I have achieved Nature's Miracle. Just sprayed and now and letting soak and dry. Let's hope it works, or else I'm have to buy a new duvet.

I also achieved TJ's which was blessedly uncrowded. So I made actual purchases! Of course, all the things y'all recced flew out of my brain, but I got coffee, Thai Lime and Chili cashews, frozen butter chicken and garic naan, and wasabi mayo.

We shall see.

Vortex, here's the recipe: [link] It's apparently similar to a bread/rolls that you can make from a mix -- the mix is called Chebe, and it's gluten-free. So if you can find the mix -- I don't know if it would be in the section of "International" foods, but it seems like it should, since it's Brazilian -- that would be super-easy.

But it's really easy to make from ingredients (i.e., not a mix). I tweaked it a little by using half cheddar and half mozzarella, because the first time I made them, using all cheddar was too heavy and oily. I also didn't add dill and chives, but did add a spinkle of garlic powder and a dash of salt.

They come out really chewy, and are best hot. When they cool all the way, they are like unto hockey pucks, but they DO re-heat pretty well.

Also, I have a CRAPLOAD of other recipes. Honestly, I am a lazy cook, and the easiest thing for me is to use a GF flour mix that can be substituted in equal measure for wheat flour.

Also, if you want to make cake or brownies for a gluten-free eater, I HIGHLY recommend the Betty Crocker GF mixes. There's a brownie mix, which I have made about a billion times already -- I wouldn't call it a *dark* chocolate, but it's not sweet like milk chocolate, either. REALLY good. And then there's a chocolate cake mix, and a yellow cake mix -- the yellow cake can be bastardized into carrot cake also. Again, REALLY good.

And they're easy like regular mixes. There's also a boxed chocolate-chip cookie mix, which I haven't tried yet.

I think my mother's slow cooker never worked. We used it a few times, but instead of slow like "Roast cooked all day!" we got slow like "Slowly, the Cretaceous period ended," it must have been defective.

My last crockpot was "slow? how about well-done?".

I thought that if you ordered something from a retailer that did not have a physical location in your state, you were not charged tax. I was going to order the printer, but if they are charging me tax, I might as well just get it from the store.

I think that may have recently changed? i am vaguely remembering hearing some news about that, though I also vaguely think it was a state by state thing.

t /vague-ing it up

I don't think the rule per se has changed, but I think many states have tightened their rules on what constitutes "out of state". If you have any business tie to the state even a weak one, other than selling to the state you have to pay sales tax. Why Amazon cut the affilate link.

In truth I see no reason internet and mail order should be exempt from sales tax. Either you have a real advantage over local business that make up for shipping costs or why should you be subsidized by being exempt from a tax local businesses have to pay. An argument could be made for revenue being directed to the state where the business is located, but not for not paying anything.

Right now if Amazon sells outside Washington State neither Washinging State nor the state where the book is bought gets the revenue. "I might as well buy local" is the point of the change.

Vortex, I ordered job search business cards from VistaPrint, and they have been a hit. Interviewers have been very impressed, as well as folks I've been networking with. I'm sending you front and back pics via SMS.

I included my name, address, email, cell, LinkedIn profile address, and professional twitter handle on the front. On the back, I put my tagline, and repeated my LinkedIn profile addy in smaller print. Spring for the heavier paper. It's totally worth it.

I also ordered a second set without the LinkedIn profile info, to use in non-job search situations. They've come in handy too.

One tip I'd offer about Vistaprint...I totally agree with the recommendation of the heavier paper but I'd warn you off the glossy coating. It looks great, but ensures that no notes can be made on the card.

I used the glossy coating for my first set of doggy lama cards and immediately regretted it. No pen can defeat it!