I think my childhood understanding of fairy tales would have been better if someone had told me that oatmeal is porridge. I mean, so is Cream of Wheat, and other hot cereal, but I didn't know it then.

I've had oatmeal, cream of wheat, cornmeal porrige, grits, buckwheat... if you can mix it with hot water and eat it for breakfast, I've probably had it.

edit: I've just read the wikipedia page on porrige and the above statement is horrendously wrong. And now I have a new hobby.

I've also finished my tea. Ta for now.

Grape Nuts can be served as porridge, but I don't like it that way.

I haven't had Grape Nuts since I was pregnant with Matilda, when my OB said I should be gaining weight a little faster, so for two weeks I had a before-bed snack consisting of half and half over Grape Nuts, with a spoonful of sugar. So very wickedly good.

I always eat cereal with half-and half, but I don't eat it all that often.

maybe it's taking her so long to get back to you because she likes you a lot and she's taking forever to compose just the right response

Oh, I know that. Last night, I took maybe an hour and a half to write a 10 line email, striving for just the right tone that says "I want you to know that I want to see you, but I don't want you to think that I want to see you too much"

What did they leave out?

I would expect some kalamata olives at the very least, maybe some black olives.

I had a before-bed snack consisting of half and half over Grape Nuts, with a spoonful of sugar. So very wickedly good.

did you have it hot? I LOVE Grape Nuts with hot milk and brown sugar.

Never had it that way, Vortex. But I love oatmeal with brown sugar and lots of butter, so I may have to try it with Grape Nuts too.

Also, one kind of olive does not an olive mix make.

Also also, meara and P-C are both not only awesome people, but very good writers, which even for another good writer adds an extra layer of hesitation and triple-guessing and multiple drafts to any email reply.

Never had it that way, Vortex. But I love oatmeal with brown sugar and lots of butter, so I may have to try it with Grape Nuts too.

definitely try it. I like it MUCH better than oatmeal. You can do it in the microwave. I recommend letting it sit in there for a minute or so after cooking to let the milk really soak in.

one kind of olive does not an olive mix make.

More of an olive nonmix.

LOVE Grape Nuts warm w/ brown sugar, cinnamon, and a little pat of butter. Om nom nom nom.

I'm in the midst of a panic because tonight's my first big book event for STARS-- on the one hand, it's a group event with 21 other authors, on the other, I have to talk for three minutes about myself to librarians, booksellers, and media.

::gulp::