Chicago Restaurant Week. 3 course meals, $32 bucks. Any Chicagoistas interested in checking any of them out?

Sounds interesting. I'm currently free for most of that week.

One of my family holiday traditions is venison mincemeat pie, and we usually got the venison from a friend or relative who'd killed the deer. When I'm feeling like annoying my family I'll refer to it as Bambi pie, just before taking a big bite and making "om nom nom" sounds. However, the venison is so finely ground, cooked, and mixed with the other stuff that it's more of a savory flavor than a distinct meat taste.

I've had rabbit, deer, and fish caught by friends and family. I've also eaten fish I caught myself. As my paternal grandparents lived on a farm and raised both beef cattle and chickens, I probably met some of my meat before dining on it, but I was too young to make the connection at the time.

My dad had a decent sideline in venison during the latter part of the Great Depression. He was a kid who knew his way around Granddad's back 40s, so he'd guide deer hunters there. They'd pay him money for helping them bag their buck, and then after removing the head for their trophy, they'd let him have the rest of the deer. He got cash and fed the family for a month.

I never killed, but helped my dad dress deer that he shot. Also helped my sister and BiL process their venison. Dad fished a lot when I was a kid so we've also cleaned and eaten fish he caught.

Also, rabbit, quail and squirrel. Not much else, though.

I seem to have a creeping rash on my chest. It's now crawling up my neck. Need to get into the doctor to see what's up and possibly get some Prednisone.

My vet has no openings today so Clio and I are booked for an appointment tomorrow. Tomorrow now begins with a visit to the vet and ends with a dental apppointment to get a crown replaced. In the middle is a meeting with an annoying client. It will be a tedious and expensive day.

Ick! Sounds like a most unpleasant day. I hope it ends up much better than anticipated.

I had venison from deer my family killed when I was a kid and have tasted various game at different times prior to becoming pescatarian, including alligator which was nasty. Fish and other seafood caught by family and friends - I've consumed lots and lots of it in 30 years in Florida.

Tomorrow now begins with a visit to the vet and ends with a dental apppointment to get a crown replaced. In the middle is a meeting with an annoying client. It will be a tedious and expensive day.

Yeah, that sounds awesome.

I still can't say enough for the fresh fish we had in the little Baja town I stayed in. They were fresh-caught... as in, swimming around that morning, served for lunch.

good news/bad news front

Mac is self-aware enough to tell me he doesn't think he can be safe on the subway with the babysitter today, so I need to leave work early to get him for his Dr. appt./He doesn't think he can be safe with the babysitter!

That is good/bad news! And, I would guess, a necessary interim step.

He doesn't think he can be safe with the babysitter!

Poor noodle.

I should mention that I will get reimbursed 80% of my crown up to $1000. And my dentist managed to preauthorize this dental work so that it will count on last year's insurance tally. So some of the expense will only be temporary.