Vortex, want to ... observe? ... Father's day with me?

She started on some crap about how I was disrespecting my father by not celebrating him. What I did not say is that I have no problem celebrating my father, I just don't want to do it with her. She also said that my father would be very disappointed that I was "acting like this". I said "well, if Dad were around to be disappointed, the point would be moot." Which is when she told me that she has a new policy -- "when you start this negativity and rudeness towards me, I'm just going to say that I love you very much and we'll talk another time." So, we said goodbye.

With any luck that'll cut all future phone conversations very short.

That was my thought, Todd. Until she figures out that it doesn't bother me.

"when you start this negativity and rudeness towards me, I'm just going to say that I love you very much and we'll talk another time."

This seems like an awesome plan in reverse as well.

My mother and sister don't call me - they've operated on the premise that I'll call them. So I stopped calling, except for special occasions ... which means we talk, oh, six times a year or so.

Yeah, I'm not going to initiate contact unless I need/want something. We're actually supposed to have dinner tonight, but damned if I'm going to call her to confirm. that's actually what I thought that she was calling about today. I will call the restaurant to confirm that there's a reservation, and if so, I'll show up and wait 15 minutes, then text that I'm leaving.

I'm craving basil and tomatoes. Should I make tomato/basil bread with garlic, manchego cheese, and cured ham or tomatoes with fresh mozzarella, basil, and balsamic vinegar?

Do you have nice bread you could cube up and toast with oil and garlic? Because if you did, you have enough with the latter to make the panzanella caprese from the buffista cookbook.

I'm all about panzanella at the moment because my mom just took me out for a nice lunch at the local bistro and I had a very tasty salmon panzanella. She had a fancy reuben with red cabbage. Both tasty!

Oh, that sounds delicious, Laga!

I miss bread. I was talking to the receptionist after getting my lunch when someone brought down leftover pastries from their morning meeting (leftovers are usually brought to the front desk for people to grab as they pass by). Oh, sooooo tempting! But I had my meatballs and strawberries instead.