How to peel beets: [link]

I always just used a fork to hold cooked beets and peeled them with a knife. Less mess for me.

Ugh, got waked up in the wee hours this morning by a mouse scampering across me while I slept. Hope he enjoys the nice lethal spring-loaded traps I'm going to be festooning my apartment with tonight, since the humane catch-and-release one doesn't suit his taste.

I need airline info. I'm going to New York in May and I'm trying to decide between a non-stop on JetBlue or a one stop on Virgin America that's about fifty bucks less, but requires 7AM flights on both ends.

Normally, I'd jump right on the JetBlue, because I've flown them before and like them a lot, and you know, NONSTOP, however, I keep hearing how fab Virgin America is. And aren't they the ones with the on board WiFi these days?

HALP?

"before we all started having health care, in the olden days our grandparents, they would bring a chicken to the doctor, they would say I'll paint your house."

"I mean, that's the old days of what people would do to get health care with your doctors," she said. "Doctors are very sympathetic people. I'm not backing down from that system."

I wonder what kind of trade would work for a couple of surgeons, an anesthesiologist, and some surgical nurses for say, heart surgery or removing a tumor. Do you think the hospital would be open to barter?

Can that medical personnel then turn around and try to barter for their malpractice insurance and to cover their student loans?

Barb, I have never flown on either, so can't help with that, but Virgin America would have to be pretty fucking amazing to outweigh a nonstop at a reasonable hour.

I'm thinking that unless your last name is Tyson you're not going to have enough chickens.

Virgin America would have to be pretty fucking amazing to outweigh a nonstop at a reasonable hour.

Kind of what I'm thinking, Dana. Because seriously... 7AM flights and what it entails in terms of getting to the airport on time?

Perhaps I'll save VA for when I go to SF or LA.

Matt, WHOA! That would scare the crap out of me. Last night I got into bed and something caught my eye. A spider was dangling about 3 feet over my belly. So I got up and yelled at it and put my hand through his web and took him outside. No one wants unexpected things tickling them when they're asleep. He got a real lecture I tell you.

Barb, 7 AM would stop me dead in my tracks. Er, runway. (Although I think Flea needs to get to the airport by 5:30 or something when she stays with me, so I am willing to do early on someone else's behalf, but not my own!)

I just need to go on record as saying Jesse's (and I think meara uses it too) "hrmph" posts always make me giggle they're so charming. I think I am spelling "hrmph" wrong, though.

I frequently have to take 6AM or 6:30 flights, and I hate it.

If my flight is much before 8 (meaning be at airport by 6), and it's a longer than 5 hour airtime, I am much more likely to just stay up all night the night before.