Sigh, Venice.I celebrated my 2 2nd birthday on one of the Ventian islands! Burano, a very hard birthday to beat. Water really is good for the soul. Everytime we get back from Narragansett, I feel calmer just having been near the ocean.

I do love the ocean. The first time I ever saw it, I was 14 years old and my mom, sister, and grandma were in St. Augustine, Florida. I got fried because I forgot to put on sunblock, but oh, it was soooo awesome to be on a beach and swimming in water that had actual waves and salt in it.

Erin, don't you have a Trader Joe's near you?

The closest TJ's is in St. Louis which irks me to no small end. I would LOVE a TJ's in Kansas City -- and methinks it would do extremely well.

Well, I tried making mayonnaise. First in the food processor, which started off well but never emulsified (the yolk and lemon juice were under the blade entirely, so I think that method is flawed unless I'm making a whole lot), so I moved to the blender, which didn't work either. So I figured I'd try a brand new yolk and a little water and try the whisk and bowl (bowl sitting on a rubbery potholder - that part actually worked quite well!) and that seemed like it was working but my arm got tired so I went back to the blender and it eventually started to thicken up, but it's not spreadable. It's also warm, though, so this approximation of mayo is chillin' in the fridge. I'll decide if it's edible or not later.

Walter really likes mayo experimentation day, though. Free egg whites and many bowls to lick, yay!

I read a lot about people having "the touch" for mayo -- I think getting it to emulsify can be a bit of a trick. I've always been a little scared to try it.

But I will probably make it, or at least aoili one day. Are they the same? A friend made some delicious aoili and served it with pommes frites, and it was oh, so good.

I was amazed at how easy it was the first time I tried it. Not this time, though switching appliances no doubt did not help.

Aioli is just mayo+garlic, I think? Not sure.

I've made it using an immersion blender.

and I got mail from an insurance co I had 3 or 4 months ago, about a claim from 14 months ago asking about my coverage and possible doctors visits 18 months /21 months ago

Seriously , does this explain the f'ed up nature of insurance or what. I don't even know what to do with this.

I'm feeling lonely. Most of my grad school friends have graduated and moved to other places, and none of my high school or college friends really live near here, and I haven't really been too social lately.

I'm sorry, Hil. That's not a pleasant feeling.

Mayo firmed up to a nice consistency in the fridge, fwtw.

{{{Hil}}} I'm sorry.