I live in a small big town. Interrupted ABC program feed for a press conference because a volunteer firefighter lost his life in a fire up the way. It's sad, but also...I love a town that cares.

Just got off conference call regarding my company being bought by another company. Eep. The call in general made me feel vaguely better, but I never ever ever trust big management to actually do things that will make our lives easier, or consider our problems (like, say, how changing health plans might affect us, mid year--we currently have a fairly high deductible plan, and if I've already spent a bunch on it, am I going to have to start OVER with the new plan??)

My dinner last night was awesome--the restaurant was out of half the stuff in one of the entrees, so they were like "We're offering...uh...some seafood, and pasta?" and I asked if they could include some sort of veggie in it, and I got a bowl of superthick spaghetti noodles (I have no idea what the name for them was), clams, mussels, shrimp, kale, and brussels sprouts in a white wine and herb sauce. Delish!

Yeah, I also vote going "backstage" as awesome. Maybe it's just me, but I was pretty excited to go through the "staff only" door at Trader Joe's!

Also, I, too forgot to put out the trash and now it's not going to happen, and also I could eat spinach, feta, and olives every day of the week, although I don't.

Yikes, meara -- good luck.

It's sad, but also...I love a town that cares.

It is sad but truly nice that it made the news.

Gah, that's not fun, meara.

Maybe it's just me, but I was pretty excited to go through the "staff only" door at Trader Joe's!

Totally. One day I hope to see their storeroom in the back. I might have an inappropriate relationship with TJ's.

Yeah, I got to go in one back room, but not THE back room.

Yeah, I also vote going "backstage" as awesome. Maybe it's just me, but I was pretty excited to go through the "staff only" door at Trader Joe's!

I love you, Jesse.

meara, I REALLY hope it works out smoothly for you.

Jesse made me crack up. I'd love to get to go to super secret TJ's HQ because it's in Monrovia. Along with G & N's docs.

Did you get to peek into the sign maker's room at TJ's? I think that was my favorite "behind the staff door" discovery when Kelly worked for TJ's.

Went to sleep with a bad headache, woke up with the chills. I may not have to worry about what to wear to be "cool, edgy, hip" tomorrow if I don't feel any better.

Good luck, meara.

BTW, I had a meeting today with some folks from another agency (rhymes with dational fark nervous), and they brought a lawyer who was in her mid-30s and had curly dark hair and I just kept thinking she was related to you, because she had your shape face and hair much like yours. She was very cute!

In other news, ... I have no news. My life is very graveyard of buried hopes. t /Anne Shirley

Last night I sauteed spinach! It was magic. I put such a great volume of leafage in the skillet, but it shruuuuuunk. It tasted pretty good with lemon.

I love sauteeing spinach! One of my faves is sauteepoaching (I dunno what it is, 6 and one half...) salmon in butter and lemon juice with garlic until the salmon is slightly charred on the fish side and the sauce is almost reduced.

Then I take the fish out, toss in a smidge more lemon (but I LOOOVE lemon, so YLMV) and a dash of balsalmic, and the spinach.

I lay the spin on garlic couscous and dried cran, and slap the spin on top, and use leftover juices as a glaze.

All of it -- fish, couscous, spin -- takes about 11 minutes to throw together.

Scrappy, I would say yes to the lot visit! I've never been to anything like that, and my little Midwestern heart would be all OMG! I'm eating Doritos twelve feet from someone who works on TV! Or movies!

I'm all shallow like that.

I have a HORRID headache. I hope to fall asleep in a little bit. Ugh. I am totally thinking about maybe going to a chiropractor -- my neck and jaw and upper back are all fucked.

I've never been, though. What do you think? Chiro -- worth it, or scammy mcscamerson?