean I'm probably not going to let you take charge of ordering the cheese plate if we go out to dinner together because I'm going to assume that good cheese matters more to me than it does to you.

On the flip side, I would be a terrible choice of person to organize a poetry exhibition, because I have no ear for poetry and really know nothing about it. It's not a subject that matters to me and so my opinion is unlikely to be useful to anyone for whom poetry is a passion.

Everything-miraculously-okay~ma, Fay.

Good news about your boss' dad, java!

Gin sucks. hides

Gin sucks. hides

Cheap gin certainly does (or can), but small batch gins are really interesting and varied with the floral and fruity flavors that play well with other ingredients.

I was fairly anti-gin till I started actually drinking it in well made cocktails.

I don't see how a passion for Kraft mac 'n cheese just like mother made rules out an appreciation for the finest cheeses and pasta.

Right? I admit this confused me. People are able to like crap food and still appreciate fine food, and I'm not sure where the idea comes from that the two can't co-exist. My brother is a truly outstanding chef; I'm not just saying that because I'm his sister. I've had meals he's made for small dinners that rank among the top meals I've ever had (and since food snobbery cred seems to matter in this discussion, I'll note I've eaten at several 4-star restaurants as well as a 5-star one; I'm well aware of what constitutes "fine dining" and I'm quite capable of both discerning and appreciating it).

Anyway, my point was this: I'd put my brother's knowledge of and appreciation for fine food up against anyone's here. (Nora, he is super jealous of your French Laundry meal, since he hasn't made it out there yet.) And still the dude will eat Spam out of the can. Somehow that doesn't reduce his "fine dining" cred with me (or probably anyone else). He works for a brew pub and brews literally award-winning microbrews, but drinks Miller at home. And yet that doesn't ruin his microbrew cred with me (or probably anyone else).

Not that I actually care if people think I have cocktail or cheese "cred." BFD. I like what I like, and it runs the gamut from dubious food-like products to artisan-produced food. Amazing how someone's taste can contain both.

No, quester, not in Iowa, but Harkin has many fans in the disability press for his years-long disability-rights record. I believe Harkin has an impaired relative or something...not that he pulls a Palin and brags on it. Fay, I hope your dad will be well. On the one hand, I think standards are important. There are things that probably should not be compared, even though they are both "movies", "cheese" or "drinks" At the same time, individual taste is personal and often has an emotional or sentimental component that is independent of critics' opinion. I don't know which side to come down on.

Sidestepping the gin and cheese conversation to say that Ellie learned how to ride a two-wheel bike yesterday. I would like to take credit for her accomplishment, but she just picked up our neighbors bike and after a few minutes, was riding it. I didn't even notice at first. I'm fairly certain she picked it up from riding the Strider we got Frisco, but still, it was cool!

eta: here's a picture [link]

I typed up a whole long thing about cheese and Wuthering Heights and Wendy's and the local free range tea-smoked chicken at Lantern (which I now want), but instead I'll just say...

What. Teppy. Said. With a side of damn, srsly?

Okay, one more thing. I count Leonard Cohen as one of my favorite musicians (for example), and yet I will dance my *ass* off to some Britney Spears. Different music for different purposes, different moods. Same for food or alcohol.

Go Ellie go! That's wonderful.

I can make a spagetti sauce starting with walking out into the garden to pick tomatoes, and ending in grating a wedge of parmesan over it, that makes people sing. Yet some days, the need for Ragu and Kraft green can cheese just like Mom used to make.... yeah, it's not the same. Either way. On a day when I'm craving the Ragu and Kraft, an Iron Chef's pasta wouldn't do the job.

{{{{{{{{{{Fay&family}}}}}}}}} much ~ma all around.

Yay, Ellie!

{{Fay}} Much ~ma to you and your family.

Ellie! You're a rock star!

People like what they like. Is it wrong or right? No. It's just what you like. And sometimes, that depends on your mood and your expectations.